I'm not sure that is bona fide conventional wisdom or not, but even still, it's a fair point, but his boom potential is supposedly higher as well.
Also I dispute that to extent of 'other 2'.
Mayfield can't control laws of physics.
The field remains the same size, which makes it easier for bigger, faster D to catch, contain, punish him.
Also, he may be accurate slinging from angles, but in pro game those windows are extremely small and short.
IF he played in Fran Tarkenton's day, he'd be all that and a bag of chips.
But dat wuz den an dis is now.
Since then, pretty much every successful passer who was more than a brief flash in the pan has been able to handle the rush, secondarily by eluding the rush or cool pocket presence. Joe Montana is the marquee illustration of this point. He didn't really rush, but he could sidestep extremely well. But even still, he could beat you staying in the pocket.
Darnold is safe +, IMO. Not great size, not added something something to be physically dominant, but enough to handle pro game, and while I don't want to say super intelligent, expect once he gets used to the league he will show comparable smarts to O'Brien and Pennington, but with more athletic ability and some more zip on the ball, enough to make a difference.
However, Rosen is potentially another Elway.
Would have gone there.
