{"id":151654,"date":"2025-06-23T06:24:14","date_gmt":"2025-06-23T06:24:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/151654\/"},"modified":"2025-06-23T06:24:14","modified_gmt":"2025-06-23T06:24:14","slug":"sam-leavitt-could-be-a-more-talented-purdy-mcshay-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/151654\/","title":{"rendered":"Sam Leavitt could be a more talented Purdy, McShay says"},"content":{"rendered":"

With Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt eyeing the NFL<\/a>, draft analyst Todd McShay has a comparison to a Valley product already in the league.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think he\u2019s a more talented Brock Purdy,\u201d McShay said on a Thursday podcast episode<\/a>. \u201cI think he would be awesome in the (Kyle) Shanahan tree. \u2026 But he has a bigger arm than some of those guys. He has a bigger arm than Purdy, he\u2019s more mobile than Purdy.\u201d<\/p>\n

McShay wasn\u2019t sure whether Leavitt will land in the 2026 or 2027 NFL Draft class, as he will be 20 years old until December, but the quarterback has referred to 2025 as his last year with the program since the Peach Bowl loss on Jan. 1.<\/p>\n

The analyst described Leavitt\u2019s redshirt freshman season at ASU as a marriage of preparation and opportunity.<\/p>\n

Leavitt waited as he redshirted at Michigan State, prepared himself physically and mentally before entering a situation in Tempe where he had a star running back in Cam Skattebo, a star wide receiver in Jordyn Tyson and an offensive infrastructure led by Kenny Dillingham and offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo that positioned him for success.<\/p>\n

The type of throws Leavitt made that stood out most for McShay were in-breaking routes, such as digs, slants or drags coming across the middle of the field.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat I liked about it is throwing between defenders, leading receivers open, knowing the right time to pull the trigger. He\u2019s really good in intermediate stuff, I thought. Especially good play action, and his best thing is come off the play action, get his eyes around and throw to a spot that a receiver (catches it in stride) and off and running.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was an element of those plays coming naturally where Leavitt\u2019s process looked like muscle memory, said co-host Steve Muench, who ran ESPN\u2019s draft coverage for Scouts Inc.<\/p>\n

Muench\u2019s comparison was more recent with Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy and how neither quarterback shies away from a hit.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen these guys need to make plays for their team, both McCarthy and Leavitt, they step up and make plays,\u201d Muench said. \u201cAnd they will get hit in the mouth, they will get cut in half \u2014 Leavitt got cut in half in the BYU game trying to make a throw \u2014 they will make a throw when they need to.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I don\u2019t think either one of them \u2014 I think Leavitt\u2019s probably a little bit better of an athlete, little bit better of a runner \u2014 I don\u2019t think either of them is an elite athlete as a runner, but they will hurt you if you give them a chance to scramble or extend the play.\u201d<\/p>\n

McShay liked the comparison, but he made the distinction he thinks Leavitt has a stronger arm than McCarthy.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile young and still developing and has to drill home some of the footwork and some of the deep ball stuff, I saw a guy that\u2019s pretty mechanically sound,\u201d McShay said. \u201cI\u2019m really curious to see what his training has been because I see some fundamental things that I really like.\u201d<\/p>\n

Where Sam Leavitt can still improve<\/p>\n

Leavitt\u2019s deep passing was a work in progress to begin the season, although there was a sense it would come around because of the success he was having in practice.<\/p>\n

It seemed like progress was made on a weekly basis inching closer to success, and by the time ASU hit the home stretch of the season, he made some elite plays through the air. Most of the positive plays, Muench pointed out, came on fades to Tyson.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe does an excellent job of throwing to the corner of the end zone, I think that\u2019s something that he excels at,\u201d Muench said. \u201cThat\u2019s a great trait to have.\u201d<\/p>\n

When Leavitt does miss, McShay said, he \u201ctends to miss high, which is correctable.\u201d<\/p>\n

The analyst added a larger sample size without Skattebo at his side will help scouts better understand what Leavitt could be capable of at the NFL level, while he could stand to take fewer sacks by throwing away the ball earlier in plays.<\/p>\n

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