OldhamA

No chance. First and foremost it's a level playing field to test the athleticism of players. Your Pro Day numbers are always taken with a grain of salt. Secondly it's an opportunity to meet players - formally and informally. Finally it's a chance for NFL teams (and coaches) to come together and discuss deals, players etc.

Isn't it the same risk with Young? You take the smallest first round QB ever with an average NFL arm and suddenly realise his improvisational play doesn't fly in the NFL where everyone is bigger, stronger, faster and the windows are much tighter? That's not to mention the injury issue. This entire discussion is why I wouldn't have traded up to #1, but here we are.

He's in the building more than most...

I think ultimately Stroud will be the pick, but Richardson would be the brass balls sitting on your desk, push all your chips into the middle of the table and have trust in your convictions / expensively assembled coaching staff move.

The only reason I'd be interested in Richardson is that he already has (some of) the intangibles you look for in a QB, namely that he processes well, he's calm and moves well in the pocket. Now is he as good at processing as Stroud and Young right now? No. Can he be in 5 years? Possibly not - however, his athleticism means that teams will always have to play simpler coverages against him (basically zone or an extremely athletic Spy i.e. TD v Vick). Young and Stroud will never have that running threat. If you're confident that you can clean up his mechanics and he impresses you in interviews (i.e. does he have that drive to continue to improve [which you definitely saw in College from Utah to Florida St]) then I can see him being the pick. The other thing for me is why do you have Reich, McCown and Dalton in the building? Yes they're going to improve Stroud and Young, but both are already extremely polished - their greatest effect would be on a rawer prospect with better physical tools.

If I had to guess I bet the discussion in the building is revolving around Stroud and Richardson. Two very different styles of QB, you can win with both, but ultimately who is going to be better in 5 years and take your team over the top?

It's a no from me, dawg. Ran an incredibly simple offence, is coming off ACL surgery and will be 26 this season. He simply wasn't someone I feared when he played VT, but I am curious to see where he ends up.

The packages were too close for you NOT to just take control of the Draft at that point.

The stats suggest otherwise: https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/anthony-richardson-2/gamelog/2022/

I don't think so - he's a couple years older than everyone else in the discussion and he's got too much to work on.

I mean he's also 20 years old in just his 5th career start here (in a shitty offensive system surrounded by zero dynamic talent). The Draft is all about projection - he got significantly better as the season went on. Is that how your scouts / coaches see his trajectory or is he maxed out? I personally think he's going to get a GM fired either way - either he flames out, or he's unbelievably good and you're constantly reminded that you passed on him.

I mean they were talking about his vertical leap and his broad jump, asking how they're going to help him in the NFL i.e. they're not playing leapfrog. They're simply a measure of explosiveness - it's a silly argument.

He's raw, but he's calm and moves well in the pocket, throws with anticipation and improved as the year went on. The negative is that he needs to improve his throwing mechanics (mainly footwork) or he'll always be inaccurate. If you've got Reich, McCown and Dalton in the building I can see you talking yourself into taking the QB with the highest upside.

It's not just the injury risk - it's the style of play. The mini-Mahomes comparison makes me cringe. Mahomes can play that way because he's got a ridiculous arm - that's the only reason those late throws work when he's freelancing. With Young a lot of those are going to be INTs or incompletions - he has an average NFL arm. His best chance of success is to copy Brees imo.

I feel like Young does it because he feels the pressure to make a play every snap and (at least at the College level) he has the instincts and mobility to extend a play.

I think Stroud is the better NFL prospect because size is a skill and the Draft is about projection. I'd argue Young is the better College QB. I'd like them to draft Richardson - just because that would mean they've seen something in the mouldable lump of clay with the highest upside and they're going for broke with their experienced QB staff / Dalton ready to take the reigns early. I think they draft Stroud.

A 45 year old Tom Brady threw for 4,694 yards last year. A less all-time comparison, Goff threw for 4,438 yards last year - which would be a Panthers franchise record. Mobility / off platform throws are a nice to have, but the game is still won from the pocket.

The highest ceiling is clearly Richardson - he has the strongest arm, is the tallest, the heaviest and the fastest of the 'top 4' QBs. I've read Burrow comparisons for Stroud more than once - the combination of processing ability (not quite as good as Burrow), arm strength and accuracy (both better than Burrow) and just enough mobility. If Bryce Young works out the comparison is obviously someone like Brees - although from the games I've seen Brees worked much more to structure than Young did in College - both are shorter than ideal, both have less than ideal arms, but both processed the game so quickly that they beat whatever defence you threw at them. The problem is that Young is even smaller than Brees - and Brees was one in a million. Do you expect lighting to strike twice?

I hope you've put your mortgage on it then if you're so confident.

It jumps out on film - his arm is NFL average.

He's also 20 years old (not 21 like I initially saw reported). It's a big gamble - but no bigger a gamble than expecting Young to succeed as a 5'10", 185lbs QB. They've got a busy month ahead of them.

If Young had a 'wow' arm I'd be more on board. It's just NFL average. His floor is terrifying - and my job isn't even on the line.

Counterpoint, they traded up after the Combine where Young refused to take off his hoodie and participate in any drills 'cos he was carrying 15lbs of water weight...

If we gave up all that capital to move up for Bryce Young and he's broken in half before the end of his rookie contract you have to fire everyone in the building.

Out of interest, do the GMs and HCs of other NFL teams name drop their owner 15 times a press conference too? Like, damn, how big is Tepper's ego / how often is he sat in the room when these discussions are happening?!