Eagles Set for Pre-Draft Meeting with Dorian Thompson-Robinson - Report
The Philadelphia Eagles apparently can't get their fair share of dual-threat quarterbacks.
Already with star signal-caller Jalen Hurts and newly-signed veteran backup Marcus Mariota on the roster, the Eagles are now set to host UCLA Bruins quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson for a pre-draft visit, per reports Tuesday from KPRC2 in Houston.
Thompson-Robinson ("DTR") is one of the most exciting athletes in this draft but has been overshadowed a bit by some of the bigger names in the class. Bryce Young, Anthony Richardson, C.J. Stroud and Will Levis are all worthy of their pre-draft hype, but what DTR did at UCLA can't be overlooked and should be enough to land him on a 53-man roster for Week 1.
Even the most casual of college football viewers likely caught a glimpse of DTR over the past few years at UCLA, and 2022 was arguably his best season yet.
While helping lead the Bruins to a 9-4 record, Thompson-Robinson set career-high marks in passing yards (3,154), passing touchdowns (27), completion percentage (69.6), completions (266), rushing yards (646) and rushing touchdowns (12). He finished his career as arguably one of the best players in UCLA history, all while being one of the most exciting players to watch in college football.
A true dual-threat weapon, DTR's mobility gives him a significant boost when it comes to potentially carving out a career in the NFL. He's got both lateral and vertical speed that compares to that of Kyler Murray and rivals most of the top dual-threat quarterbacks currently in the league.
DTR was even praised by former pro quarterback and current NFL analyst Chris Simms as someone that does a ton of things better than the aforementioned Young.
“Taller than Bryce Young, faster than Bryce Young, think his arm might be stronger than Bryce Young," Simms wrote in his quarterback draft rankings. "He plays the position of quarterback right up there with the top guys in the sport. I mean he can do everything. ... This kid’s got starting quarterback NFL traits.”
Should the Eagles take a late-round swing on Thompson-Robinson, he'd likely step in as the third-string quarterback behind Mariota. But with the veteran on a one-year deal, DTR could be a project for Philly to work on, as his unmatched athleticism can bring tons of value to the team.
It's a long shot, but maybe the Eagles could use him in special QB run sets that helps take some of the heat off of Hurts, who will only be taking more hits as defenses continue to focus on stopping his rushing production.
After selecting in the third round at No. 94 overall, the Eagles will be able to mow their lawn, take the kids to school and run to the grocery store before having their next pick come in the seventh round on the final day of the draft.
If DTR is still there, might as well take a swing at him. After all, the Eagles wouldn't be wasting their own time by visiting with him for a pre-draft meeting if they weren't at least somewhat interested.
You can follow Zach Dimmitt on Twitter at @ZachDimmitt7
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