College football offseason is a time when hype often outweighs certainty. Spring practice gave way to media day optimism, followed by a wave of breakthrough predictions and buzz. One such conversation centers on Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green, who, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF), may become a first-round NFL draft candidate next season.
Green's journey to this point did not follow the straight line. After a sluggish 2023 campaign at Boise State, he earned just 60.2 PFF pass-level, 6-foot-6, 230-pound quarterback moved to Arkansas and offered his most complete season. Green made up 3,756 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2024, while flashing a certain level of athleticism and arm strength that kept him firmly on the NFL radar.
PFF's assessment of green is rooted in projection and production. Physically, he checked every box: size, mobility and arm talent. His 22 big shots ranked ninth among quarterback quarterbacks, and his contacts ranked him fifth in the country after his 453 sprints. These are not only raw numbers; they reflect his ability to create explosive matches in two phases of the game.
However, talent alone does not eliminate the attention. Green's decisions remain inconsistent. His 17 turnovers worth mentioning last season show that NFL evaluators won't ignore that kind of fluctuation. He needs to show significant improvements in handling and ball safety to make the first round dialogue a reality, not just offseason noise.
One element of Green's advantage is his system that suits Bobby Petrino. Petrino is known for establishing crime as a quarterback, growing steadily from green to spring.
"Terron knew about the offense, and he was more comfortable with it," Petrino said last month. "Now, he knows that defense is much better...it will allow him to operate the way we attack better."
Petrino also highlighted the speed at which SEC-level pressure forces quarterbacks to adapt. This context may help explain some of Green’s early struggles, and also help why the second season in the system can produce clearer results.
Whether Taylen Green moves from attracting talent to first-round prospects depends on consistency. The tools are in place. All that remains is to translate that ability into a disciplined senior quarterback game.
The NFL evaluation machine never really stopped, Green's name is already in the mix. If he can reduce mental errors and tend to the full potential of the offense, Arkansas may have more than just a organizer in hand. They may have future professionals.