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Bryce Young vs CJ Stroud

FWIW Russel Wilson came in at 5' 10" & 5/8 ths at the Combine - a mere one half of one inch taller than BY.
 
Bryce Young:
STRENGTHS: Quick-minded player and processes his surroundings extremely well (is “genius level” on the board, according to one NFL GM) ... his vision and ability to create out of structure are special ... instinctive pocket presence and had extensive basketball training growing up (his favorite athlete is Steph Curry), which developed his ability to create space to throw (Nick Saban: “He plays like a point guard.”) ... deftly negotiates pressure and has a knack for setting up and eluding rushers with controlled, cunning movements ... very quick to reset his eyes/feet on the move and get the ball out with his twitchy release ... naturally accurate from any arm angle (78.0 percent adjusted career completion rate) ... consistently throws the football before his target’s body/eyes are turned toward him ... identifies pre- snap blitzers like a seasoned pro and always knows his hot routes (set and reset protections with pro-style verbiage) ... level-headed and grasps the mental side of the game, which allows him to perform with a calming presence (one of seven two-time team captains under Saban) ... slow heartbeat in high-pressure situations ... very well-prepared and dedicated to his craft (NFL scout: “Winning is the most important thing to him.”) ... posted a 23-4 win-loss record as a starter ... played at a high level versus top opponents (314.6 yards per game with 35 touchdowns and 6 interceptions in 13 starts versus ranked teams) ... threw a touchdown in all 27 starts over the last two seasons (an Alabama record for consecutive games with a touchdown).

WEAKNESSES: Vastly undersized with a slight frame – measured 204 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine, but his playing weight is “around 190 pounds,” according to NFL scouts ... minimal growth potential and doesn’t have the body type to get much bigger ... his size will restrict his effectiveness operating muddy pockets and ability to slip tackles in the NFL ... his pocket arm strength is closer to average than above-average ... his deep ball will lose some life downfield ... won’t be able to get away with holding the ball in the NFL as long as he did in college (average time to throw in 2022 was 3.02 seconds) ... often welcomes chaos to buy time as a passer, raising the odds of him taking hits ... 12 career fumbles ... his lack of size leads to obvious durability concerns ... missed one game as a junior because of a sprained AC joint sprain in his right (throwing) shoulder.

SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Alabama, Young thrived in offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien’s pro-style spread attack, becoming the first quarterback in school history to win the Heisman Trophy. The first Alabama player to throw for 3,000-plus yards in separate seasons, he set the single-season school records for passing yards (4,872) and touchdowns (47), while finishing his career No. 2 in passing yards (8,356) and passing touchdowns (80). A point guard on the football field with his rare vision and spatial awareness, Young plays with impressive body rhythm and controlled urgency with his mind, feet and release. Although some of his magic acts will be tough to replicate in the NFL and will lead to durability concerns, he has a sixth sense for pressure and the crafty reaction skills to improvise, buy time and create off-script. Overall, Young is a size outlier (he will be the smallest quarterback in the NFL the moment he is drafted) with average arm power, but he is a natural passer with an instinctive feel for throw location and play extension. Despite limited physical traits, he has the high-end intangibles and talent required to be an impact starter.

GRADE: 1st Round (No. 1 overall)
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CJ Stroud
STRENGTHS: Smooth delivery, clean feet, and the ball comes out quick and tight ... uses a plant-and-drive motion to generate functional velocity on his passes ... layers the football with outstanding touch and control ... puts a premium on accuracy and places his throws away from defenders to avoid turnovers (85-to-12 touchdown-to-interception ratio the last two seasons) ... strong decision-maker and made incremental improvements getting deeper into his progressions ... identifies coverages pre-snap to anticipate the voids and understand where to attack the defense ... his comfort zone is inside the pocket, but he is also able to slide and make subtle movements to change throwing platforms ... showed more of a willingness to scramble and use his legs towards the end of his Ohio State career ...faced considerable adversity throughout his childhood because of his father’s situation, but it built character and Stroud doesn’t mentally wilt in tough times ... named a team captain in 2022 and is described as “reserved and confident” and one of the “funniest” players on the team by his teammates ... averaged 9.8 yards per attempt in his career and ranked No. 1 in the FBS in 30-plus yard completions (31) in 2022 ... posted 21-4 record as a starter ... one of the most productive quarterbacks in college football over his two-year starting tenure, averaging 324.9 passing yards and 3.4 passing touchdowns per game.

WEAKNESSES: Narrowly-built and needs to continue adding weight to work off NFL contact ... doesn’t have a power arm ... guilty of locking and lingering on his preferred read ... accustomed to being protected very well in the pocket ... subpar backfield elusiveness will lead to punishment from NFL pass rushers ... inconsistent ability to reset and figure out plan B when the defense fools him ... capable of using his legs to scramble (forced 3 missed tackles in the Peach Bowl against Georgia), but was an inconsistent improviser and didn’t look comfortable escaping for the majority of his OSU career (only 1 missed tackle in his first 27 games) ... must become a more competitive finisher as a ball carrier, especially on short-yardage runs ... needs to improve his ball security in the pocket (10 career fumbles, including a strip sack, scoop and score against Iowa in 2022) ... lost both of his starts against rival Michigan (other two losses came to Oregon and Georgia) ... benefited from an all-star cast around him ... missed one game because of a separated AC joint in his right (throwing) shoulder (September 2021) as a redshirt freshman.

SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Ohio State, Stroud was a record-setting passer for the Buckeyes in head coach Ryan Day’s multiple spread offense. While leading the FBS in touchdown passes (41) in 2022, Stroud broke Drew Brees’ Big Ten record for the most touchdowns in a two-year span and finished with 17 Ohio State records (second in school history with 8,123 career passing yards). Structurally sound, Stroud throws with patience and poise and he can make all the throws. Though he appears comfortable on plays designed to move his launch point, his improvisation skills when things break down are a work in progress (his outstanding performance on the 2022 Georgia tape raises the level of optimism). Overall, Stroud must become more comfortable embracing his athleticism and escapability, but he is an outstanding rhythm passer with touch, pacing and ball-speed control to carve up the defense. His passing skills give him an encouraging floor as an
NFL starter and his development as a creator will ultimately determine his NFL ceiling.
GRADE: 1st Round (No. 4 overall)
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theathletic.com

‘The Beast’ 2023 NFL Draft guide: Dane Brugler’s scouting reports, player rankings

The Athletic's draft expert Dane Brugler presents his comprehensive guide to every prospect you need to know ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft.
theathletic.com theathletic.com
 
TexansFan15 said:
What do y’all think of the rumors circulating that Texans won’t take a QB at 2 if BY is not there?
Is it lying season? Or is there a grain of truth?
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I think the Panthers are making a last ditch effort to milk picks from the Texans. Having said that, I'd take Young if I were making the call for the Panthers.
 
TexansFan15 said:
What do y’all think of the rumors circulating that Texans won’t take a QB at 2 if BY is not there?
Is it lying season? Or is there a grain of truth?
Click to expand...

This would be the wrong message in my book if they wanted to get max value for the second pick. Everyone should be made to believe that either QB would be good with them.
 
Great read on Stroud



No, C.J. Stroud isn’t like these guys
First let’s set our baseline. Just on raw stats, Stroud is MUCH better than any of the previous Ohio State quarterbacks of the past decade, and with two full years of sample size. In 2021 he finished 2nd in completion percentage (71.9%) and 15th in yards per completion (14.0). The only pro prospects to post better Y/C numbers that season were Stetson Bennett (15.5), Hendon Hooker (14.3) and Sam Howell (14.1), but they weren’t even close to as accurate, posting completion percentages of 64.5, 68, and 62.5 respectively. No one combined Stroud’s uncanny accuracy with his big play ability.

In 2022, Stroud wasn’t quite as accurate, finishing 20th with a still-impressive 66.3, but he made up for it by soaring to 5th in yards per completion with 14.3. If you ignore Ohio State’s insane game at Northwestern, which took place in ridiculous gale force winds (seriously, go watch it), he improves to 68.3% and 14.6 yards per completion, which would have ranked 11th and 4th, respectively. The average completion percentage of those quarterbacks ahead of him (which includes Anthony Richardson) was 58.3.

We can do better still. In order to improve my QBOPS statistic, I’ve started to incorporate the quality of opposing defenses faced via the advanced metric SP+. I’ve managed to put together the SP+ defensive ranking for every defense every quarterback faced and I took an average to produce a Strength of Defense number. When discussing Stroud it’s common to bring up his outstanding game against Georgia, but that was hardly his only great performance against a great defense this season. Stroud actually faced the fourth-toughest defensive slate of any quarterback, bested only by Payton Thorne of Michigan State, Aidan O’Connell of Purdue, and Robby Ashford of Auburn. A quick look at Stroud’s game logs shows several impressive performances, and as good as that Georgia game was, his game against Iowa’s defense may be even better. This is also hardly the first time Stroud has excelled against an impressive defensive slate, as he faced the 19th toughest schedule in 2021. (Bryce Young faced the toughest schedule in 2021.)

One of the big knocks on Stroud is his work under pressure. He received a comically low PFF grade while under pressure, and there have been concerns about his playmaking ability when the pocket breaks down, as Ohio State generally provides outstanding, pro-quality lines. A quick look at Stroud’s tape reveals these criticisms to be accurate, but perhaps misguided.

Stroud was recruited as a dual-threat quarterback, and he does possess good mobility. The difference between Stroud and several of his contemporaries, including Bryce Young, is that Stroud primarily uses his athletic gifts inside the pocket to buy more time, step up, and deliver accurate throws. His mobility is outstanding, as is his feel for the rush as demonstrated by his pressure-to-sack rate (14.1%), but he plays more like Aaron Rodgers, while Bryce Young is more like Mahomes, as he is happy to leave the pocket and create huge plays on the move.

There are two additional mitigating factors for Stroud. The first is that Ohio State’s line was so good that many of the pressures he did face were blown protections, where no quarterback would have had a shot. When OSU blockers were where they were supposed to be, they generally didn’t allow pressure. These mistakes happened several times against Iowa, and after the first few series, Stroud adjusted and started buying more time outside the pocket. As a percentage of the pressures he faced, there was a higher number of those “interior line pressures” versus your normal outside pressure. He deals with the latter fine, while no one deals well with the former.

The second is that his “lack of playmaking outside the pocket” was clearly a choice, not a limitation. The Georgia game should put almost all of these concerns to bed, but even that ridiculous Northwestern game proved that while Stroud prefers to hang in the pocket and pass, he’s more than capable of scrambling and running when forced to do so. You could clearly see Stroud’s decision-making in action on those rare occasions when conventional passing wasn’t working; he was capable of completely changing his game. Stroud seemed to realize, on the biggest stage, that he had to introduce outside mobility as a weapon, and he did.

Most of Stroud’s reputation for wilting under pressure is based on the same flawed old-school thinking that blames Aaron Rodgers for the faults of Dom Capers. Generally speaking, he’s been quite good in big games, and he had the misfortune of playing at a time when Michigan actually managed to become a competent program again.

I mentioned before that Stroud’s accuracy numbers were slightly down from last season, but it’s worth noting that Ohio State doesn’t generate a lot of cheap, easy completions. Stroud’s ADOT (average depth of target) of 10.7 trails only Anthony Richardson and Hendon Hooker among those in the 2023 NFL Draft class, and he’s only accumulated 224 yards on screens. (Anthony Richardson benefitted from the fewest Screen Yards among this year’s prospects with 154, while Houston’s Clayton Tune led the class with 691.)

While Stroud has a ton of positives working for him, there is one big concern that shows up in the numbers. In addition to quantifying strength of defense faced, I’ve also started trying to account for the quality of a quarterbacks’ receivers using PFF season wide receiver grades, and calculating the average grade targeted per completion for each quarterback over the course of a season. You can read more about this metric, Wide Receiver Grade per Completion (WRGPC), and QwOBA+ here.

PFF’s college grades aren’t the most rigorously kept statistics, but over the course of a season they do a decent enough job at separating receiver value from quarterback value. It’s no surprise of course, that Ohio State frequently runs out elite receivers, but it is striking just how elite they are on a year to year basis. Marvin Harrison, JR., and Emeka Egbuka were among the true elites in college football, and it would be foolish to argue that they don’t make Stroud’s life easier. The average Stroud reception went to a pass-catcher with a near elite 75.99 PFF grade. Compare that with Bryce Young’s WRGPC of just 66.61, almost exactly FBS-average, and you can see that the difference is quite significant.

Here, it’s worth remembering that while Stroud had elite receivers this year, he had even more elite receivers last season, with a 77.55 WRGPC, and more importantly, he went from three elite targets to two. Jaxon Smith-Njigba was the best statistical receiver in college football in 2021, and he got to play alongside Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, two of the most impressive NFL rookies this season, both of whom had good cases to be rookie of the year. Harrison and Egbuka may end up being their equals, but even if they are, Smith-Njigba barely played in 2022. Tight End Cade Stover was the Buckeye’s third leading receiver, yet Stroud lost almost no efficiency from 2021 to 2022, he merely reshaped his game to fit new personnel. In 2021 he put up a QwOBA+ of 121, and followed it up in 2022 with a 118.

So, Stroud has faced a brutal group of defenses, remained incredibly accurate, pushed the ball down the field, and made tough plays. He rarely throws interceptions and plays from the pocket like a seasoned NFL professional. His play under pressure may be a question, but he put out an emphatic answer against Georgia and it’s pretty clear at this point that he can move when he needs to move. He’s a better thrower than Braxton Miller and JT Barrett, he’s a better and more mobile gunslinger than Dwayne Haskins, and he doesn’t get himself killed like Justin Fields. He’s a good athlete with an elite arm, and has consistently put on shows with his throws at the combine and at his pro day.

The last thing I’ll mention, which sold me far more than anything else here, is that he’s clearly a lightning quick processor on the field. If you watch Stroud’s tape, watch his head first. He races through his progressions, and nearly always chooses the correct read. Processing speed, and having the game slow down for you at the next level, is the single most important trait a player can have, and is among the most difficult to scout. So many college offenses (and a few NFL offenses) simply limit things to just a few reads, which can work in a limited context, but does a disservice to quarterback development. Stroud is disciplined in going through his reads, and any comparison’s to Joe Burrow on that front are completely warranted.

Stroud is easily my favorite quarterback prospect in this draft, and those poking holes in his game are looking too hard. He is the surest bet to help a team immediately, and well worth a top-5 pick, if not #1.
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https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/...quarterback-qbops-qwoba-statistics-ohio-state
 
Same website on Bryce; Part 1:

I’m going to spend a lot of time in this post comparing Bryce Young to Patrick Mahomes, so let’s acknowledge off the bat that this is grossly unfair. Patrick Mahomes is the best quarterback in football and he has a good shot to be the greatest quarterback to ever play football. But even though this will be unfair, it’s useful because, stylistically, Young plays football like Mahomes plays football. C.J. Stroud is the technician of this draft. He races through his progressions, and delivers surgical strikes from a generally clean pocket. Young is an artist, who sees the field differently than everyone else, who excels with the same “functional movement” as Mahomes by using his legs to create big plays with his arm, and who is able to salvage seemingly dead plays with regularity.

I liked Stroud immediately and his style of play gels with how I approach football, but it took me a while to warm up to Young for a few reasons — the most important being his comparative lack of accuracy. Completion percentage is simply not one of Young’s strengths, and while he was pretty good in 2021, ranking 19th overall, he plummeted to 35th in 2022, just behind Utah’s Cameron Rising. Given the importance of completion percentage for projecting quarterbacks, this was alarming.

There are some caveats for Young, however, as this was hardly the juggernaut Alabama team we’re used to seeing. While Stroud’s receivers averaged a 75.99 PFF Grade per Completion, Young’s were a league-average 66.61. (Note: For more on these statistics, please refer to the QBOPS Glossary.) That’s an enormous difference in surrounding talent, which doesn’t even begin to describe the differences in their offensive lines. Stroud did face tougher defenses on average, as Alabama’s schedule was shockingly close to FBS-average, but the talent disparity between the two more than makes up for the schedule disparity. Everything that worked on offense for Alabama this year worked due to Young’s brilliance, which is something that no other quarterback prospect in this class can claim.

QBOPS loves accuracy, and while that’s a generally smart thing for a system to love, it does have weak spots, one of which was Patrick Mahomes. Back in 2016, his .388/.638/.1.026 splits were certainly good, but failing to get that .400/.600 split had me skeptical at the time. I try to learn from my mistakes, which led to the development of QwOBA+ and its various adjustments; they painted a much rosier picture of Mahomes (15% above average in his final year, 10% above average the previous year as a sophomore). Young had a similar .395/.652/1.047 slash line in 2021, but with those new adjustments he skyrockets, finishing 6th overall in QwOBA+ at 118. In 2022, he was still a respectable 11th at 113.

I still think this likely understates Young though, and so let’s bring this back to Mahomes. When I discuss quarterbacks with various other draftniks, scouts, and the like, they’ll often cite Young as having an “It Factor,” and I think Mahomes undeniably had the same thing. I’m a guy who makes spreadsheets and I hate dealing with things like “it factors” or “makeup” or “pedigree” or “leadership qualities,” but just because I don’t like something doesn’t mean it’s not real. Given Mahomes’ incredible success, it would be foolish to ignore certain soft factors that elevate players like Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers from good to “all-time great.”

So let’s try to define it. In a piece I wrote earlier about Stroud, I called him the best processor in the class, and while I still believe that is correct, I also think it’s imprecise. Stroud knows the exact detail of every play call and the order of his progressions. He gets through those progressions, keeps his eyes downfield, and is the best in the class at moving defensive backs with his eyes. But Young is a great processor too, just in a different way.

Young isn’t bad at standard operating procedure at all, but where he excels, and where his and Mahomes’ genius lies, is in their ability to see and process the entire field throughout the duration of the play, even when away running full speed from dangerous people. Both quarterbacks also have the ability to reset and deliver the ball to all parts of the field, taking advantage of their unique athletic traits.

Taking in all of that information has been difficult to quantify or even explain, but we may be getting closer to it. In February, The Athletic published a piece by Matt Barrows on the S-2 Cognition Test. If you’re skeptical of the efficacy of a test to determine whether someone is good at football, that is understandable. For years, players have been subject to the glorified IQ test that is the Wonderlic, which proves nothing about football acumen and subjects a certain number of players to ridicule for the sin of not being as conventionally smart as sports-talk radio fans might like. The Wonderlic is pure trash from a football perspective, but this may not be. The S-2 makes sense to me.
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Part 2:

What is a Lesser Mahomes Worth?
And so, I understand why scouts and NFL teams seem to love Young. Anyone who can look this much like Patrick Mahomes is worth considering, because if you draft and hit on that guy, you’re set for a decade-plus. But now that we’ve managed to put some categorical borders around Young, Mahomes, and that “It Factor,” we should discuss the very important differences.

Aside from being a visual football genius, Mahomes is also an outstanding physical phenom, at 6’2 and 225 pounds with an elite arm. Mahomes is more than happy to run, but more often he uses his mobility to buy time and power out of pressure. He’s faster than most front seven players, and he’s very difficult to bring down. Which brings us to the big concern with Bryce Young.

Young’s small stature is not a secret, but it’s discussed far too often as a sort of general negative instead of focusing on the ways it may impact his game. His height was not actually a big problem at Alabama, and he rarely had passes batted down. We’ve seen shorter quarterbacks like Drew Brees, Russell Wilson, and Doug Flutie succeed in the NFL, and I’m confident that Young has the tools to work around his height. There are two much bigger problems that Young faces.

The first is his size, not to be confused with his height. He managed to bulk up to 204 pounds for the 2023 combine, and then told on himself by not participating in any drills. Most scouts believe his playing weight to be closer to 190, and that might require that he be soaking wet. His frame doesn’t project to get any bigger, and what you see is probably all you’re getting.

That lack of bulk is likely to create several issues, but the biggest is simply durability. A receiver can get by with being a bit smaller just because receivers primarily take their shots from comparatively small corners and safeties. Quarterbacks, on the other hand, routinely have 300+ pounders fall on them and get mauled by full-speed Rashan Gary-level athletic freaks of nature. This might not be as big of a problem if Young were more of a traditional pocket passer, but he is a true dual threat and his legs often lead to hits.

The second big issue, which is compounded by the first, is a lack of arm strength. While Mahomes is something like a 70 on baseball’s 20-80 scale in terms of arm strength, Young is more of a 40-50, especially when he’s not set. Young is at his best in terms of arm strength when firing accurate bombs at the top of his drop, but once he’s on the move, while he’s great at finding the open man, his deep shots often run out of steam. Even his greatest highlights often feature his receivers coming back to get an underthrown ball before circling back upfield. At the college level, Young had enough to make this work. With NFL safeties roaming the secondary, I’m not sure he can be as effective targeting all layers of the field, and those limitations can start to compound on each other.

I’m also not entirely sure that Young is an elite runner. His pocket presence is great and he’s exceptional at buying time, but I do wonder how outside runs will looks against upper-level defenses. Young was probably wise not to run at the combine as he is the current favorite to go first overall, but for my own purposes, I really wish he would have shown off his speed.

Fewer available targets can quickly turn into more hits. Not being able to power out of the grasp of an edge leads to more hits. Many of Young’s limitations are likely to lead to more hits. And every hit drastically increases the odds that Young is knocked out of a game altogether.

The question for me on Young is just how much something like 75% of a “Mahomes” is worth, and given the specific risks inherent in his profile, I think most teams may find themselves disappointed. Maybe you can tweak his mechanics and get a few more clicks out of that arm, but I think it’s a significant limiting factor for his style of play. Potential injuries can derail a career pretty quickly, but more than anything, I don’t think what made Young special in college will be entirely available to him at the next level — at least not without a creative offense to go with it. I’d love to see him in a Shanahan-style system, and I don’t think it’s impossible that he succeeds by any stretch. Heck, if I were running a draft and Stroud was gone, I would almost certainly take him, with an understanding of the limitations I see.

I understand why everyone loves his game. It’s almost impossible not to once you watch it. And, like Mahomes, I suspect he really is a football genius. I’m just not sure the tools are going to back it up.
Click to expand...

www.acmepackingcompany.com

2023 NFL Draft QB Evaluations: Bryce Young, the Artist

Most agree that Bryce Young has that "It Factor" but what exactly is an "It Factor"?
www.acmepackingcompany.com www.acmepackingcompany.com
 
What's weird now is that if you can't throw at different arm angles, it's a mark against you as a qb. Mahomes is 1 of 1. Allen in his skillset is 1 of 1. I don't see Burrow playing like Mahomes and it's worked out fine. I like both Young and Stroud. I like Stroud more because there are throws that he can drive that outside that Young simply can't make. CJs mobility off playaction and bootlegs coupled with his arm talent is going to yield big plays down the field.
 
Tier 1
Bryce Young, Alabama
Most frequent scout/exec comp: Drew Brees
Scout/exec draft range: No. 1 (ceiling), No. 2 (floor)
Widely considered the most pro-ready quarterback prospect in the class among NFL scouts and executives we interviewed, Young led Alabama to 24 wins in 27 starts and threw 80 touchdowns on his way to becoming a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist (and winning the honor in 2021). He mastered a pro-style Alabama system.

Described as a "mental savant" by one NFC exec, Young aced the S2 cognition test, which Carolina uses to evaluate quarterbacks. "Most pro-ready. Sees the whole field better than anyone," an AFC personnel evaluator said.
"He's the best, but he looks like [5-10, 182-pound Seahawks receiver] Tyler Lockettback there," an NFL coordinator said. "There's a lot of risk with whether he can keep himself healthy."

Among successful sub-6-foot quarterbacks, Russell Wilson and Kyler Murray were faster than Young. Drew Brees, exactly 6 feet tall, is perhaps the best pocket operator of all time. It's tough to expect any young quarterback to meet that standard. But one NFC exec believes Young can overcome his deficiencies because, like Brees, he can't see clearly from the pocket and still delivers.
"His anticipation and feel in the pocket is very unique," the exec said. "Great feel for the pocket and how to escape. He'll be very comfortable doing that." Added an NFC scout: "He has great footwork. He will need players around him, though. He needs guys to get open for him."

C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
Most frequent scout/exec comps: Dak Prescott, a more mobile Jared Goff

Scout/exec draft range: No. 1 (ceiling), No. 4 (floor)

The prolific Stroud owns the Ohio State record with 9,434 career passing yards, won a Rose Bowl and was impressive in the 2021 College Football Playoff with 348 yards and four touchdowns against a vaunted Georgia defense.

"Might be the cleanest prospect," an NFL exec said. "Prototypical size (6-3, 214), arm, accuracy. Maybe not a premium athlete but might be a little underrated in that regard. He's impressive." Added an NFL personnel director: "Interviews very well, prepared. Needs to see the whole field better. Likes staying in the pocket and making reads. ... Probably looks the most like a polished NFL quarterback out of the class."

Several evaluators agree that Stroud throws a beautiful football, with the ability to throw at different speeds to freeze the defense. He's commonly referred to as "smooth" as a thrower. Teams remain concerned about Ohio State's offense and how it translates to the next level, likening it to 7-on-7 football heavily schemed for open receivers and clear-picture throws.

"He had a few clunkers," said an AFC personnel man, citing a 10-for-26 performance against Northwestern and two interceptions in a loss to Michigan.

"I thought the performance was uneven." A high achiever with ambition, Stroud wants to go No. 1 to Carolina and has made learning NFL team playbooks a priority entering pre-draft meetings. "He's different than those past Ohio State quarterbacks," a veteran NFL coach said. "He's further along."
Click to expand...

www.espn.com

Stacking the NFL draft quarterback class -- What execs, scouts are saying about 13 passers, comps and ranges

Anonymous NFL scouts and executives offered their thoughts on 13 quarterbacks in the class of 2023.
www.espn.com www.espn.com
 
Really good breakdown of the two:
The big difference is Stroud seldom had to make plays outside the pocket for the Buckeyes because his protection was so good. He never had a game with more than eight rushes in his career.

Young often had to ad-lib because of breakdowns behind a line that for Alabama was substandard, yet his production didn't suffer.
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www.espn.com

C.J. Stroud vs. Bryce Young: A tale of the tape, as Panthers prepare for No. 1 draft pick

Who has the bigger arm? Who processes better? Does height matter? Experts and those who coached Young and Stroud give their answers.
www.espn.com www.espn.com
 
zshawn10 said:
Part 2:



www.acmepackingcompany.com

2023 NFL Draft QB Evaluations: Bryce Young, the Artist

Most agree that Bryce Young has that "It Factor" but what exactly is an "It Factor"?
www.acmepackingcompany.com www.acmepackingcompany.com
Click to expand...
Great read on both Young and Stroud. I'm a big believer in the S2 cognitive test mentioned in the article. It puts a tangible quality to that intangible trait some QB's have and some don't.
Here is additional information on S2 testing:
What Is the S2 Cognitive Test, and Does It Matter in Predicting QB Performance? (profootballnetwork.com)
 
Lucky said:
I think the Panthers are making a last ditch effort to milk picks from the Texans. Having said that, I'd take Young if I were making the call for the Panthers.
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Do you favor BY over CJ and if so how much would you be willing to offer Carolina for their #1 ?
 
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Simms on CJ Stroud:-
  1. C.J. Stroud, Ohio State. “To me, Stroud was the offense at Ohio State. Bryce Young ran the offense at Alabama. Stroud’s the best pure pocket passer in the draft. He’s big, he can make any type of throw you want, he’s got a great ability to process information. He’s as good as I’ve seen at making all the throws since Joe Burrow.”
Orlovsky on CJ Stroud:-
  1. C.J. Stroud. “C.J. was number two for me for a while. He has a tremendous pre-snap plan. This kid’s very good at understanding tells of a defense and what’s the problem with this play and how to fix it. Elite ball placement. Rhythm and timing might be the flaws. When he’s off rhythm, he’s not the same player. You could say that about a lot of guys, but C.J. guides the ball at times.”
I see a lot of chatter that Stroud won't be the pick at #2 for the Texans but if they see what these two see, then they may be fairly high on him.
The rhythm and timing thing may be minor - after all he is very accurate. Just might need some minor tweaks to be even better and if NC has been "instructed" to get a good one, Stroud might be the man - assuming Bryce Young is gone and I am not sold on Carolina having locked in on him.
 
Bryce Young's fatal flaw: He's small
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Of the four players we're looking at, Young was the only prospect who wasn't below average in at least one of the categories in the radar chart above.

He was a revelation at the collegiate level, a five-star prospect (No. 5 overall in the 2020 recruiting class) who won the Heisman in his first year as a starter, then produced nearly identical numbers with a more flawed supporting cast in 2022.

2021: 67% completion rate, 13.3 yards per completion, 47-to-7 TD-to-INT ratio, 6.3% sack rate, 87.2 Total QBR
2022: 65% completion rate, 13.6 yards per completion, 32-to-5 TD-to-INT ratio, 4.2% sack rate, 86.2 Total QBR

Granted, saying Young's supporting cast was more flawed doesn't mean it was bad. He still played for Alabama, after all. But he took the field in 2022 without left tackle (and top-10 pick) Evan Neal and five of 2021's top six receiving targets, and he faced more awkward downs and distances in part because of penalties. Still, he almost perfectly replicated his Total QBR numbers and actually lowered his sack rate.

If Young were 6-foot-2, 215 pounds, he would be a no-brainer No. 1 pick. But he's not. He measured at 5-foot-10, 204 pounds, nearly the same as Kyler Murray (5-foot-10, 207) but without Murray's elite speed and mobility. He's fast but not Murray fast. I've seen a Drew Brees comp pop up more frequently of late -- and a half-Brees, half-Murray split isn't entirely inaccurate -- but even Brees measured in at 6-foot-0, 213. Brees was one of the best pocket passers in NFL history; will 2 fewer inches of height make a big difference?

Young has just about the quickest release you'll ever see and seemed to make decisions at hyperspeed in college. His deep-ball passing was merely fine, and while his out-of-pocket numbers were easily the best of anyone in this draft class, (a) again, those stats are more volatile, and (b) out-of-pocket passes accounted only for about one-sixth of his overall sample. He is quick enough that he should avoid taking too many huge hits (which balances out some of the size factor), and the extra slivers of pocket adversity that he faced in 2022 might end up coming in handy. But his size is nearly without precedent for a pocket passer, and if that ends up scaring off Carolina at No. 1 -- or if it turns out his ceiling is lower than that of other prospects once they actually get reps at the pro level -- those measurable limitations will likely explain why.

(By the way, it doesn't appear Carolina is being scared off. As of Monday night, Caesars lists Young's odds of going No. 1 at -1000, equivalent to more than a 90% chance. He's probably going No. 1.)
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Stroud:

1681854717005.png

Stroud's radar chart. Nearly perfect in the explosiveness categories and as low as anyone in the mistake categories. The only category in which he didn't thrive was pass displacement, which would shock anyone who watched him play. (Source: StatsBomb.)

Stroud's displacement numbers shocked me anyway, as my eyes told me his accuracy was by far the best part of his game. He completed 69% of his passes in 2021 and '22, and while he had plenty of easy pitch-and-catch opportunities in there, he also threw the most successful deep balls.

So what gives? Why were his displacement levels seemingly poor? Let's look at another chart to search for the answer.

1681854759778.png


Stroud's pass placement relative to his receiver. Completions are filled in, and incompletions are empty rings. Shorter passes are more purple, longer passes more yellow. Stroud's receivers caught a lot of shorter passes that were either high or away from their body to the right or left. (Source: StatsBomb.)

Was Stroud misfiring a bit and getting bailed out by amazing receivers? Or was he leading his receivers into open-field catch-and-run opportunities? Watching Ohio State live, I would guess the latter. Jaxon Smith-Njigba was dynamite on hooks and shorter routes in 2021, for instance -- he averaged an incredible 16.8 yards per catch on passes caught between six and 10 yards downfield that season -- and for as good as Smith-Njigba is, I'm guessing he isn't capable of those numbers if he's not catching passes in stride. And in 2021 and '22, Ohio State receivers ranked seventh nationally in drop rate; again, they're spectacular, but Stroud seemed to put them in a perfect position to succeed.

What happens if Stroud doesn't have a superior receiving corps? He escaped pressure well in Columbus, but does that continue if he's facing far more pressure? And what happens when he's taken out of the most beautifully spaced offense in college football?

The duo of head coach Ryan Day and offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson crafted a college offense that combined both extreme matchup advantages and perfect sideline-to-sideline spacing. It has meant six straight seasons of finishing in the offensive SP+ top five, but it has also meant that recent Ohio State quarterback prospects -- Justin Fields and the late Dwayne Haskins -- entered the pros having faced minimal pressure and adversity. Both were used to having far more processing time than they encountered at the pro level.

Acknowledging that pressure numbers can be unstable, it is probably worth noting that Stroud's pressure numbers were far better than those of either Haskins or Fields.

Ohio State quarterbacks under pressure

Stroud (2021-22): 5.8 yards per dropback, 52% completion rate, 2.2% INT rate, 12.2% sack rate

Fields (2019-20): 3.8 yards per dropback, 49% completion rate, 2.5% INT rate, 32.5% sack rate

Haskins (2018): 4.8 yards per dropback, 58% completion rate, 2.4% INT rate, 18.1% sack rate

Stroud escaped pressure better, and while his completion rate wasn't as good as Haskins', he averaged 14.7 yards per completion under pressure to Haskins' 11.4. He was far better at keeping his eyes downfield under duress. Stroud had randomly awful games under pressure -- in Ohio State's four losses in his two seasons, he completed 45% of his passes under pressure with two interceptions, 11 sacks and a paltry 2.0 yards per dropback. That two of those losses were to rival Michigan has forever dampened his legacy in Columbus, but in 21 other games, including six against ranked foes, he was nearly perfect under duress. If his future pro team can keep him at least reasonably comfortable, he could shine quickly ... as long as his receivers can catch balls in stride.
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www.espn.com

Four top QBs in the NFL draft, four fatal flaws: Biggest weaknesses for each

Bill Connelly breaks down the most telling college numbers for Will Levis, Anthony Richardson, Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud.
www.espn.com www.espn.com
 
zshawn10 said:
Stroud:




www.espn.com

Four top QBs in the NFL draft, four fatal flaws: Biggest weaknesses for each

Bill Connelly breaks down the most telling college numbers for Will Levis, Anthony Richardson, Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud.
www.espn.com www.espn.com
Click to expand...
I also read thar Stroud faced better defenses than every qb in the nation even the SEC qbs. Posters and the local radio guys act like even the all time greats didn't have trouble with pressure. I remember Manning playing poorly vs Florida and in the bowl games Nebraska. We seen Brady vs Ryan's Jets and Von Miller Broncos. We also seen Mahomes vs Cincy last year in the playoffs and Tampa in the SB without his tackles. There is a difference in playing in pressure situations vs under constant pressure. As much as I like Young, alot of his plays ad lib were when teams sugar rushed him, kept him in the cup and he couldn't see his passing lanes. So he would move around outside the pocket to find one. That's a great trait to have, similar a young RW. No prospect is perfect,but it's amazing to think Stroud or any of these guys can't improve. Did anyone see Hurts when he started in Alabama vs when he started with the sooner vs now? He got better because that's what 21 yr Olds do. The chatter as if Stroud is 30 yrs old and a finished product is foolish. They knock Stroud for his wrs in college, but what about Burrow and his wrs in college? He had Jefferson, Chase, and the KC rb who were all 1st picks and both wrs are 2 of the top wrs in the nfl right now. I just don't understand the hesitation and the slander towards Stroud
 
leebigeztx said:
I also read thar Stroud faced better defenses than every qb in the nation even the SEC qbs. Posters and the local radio guys act like even the all time greats didn't have trouble with pressure. I remember Manning playing poorly vs Florida and in the bowl games Nebraska. We seen Brady vs Ryan's Jets and Von Miller Broncos. We also seen Mahomes vs Cincy last year in the playoffs and Tampa in the SB without his tackles. There is a difference in playing in pressure situations vs under constant pressure. As much as I like Young, alot of his plays ad lib were when teams sugar rushed him, kept him in the cup and he couldn't see his passing lanes. So he would move around outside the pocket to find one. That's a great trait to have, similar a young RW. No prospect is perfect,but it's amazing to think Stroud or any of these guys can't improve. Did anyone see Hurts when he started in Alabama vs when he started with the sooner vs now? He got better because that's what 21 yr Olds do. The chatter as if Stroud is 30 yrs old and a finished product is foolish. They knock Stroud for his wrs in college, but what about Burrow and his wrs in college? He had Jefferson, Chase, and the KC rb who were all 1st picks and both wrs are 2 of the top wrs in the nfl right now. I just don't understand the hesitation and the slander towards Stroud
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Same can be said for any prospect ever. We all base our opinions about prospects on one things or another, but truth is any prospect can improve. Also, situation matters. And then what a guy has between the ears and what he's made of matters a lot as well.

There's a reason why NFL teams meet with these prospects and that is to try and gauge things beyond what is seen on the field. On the MB no one has that type of access to these players so you're missing part of the puzzle.

I've changed my mind about these prospects a few times, but guess what? Who gives a rats ass. My opinion or desires will have no effect on draft day so I'm just going to sit back and watch and root for whoever they pick and hope for the best. This stuff is fun to discuss if there is a genuine desire to share knowledge and debate prospects but I'm way past trying to convince anyone about any prospect. Doesn't matter at all.
 
xtruroyaltyx said:
Same can be said for any prospect ever. We all base our opinions about prospects on one things or another, but truth is any prospect can improve. Also, situation matters. And then what a guy has between the ears and what he's made of matters a lot as well.

There's a reason why NFL teams meet with these prospects and that is to try and gauge things beyond what is seen on the field. On the MB no one has that type of access to these players so you're missing part of the puzzle.

I've changed my mind about these prospects a few times, but guess what? Who gives a rats ass. My opinion or desires will have no effect on draft day so I'm just going to sit back and watch and root for whoever they pick and hope for the best. This stuff is fun to discuss if there is a genuine desire to share knowledge and debate prospects but I'm way past trying to convince anyone about any prospect. Doesn't matter at all.
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True. I used to go to the senior bowl and sit with Pat Kirwin and the Sirius radio crew and watch ball from a different angle. Had a couple of family members and close friends who were scouts back when it was super grimy. I have Ballard and Kirwin phone numbers and even though Kirwin failed as a gm per se and Ballard has his ups and downs, drafting players is very, very difficult. I've never claimed to be an insider even with the people I know very,very close and trying to project the arc of a 21 yr old, especially qb is extremely difficult even for the best talent evaluators. I mean lil Shanny is brilliant in terms of football and he passed on Mahomes and Watson. Elway, one of the greatest to ever do it, couldn't draft a qb to save his life. So until the draft gets here and even after, I guess we will continue to get sucked into it. I do know for certain, not that Chris has told me directly, but knowing him for 30 something odd years, I highly doubt that Stroud, if passed by Texans is getting past Indy. I know the Texans can't worry about what other team in the division do,but that will be a tough pill to swallow having him and Lawrence in the division imo. I guess we will see in a few days.
 
leebigeztx said:
True. I used to go to the senior bowl and sit with Pat Kirwin and the Sirius radio crew and watch ball from a different angle. Had a couple of family members and close friends who were scouts back when it was super grimy. I have Ballard and Kirwin phone numbers and even though Kirwin failed as a gm per se and Ballard has his ups and downs, drafting players is very, very difficult. I've never claimed to be an insider even with the people I know very,very close and trying to project the arc of a 21 yr old, especially qb is extremely difficult even for the best talent evaluators. I mean lil Shanny is brilliant in terms of football and he passed on Mahomes and Watson. Elway, one of the greatest to ever do it, couldn't draft a qb to save his life. So until the draft gets here and even after, I guess we will continue to get sucked into it. I do know for certain, not that Chris has told me directly, but knowing him for 30 something odd years, I highly doubt that Stroud, if passed by Texans is getting past Indy. I know the Texans can't worry about what other team in the division do,but that will be a tough pill to swallow having him and Lawrence in the division imo. I guess we will see in a few days.
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Nice post.
We analyse and try to predict if a prospect or more specifically a QB is going to be successful in the big league.
I wonder if we try to predict what could make him a bust is another way of looking at it so as to avoid that?
Or a combination of both.
Either way, it has to come down to coaching, scheme and how a guy perceives how he fits in an organization - I can't help feeling that if a player is happy where he is and can see how he can progress and work that with his coaches, he must be the best he can be - and that should be better than what he was in the past.
 
leebigeztx said:
I also read thar Stroud faced better defenses than every qb in the nation even the SEC qbs. Posters and the local radio guys act like even the all time greats didn't have trouble with pressure. I remember Manning playing poorly vs Florida and in the bowl games Nebraska. We seen Brady vs Ryan's Jets and Von Miller Broncos. We also seen Mahomes vs Cincy last year in the playoffs and Tampa in the SB without his tackles. There is a difference in playing in pressure situations vs under constant pressure. As much as I like Young, alot of his plays ad lib were when teams sugar rushed him, kept him in the cup and he couldn't see his passing lanes. So he would move around outside the pocket to find one. That's a great trait to have, similar a young RW. No prospect is perfect,but it's amazing to think Stroud or any of these guys can't improve. Did anyone see Hurts when he started in Alabama vs when he started with the sooner vs now? He got better because that's what 21 yr Olds do. The chatter as if Stroud is 30 yrs old and a finished product is foolish. They knock Stroud for his wrs in college, but what about Burrow and his wrs in college? He had Jefferson, Chase, and the KC rb who were all 1st picks and both wrs are 2 of the top wrs in the nfl right now. I just don't understand the hesitation and the slander towards Stroud
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The more I read about Stroud the more I think he's better suited for a Shanahan WCO. It's a system for a technical QB, not an improviser like Watson or Mahomes. While improvisation still happens and plays break down, the system is designed to stay on script. I visualize Stroud as the QB staying on script, getting in a rhythm, running lots of play action, bootlegs, standing tall in the pocket, throwing the WR open, gouging the defense downfield. All the things we saw from Schaub on his best days is what I see in Stroud. I see it in Levis too, but he has a longer way to go.
 
Brisco_County said:
The more I read about Stroud the more I think he's better suited for a Shanahan WCO. It's a system for a technical QB, not an improviser like Watson or Mahomes. While improvisation still happens and plays break down, the system is designed to stay on script. I visualize Stroud as the QB staying on script, getting in a rhythm, running lots of play action, bootlegs, standing tall in the pocket, throwing the WR open, gouging the defense downfield. All the things we saw from Schaub on his best days is what I see in Stroud. I see it in Levis too, but he has a longer way to go.
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The great thing about good coaches is flexibility. Andy Reid is WCO through and through. Remember, he had A young Favre, a young McNabb fresh from that Syracuse freeze option, the electric Vick, and now Mahomes. I remember Jerry Rice complained when Young 1st took over. There is room for a qb to improvise in the WCO, but they have concepts that make it qb friendly. That offense those Patriot guys try to run is very rigid and the only guy who has shown success is Brady.
 
IDEXAN said:
Do you favor BY over CJ and if so how much would you be willing to offer Carolina for their #1 ?
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Just now seeing this question. The Bears were asking for an additional 1st round pick. #12, or one of the Texans 2024 1st rounders. In order to secure what I consider a franchise QB, I would have tried to deal giving the 2024 pick. It would be a tough pill to swallow. Not as tough as going another year without a franchise QB, with little hope in sight.
 
Lucky said:
Just now seeing this question. The Bears were asking for an additional 1st round pick. #12, or one of the Texans 2024 1st rounders. In order to secure what I consider a franchise QB, I would have tried to deal giving the 2024 pick. It would be a tough pill to swallow. Not as tough as going another year without a franchise QB, with little hope in sight.
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If we have to have Young, one of next year's firsts would sting less but there would be some here who would be :freakout::brickwall::hunter:
 
Brisco_County said:
The more I read about Stroud the more I think he's better suited for a Shanahan WCO. It's a system for a technical QB, not an improviser like Watson or Mahomes. While improvisation still happens and plays break down, the system is designed to stay on script. I visualize Stroud as the QB staying on script, getting in a rhythm, running lots of play action, bootlegs, standing tall in the pocket, throwing the WR open, gouging the defense downfield. All the things we saw from Schaub on his best days is what I see in Stroud. I see it in Levis too, but he has a longer way to go.
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Bingo. Front office is swaying the Panthers decision to choose Young by claiming if Young is not there at #2, we will pass on Stroud and go defense or trade down alltogether. The Texans, a QB hungry team, is putting that much value on Young over Stroud that it has to be putting thought in Panthers front office on "Is young really that much better than Stroud? What do they know that we don't?"

Come draft day, Panthers select Young who they claim they always wanted, and Texans in fact do select Stroud at number 2..... who they actually wanted out of the two.

Convoluted story...I know.
 
theCATALYST said:
Bingo. Front office is swaying the Panthers decision to choose Young by claiming if Young is not there at #2, we will pass on Stroud and go defense or trade down alltogether. The Texans, a QB hungry team, is putting that much value on Young over Stroud that it has to be putting thought in Panthers front office on "Is young really that much better than Stroud? What do they know that we don't?"

Come draft day, Panthers select Young who they claim they always wanted, and Texans in fact do select Stroud at number 2..... who they actually wanted out of the two.

Convoluted story...I know.
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Ah! Reverse psychology...
 
Texansphan said:
Ah! Reverse psychology...
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I may be dumb for thinking so, but it makes sense to me. When the Panthers traded up to #1, all the talk has been that their choice would be Stroud. Sitting at the #2 spot, what else can the Texans do but make it appear to the world that Young is so much better, that if he is gone by #2 we won't even choose a QB anymore even though we need one badly. That alone should plant a seed of doubt in the Panthers front office.

And then que the media rumors about S2 scores, wilting under pressure, being propped up by great o-lines and wide receivers.......suddenly Stroud isn't looking so hot to go #1 overall....landing square into Houston's hands at #2.

Houston's plan all along? Good question....one we will soon have an answer to.
 
theCATALYST said:
Bingo. Front office is swaying the Panthers decision to choose Young by claiming if Young is not there at #2, we will pass on Stroud and go defense or trade down alltogether. The Texans, a QB hungry team, is putting that much value on Young over Stroud that it has to be putting thought in Panthers front office on "Is young really that much better than Stroud? What do they know that we don't?"

Come draft day, Panthers select Young who they claim they always wanted, and Texans in fact do select Stroud at number 2..... who they actually wanted out of the two.

Convoluted story...I know.
Click to expand...

No it makes sense. I thought about the same scenario. We are at the peak of lying season.
 
My final ranking of the top five quarterbacks in this draft is identical to Dane Brugler’s in The Beast:

Bryce Young (top 10 grade)
C.J. Stroud (top 10 grade)
Anthony Richardson (top 10 grade)
Will Levis (first-round grade)
Hendon Hooker (second-round grade)

With a week until the start of the draft, here’s what stands out to me about each of these prospects:

Bryce Young: pro-ready prospect who can dazzle outside the pocket

Young will be one of the smallest NFL quarterbacks ever, but most teams will look past that and put him at the very top of their draft boards because he plays the position at a level that you rarely see from a collegiate quarterback. He can read defenses, he’s aggressive, and he’s accurate on all levels. He can play in the pocket and throw on time, but his play outside of structure is magical. His ability to quickly process and react to what he’s seeing is uncanny, and that’s reflected in his high score on the S2 Cognition test.

With the score tied 49-49 late in the fourth quarter, Young needed to get Alabama in field goal range. This sort of play shows how clearly he’s able to think despite the situation. Before the snap, he uses his cadence to get the defense to show its hand. After seeing the safety rotation and how the linebackers moved, he knew a blitz was coming to his right and slid his protection in that direction. Despite the blitz, he knew he was protected and used a subtle pump fake to get both underneath defenders to jump the short route, opening up space for the deeper in-breaker behind it.

vs. Texas, 8:46 remaining in the fourth quarter, first-and-7



Down six points against Texas in the fourth quarter, the Alabama offense lined up in empty with running back Jahmyr Gibbs lined up out wide. The offense appeared to have called a stick/draw concept in which Young reads the linebacker and has the option to throw the stick route or run a draw. The linebacker left the box to defend the stick route, so Young made the right decision to run. The defensive tackles did a good job of closing the running lane, so Young had to improvise. Gibbs saw his quarterback in trouble and worked to get open. As soon as Young got his eyes up and saw Gibbs, he quickly set up and threw to Gibbs to the back of the end zone.

This is what makes Young special: He’s able to react quickly to what he’s seeing, play without any hesitation and make these sorts of plays without putting the ball in harm’s way much.

Young’s size and lack of arm strength will be an issue in the league. Russell Wilson was a much more thickly muscled player coming out of college, and even Kyler Murray, who’s had issues staying healthy, was bigger than Young when he entered the league. On top of that, both of those players have more natural arm talent than Young, who can struggle to make throws to the sideline on outbreaking routes. As impressive as some of Young’s out-of-structure plays are, his trump card will be his ability to win from inside the pocket. At the next level, he’ll have to model his game to be more like Drew Brees’ than Wilson’s or Murray’s. That’s a high level of mental mastery to achieve, but he’s shown signs that he could reach it.
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CJ:

C.J. Stroud: safest QB prospect

The first trait that pops off the film when watching Stroud is his accuracy and ability to hit receivers in stride. He doesn’t have elite arm strength, but he has a strong arm and can make every throw without issue. He’s especially good with trajectory control, putting just enough air on throws to get it over defenders on all three levels. He diagnoses defenses well and looks to do an excellent job of eliminating options based on his pre-snap reads. His feet are clean and efficient, and he looks to always be in control. He doesn’t lose much accuracy under pressure and throws very well off-platform.

vs. Iowa, 5:39 remaining in the third quarter, first-and-10

Here, he’s able to quickly reset within the pocket and make a perfect touch throw over an underneath defender and away from the trailing man defender. Stroud’s tape is littered with these sorts of throws. On the flip side, he doesn’t make many turnover-worthy throws; most of his interceptions come when he’s overconfident in his ability to get the ball over defenders with touch.

Overall, creating outside of structure isn’t a big part of Stroud’s game. Early this past season, when he played out of structure, he didn’t have much success, which led to questions about whether he could be a dynamic NFL player. He answered those questions in a huge way against Georgia in the College Football Playoff. Of course, teams would love to have seen it more throughout his career, but for him to do it on that stage against a defense with that much talent opened some eyes.

vs. Georgia, 12:20 remaining in the second quarter, first-and-10

Stroud has the highest floor of all the quarterbacks in this draft. Though he doesn’t have an elite physical trait, he has the full cache of tools you want in a quarterback and a strong football IQ. Stroud should be able to play and produce early in his career if he’s drafted in the right situation. I believe the range of outcomes for Stroud is between a more athletic Derek Carr and Dak Prescott. If the playmaker we saw against Georgia was a mirage, I can see him playing similarly to Carr — great at making calls and adjusting before the snap at the line of scrimmage with flashes of aggression and arm talent. If he can make plays with his athleticism more consistently, I can see more Prescott in his game — an ace with the mental side of the game who can make plays with his legs when the opportunities arise.
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theathletic.com

What to like (and dislike) about Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud and NFL Draft's other top QBs

This year's draft doesn't feature a consensus No. 1 QB prospect.
theathletic.com theathletic.com
 
AcresHomesTexan said:
lance z S2 score leaks ...info from Packers beat writer Bob McGinn...radio report no link as of yet...over 50 seen as good...90s is elite.

young 98
levis 93
Richardson 79
hooker 48
stroud 19 (rumored to have taken the test twice)

Edit: only link I can currently find

https://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/12tz3vy
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Aww man my man hooker didn’t do as good as I hoped. Well crap, I just don’t know what I would do now
I have never liked Stroud, so that doesn’t surprise me. So Levi’s or Richardson
 
Bryce Young - 98%
Jake Haener - 96%
Will Levis - 93%
Jaren Hall - 93%
Clayton Tune - 84%
Anthony Richardson - 79%
Hendon Hooker - 46%
CJ Stroud - 18%
 
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