GRAHAM COUCH

Couch: Connor Cook's draft slide shows NFL's uneasiness with MSU QB

Graham Couch
Lansing State Journal
Former MSU quarterback Connor Cook had a storied career at Michigan State. He left as the school's all-time winningest quarterback. But there are questions about what he'll become in the NFL.

The NFL had already made clear its concerns about Connor Cook’s temperament Friday night. Teams needing a quarterback passed on the former Michigan State star or traded down with Cook still on the board.

Then the New York Jets delivered the message unequivocally. With the 51st overall pick, late in the second round, the Jets selected Penn State QB Christian Hackenberg — a gifted passer absent Cook’s production or on-field intangibles. Worse yet, Hackenberg was just as mired in questions about his character.

Then things deteriorated. Cook’s hometown Cleveland Browns passed on Cook for a fourth time Friday night, twice in the third round. The San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs, both teams that could use an upgrade at the position, also passed on him in the second and third rounds.

Two more QBs were drafted — North Carolina State’s Jacoby Brissett and USC’s Cody Kessler

Another Spartan, too — defensive end Shilique Calhoun went 75th overall to the Oakland Raiders.

Cook went unselected. He’ll certainly go Saturday. I think.

The NFL appears obsessed with Cook not being a captain at MSU. And with his sideline demeanor, his interactions, his bro-like personality. They clearly didn’t like something. Or think he was the guy to trust with the future of a franchise. Not the teams looking for that guy, at least.

The NFL might not like Cook wholeheartedly, but here’s some perspective: The Seattle Seahawks took Russell Wilson 75th overall in 2012; Washington chose Cook’s predecessor, Kirk Cousins, that same year, in the fourth round at 103 — two quarterbacks with pristine reputations, and the only two starting NFL QBs from the Big Ten not named Brady or Brees. Neither of those guys were first-round picks, either. Neither came with the red flags folks have been waving around Cook.

If I were choosing an NFL quarterback, I’d take Cook’s innate pocket presence and courage under fire over Cousin’s extraordinary leadership and NFL track record.

That’s not meant as a slight on Cousins, who’s already outdone expectations — mine and those of every NFL team. It speaks to what I see as the potential of Cook, who was a better QB than Cousins at MSU and I believe has a higher NFL ceiling.

No quarterback in this NFL draft did more at the college level or did it against better competition. A couple of them didn’t play in pro-style offenses, as Cook did, meaning a tough transition is likely ahead. And none, that I saw, were better at feeling the pocket and making plays with linebackers in their chest and at their feet. It’s Cook’s greatest strength.

That rare ability did not outweigh NFL teams’ uneasiness about the Cook the person. Or his shoulder, injured last November. Or something.

Cook will still have his chance. It took a while for Mark Dantonio and Co. to believe in him at MSU. It took another quarterback struggling to the point where MSU’s coaches had no choice.

That might be Cook’s path in the NFL. There won’t be pressure early anymore. Not for a fourth-round pick.

Contact Graham Couch at gcouch@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Graham_Couch.