List of QBs Scouted
C.J. Stroud, Bryce Young, Will Levis, Anthony Richardson, Hendon Hooker, Max Duggan, Tanner McKee, Jaren Hall, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Stetson Bennett, Clayton Tune, Aidan O’Connell, Jake Haener, Lindsey Scott Jr, Tim DeMorat, Malik Cunningham, Tanner Morgan, Sean Clifford, Tyson Bagent, Holton Ahlers, Chase Brice, Adrian Martinez, Tommy Devito, Todd Centeio
Out of twenty-four quarterbacks, I have nine QBs who have at least a 7th-round grade on them.
1. C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
Strengths: Stroud has a clean and quick release to his mechanics. He delivers hole and seam shots with great touch and elevation. He demonstrates the ability to play a fluid, smooth, and quick game with ease. He has consistent accuracy in a clean pocket as well as on the move. Stroud’s biggest strength is ball placement. He has the best ball placement in this quarterback class, and to add to that, I would say he’s the best pure passer in this class. The biggest knock on C.J. Stroud’s game was that he didn’t use his legs enough to extend and/or make plays. Well, against Georgia, we saw exactly what he could do when he did that. I expect to see much more of that moving forward in his career.
Weaknesses: Stroud is the best passer in this class, but he needs to improve on a couple of things as well. He occasionally misreads safeties and overhead defenders. He is too hesitant to get out of the pocket sometimes, which makes it a little easier to break him down. I’d also like to see him go through his progressions a tad quicker. He won’t have the talented offensive line and weapons he had at Ohio State to start his NFL career, so there may be some early bumps in the road.
SCOUT GRADE: (9.5) TOP 5 PICK VALUE
2. Bryce Young, Alabama
Strengths: Bryce Young is the best example of a point guard on the football field. He possesses elite vision in the pocket and while scrambling on the run. Young has poise and presence, which I’ve never seen in a draft prospect. This guy can make something out of nothing, and he does it with ease. He’s got good arm strength and above accuracy. His footwork has been phenomenal, and I expect it to only get better at the next level. Bryce Young’s biggest strengths are his poise and elite field vision.
Weaknesses: Young’s biggest concern is going to be his small frame and size. Sitting below 6’0” and a little over 200 lbs. is a big risk in today’s NFL. I think Bryce is an excellent quarterback and has the chance to be the #1 QB out of this class, but can he stay healthy? That’s the big question. Watching the tape, I’ve seen more misfires on Young’s deep throws than I expected. I expect he’ll clean that up though.
SCOUT GRADE: (9.5) TOP 5 PICK VALUE
3. Will Levis, Kentucky
Strengths: Will Levis is everything you want your quarterback to be, he’s tough, athletic, and has that NFL arm talent. If you talk inside Kentucky’s program, everybody will rave and swear behind this guy. He’s got high-end physical traits like Josh Allen, who’s from Wyoming. Levis has one of the highest ceilings in this draft class. His NFL arm talent and measurables cannot be ignored. Coming out of a pro-style offense at Kentucky, Will Levis could be available to start Day 1. The biggest thing to remember about Will Levis is the potential and character that this guy possesses.
Weaknesses: Levis had a rough 2022 season. He was beaten and bashed behind a sloppy o-line all year long. He was nowhere near 100%, yet he still attempted to play every game he could. Therefore, his 2022 tape is a rough watch. You must go back and watch the 2021 season. Levis is not perfect on tape by any means. He occasionally cracks when he feels pressure, takes his eyes down, and tries to run instead of keeping them downfield. These issues lead to missed wideouts downfield and cause Levis to take an unnecessary hit at the next level.
SCOUT GRADE: (9.4) TOP 10 PICK VALUE
4. Anthony Richardson, Florida
Strengths: Anthony Richardson was the most exciting player to watch in this quarterback class. He’s an absolute weapon on the field. Richardson is the most athletic quarterback in this class. He’s a dynamic runner with the ability to launch the ball 70+ yards. Richardson has the highest ceiling in this class. The potential of this guy is through the roof. He shows off his arm talent and rushing skills on tape. Not to mention his elite NFL build. He resembles a young and inexperienced Cam Newton.
Weaknesses: Richardson has the highest ceiling but also the lowest floor. He’s a boom-or-bust prospect who possesses an unearthly amount of talent. There’s a lot of inconsistency on his tape. He hit home runs, and then he missed layups. There’s a ton of stuff Richardson needs to learn before suiting up for an NFL game. It may take 1-2+ years for him to be ready to start for an NFL franchise. He’s the most polarizing prospect in this draft, and there’s no debate about that.
SCOUT GRADE: (9.4) TOP 10 PICK VALUE
5. Hendon Hooker, Tennessee
Strengths: Hendon Hooker is an experienced and mature player with great character. He shows experience in the pocket by staying patient and going through his progressions. Hooker has good short-range accuracy with a fairly quick release. He’s an experienced and well-trained quarterback who is older, which will benefit him and push him down the draft boards. Hooker’s football IQ and comfortability will be a strength moving forward.
Weaknesses: Hooker is an older prospect coming off an ACL injury. Hooker’s draft stock tumbled after the injury. He’s got an inconsistent deep ball. He struggles with off-balance throws. His footwork is iffy, and his flat-footed throws cause inaccurate throwing. I think he needs some polishing on his mechanics moving forward.
SCOUT GRADE: (8.3) 3RD ROUND PICK VALUE
6. Jaren Hall, BYU
Strengths: Jaren Hall is an absolute ball player. He’s most impressive when he’s on the move. You can see his baseball background in his play. He’s got a live arm and shows off his NFL-caliber talent on tape. He’s an athletic guy who can run and throw outside the pocket. I can see the potential and think he’s worth a developmental pick.
Weaknesses: Hall looks uncomfortable in the pocket; his footwork needs to be cleaned up. He panics in a collapsing pocket and occasionally throws up blinding passes. I want to see him clean up the mechanics, and I think he’ll have a chance after that happens. Hall isn’t NFL-ready and needs to sit and learn. He’s also an older prospect (24), which lowers his stock even more.
SCOUT GRADE: (7.8) 4TH ROUND PICK VALUE
7. Tanner McKee, Stanford
Strengths: Tanner McKee is a smart and talented quarterback. He shows that NFL arm on tape as well as being a good decision-maker. McKee is a smart pocket-passer who goes through his progressions very well. I see good touch and elevation on his throws when he goes over the top. I think McKee is a gifted pocket passer and a quarterback who doesn’t need much work on the fundamentals.
Weaknesses: McKee’s tape is like a blast from the past. He embodies the old-fashioned quarterback play. He’s a good pocket passer, but his mobility is way below average. When the pocket collapses, he goes down with it. His mechanics are odd, and his release appears to be slower than I’ve seen. He has the arm talent, but clear complications will limit that. This is all too similar to former Stanford quarterback Davis Mills, and that experiment didn’t work out well for Houston.
SCOUT GRADE: (7.4) 5TH ROUND PICK VALUE
8. Jake Haener, Fresno State
Strengths: Haener is a proven winner, as he showed at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, AL. He’s a scrappy and tough quarterback. Haener has good pocket movement and mobility. I can see his NFL arm talent on tape. The way he’s able to shift and change his arm angles at times is a special weapon and will benefit him a lot moving forward.
Weaknesses: Jake Haener is a smaller frame prospect, sitting just at 6’0”. He needs to work on his footwork, occasionally putting his whole body into his throws. He doesn’t show NFL precision, and I would like to see him improve his arm strength going forward. Another older prospect (24), Haener’s time is running out to get his struggles cleaned up.
SCOUT GRADE: (7.0) 6TH ROUND PICK VALUE
9. Max Duggan, TCU
Strengths: Max Duggan has fought his ass off all year long. He truly embraced the underdog role. He led the Horned Frogs to their first-ever playoff berth and championship appearance. Duggan shows flashes of an NFL arm when there’s a clean pocket. He’s a tough competitor with a good work ethic. Mobility is also there in Duggan’s game. He can get out of the pocket and pick up yards on the ground.
Weaknesses: Duggan is just a loveable player. He’s fought through all the odds medically and against the depth chart. However, Duggan has a clear limitation factor to his play. His accuracy stats plummet when he’s under duress. He doesn’t have that “zip,” on the ball that an NFL QB possesses. Footwork needs work I saw way too many off-balance throws on tape.
SCOUT GRADE: (6.8) 7TH ROUND PICK VALUE
10. Clayton Tune, Houston
Strengths: Good pocket presence and a nice sense of when to climb the pocket and when to run. He’s got the NFL measurables and a physically compact frame. The Houston coaching staff praised Tune for his work ethic and called him a good leader who played a big part as a captain for the Cougars last season.
Weaknesses: I want to see Tune make better decisions. Tune threw double-digit INTs every year as a starter. (He attempted a lot more passes than all the other quarterbacks.) The mechanics need work; he’s got a slower release that I would like to see tinkered with. He’s an inconsistent passer, and I don’t see any NFL window throws on his tape.
SCOUT GRADE: (6.5) UDFA VALUE
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