Chicago Bears: Top quarterback prospects in 2016 draft

Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

Connor Cook (6-foot-4, 220 pounds)– Michigan State

One of the traits that Cutler’s admirers have is that he his brash and he won’t take gruff from his teammates. He once infamously pushed his offensive lineman, Ja’Marcus Webb), when he was having trouble doing his job.

Well, there is another brash quarterback available who is very good as well, and his name is Connor Cook.

Cook has led his Michigan State Spartans to the #3 ranking and a spot in the College Football Playoffs. He and his teammates will take on the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Cotton Bowl for the right to play the championship.

The Spartans have won 34 games with Cook as their quarterback. He has also gotten some hardware to put in his trophy case — a Rose Bowl MVP and two Big Ten Championship Game MVP’s.

Cook is a fifth-year player so he has a lot of experience. His 34 wins are more than the total of some prospects’ career games. He threw for 2,921 yards and 24 touchdowns and five interceptions. For his career, he has 8,984 yards and 71 touchdowns to 20 interceptions.

Cook is a tough, hard-nosed player who has an edge. He has no trouble telling it like he sees it. After a loss against Notre Dame in his third career game, the coaching staff pulled him in the fourth quarter.

After the game, he answered questions about the yanking honestly. “I was a little disappointed, you know?” Cook Cook told reporters in South Bend. “I don’t know why they pulled me. They said I was a little inaccurate, but I would have wished that the coaches had faith in me to keep me in there in a critical situation like that.”

At 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, Cook has the size most teams want in their quarterback. He is also sneaky athletic (much like Cutler), and can be effective in short-yardage situations.

Cook has a strong, accurate arm. He can thread the needle or put some touch on his throws.

One of Cook’s weaknesses is that he tends to depend on his arm. When flushed out of the pocket, he tends to forget about his mechanics and his footwork. He also likes to throw into traffic a little too much. Does that sound like someone familiar?

Cook will be a starter in the NFL. The question with him is whether he can stay in control both on and off the field. If he can keep his head on straight, he can be a good, long-term option.

Next: You Don't Know Him Now, But Just Wait