Aidan O'Connell QB Purdue | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Aidan O'Connell QB Purdue
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| PLAY STYLE: Pocket Passer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 04/13/2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.96 seconds (22%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 26.3 DOB: 09/01/1998 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowl Invite: Shrine Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| PLAY STYLE: Pocket Passer | |
| Last Updated: 04/13/2023 | |
| Draft Year: 2023 | |
| 40 time: 4.96 seconds (22%*) | |
| Age: 26.3 DOB: 09/01/1998 | |
| Bowl Invite: Shrine Bowl | |
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| Overall Rating: | 77.5 / 100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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76% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Release Speed: |
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88% |
| Short Passing: |
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71% |
| Medium Passing: |
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74% |
| Long Passing: |
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77% |
| Rush/Scramble: |
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54% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
7th
Overall Rank:
#243
Position rank:
#13
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| College Games: 33 College Snaps: 2122 | ||
Drafted: ROUND: 4 - Pick Number: 135 (LV)
Draft Profile: Bio
After high school, O'Connell opted to join Purdue in 2017 after not being recruited after going unrankedAfter not seeing the field for the first two years In 2019 as a freshman O'Connell saw action in 6 games after joining the team as a walkon - and he threw for 1101 yards on 168 attempts with a completion percent of 61.3 for an average of 6.6 yards per pass, with 8 TDs, while taking 3 sacks, and QB rating of 86.4.
In 2020 as a sophomore he played in just 3 games as he battled for the starting role - he passed for 916 yards on 137 attempts with a completion percent of 64.2 for an average of 6.7 yards per pass, with just 7 TDs, while also taking 8 sacks, and putting up an excellent QB rating of 94.4 in the few games he played.
As a junior in 2021 O'Connell finally won the starting job andin 12 games. He passed for a huge 3709 yards on 438 attempts and put up a completion percentage of 71.7 for an average of 8.5 yards per attempt, with 28 TDs, and allowing 19 sacks, with an QB rating on the year of 108.0.
In 2022 as a senior O'Connell regressed as he saw action in 12 games and threw for 3483 yards on 499 attempts with a completion percent of 63.7 for an average of 7.0 yards per pass, with 22 TDs while taking 22 sacks, and totaling a QB rating of 88.1.
Honors & awards
- 2021 Named All-Big Ten Second Team by league’s coaches & media, Associated Press, Pro Football Focus and Phil Steele
- 2021 Named Academic All-Big Ten
- 2021 Single-season Purdue rankings - set the completion percentage record and passing efficiency, eighth in attempts, tied for fourth in completions, fifth in passing yards, fourth in touchdowns,
- 2021 Received National Football Foundation Drew Brees Mental Toughness Award
- 2020 Academic All-Big Ten.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Possesses very good vision balance, elusiveness, and deceptive speed and power as a runner.
- Mentally, O'Connell was able to make checks at the line of scrimmage and manage the run game
- Good zip and ball placement on the quick slant. Good touch down the seam and on post-corner, flag routes to attack the defense vertically and horizontally.
- O'Connell has a quick release and shows good accuracy on shorter throws when on the move to either side.
- High football IQ with the mentality of a gun slinger
- Really nice anticipation a passer and has outstanding overall touch
- Very accurate quarterback - especially on timing throws
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Unathletic quarterback who can't drive the deep ball effectively without putting too much air under his passes
- He had a chance to be drafted higher following the 2021 season but after a down year in 2022 it looks like his backup level ceiling was unearthed
- Isn't a threat to run and sometimes looks like a statue in the pocket. Looks like a relic of the past.
- Has an exaggerated elongated release and as a result, he struggles to get the pass off quickly
- His arm is just ok but far from great, and O'Connell loses accuracy and velocity when he is moved off his spot.
- Has a bad habit of fading and throwing off his back foot when the pocket gets muddled, and he is too often all-arm when throwing on the move, sacrificing accuracy.
Scouting Report: Summary
Aidan O'Connell started getting attention in 2021 after he put up impressive numbers for Purdue after winning a hard-fought quarterback competition, but after he couldn't continue with a similar performance in 2022 interest in his has waned. He's a former walk-on with limited athletic talent and an average arm and poor mobility, he, however, is accurate as a mid-range passer and is super smart, and has nice instincts as a quarterback overall.Currently O'Connell projects as a backup at best at the next level and may be selected in the final round of the 2023 NFL draft.
Aidan O'Connell percentiles vs other Quarterbacks (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Aidan O'Connell (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
203.8
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
22.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.