Kurtis Rourke, who quarterbacked Indiana football into the College Football Playoff, was picked in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers.
The 24-year-old has tons of experience, with three years starting at Ohio before joining the Hoosiers in 2024. He completed 69.4% of his passes at IU for 3,042 yards, 29 touchdowns and 5 interceptions while playing with a torn ACL that has since been repaired.
“I took a big step last year,” Rourke said at an Indianapolis Colts local Pro Day in early April. “Being in different offenses, you expand your knowledge so much.”
Scouts like Rourke’s poise in the pocket but are concerned about what may happen when flushed out.
Kurtis Rourke NFL draft profile
Height: 6-4
Weight: 220 pounds
Arm: 30 1/4 inches
Hand: 9 3/8 inches
Draft value: Third-day pick
Kurtis Rourke scouting report
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: “Rourke earns a draftable grade because of his size, experience and production. He’s coming off an ACL tear, but the injury might not have a major impact on his draft slotting since his game isn’t built on mobility. Rourke’s evaluation requires 2023 tape to get a feel for his delivery and velocity when his knee is stable. While he can make pro throws, the accuracy and placement is average. He’s a decent field-reader who throws with adequate touch and anticipation. Rourke played winning football in 2024 and he’s plenty tough, but he needs to take better care of the football if he wants to stick with an NFL team.”
NFL Draft Buzz: “His ideal fit would be with a team running a West Coast system that can maximize his anticipation and ball placement on rhythm throws while minimizing the need for second-reaction plays. While he won’t wow anyone with physical tools, Rourke’s intelligence, toughness, and consistency from the pocket make him an attractive Day 3 target for teams seeking a reliable backup who can execute their base offense.”
Kyle Crabbs, 33rd Team: “Rourke is ideally a developmental quarterback who lands in a situation with a sturdy run game and the offensive line to stay balanced with the game plan. He’s a high-floor player thanks to his experience and maturity but would be best served as a QB3.”
Strengths
He remains calm in the pocketHas decent touch on longer passesPlayed the 2024 season with a torn ACL
Weaknesses
Unlikely to create anything when a play breaks downInconsistent in leading moving targets with passesAt 24, he may not have much more room for growth
Kurtis Rourke highlights
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