Let's Talk 2016 NFL Draft Quarterbacks

[Keith]

Admittedly, I do not watch nearly as much college football as I did 10-15 years ago when I wrote about prospects for the old HPF site. So I've seen very little of these guys. When I do look at QBs though, I look for pocket poise and decision making. A strong arm is nice, but leadership and awareness and critical. Have to be able to handle pressure. For reference, I would have taken Teddy Bridgewater at the top of the draft a couple years ago, a player who fell to the end of the 1st round, so keep that in mind.

Here's how I rank the QBs right now:
1. Connor Cook, a clear favorite of mine.
2. Carson Wentz, should shoot up boards. Injured wrist.
3. Jared Goff, nice overall prospect, but I want to see better poise and decision making.
4. Paxton Lynch, strong but can't just scout measurables.

This draft is clearly one in which the Texans need to get off the pot and finally invest a good pick in a player they can develop. O'Brien has proven he can win with street FAs at the position in the short-term, so starting one of these guys isn't necessary in Week 1, but having one ready to step in midseason might be.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by Keith

Admittedly, I do not watch nearly as much college football as I did 10-15 years ago when I wrote about prospects for the old HPF site. So I've seen very little of these guys. When I do look at QBs though, I look for pocket poise and decision making. A strong arm is nice, but leadership and awareness and critical. Have to be able to handle pressure. For reference, I would have taken Teddy Bridgewater at the top of the draft a couple years ago, a player who fell to the end of the 1st round, so keep that in mind.

Here's how I rank the QBs right now:
1. Connor Cook, a clear favorite of mine.
2. Carson Wentz, should shoot up boards. Injured wrist.
3. Jared Goff, nice overall prospect, but I want to see better poise and decision making.
4. Paxton Lynch, strong but can't just scout measurables.

This draft is clearly one in which the Texans need to get off the pot and finally invest a good pick in a player they can develop. O'Brien has proven he can win with street FAs at the position in the short-term, so starting one of these guys isn't necessary in Week 1, but having one ready to step in midseason might be.

Goff was fantastic in his bowl. He was on the money with his deep ball repeatedly. I'm not familiar with Wentz. Cook entered the year highly regarded but was not as good as expected. Lynch seems like Blake Bortles 2.0 (or Blaine Gabbert 3.0). I am guessing Lynch will never be as good before or after as he will be at the Combine in a pair of shorts.

[nunusguy]

The 2016 NFL Draft features plenty of talent at the quarterback position, but it's spread out between a dozen (or more) prospects.

That's unlike a year ago when it was obvious that the top two prospects -- Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota -- were relatively transcendent underclassmen (and then a steep drop-off in talent after them), the 2016 draft is loaded with projects.

The crop was significantly boosted Thursday with the expected announcements that the top two quarterbacks on NFLDraftScout.com's board -- Paxton Lynch (Memphis) and Jared Goff (California) - were forgoing their senior seasons and heading to the NFL.

Lynch (6 feet 6, 230 pounds) possesses all of the physical tools to excite scouts, including rare agility for a man of his size and a hose for an arm. However, rather than end his career with a bang, Lynch struggled mightily in a 31-10 loss to Auburn, raising all kinds of questions about the steep learning curve he'll face in the NFL.
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/n...ing-guarantees
****
Good deal, looks like some of these top-rated underclassmen at QB are declaring for the NFL Draft.
Since we are definitely in the market for a QB and very likely drafting one early, which I think means the first 2 rounds. So this upcoming off season should be especially interesting for the Texans and their fans.

[WMH]

Might as well add Hackenberg to the list. He officially declared today. I assume most of the media outlets will have us tied to the hip.

I'm not as confident as most in that a Rd. 1/2 QB is a sure thing. We'll see in May.

[Keith]

Yes, Hackenberg should be listed. The O'Brien-Penn St. ties are there. Not that the Texans have taken a single PSU player over the last two years, but it could happen.

There's also been talk about Cook being a douche and not much of a team leader. It's tough this time of year sorting between what we can see and what we just won't know about a player medically or personally. Always wary of misinformation.

I have Goff and Lynch at 3 and 4, but at this point it seems both will be taken before any other QBs and likely before the Texans have an honest chance. That said, who knows... this will be an interesting couple months since there is not an Andrew Luck or Cam Newton here that is clearly at the head of the class.

[painekiller]

Don't know if I have Cook at the top of my want list, but I agree there is no clear #1, only a top 4 or 6 guys.

And all seem to be projects.

[popanot]

Not that I'd draft him solely for QB or burn a high pick on him, but come 3rd, 4th, 5th RD, I'm taking Braxton Miller if he's there. We could do A LOT worse (obviously!!!) at backup QB, IMO, and his other football skills are off the charts. I'd have no problem playing him in the slot and in a Randall Cobb - WR/RB/Wildcat role and have him as my emergency QB.

https://vine.co/v/iMqMuBa2Jee

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by popanot

Not that I'd draft him solely for QB or burn a high pick on him, but come 3rd, 4th, 5th RD, I'm taking Braxton Miller if he's there. We could do A LOT worse (obviously!!!) at backup QB, IMO, and his other football skills are off the charts. I'd have no problem playing him in the slot and in a Randall Cobb - WR/RB/Wildcat role and have him as my emergency QB.

https://vine.co/v/iMqMuBa2Jee

I would agree, you have to look long and hard at Miller.

[Nconroe]

Draftek has a list of QB's, the top 10 shown , as draft rated, and round where might be drafted, all subject to change are updated yesterday http://drafttek.com/2016-NFL-Draft-P...gs/Top-QBs.asp :

1 (1) +11 Memphis Paxton Lynch JR 6'7" 245 #12
2 (8) -1 California Jared Goff JR 6'4" 210 #16
3 (29) +4 Michigan St Connor Cook SR 6'4" 219 #18
4 (44) +90 North Dakota St Carson Wentz SR 6'6" 231 #11
5 (92) -21 Stanford Kevin Hogan SR 6'4" 228 #8
6 (103) +9 Ohio State Cardale Jones JR 6'5" 250 #12
7 (119) +67 Western Kentucky Brandon Doughty SR 6'3" 220 12
8 (141) +42 TCU Trevone Boykin SR 6'2" 205 #2
9 (147) -77 Penn State Christian Hackenberg JR 6'4" 234 #14
10 (153) +12 Utah Travis Wilson SR 6'7" 233 #7

[Nconroe]

The east west shrine game starting now on NFL network, 3 P M.
http://m.houstontexans.com/news/arti...e-24be03c923e0

Not the big names but this is the game Tom Brady, Bret Farve, And John Elway played in, so, watch out.

Looks like five or six current Texans played in this game as well as Andre Hal and Mumphreys.

[Roy P]

Give me Dak Prescott. He is a winner. I like his leadership and how he lead Miss St. Was a bruising runner, but has improved as a passer. Reminds me of Air McNair.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by Keith

Here's how I rank the QBs right now:
1. Connor Cook, a clear favorite of mine.
2. Carson Wentz, should shoot up boards. Injured wrist.
3. Jared Goff, nice overall prospect, but I want to see better poise and decision making.
4. Paxton Lynch, strong but can't just scout measurables.

So thanks to being the focus of the Senior Bowl, Wentz shot up as expected but is now being talked about as going in the top 5. Hopefully once these other prospects start having the Combine and Pro Day results, the spotlight will shine a bit more equally on the other players. Wentz is definitely someone I hope the Texans are giving strong consideration.

Since I posted this, a lot has been rumored about Cook being a douche. Not sure the extent of how true this is or how important those impressions are among those making the decisions. But anything that drops QBs in the draft at this point works in the Texans favor. Calling Cook the next Ryan Leaf seems to be a bit of a stretch probably. He helped Mich St win a ton of games... not like this school is ever confused with Alabama. Cook has NFL ready tools.

Also, I am skeptical of mocks giving the Cowboys a QB in the first round. I hear they are deeply cap-committed to Tony Romo, who at 36 this April might have a couple productive seasons left in him.

[popanot]

Originally Posted by Keith

Since I posted this, a lot has been rumored about Cook being a douche. Not sure the extent of how true this is or how important those impressions are among those making the decisions. But anything that drops QBs in the draft at this point works in the Texans favor.

Also, I am skeptical of mocks giving the Cowboys a QB in the first round. I hear they are deeply cap-committed to Tony Romo, who at 36 this April might have a couple productive seasons left in him.

I'm not ready to write off Cook just yet either. There is a fine line between being a (rumored) douchebag and being supremely confident bordering on arrogant. I'm not saying he's the next Brady or Rodgers, but those two are pretty damn cocky and arrogant at times too. It's not a bad quality for a QB to have, IMO, if it's managed and focused on the right things.

I've done some reading on this game day captain issue and think it's being way overblown. In addition, I think skipping the Senior Bowl is being overblown. Cook has played a ton of games over the past few years so perhaps he wanted to give it a rest and prepare for the more important test, the Combine. All the other QB's at the Senior Bowl (even Wentz) had something to gain for being there. Cook, not so much. I'm going to hold off judgement on Cook until after the Combined and see how he measures up and hear how he does in his interviews. We'll know a lot more then.