2025 NFL Draft prospect profile – Kyle McCord, QB, Syracuse

Is McCord a sleeper at the QB position?

Speculation abounds as to what the New York Giants will do at quarterback. They’re widely expected to try and draft one of the top passers in this class, but what if that isn’t in the cards? What is “Plan D” for them?

A name fairly commonly brought up by Giants fans, but not the media or in draft circles, is Kyle McCord out of Syracuse.

McCord started his career at Ohio State and was their starter for the 2023 season, however he elected to transfer to Syracuse for his final season of eligibility in 2024. McCord certainly got to throw the ball around in Syracuse’s spread offense, attempting 558 passes last year. Fans took notice of McCord when the Orange beat Miami late in the season, and his name began cropping up as a potential option for the Giants.

But will the NFL feel the same way?

Prospect: Kyle McCord (6)
Games Watched: vs. UNLV (2024), vs. Pittsburgh (2024), vs. Cal (2024), vs. Miami (2024)

Measurables

Kent Lee Platte | RAS.football

Strengths

Best traits

• Footwork
• Competitive toughness
• General accuracy

Kyle McCord is a good-sized quarterback with several traits that should appeal to NFL teams

To start, he has pro-ready footwork with calm, and quiet feet throughout his process. His drops are balanced and efficient, timing well with route concepts so he can get the ball out on time and in rhythm when the play isn’t disrupted. Likewise, he typically does a good job of aligning his feet with his target, allowing him to deliver a ball that is at least generally accurate and on-target.

McCord has adequate arm strength for the system he was asked to run. He’s able to generate enough velocity to challenge coverage in the short-to-intermediate area of the field and he’s able to access deeper areas of the field when he can step into the throw.

He’s also a functional athlete who can scramble to extend the play, as well as pick up yardage on his own if the defense turns their back on him. He’s also able to execute rollouts to move the pocket or change his launch point.

Weaknesses

Worst traits

• Arm strength
• Athleticism
• Mental processing

McCord has two main weaknesses that will give teams pause.

First and foremost, he’s a one-read quarterback who has a strong tendency to lock onto his target very early in the down. While he does occasionally move off his primary read to a checkdown, it isn’t often nor is it quick. He also doesn’t often throw with anticipation and has a tendency to hold the ball or pump while he waits for his receiver to uncover before throwing.

His tendency to stare down receivers leads defenders to the catch point, leading to big hits, defended passes, and turnover worthy plays. He saw his interception total double when transferring from Ohio State to Syracuse, and there were still multiple missed opportunities for interceptions on the tape viewed.

McCord also lacks great arm strength and has a mediocre arm. While “Arm Talent” is often over-valued, McCord is a relatively limited passer. He has a somewhat long and slow throwing motion with a noticeable windup. That can further slow down his process and allow defenders an extra beat to close on the receiver or get their hands up to disrupt the passing lane. He also struggles to generate velocity to drive the ball down the field, and his passes tend to stall outside the numbers. McCord has to work to generate power for his deeper passes, which can lead to a decline in accuracy and a lack of precision that forces receivers to make catches at the extremes of their radii. He also lacks the arm strength to generate significant velocity when throwing off-platform.

Finally, while McCord is a functional athlete overall, he isn’t a particularly good one and he lacks great quickness, agility, burst, or speed as an athlete. While McCord can extend plays against college offenses, he won’t escape many NFL caliber athletes. Likewise, he shouldn’t be relied upon to be a regular contributor in a teams’ run game.

Game Tape

Projection

Kyle McCord projects as a reserve quarterback for a team that is heavily based in West Coast principles. McCord has some traits that teams could try to develop, however his limitations will only be more significant at the NFL level.

McCord was able to execute the route concepts called in the Syracuse offense well enough. And just because that’s what he was asked to do, it doesn’t mean that’s all he’s capable of doing. It’s possible that he could eventually become a “point guard” in the NFL.

That said, McCord struggled mightily against tight coverage on tape and his tendency to stare down receivers and limited arm strength erased any margin for error. Greater defensive complexity and speed at the next level could be more than McCord is able to overcome.

Does he fit the Giants?
No

Final Word: A late Day 3 pick