Let's Talk 2016 NFL Draft Quarterbacks

[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
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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.

[Arky]

I think they're going to go after Hackenburg. It's only fitting.

He's shown some flaws in the past couple of years without OB around and OB, I'm sure, probably thinks he can fix him. Might be possible to get him in the second round but a lot still to shake out before the official draft. My guess is that the really top prospects won't make it to where we pick in the 1st round.

Playing QB for the Texans the last couple of years has been a meat grinder so whoever is chosen, especially if they are an underclassman, should sit and learn for at least a year... So, we may be looking at another year of Hoyer/Weeden/Savage/whomever placeholding....

I'd like to see Savage get more of a chance next year while the rookie watches from the sidelines.......

[WMH]

I'm still holding on to my hope/theory that our QB room will be Brees, Hoyer, and Savage/Rookie.