C.J. Beathard, Iowa (6-2, 219 lbs.)
Miller’s Rank: 195
CBS Sports: 246
C.J. Beathard is an intriguing case study, and it will be interesting to see what teams think of him on draft day. Getting off the bus, and pre-snap, the kid looks like a quarterback, However, once the ball is snapped, that can all change.
To put it kindly, Bethard’s senior season was far worse compared to his junior season, and at times was difficult to watch. To be fair, Iowa did lose some quality players as seniors the after Beathard’s junior season. At times, and I bring this up for relevance, Beathard can look like former Iowa Hawkeye signal caller and former Chiefs draft pick Ricky Stanzi.
Beathard is the guy that will make a throw or two during a game, especially on tempo and when the first read is open, that will make you believe you have something. Usually that throw is underneath, many times on slants or post routes. Then, Bethard will make throws that are just awful and ugly. Too many times, receivers have to adjust to balls, or the ball is so off the mark that they simply work to ensure the pass doesn’t become intercepted.
In the pocket, at times, he appears cautious with the football, oftentimes throwing an uncatchable ball to ensure it isn’t intercepted. The next play, he’ll throw a ball that would make Brett Favre proud, over two defenders while splitting two others. Perhaps that’s a reason why he threw 10 interceptions this season while only throwing 17 touchdowns. (I say only, but Alex Smith only threw 15 touchdown passes in 15 games, which is almost as bad as this team going an entire season without the receivers getting a touchdown pass.)
Beathard is, in my opinion, much like Kevin Hogan last year. He will impress a positional coach or general manager during the interview phase and lead-up process to the draft, and the team will think there is something more there then perhaps really is. Hogan’s tape last season was uninspiring last season, and Beathard’s is to often as well. He’ll be drafted for sure, but I question what there is to work with and what his ceiling is. He strikes me as a guy that will hang out on a roster on a cheap rookie contract for a while.
It should be noted that he is the grandson of well-known former personnel man Bobby Beathard.