NC State’s Dave Doeren Has a Surprising Take on His QB’s Draft Stock

Dave Doeren isn’t shy about what he thinks of CJ Bailey.

The NC State head coach said his quarterback could be the best in the country. That’s a bold statement for a guy playing at a program that rarely gets national attention. But Doeren didn’t back off it when he talked to ESPN recently.

“I think he could be the best in the country,” Doeren said.

Bailey is 6-foot-6 with a lanky frame that lets him glide away from defenders in the open field. He’s not just a pocket passer. His athleticism makes him a real threat on the ground, which NFL teams tend to value more and more these days. As a passer, his accuracy isn’t always there. But the arm talent is impossible to ignore. If he cleans up some of the mechanical stuff this season, it’s not hard to imagine him making a huge leap.

The numbers back up the optimism. Last season Bailey completed 68.8% of his passes, nearly four percentage points higher than his freshman year. He threw for 3,105 yards and 25 touchdowns against just nine interceptions. He also ran for six scores. That’s real production for a guy who doesn’t get the same hype as the Arch Manning or Dante Moore types.

And here’s the thing. Bailey is playing at NC State. Not Alabama. Not Georgia. Not Ohio State. The Wolfpack don’t get the same spotlight, which means a lot of draft talk goes right past him. But the tape doesn’t lie. Scouts have noticed. And if he keeps improving on those numbers this fall, he could find himself in that top-tier conversation for the 2027 draft.

Doeren isn’t the only one who believes. Bailey’s teammates talk about his work ethic like it’s abnormal. He stays late after practice. He watches film on his own. He’s the kind of kid who treats every rep like it matters. That stuff shows up when the lights are on.

The Florida native still has room to grow. His deep ball can be inconsistent. He forces throws sometimes when he should take the checkdown. But those are fixable things. The physical tools are already there. The mental side is catching up fast.

If he puts it all together this year, don’t be surprised when his name starts popping up in first-round mock drafts. Doeren won’t be surprised either.