EUGENE, Oregon - Is Marcus Mariota a "can't-miss" NFL prospect, or is he just the latest in a long line of Oregon quarterbacks that are "system QBs" who can't translate their gaudy college statistics into NFL success? Most NFL teams and experts believe he is closer to the former than the latter, but there are still plenty of questions surrounding his readiness to excel at the next level, and most of them have to do with the system he ran in college.

The hyper-speed, record-setting Ducks offence is legendary. Often imitated but never duplicated, Mariota completed 68.3 per cent of his passes during the 2014 season, for 4,454 yards and 42 TDs, with just four interceptions. He added 770 rushing yards and 15 TDs along the ground. His passer rating was the best in college football this past season. Throw in 4.52 40 at the combine, and everything would suggest that Mariota should dominate in the NFL.

But from a decision-making perspective for a QB, so much of what happens in the Oregon offence is pre-snap and very high-percentage in its nature. The ball comes out so quick with the high number of quick-screen plays, followed up by passes to receivers who are wide open with defences overreacting to the screen game. You simply don't see much of that in the NFL, outside of Philadelphia where former Oregon coach Chip Kelly is the head coach.

Speaking of Kelly, he is one man who has no doubts about Mariota's ability to dominate in the NFL, calling him, "the best quarterback in the draft" and "the best football player I've ever coached."

Mariota downplayed the "best in draft" compliment, telling reporters, "That was really nice of him. When I see him, I'll thank him."

However, the Eagles coach also said he would "never mortgage our future to go all the way up to get somebody like that."

Many still believe that Kelly hasn't closed the door on reuniting with his former star pivot. Kelly is the one coach who would also not ask Mariota to be something he currently isn't, a consistent drop back passer.

In the Oregon offence, you don't regularly see quarterbacks taking straight drop backs, setting up between the tackles and scanning the field from left to right, making multiple reads. Early in the 2014 season in a game against Michigan State, Mariota was forced into such situations with his team trailing, and performed well, as he led the Ducks to a come-from-behind win. But in the Rose Bowl and in the National Championship game, when he was forced to make throws from the pocket, between the hashmarks, Mariota did not look comfortable.

Sitting in the pocket and going through NFL-level read progressions is one question. Others revolve around drops and footwork from under centre. Also how will the humble and mild-mannered Mariota handle addressing NFL players in a huddle? Playing in Oregon's no-huddle system, Mariota hasn't been in a huddle since high school. And only five times during the 2014 season was he asked to take a snap from under centre.

At Thursday's pro-day in Eugene, Mariota looked very comfortable under centre and his footwork and drops drew positive reviews. The format was also structured so that he would call every play from a huddle before coming to the line to throw every route in the play individually. His footwork from under centre looked natural. Mariota also showed good arm strength, and that he could make every throw, two things that were never in question coming into the process. Mariota's ball-placement though is also something he needs to work on, so that he can put receivers in a position to catch and run, but the same can be said of most QB prospects at this stage of their development.

The challenge for Mariota is the biggest question, the ability to drop back and make NFL-level reads is not something that can be shown on the field in a combine or pro-day setting, because there are no defences involved. So far for Mariota, the most important part of this process has been the interviews, and as expected, he's turned in a Heisman winning performance in that aspect, impressing many teams.

Ultimately the issue for Mariota isn't whether or not he can make NFL reads. His work ethic, intellect and character is so off the charts everyone believes it's only a matter of time. The question teams at the top of the draft have is, can he do it NOW? Teams that are picking that high need the help now.

But the player himself says he is steering clear of the hype and speculation.

"Just not pay attention to it -- you can't control it," Mariota said. "This process is something that's controlled by other people so all you can really do is put yourself out there, show what you can do and then see where you end up."

So where will Mariota land? His storyline is easily the most intriguing in the draft, and with all of the buzz surrounding him, an Aaron Rodgers-type freefall is simply not going to be in the cards. Most experts believe there is no way he falls below the sixth pick, which is currently held by the New York Jets. The expectation is the Tampa Bay Bucs will select Florida State's Jameis Winston with the number one overall pick. The Tennessee Titans have shown a strong interest in Mariota with the second pick, and had private meetings and an additional workout with him immediately after his pro-day. ESPN's John Clayton reported that if Mariota was still available at No. 5 the Redskins would almost certainly select him. The Rams (No. 10) and Eagles (20), who just completed the blockbuster Bradford-Foles trade, are both still believed to be interested in moving up to select him.

The Winston-Mariota debate at the top of the draft has drawn comparisons to Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf in 1998. Like Winston, Manning ran a more pro-style offence at Tennessee. Like Mariota, Leaf ran a collegiate spread offence at Washington State that didn't translate as well to the NFL. As crazy as it sounds now, there was a real debate about who would be taken with the top pick in the draft that year.

There isn't much debate this year about who will go number one. Winston is more "pro-ready" and in all likelihood will go first.

But will Winston be the better "pro"? If Mariota goes No. 2, there will not be a Leaf-parallel with his career, because he is simply the anti-Leaf from a character perspective – the definition of a pro. The team that lands Mariota will have a player that will eventually be in the Pro Bowl, and lead its franchise proudly for the next decade.