1. Bryce Young, Alabama
HT: 5-foot-10 |
WT: 204 pounds
Projected range: Round 1
Young is a poised dual-threat thrower who plays the game with the same heartbeat no matter the magnitude of the situation. His sufficient arm strength is coupled with great accuracy to all parts of the field. Young is slippery in the pocket and can maneuver outside of structure to create throwing windows. A diverse throwing script at his pro day showcased all of the strong points in his game, as he threw the ball with plenty of velocity and displayed great touch in the deeper portions of the field.
At 5-10, his height will be
talked about leading up to the draft. We've seen passers on the shorter side, such as
Kyler Murray, get drafted early in recent years, though Young's frame makes for a unique evaluation. But he entered the season as my QB1, and that hasn't changed to this point. Young had 3,328 passing yards, 32 touchdown throws and 5 interceptions in 2022, and he finished his college career with a huge
five-TD day against Kansas State in the Sugar Bowl.
'Potential team fit: Houston Texans. The inconsistency of
Davis Mills places the Texans in the hunt for another quarterback. Houston holds the No. 2 overall pick and has plenty of draft capital, and new coach DeMeco Ryans could look to fill the QB1 spot immediately. Young would provide the team a young passer with loads of potential to build around.
2. C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
HT: 6-foot-3 |
WT: 214 pounds
Projected range: Round 1
Stroud is a smooth distributor with a clean and fluid throwing motion, and his feet are routinely tied to his eyes. I love the way he dissects and attacks any type of coverage, as he always seems to have a plan. And Stroud isn't afraid to trust his targets in one-on-one situations.
He threw for 3,688 yards and 41 touchdown passes with six interceptions, and his 88.9 QBR was third in the nation. His best game came in the College Football Playoff, in which Stroud threw for 348 yards and four touchdowns
against a dominant Georgia defense. Stroud is a true pocket passer who uses his running ability only when necessary, but scouts still want to see him outside of structure a bit more when plays don't operate as planned. He started to do so during the Buckeyes' stretch run.
Stroud looked smooth, poised and accurate while throwing at the combine -- three traits that also explain his career at Ohio State. "Everything is natural and in sync with him," texted one scout after watching Stroud's throwing session in Indy. "I think he's the best one of this year's bunch because of his [high] floor."
At his pro day, each of his throws was in rhythm, efficient and accurate. There isn't a more in-sync and on-time thrower in this draft class, as he exemplifies all of the correct mechanics and has a fluid throwing motion.
Potential team fit: Carolina Panthers. After hiring Frank Reich, the Panthers have created a nest of coaching experience with quarterback ties. They also have former NFL head coach Jim Caldwell and 16-year NFL veteran
Josh McCown, who can both help develop a young quarterback. Stroud fits the mold of what the Panthers need and could provide the franchise with its first homegrown option under center since drafting Cam Newton in 2011.