darthseinfeld
Groupthink Guru
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Ive seen many many times that this is a weak QB class. I get it, thats what experts say when there is no Andrew Luck, or even a Matt Stafford or Cam Newton. After looking past that I strongly disagree. While its true there is no Luck, Stafford or Cam. There are 2, maybe even 3 Matt Ryans.
This class reminds me of the 2014 class where similarly there was no sure fire top pick type QB, but it was very deep in starting caliber QB's with Carr and Bridgewater showing themselves to be starting caliber QBs as rookies, top 5 pick Blake Bortles coming on strong his second year with over 30 TDs already, much maligned Johnny Manziel making a late season to redeem his place as Clevelands QB of the future and Jimmy Garpopolo waiting in the wings in NE.
Right now the top of the QB class features Paxton Lynch and Jared Goff. I see some Blake Bortles in Lynch. Big, talented, strong armed and mobile QBs that check most of the franchise QB boxes, but not all. Like Bortles, I see Lynch as a clear top 5 value but a reach at #1 overall. If you start Lynch in 2016 you probably have a replay of Bortles ineffective rookie year. Goff on the other hand has drawn widespread comparisons to another top QB in Matt Ryan. And like Ryan he may give you quality play out of the box, but with as much upside.
A real wildcard in that top tier in North Dakota's Carson Wentz. Similar in a lot of ways to Lynch, but he needs to prove it against NFL level talent. As a prospect he reminds me a bit of Flacco.
After that you have two questionable talent, but both are potential NFL caliber QB's in Conner Cook and Christian Hackenberger. Cook to me could be a high floor low ceiling type who due to his play in a pro style offense has a good chance of success as an NFL QB. However he is a mistake prone gunslinger with a middling arm and questionable accuracy. I think his floor is that of his fellow MSU alumni Kurt Cousins and his ceiling is that of Andy Dalton 2015. Dont like him as a first round prospect, but as a second you can do much worse IMO. Probably the best 2016 backup in this draft. Hackenberg is almost the complete opposite in terms of floor/ceiling. He has the highest ceiling of anyone in this draft, but his floor is that of Brandon Weeden. A QB with a rocket arm who struggles with accuracy and turnovers and confidence. He could/should be evaluated withing the second round as while his play has been bad he did thrive as a freshman in a pro style offense and has been a round peg in a square whole since. Its also been noted ad nauseam that he has had a very poor support cast around. Like Cook I see him as a guy worth a round 2 pick. Unlike Cook its more for his upside then what he gives you in 2016. Also a high risk/reward type.
After those two a name that is gaining momentum is Brandon Doughty of Western Kentucky. Doughty like Wentz will need the Senior Bowl to make a big move in draft stock, he has the look of an NFL caliber starting prospect. He has a good arm, but excellent touch as well as a sense of timing. Unlike Wentz he doesn't have the physical ability to hear his name called Day 1, but he is reminiscent of Jimmy Garpopolo. A small school guy thought to be a mid rounder who worked himself into the second round. With a strong offseason he could become a 2nd rounder. He has to awnser some questions first.
After that, there are QB's like Kevin Hogan, Jacoby Brissett, Nate Sudfeld Gunner Keil and possibly even Cody Kessler who could be fighting to get themselves into the third round
This class reminds me of the 2014 class where similarly there was no sure fire top pick type QB, but it was very deep in starting caliber QB's with Carr and Bridgewater showing themselves to be starting caliber QBs as rookies, top 5 pick Blake Bortles coming on strong his second year with over 30 TDs already, much maligned Johnny Manziel making a late season to redeem his place as Clevelands QB of the future and Jimmy Garpopolo waiting in the wings in NE.
Right now the top of the QB class features Paxton Lynch and Jared Goff. I see some Blake Bortles in Lynch. Big, talented, strong armed and mobile QBs that check most of the franchise QB boxes, but not all. Like Bortles, I see Lynch as a clear top 5 value but a reach at #1 overall. If you start Lynch in 2016 you probably have a replay of Bortles ineffective rookie year. Goff on the other hand has drawn widespread comparisons to another top QB in Matt Ryan. And like Ryan he may give you quality play out of the box, but with as much upside.
A real wildcard in that top tier in North Dakota's Carson Wentz. Similar in a lot of ways to Lynch, but he needs to prove it against NFL level talent. As a prospect he reminds me a bit of Flacco.
After that you have two questionable talent, but both are potential NFL caliber QB's in Conner Cook and Christian Hackenberger. Cook to me could be a high floor low ceiling type who due to his play in a pro style offense has a good chance of success as an NFL QB. However he is a mistake prone gunslinger with a middling arm and questionable accuracy. I think his floor is that of his fellow MSU alumni Kurt Cousins and his ceiling is that of Andy Dalton 2015. Dont like him as a first round prospect, but as a second you can do much worse IMO. Probably the best 2016 backup in this draft. Hackenberg is almost the complete opposite in terms of floor/ceiling. He has the highest ceiling of anyone in this draft, but his floor is that of Brandon Weeden. A QB with a rocket arm who struggles with accuracy and turnovers and confidence. He could/should be evaluated withing the second round as while his play has been bad he did thrive as a freshman in a pro style offense and has been a round peg in a square whole since. Its also been noted ad nauseam that he has had a very poor support cast around. Like Cook I see him as a guy worth a round 2 pick. Unlike Cook its more for his upside then what he gives you in 2016. Also a high risk/reward type.
After those two a name that is gaining momentum is Brandon Doughty of Western Kentucky. Doughty like Wentz will need the Senior Bowl to make a big move in draft stock, he has the look of an NFL caliber starting prospect. He has a good arm, but excellent touch as well as a sense of timing. Unlike Wentz he doesn't have the physical ability to hear his name called Day 1, but he is reminiscent of Jimmy Garpopolo. A small school guy thought to be a mid rounder who worked himself into the second round. With a strong offseason he could become a 2nd rounder. He has to awnser some questions first.
After that, there are QB's like Kevin Hogan, Jacoby Brissett, Nate Sudfeld Gunner Keil and possibly even Cody Kessler who could be fighting to get themselves into the third round
