I don’t disagree, but you still have to have some physical traits. His arm is solid, so I think his floor is high as well. But it’s going to be tough for him to crack top 10.
It really does Look at the top guys in the league. They all have elite physical traits. Mahomes-arm and mobility Allen-size, arm and mobility Herbert-size, arm and mobility Burrow-size, mobility-inside pocket Hurts-mobility
The “right” qb. That’s the key word. The wrong one will set you back a long time. Stroud is a scrub. Young could be good but is an extreme outlier size wise
Your opinions are going to be severely discounted if you turn out to be wrong about Stroud. It’s one thing to not like a prospect, it’s another to speak about prospects as if you know the future. None of us do. At the end of the day any of these QBs could end up being really good. Regardless of so called elite physical traits or not.
Does that apply to when you’re wrong about them succeeding too? You claim Young is going to be a top 10 QB right? An elite QB? I’m willing to bet, Stroud busts before Young is elite. Yes, people can be wrong, that’s going to happen. Stroud would be the first successful Ohio St QB, so just going off of history.
Assuming the "right" QB is in this draft. If he busts what do you do? Just keep drafting QBs until you find one while the rest of the team continues to be devoid of talent? You build through the trenches and this team is cheeks on both lines.
OR if you build your team up in the trenches and you aren't bad anymore you make it harder to hit on a QB because you're drafting middle of the rounds at best from then on. There's no perfect science here.
Maybe the future franchise QB wont even come from the draft? The big board doesnt have a QB at the top of it this year. Texans luck as always has us picking at the top in a year where the position isnt the strength of the draft. With DeMeco as HC I just get the feeling he would rather get the defense where it can actually make some stops instead of diluting the talent pool and still having a subpar product due to the amount of bad play within the IOL/DL/LB. You want to know how you get a young QB killed? Have a trash defense where you keep him on the field playing catch up and trying to do too much when the team falls behind taking harsh hits because your IOL is THAT bad. Bryce Young is not the type of guy you want to be exposing like that and neither is Stroud for that matter. edit: Plus what kind of weapons will this new QB have? Nico Collins? A decent run game? I hear guys say go QB at 2 and then WR at 12 as if that would help the constant interior rush that destroyed Mills this year.
With the right offensive system and coaching you dont need a top 3 QB to be successful if you have a shut down defense.
This is NOT a mock draft. NOT a mock draft. 1. Jalen Carter: Carter is a highly disruptive player with the versatility to line up at any position along the defensive front. Against the pass, he has an explosive first step and understands how to work through the edges of blockers. He jars opponents with his initial strike before clearing his hips and closing in on the quarterback. He has the change-of-direction ability of a player 40-to-50 pounds lighter. He can use pure power to run through single blocks and possesses the quickness to split double teams. Against the run, he is firm and strong at the point of attack and has the range to make plays on the perimeter. The only negative is that he ends up on the ground a little too much. Overall, Carter is a real difference maker and must be accounted for on every snap. 2. Will Anderson Jr.: Anderson is a long, athletic edge rusher with excellent power and production. Against the pass, he is at his best when he's wide on the edge and has a runway. He can win with his suddenness/speed or transfer that speed into power and run through offensive tackles. He also has a good feel for an up-and-under move when the OT oversets to the outside. He does need to work on escaping when he doesn't win early in the down, as he gets stuck at times. Against the run, he uses his length to stack blocks and make his way to the ball. He has the speed to chase and make plays from the back side. Overall, Anderson isn't a super loose/bendy edge rusher, but his combination of speed, power and instincts should translate into double-digit sacks at the next level. 3. Bryce Young: Young was an ultra-productive passer for Alabama. The 2021 Heisman Trophy winner has quick feet in his setup and effectively marries his eyes and feet. He remains on balance and delivers the ball accurately to all three levels. He is quick to work through progressions and throws with excellent anticipation. When he has room to step up in the pocket, he can forcefully drive the ball. When his foot space is limited, though, his ball lacks life at times. He can avoid free rushers and extend plays, always keeping his eyes up to capitalize down the field with his arm. He will take the free yards with his legs when necessary, but he's never in run-first mode. His lack of height isn't a major issue, but his narrow frame raises concerns about his durability at the next level. If Young can maintain his health, he should quickly emerge as a quality starting quarterback in the NFL. 4. RB Bijan Robinson 5. CB Devon Witherspoon 6. OT Peter Skoronski: Skoronski is a steady, reliable tackle prospect. He has the desired height and bulk for the position, but lacks ideal length. In the passing game, he is quick out of his stance and has the ability to kick out and cover up speed rushers on the edge. He plays with knee bend and balance to redirect and stay square versus counter moves. He gives ground initially against power rushers before resettling and anchoring down. In the run game, he plays with leverage and uses a strong inside arm to uproot and displace defenders. He is quick to the second level to wall off linebackers. His overall awareness is excellent. Skoronski isn't on the same level as his former teammate, Rashawn Slater, but he'll be very consistent and stable as a starting OT. 7. EDGE Tyree Wilson 8. EDGE Keion White 9. TE Dalton Kincaid 10. WR Jordan Addison: Addison has average height and a narrow frame for the position. He lines up outside and in the slot. He is a very smooth, polished route runner, routinely changing tempo and efficiently getting in/out of the break point. He has excellent play speed and can find another gear when the ball is in the air. He has natural hands and doesn't need to gather himself before catching the ball on crossers. He can high point the ball when working back to the QB, but has to get stronger on 50/50 balls. After the catch, he has excellent burst and wiggle. Overall, Addison should become a high-volume pass catcher very early in his pro career. 11. CJ Stroud: Stroud is a pure, natural thrower with outstanding production. He has the desired size, arm strength and decision making for the position. He isn't a dynamic athlete in his setup, but he always throws off a firm/strong platform. He has a smooth delivery and throws a beautiful, tight ball. He can layer the ball over linebackers and under safeties. He puts a nice loft on deep balls, making life easy on his pass catchers. His biggest issues arise when he has to move/reset and deliver the ball, as this causes his accuracy to suffer. (The impressive College Football Playoff performance against Georgia is the notable exception in this department.) He is a build-up-speed runner when lanes open up for him to take off. Overall, Stroud is definitely more of a shooter than a scorer. He will have success, provided the pieces are in place in front of him and on the perimeter. 12. Will Levis: Levis is an inconsistent player on tape, but he possesses ideal size, arm strength and athleticism. He is a power thrower, capable of fitting the ball into tight windows at the second and third levels. However, he needs to get more consistent underneath. He has bad misses, especially when throwing to the left. He tends to close off his front side, which severely impacts his ball placement. I admire his toughness to stand firm in the pocket, but his lack of awareness leads to him taking some monster hits, spawning ball-security issues. He moved around much better in 2021, showing quickness and power as a runner. This past fall, due to his own injuries and a lesser supporting cast, he wasn't as effective. Overall, Levis is gifted, but has some bad habits he needs to clean up in order to be a reliable NFL starter. 13. Anthony Richardson: Richardson packs elite arm strength and athleticism into a big/physical frame for the position, but he is incredibly raw on tape. He has urgency and explosiveness in his setup, and the ball jumps out of his hand from his three-quarters arm slot. His arm strength is special; he doesn't even need to engage his lower body to make power throws deep down the field. On the flip side, his decision making and accuracy are a roller-coaster ride. He yanks his arm at times, leading to some ugly misfires. He forces too many balls into crowded areas, too. He is electric as a runner, using his burst, agility and power to rack up runs of 60-to-80 yards. In summary, Richardson needs polish, but his upside exceeds everyone in the draft class. He's a low-floor/high-ceiling prospect. 14. OT Paris Johnson Jr. 15. OT Broderick Jones 16. CB Joey Porter Jr. 17. TE Darnell Washington 18. EDGE Myles Murphy 19. EDGE Nolan Smith 20. CB Christian Gonzalez 21. CB Emmanuel Forbes 22. EDGE Lukas Van Ness 23. WR Jalin Hyatt: Hyatt is a thin-framed wide receiver with rare speed. At Tennessee over the past two years, he primarily lined up in the slot in Josh Heupel's spread attack, catching a ton of quick hitters and over-the-top balls. He is at his best when he can stay on the move without having to gear down and work back to the quarterback. He has easy speed, destroying cushions immediately, and he can find another gear with the ball in the air. He tracks the ball naturally over his shoulder and can make plays above the rim. After the catch, he isn't very shifty or elusive, but he can simply run away from tacklers. He enjoyed his best game this past season in Tennessee's thrilling win over Alabama, producing one big play after another in a five-touchdown bonanza. Overall, Hyatt is a home run hitter with reliable hands. 24. EDGE Derick Hall 25. CB Brian Branch 26. TE Michael Mayer: Mayer is a physical tight end with strong hands and value in the run game. He lines up in-line, on the wing or flexed in the slot. He isn’t a sudden mover, but he understands how to set up defenders and utilizes his big frame to box out down the field. He’s excellent when making catches in congested areas. After the catch, he has the strength to drag tacklers for extra yards. He is a very dependable run blocker, as well. He latches on and runs his feet to create movement. Overall, Mayer doesn’t have elite athleticism, but he’s a complete tight end who will be ready to contribute right away. 27. C Joe Tippmann 28. RB Jahmyr Gibbs 29. EDGE Will McDonald IV 30. LB Trenton Simpson
31. WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba: Smith-Njigba primarily lined up in the slot for the Buckeyes, but he did get some work on the outside. He has a compact build with a strong lower body. Smith-Njigba was very productive playing alongside Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave for Ohio State in 2021, but he missed all but three games in 2022 due to injury. He doesn’t have ideal top speed, but he gets to his full speed very quickly. He is very polished as a route runner, leaning on defenders and quickly getting in and out of breaks. He has strong hands and thrives in the middle of the field, as he can pluck the ball while absorbing contact. He has some power and wiggle after the catch, but lacks a second gear. Overall, Smith-Njigba reminds me of Amon-Ra St. Brown, and I believe he’ll make a similar impact in the NFL. 32. OT Darnell Wright 33. LB Drew Sanders 34. WR Quentin Johnston: Johnston has exceptional size, speed and production. He uses a variety of releases to defeat press coverage and gains ground in a hurry with his long, powerful stride. The TCU offense featured him on a lot of crossing routes and deep balls over the top. He amassed a large collection of explosive plays. Drops are his biggest issue. He doesn’t trust his hands, leading to way too many balls bouncing off his body and onto the turf. After the catch, he reminds me of Mike Williams with his long stride and power to break tackles. Overall, Johnston has ideal size and speed, but he needs to become a more reliable finisher with his hands. 35. TE Luke Musgrave 36. G Steve Avila 37. G O’Cyrus Torrence 38. EDGE Felix Anudike-Uzomah 39. EDGE BJ Ojulari 40. CB Kelee Ringo 41. WR Zay Flowers 42. CB Deonte Banks 43. DT Bryan Bresee 44. RB Zach Charbonnet 45. OT Cody Mauch 46. TE Sam LaPorta 47. EDGE Tuli Tuipulotu 48. CB Tyrique Stevenson 49. DT Mazi Smith 50. TE Davis Allen
I didn’t claim any of those things. I think Young has the potential to be a top 10 qb sure, but I don’t know the future so unlike yourself I’m not going to state that he will be elite like it’s fact. Also Burrow was at Ohio State even though he didn’t graduate. If he had graduated from Ohio State, you think he would be a bust in the nfl? I don’t think the school someone goes to, dictates their ability to succeed. It can change the probability of success, but it’s not going to stop an individual from reaching their potential if they’re capable.
It's not an elite class but it's pretty solid. No can't miss franchise guy like Andrew Luck, but those come around once every blue moon and the stars have to align perfectly to be in a position to take one. And the Texans have the most cap space in the league to work with this coming off-season. It would be a mistake not to put that to work to put our young guys in a position to succeed. Not every other piece needs to come from the draft either - no reason not to spend in the short term when basically all of your building blocks are on rookie deals. You could take an offensive weapon at #12, sign a solid vet C/G, maybe draft another lineman or two mid-round, and combine that with what was a pretty effective run game last year without any passing threat, and all of a sudden you have a pretty solid offense for a rookie QB. On defense we already have a strong secondary, not too many pieces away from getting out of the gutter on that side of the ball with Demeco leading the way. I just think if Texans decide there's a pretty high probability Young/Stround develop into top-10/top-15ish QB's you take them while you have the opportunity. QB doesn't necessarily need to come from the draft, I'm one of few who doesn't hate the idea of Derek Carr as I think he's fringe top-10 in the right situation and should still have plenty of juice in the tank. But I just don't think teams should be waiting around for the perfect QB to fall in their lap because you are likely to be waiting for a very very long time. Before the Texans got Deshaun we had basically 0 shot at ever winning a Super Bowl and Deshaun wasn't a perfect can't-miss-prospect either.
One correction. The bears actually have the most cap space. I believe the Texans are 5th or 6th in the league for cap space which is very solid and they should be able to do well in free agency if they make good decisions.
On the flip side and some here will hate it, but I'd throw the cap space at a guy like Lamar Jackson vs Carr - and I'd give up the picks to do it. I'd' feel better about a guy who has demonstrated the ability to be a difference maker in this league vs shooting the dice on someone who we HOPE could become as good or better years down the line. I agree you can build up other holes with the cap space. Im not too sure Im confident in Caserios ability to find a QB and everything hinges on what the offensive coaches will look like and what they may desire.
