Kaidon Salter Scouting Report

Kaidon Salter is a dual-threat quarterback who combines advanced passing skills with the athleticism to create explosive plays with his legs.

Draft Grade: Round 4 - Developmental Traits

Strengths:

Arm Talent: Salter demonstrates the ability to vary ball speed and trajectory, allowing him to fit throws into tight windows.

Velocity: Salter has good arm strength, generating zip on his throws that enables him to place the ball accurately between defenders in condensed spaces.

Athleticism: Salter can effectively run quarterback-designed plays or use his mobility to escape pressure in the pocket, creating positive plays for the offense.

Football IQ/Instincts: Salter reads defenses well pre-snap and uses his instincts to create plays when the designed play breaks down.

Concerns:

Turnovers: Salter’s turnovers primarily stem from his high confidence in his arm, which leads him to attempt throws into windows that are not fully open.

Size: Salter’s measurables may fall below some NFL teams’ preferred thresholds for quarterbacks, particularly in terms of height and weight, which could be a concern at the next level.

Kaidon Salter Summary/Projection:

Kaidon Salter is a redshirt senior prospect who began his career at Tennessee, transferred to Liberty for two years, and is currently playing for the Colorado Buffaloes. Salter has been on draft analysts’ radars for several years, particularly following his 2023 season, in which he threw for 2,876 passing yards and 32 touchdowns while adding 1,089 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns. His career demonstrates that he is a true dual-threat quarterback capable of impacting games both through the air and on the ground. He can stretch defenses horizontally and vertically with his arm or create explosive plays with his legs.

As a passer, Salter is advanced and possesses both the physical tools and a high-level understanding of football. Pre-snap, he reads defenses effectively, using this information post-snap to quickly progress through his reads and deliver the ball to open receivers. His throwing mechanics are sound, with a quick release and coordinated footwork that matches the timing of the routes. In play-action and RPO situations, Salter does an excellent job of selling the play while protecting the ball from defenders. On screen passes, he delivers the ball quickly to his playmakers, giving them space to make plays before defenders arrive.

Salter is a three-level passer who thrives throwing in the short, intermediate, and deep portions of the field. His velocity and quick release allow him to fit passes into tight windows, thread the needle between defenders, and consistently push the ball downfield for explosive plays. He demonstrates deep-ball accuracy, capable of back-shoulder throws or “dropping the ball in the bucket” to give receivers the best chance to make a catch. Salter effectively works slants and drags, intermediate digs and comebacks, and vertical posts, making him a versatile and dangerous passer.

Athletically, Salter is a dynamic threat. He excels in read-option plays, quarterback-designed runs, and counters, making him a strong contributor in the running game. He also uses his mobility in the passing game to escape pressure and create explosive plays. His combination of acceleration and quickness makes him difficult to tackle in the backfield or open field.

Salter’s primary area for improvement is decision-making and turnover management. His confidence in his arm sometimes leads him to test windows that are not open, resulting in turnovers or incompletions. Additionally, he must continue to develop his sense of when to throw the ball away to avoid negative plays such as interceptions, fumbles, or sacks.