2023 NFL Draft: QB Rankings
1
Bryce Young
School: Alabama
Ht/Wt: 5’10”, 204 lbs
Strengths:
Young is an intelligent player. Decision making is usually on point. The way he is able to manipulate the pocket to buy himself some extra time is also impressive. He possesses the poise necessary to succeed under pressure. Young is not afraid to stand in there and take a hit to get the throw off. Whether under pressure or not, he likes to go through his progressions, and will be able to do so at the next level. He wasn’t limited to half field reads. Athleticism is an asset. He doesn’t look to run for the sake of it, but he can extend the play when needed. On the run, he still looks down the field for an open pass (throws on the run are accurate and with velocity), but can also pick up significant yardage when he chooses to tuck and run. Young has tremendous accuracy, and can make throws to all three levels. He can zip the ball in, when necessary, and is also able to drop it in over the shoulder. His arm strength is not elite, but is still pretty good. He can put enough velocity on his passes, and is capable of making all the throws.
Weaknesses:
I’m not a big fan of his mechanics. Footwork in the pocket especially looks lazy, for lack of a better word. Arm strength is good but not elite, for a player who may go 1st overall. Deep passes down the sideline can be a little flat at times, and hang up there on others. His frame is something that will have some evaluators concerned. It isn’t something that would have me losing sleep, but you would like him to be careful not to take unnecessary hits.
Summary:
Young is an elite QB prospect with the tools to be a team’s franchise player. Though he doesn’t have an elite arm, it is more than enough to successfully make all the throws. Young is accurate when throwing to all levels, and he has the ability to make the correct reads, keeping the ball away from danger. Further, his pocket presence and mobility are both great. He has the odd issue when throwing deep, but it is nothing too bad. His size will have people concerned, but I think we will continue to see those kinds of concerns for QB fade away. His mechanics and footwork in the pocket didn’t look great on tape. There aren’t many improvements he needs to make, but that is one of them. Overall, Bryce Young projects as a franchise QB at the next level. 1st overall is in play.
| Grade: 88.2 | Round Grade: 1st |
2
CJ Stroud
School: Ohio State
Ht/Wt: 6’3”, 214 lbs
Strengths:
Stroud has a number of high end traits that give him the potential to be a franchise QB in the NFL. Arm strength is very good. You can see the zip on his passes, even when throwing to the opposite sideline or on the run. Stroud can thread the needle when looking to connect on an intermediate route. He also has the ability to launch it deep down the sideline. Accuracy shows up in all phases. When he needs to, can throw it on a line. But at other times, he shows that he can drop it in the bucket with more touch. This is the case on intermediate and deeper routes. Stroud is not scared of pressure in the pocket, and he is perfectly fine standing in the thick of things to make a play. Athletically, he has some speed, and he runs with a lot of power in his stride. When he gets going, it will take some work to bring him down.
Weaknesses:
Stroud has good speed and, overall, is a good athlete. However, often, he puzzlingly shows a lack of desire to extend the play outside the pocket. A lot of times, he stays in there way too long, and ends up taking the sack, when he could have instead extended the play. This issue did improve as the year progressed, but I think he still has more room to grow in this area. Under pressure, you can see him get flustered at times. This has an effect on his decision making, and on some occasions, caused him to launch an ill advised pass over the middle. Perhaps if he senses the pressure a bit quicker, he will be able to get out of it. Stroud can be a bit inconsistent with his throwing mechanics and footwork in the pocket. It doesn’t look like anything major, but some tweaks should help him.
Summary:
Stroud has the arm strength and accuracy that you want out of a potential franchise QB. As well, he has the speed and power to pick up chunk yards on the ground. As he transitions to the next level, I would like to see better pocket awareness, and less stubbornness about standing in the pocket for an extended amount of time. While he isn;t exactly the shiftiest player, he has the athleticism to extend plays on a more consistent basis. Given his abundance of traits, a team will be excited about his potential to turn around a franchise. 1st overall is in play for Stroud.
| Grade: 86.7 | Round Grade: 1st |
3
Anthony Richardson
School: Florida
Ht/Wt: 6’4”, 244 lbs
Strengths:
Richardson has elite physical traits that give him the upside to be a top 5 QB in the NFL if he is able to reach his ceiling. His athleticism stands out on tape, and his performance at the combine still somehow managed to blow away expectations. On tape, you can see his ability to extend plays outside of the pocket, and he is a huge threat to go the distance whenever he decides to tuck it and run. As a passer, Richardson shows off elite arm strength. He can make any and every pass, and do it with no shortage of velocity. Throws on a rope almost seem to have a smoke trail behind them. But he can also put a nice arc on deep passes. Between his ability as a passer and a runner, there is consistent big play potential.
Weaknesses:
Upside is off the charts for Richardson, but the same cannot be said about his consistency. Accuracy, even on short passes, fluctuates frequently. While accuracy is the big issue, it stems from issues with his mechanics. Richardson’s footwork can get extremely sloppy in the pocket, and his throwing motion ends up out of whack. Pressure in the pocket often causes this, as his fundamentals seem to fly out the window when he has to react quickly. The mental part of his game also needs to improve. He isn’t bad at going through his progressions, but he isn’t great at making the correct read. His decision making is questionable, and the ball gets put in harm’s way more often than you would like to see.
Summary:
Richardson has the physical tools that will make any coach tempted to use a top 10 pick on him. The combination of size and athleticism is unreal. He is a threat to take the ball the distance everytime he touches it, and he has a power element as a runner that you don’t always see paired up with that kind of speed. His elite arm strength further raises his ceiling, and the flashes of brilliance are a glimpse of what that ceiling looks like. All that being said, Richardson will need significant improvement to his mechanics, which hopefully will lead to significant improvements to his accuracy. The flashes need to become consistent. The mental side of his game will also need development. Ultimately, it is the classic case of a risk vs reward prospect. But because of the upside, he should end up somewhere in the 1st round.
| Grade: 85.2 | Round Grade: 1st |
4
Will Levis
School: Kentucky
Ht/Wt: 6’4”, 229 lbs
Strengths:
Levis has some physical traits that give him the upside to be a quality starter in the NFL. His arm strength stands out from the get go. He can sling it on a rope 20 yards down the field. The ability is there to make tight window throws, both over the middle and to the sideline. Levis can launch it, not only with plenty of velocity, but also with a lot of distance on the football. Some of his passes down the sideline are beautifully arcing and placed right into the receiver’s arms in stride. Levis has a big frame and is able to take on some contact. It is useful on short yardage plays where he can rely on his power to plunge his way forward. Straight line speed looked solid when some space opened up for him to run. He also has a sense of toughness to him. Not only with how he stands in the pocket, but also with the willingness he showed to play through injuries.
Weaknesses:
Levis is still very raw as a prospect. While he has the arm strength to make some very tough passes, he hasn’t been able to pass with accuracy on a consistent basis. He misses often, especially high, when trying to throw with velocity down the field. His mechanics are not great, which causes a lot of his accuracy issues. Levis also has a long way to go when it comes to his mental processing. His ability to read the defence pre-snap isn’t great, and it results in blitzes going undetected. He gets caught off guard and essentially has to duck away. Further, he will need to improve his ability to read things post-snap. Levis doesn’t sense pressure well, and will sit there way too long. Decision making can also be an issue, and pressure is often what causes it. When things break down, he can get a bit flustered. From a mobility standpoint, I don’t see much to get excited about. I certainly wouldn’t go as far as to say that he is a statue in the pocket. However, he does seem stiff when required to escape pressure.
Summary:
Levis has starter upside thanks to his abundance of arm strength and ability to make every throw. Though size seems to matter less these days, there are still coaches and front office members who favour a QB with size, and Levis certainly has that. The flashes are great, but he will need to turn them into consistency. His mechanics will need work, and hopefully improvement in this area will lead to improved accuracy. As well, the mental side of his game is in need of further development. There is no doubt that Levis comes with some risk, but the ceiling is high if he can make it there. A top 10 pick is in play for him, but it also wouldn’t be a surprise if he falls in the draft.
| Grade: 81.8 | Round Grade: 2nd |
5
Hendon Hooker
School: Tennessee
Ht/Wt: 6’3”, 217 lbs
Strengths:
Hooker is a flashy player who likes to take shots down the field. He’s got a strong arm and can zip the ball into tight windows. Ball velocity stands out when throwing to the middle. It gets there quickly while the window is still open, giving the defender little time to get there. Hooker has put some flashes of tremendous deep ball accuracy on tape. At his best, he is launching it 30-40+ yards down the field, right into the bucket. He gets a good amount of air on these passes. Distance is no issue at all. In the pocket, he has shown the ability to step up when pressure arrives from the edge. Hooker is a good athlete who can escape pressure and extend things outside of the pocket. He is also a threat as a runner beyond the line of scrimmage. Designed runs are always an option, and chunk gains can also come when he goes off script and decides to tuck it and run. He has a big frame and is able to add an element of power when he runs with the ball.
Weaknesses:
Hooker has good upside, but is still a raw prospect. Accuracy comes and goes. Inconsistent mechanics and footwork play a big part. He can miss high over the middle, and his passes deep down the side like are either bang on, or way off. Flashes of pocket awareness show up on tape, but at other times, he holds on to the ball way too long, resulting in a sack. He needs to sense pressure more consistently and know when to leave the pocket. His offence in college didn’t do him too many favours when it comes to his ability to translate to the NFL. He was very sheltered. Many of his throws were scripted. Single reads with a check down option were often what he had to go through. He didn’t get much of a chance to go through full field progressions. This makes the learning curve pretty big, which already isn’t great, and even less ideal, given that he is an overager. Hooker suffered a torn ACL, and his recovery is something that teams will be monitoring.
Summary:
Hooker has NFL starter upside thanks to his high end arm, athleticism, and flashes that he has shown throughout his college career. You see the ability he has often. He can zip it over the middle, launch a high arcing pass down the sideline and hit his receiver in stride, and he can pick up chunk yards with his legs. Consistency, however, will need to improve. Mechanics need work and his accuracy needs to improve. The biggest learning curve is probably on the mental side. Hooker can sit in the pocket too long, without sensing pressure around him. Complicating things further, is the fact that the offence he ran in college does not translate to the NFL. It may take some time for him to make the necessary adjustments, and his age as a rookie makes this a little concerning. But he does have a starting calibre skillset.
| Grade: 80.2 | Round Grade: 2nd |
6
Stetson Bennett
School: Georgia
Ht/Wt: 5’11”, 192 lbs
Strengths:
Bennett is a QB that brings his best in the big moments. He was great for Georgia in each of the playoff games that he played. Generally, Bennett is an accurate passer. Though he doesn’t have high end arm strength, it does receive a passing grade, and he can throw to each level of the field. His mobility is really good. Bennett does well to evade pressure often, and he can make plays as a passer outside of the pocket. Defences will also have to account for his ability to tuck it and run. Though he isn’t the biggest guy, he plays tough. An example of this is when he dives for the pilon, knowing that a big hit is likely. He stands in the pocket without fear, and is able to step up when pressure makes its way around the edge. Bennett is a smart player. Full field reads at Georgia should help his transition to the NFL. He goes through his progressions and can read things well, both pre and post snap.
Weaknesses:
Though Bennett is a solid all around prospect, he doesn’t have any elite qualities, and his upside is rather limited. While his arm strength is good enough for him to have success, it isn’t on the high-end side of things. On passes further down the field, he loses a bit of velocity, and he can have a tougher time squeezing it into tight windows. As well, on passes down the sideline, he is forced to put less arc on the ball. It puts a lot more pressure on him to have his timing on point. Bennett generally senses pressure well, but there are some instances where he holds onto the ball a bit too long. As well, there can be some recklessness that creeps into his game. In these instances, he somewhat abandons his technique, and lets go of an errant off platform pass. Bennett is an overager in this draft, which further puts a cap on how much further room for development he has left.
Summary:
Bennett is a solid QB prospect with enough skills to make it in the NFL. He has the general accuracy to be reliable, and though he doesn’t have high end arm talent, he has enough to make plays on all three levels. His mobility adds a nice element to his game. He isn’t someone that will be tracked down easily. Upside is the biggest question with him. Though his arm strength is passable, it may be at the point where he becomes a bit reliant on schematics and his playmakers around him. But even if he isn’t that guy who is willing you to victory, he can potentially make it as a game manager that can run the system. If he doesn’t make it as a low-end starter, he should be a pretty solid backup.
| Grade: 73.7 | Round Grade: 4th |
7
Jaren Hall
School: BYU
Ht/Wt: 6’0”, 207 lbs
Strengths:
Hall is a twitchy player at the QB position who can beat a difference in a variety of ways. He won’t blow you away with arm strength, but he has enough to win on all three levels. Hall likes to go off script and has the athleticism, not only to extend the play outside the pocket, but to make plays past the line of scrimmage. In the pocket, he is quite savvy. Hall steps up when pressure comes from the edge, but also puts subtle side steps to good use. Even when the rush gets a little too close for comfort, he has the ability to avoid it. There aren’t too many occasions where he panics and just tosses one up. His plays are more calculated. He thrives as an off platform passer. It is a little unorthodox, but he makes it work. Hall can throw on the run, regardless of which side he is heading towards.
Weaknesses:
Injuries have been an issue for Hall, and his slighter frame will have some teams concerned. On the field, his unusual mechanics may be okay for some teams, but will turn others off. While he is often able to make it work, he will still need to clean it up a bit, as he transitions to the next level. The mental side of his game will also need some work. Processing can improve and he can do a better job of working his way through his progressions. Hall is an overage prospect, which may turn some teams off.
Summary:
Hall is an intriguing prospect thanks to his athleticism and ability to make plays off script. He possesses a mentality that is becoming more and more common these days. While he doesn’t have an elite arm, it is solid enough for him to distribute the ball to each level of the field. Some work will be needed on his mechanics, and he still has some kinks to iron out when it comes to the mental side of his game. Hall will need some time to develop, which isn’t great, given his age, but he does have pretty solid upside.
| Grade: 72.5 | Round Grade: 4th |
8
Tanner McKee
School: Stanford
Ht/Wt: 6’6”, 231 lbs
Strengths:
McKee is a big QB with a strong arm. He has the velocity to fit the ball into tight widows down the field, and can also hit receivers down the opposite sideline. Accuracy came in stretches, but at his best, he was able to fit the ball right into the open window in the middle of the field, or find his guy in stride down the sideline. McKee is certainly battle tested, dealing with poor offensive line play and drops throughout his career.
Weaknesses:
McKee is lacking when it comes to athleticism. Essentially, he is a statue in the pocket, and enteres into duck and cover mode when pressure arrives from the middle. He won’t be extending the play very often, as he lacks the agility or speed to escape pass rushers. It also doesn’t help that he takes too long to sense pressure. Accuracy is great for stretches, but can flip the other way for long stretches, as well. He misses his target pretty badly on some occasions, with the ball instead ending up in danger areas, and some of his deep passes don’t have enough arc. McKee has a slow and awkward throwing motion that may impact his accuracy at times. His passing, often as a result of pressure, can become more like a guessing game. He gets flustered and just tosses it up or fires a bullet into coverage.
Summary:
McKee is a strong armed QB prospect with prototypical size for the position. At his best he is throwing with zip into tight windows, both over the middle and down the sideline. However, his accuracy comes and goes. Athletically, he doesn’t offer much, and will be reliant on his offensive line for much of his success at the next level. Given his struggles with mechanics and consistency, as well as his below average athleticism, he is likely a backup at the next level. But given his arm talent, he can potentially be a solid backup on a talent roster. With help around him, he has the potential to win some games.
| Grade: 67.2 | Round Grade: 5th |
9
Clayton Tune
School: Houston
Ht/Wt: 6’3”, 220 lbs
Strengths:
Tune is a big, strong QB with the ability to hang in the pocket and make tough plays. But for a big guy, he also has pretty good mobility within the pocket. His ability to escape pressure catches you a bit off guard, and that is before he rumbles his way forward for a 15 yard gain. His navigation in the pocket is smart, and he knows how to work his way around to buy himself some space, rather than running into bodies. Tune puts good velocity on his short and intermediate passes. Accuracy is solid in this area, as well. Tune is able to go through full field progressions, which should help his transition to the NFL level.
Weaknesses:
Tune lacks the arm strength to consistently pass with accuracy on deep plays. He went a couple of stretches without attempting many deep passes down the sideline. This limitation will allow defences to sit further down low. Though he has shown solid escapability in college, he still isn’t the most agile player, and I wonder if he will have the same kind of success in this area when he gets to the NFL. Decision making is usually solid, but some bad ones do also show up. As well, there were times where he stared down his target, telegraphing it for his opponent. Tune often tries to make off platform throws, but most of these seemed to be pretty far off.
Summary:
Tune is a solid prospect, who offers the ability to navigate the pocket and execute the short-intermediate portion of the passing game. Issues do arise when he has to throw it deep down the field. As well, given that he isn’t the most agile guy, I am not sure that his escapability at the college level will fully translate. Tune is a smart player, and his floor doesn’t seem too bad. His abilities and traits suggest that he can be a quality backup in this league. Though more of a long shot, a low-end starter isn’t out of the question.
| Grade: 65.2 | Round Grade: 5th |
10
Tyson Bagent
School: Shepherd
Ht/Wt: 6’3”, 213 lbs
Strengths:
Bagent was able to make a name for himself as a small school prospect, eventually earning an invite to the Senior Bowl. He’s got solid ball velocity. Though it won’t blow you away, he has shown to be able to throw the ball to all three levels with a decent amount of zip. Bagent is a solid athlete, as well. He has the ability to manipulate the pocket a little, and can escape out when needed.
Weaknesses:
Bagent can be inconsistent with his mechanics. He is a sidearm thrower. If it works, coaches sometimes put up with unusual mechanics. However, there were inconsistencies with his accuracy. The competition at the NFL level will be a big step up. Reading NFL defences and going through full field progressions should present a pretty steep learning curve.
Summary:
Bagent is an interesting prospect. He is sneaky athletic and can make some plays with his legs. As a passer, he gets a decent amount of zip on the ball, and can get it to all three levels. Mechanics will need work, and the mental side will be a pretty big transition. He is a developmental project, but has some worthwhile upside for a mid-late round guy.
| Grade: 60.1 | Round Grade: 6th |
11
Holton Ahlers
School: East Carolina
Ht/Wt: 6’3”, 237 lbs
Strengths:
Ahlers is a big QB who also has the athleticism to make plays outside of the pocket. Though I wouldn’t say he is a guy who will be ripping off 30 yard runs, he has enough juice and savviness to evade defenders in the pocket, and rush for some positive gains. In some of his games, accuracy seems to come in stretches. At his best, he was throwing with nice touch and ball placement to the short and intermediate levels of the field. His savviness shows when running the play action. He can be very deceptive and the defence often bites on the run fake, giving him room to run or pick out a pass. Ahlers stands tall in the pocket, even when things get a little crowded. The ability to go through progressions is there, and he doesn’t often get flustered. The left handed QB does well when rolling out of the pocket, showing solid accuracy when going to either his left or right. Ahlers was invited to the NFLPA Bowl and turned in a pretty good performance.
Weaknesses:
Arm strength is fine, but nothing special. He can get enough velocity on his intermediate passes, but tight window throws and deep passes down the sideline can give him some trouble. Decision making is a big question mark for Ahlers. It is not a matter of him getting flustered and making panicked throws, but he often tries to do too much. He tries to force the big play at times, not only passing up an easier play that is open, but also putting the ball in harm’s way on a lot of these plays. Ahlers has the ability to escape the pocket, and pressure doesn’t fluster him. However, he can sometimes be a bit too calm, holding the ball longer than he should, while the pocket continues to collapse. As a passer, his throwing motion seems to cause some issues. It is very elongated and awkward, which can have an impact on his ball velocity and accuracy.
Summary:
Ahlers has a solid, but unspectacular skillset. His ability to go off script and his general accuracy gives him the chance to be a good backup in the NFL. However, the mental side of his game still needs work. He will need to get used to taking what is given, and cut down on the risky plays. As well, his pocket awareness will need to improve. Ahlers is a developmental player, and for the most part, he played against lesser competition, which likely means that he has a tougher transition. But with some work and good coaching, I don’t mind his potential.
| Grade: 60.0 | Round Grade: 6th |
12
Max Duggan
School: TCU
Ht/Wt: 6’2”, 207 lbs
Strengths:
Duggan has a tough as nails playing style. You see it with his play in the pocket, and as a runner. He is not afraid to stand in the face of pressure, and is willing to take a hit to make a play. Duggan is a threat as a runner. Read option plays were run often, and he did well to keep things disguised throughout the process. Though not extremely dynamic, he does have some speed, which allows him to go for some chunk gains. Though coaches may not want him to do it, you have to admire the toughness he has to lower his shoulder at the end of the play. Duggan is accurate enough to execute the short passes, and some into the intermediate territory. He can lead nice drives if able to get into a rhythm. With his athleticism, he is able to extend plays outside the pocket, and his throws on the run are pretty decent.
Weaknesses:
Duggan struggles with consistency when it comes to his accuracy. He can work the short parts, and even the intermediate areas of the field, but as the distance increases, his effectiveness decreases. He doesn’t have the arm strength to consistently push the ball down the field. Many of his deep balls have hung up in the air, while others ended up falling short. Even in the intermediate parts of the field, he can miss by a wide margin. His mechanics will need a lot of work in order to correct some of these issues. Duggan has shown the ability to go through full progressions, but these bright moments are overshadowed by more instances where he stares down his target. He sometimes gets panicked by early pressure and just lets it go to his first read. Too often, the ball ends up being put into traffic for no good reason.
Summary:
Duggan has good athleticism and toughness that coaches will appreciate. He can escape pressure in the pocket and make plays with his legs. As a passer, he can execute a simple playbook, but he doesn’t have the arm to consistently push it down the field. Accuracy is good on short passes and decent at the intermediate level. Improved mechanics can help fix the issue. Though his upside as a passer is limited, he does enough to combine with his running ability to make for a potential backup option, with a little more development.
| Grade: 59.8 | Round Grade: 7th |
13
Tanner Morgan
School: Minnesota
Ht/Wt: 6’2”, 215 lbs
Strengths:
Morgan has solid arm strength and ball velocity when judging based on short and intermediate passes. He has flashed some tight window throws, and has the ability to throw with nice touch. Morgan is also a good anticipatory passer, letting go of the ball before the receiver makes his break. Athleticism isn’t anything to write home about, but he still has enough to maneuver around the pocket, and even pick up a chunk of positive yards if the middle opens up. His speed in these situations can be a bit deceptive.
Weaknesses:
Morgan isn’t a big downfield passer. He can handle intermediate stuff, but the velocity and accuracy drops off when he has to launch it. He can sometimes become too reliant on his playmakers. Especially on underthrown balls. He has some speed to get out of the pocket, but he isn’t super agile either. The jump to NFL competition will provide him with tougher challenges when tasked with escaping the pocket. On the mental side, decision making is something that will need to be improved.
Summary:
Morgan doesn’t wow you in any area. However, he has a decent enough skill set to handle simpler duties. Accuracy and ball velocity are good enough in the intermediate portions of the field. Though he won’t be winning any footraces, he has enough juice to at least have a chance to escape. The mental side will need improvement, but from a physical standpoint, if you work around the weaknesses, he could potentially be a solid backup in time.
| Grade: 57.8 | Round Grade: 7th |
14
Malik Cunningham
School: Louisville:
Ht/Wt: 6’0”, 192 lbs
Strengths:
Cunningham is a great athlete. He is a big threat to pick up yards on the ground thanks to great speed and elusiveness. He does a good job of escaping the pocket when things break down, and he can deliver an accurate pass on the run. Cunningham has had some success throwing the ball over the middle. On these throws, his ball velocity and accuracy are solid. Generally speaking, he’s got decent accuracy when throwing to the short and intermediate levels.
Weaknesses:
Flashes of accuracy are there, but he is inconsistent. His accuracy is more general than pinpoint. The further down the field you go, the more inaccurate the passes become. As well, many of his deep balls will die down on him. He will need to work on his mechanics as he transitions to the next level. He is an “arm thrower.” Getting away from that technique, and stepping into more of his passes, will help him generate more velocity. At this stage, Cunningham is still a one read QB. He stares down his target and has a tendency to force a throw if it is not open. His awareness in the pocket is not great and there are times where he can look flustered under pressure.
Summary:
Cunningham is intriguing because of his athletic ability, but he is a big project. He will need a lot of work as a passer, and an overhaul in mechanics will probably be necessary. As well, he will need to develop the mental parts of his game. Maybe he’s worth a late round developmental flyer, but it’s not a guarantee he gets drafted. If he doesn’t make it as a QB, a position switch is a possibility.
| Grade: 57.7 | Round Grade: 7th |
15
Dorian Thompson-Robinson
School: UCLA
Ht/Wt: 6’2”, 203 lbs
Strengths:
Thompson-Robinson brings speed and good athleticism to the table. He is able to evade pressure in the pocket, and either look for a pass, or tuck it and run. DTR can pick up chunk yardage on the run. Staples of good ball velocity have popped up on tape, and when he is in rhythm, he is capable of executing the quicker passing game.
Weaknesses:
Thompson-Robinson isn’t someone who normally goes through full field progressions and, as a result, will face a learning curve at the next level. His mechanics can be spotty, and his accuracy is extremely inconsistent. Ball velocity looks solid at times, but he often lacks the ability to push the ball down the field. He can panic under pressure and force throws into traffic. Even when not pressured, he has a tendency to stare down his target.
Summary:
Thompson-Robinson has good athleticism that he takes advantage of to pick up chunk yardage with his legs. Though he has a decent arm, he still struggles to push the ball down the field. Accuracy is very inconsistent, and the mental side of his game is a big work in progress. At this point he looks like a developmental project who likely needs time on a practice squad. If he can correct some issues, he may end up as a QB2.
| Grade: 54.8 | Round Grade: UDFA |
16
Jake Haener
School: Fresno State
Ht/Wt: 6’0”, 207 lbs
Strengths:
Haener is a smart player. His ability to handle the rush is put on display often, and he remains calm as he scans the field for an open target. Haener can move around in the pocket, and at times, make his way outside. He keeps his eyes down the field and is able to spot receivers that are sitting in a soft spot. The ability to execute the quick passing game is there. With his football IQ, he has the potential to run a QB friendly offence that has weapons around him.
Weaknesses:
Haener is severely lacking when it comes to arm strength. Even on short-intermediate passing plays, he really needs to step into his pass, or he is susceptible to having it get undercut by the defender. Further, many of his deep passes die down on him, and the spiral isn’t tight. On many of these plays, he has to throw the ball at a flatter angle in an attempt to get the necessary distance. Haener has enough mobility to move around in and escape the pocket. However, he isn’t a big threat to pick up a lot of yards as a runner. Mechanics are an issue at times. His footwork can get sloppy, and his throwing motion is off. He makes a lot of off platform throws, but these passes end up in or near harm’s way more often than not.
Summary:
Haener has a good enough football IQ to impress coaches. He can read the field and execute a basic offence. However, he lacks the traits to really have any kind of upside. Arm strength holds him back, and he isn’t picking up chunk yards on the ground. His IQ might be able to help him sustain a job as a QB3. And who knows, maybe he can iron out some mechanical kinks and work his way up to a QB2 position. It is not out of the question, but probably still a long shot.
| Grade: 53.4 | Round Grade: UDFA |
17
Sean Clifford
School: Penn State
Ht/Wt: 6’2”, 219 lbs
Strengths:
Clifford is a good athlete with the ability to make plays outside of the pocket. He showed the ability to effectively run the read option and is able to spring together some splash plays. Clifford has flashed some nice throws down the sideline with touch. He doesn’t have a booming arm, but it is solid enough for him to distribute the ball to most areas of the field. Clifford’s movement in the pocket is effective, as he is often able to sidestep rushers and avoid sacks.
Weaknesses:
Clifford is an overage prospect, yet is still very underdeveloped when it comes to some of the mental aspects of the game. He isn’t always a quick processor, and pressure can leave him flustered. Forced throws are present on tape, and the ball ends up in harm’s way too often. Accuracy is wild and inconsistent. The flashes are nice, but a lot of his misses are far off, and it is hard for him to find consistency when things aren’t perfect around him.
Summary:
Clifford’s athleticism and flashes as a passer make him a worthwhile developmental project. However, as an overaged prospect, you have to wonder how much upside there really is. Can he take the drastic leaps mentally that he will require to have success at the next level? With some work, he has enough talent to find a spot in this league. He has QB2 upside if all goes well, but a practice squad spot seems most likely for his early days in the NFL.
| Grade: 52.7 | Round Grade: UDFA |
18
Aidan O’Connell
School: Perdue
Ht/Wt: 6’3”, 213 lbs
Strengths:
O’Connell is a big QB who regularly displays the willingness and ability to stand in the pocket to deliver his pass. Timing and anticipation is a big part of his game. O’Connell often likes to play the quick tempo passing game. He has shown to be capable of running this kind of offence. His anticipatory throws are released before the receiver makes his break, and sometimes gives the CB less of an opportunity to jump the route.
Weaknesses:
O’Connell unfortunately lacks many of the desired traits that come with upside. His arm strength is sub par. On deep passes, he lacks distance, and has to flatten out his pass when he wants to throw farther down the field. There even seems to be some trouble getting velocity on his shorter passes. This is especially evident on passes towards the sideline. CB’s often are presented with a good opportunity to undercut the route. O’Connell likes to get rid of the ball very early in the play, partly to make up for his lack of arm strength. His success is very dependent on timing, but oftentimes, it is almost as if he is closing his eyes and throwing the ball. Since holding on to it can disrupt his timing, he instead will throw his pass, even when nothing is actually open. Athletically, he won’t bring much to the table. Basic pocket movement is there, but rushers shouldn’t have too much trouble getting the sack if they are able to make their way into the backfield. As a passer, his mechanics are not clean, and his throwing motion seems to take a bit longer than the ideal time.
Summary:
O’Connell has shown at times that he can execute the quick passing game, through good accuracy and timing, while mixing in the odd deep shot. However, limited arm strength, limited mobility, and an over reliance of keeping things within a certain structure puts a big cap on his upside. Perhaps improved mechanics will help. A practice squad spot seems like his best place early on. With some development, he might be able to work his way up to being a legit QB3 or even a QB2 in the right system.
| Grade: 48.1 | Round Grade: UDFA |
Full Rankings:
- Bryce Young (88.2, Rd 1)
- CJ Stroud (86.7, Rd 1)
- Anthony Richardson (85.2, Rd 1)
- Will Levis (81.8, Rd 2)
- Hendon Hooker (80.2, Rd 2)
- Stetson Bennett (73.7, Rd 4)
- Jaren Hall (72.5, Rd 4)
- Tanner McKee (67.2, Rd 5)
- Clayton Tune (65.2, Rd 5)
- Tyson Bagent (60.1, Rd 6)
- Holton Ahlers (60.0, Rd 6)
- Max Duggan (59.8, Rd 7)
- Tanner Morgan (57.8, Rd 7)
- Malik Cunningham (57.7, Rd 7)
- Dorian Thompson-Robinson (54.8, UDFA)
- Jake Haener (53.4, UDFA)
- Sean Clifford (52.7, UDFA)
- Aidan O’Connell (48.1, UDFA)
Notables Not Graded:
- Chase Brice
- Adrian Martinez
Modified Homescreen Image Via: The University of Alabama (CC)