I'm not nearly as tied to Stroud or Young as some on here. Alabama and Ohio State have huge talent advantages on the large majority of their opponents. Evaluating those guys who may have 2-3 games per year that truly challenge them is hard to do, and hence those schools' QBs lack of success at the NFL level. Young in particular is going to get hit a whole lot more than he was at Bama, and his small frame is going to be put to the test.

Both of those guys are big risks as well, so it won't bother me if they go with a top tier defender over one of them. But not coming away with any QB would be awful.

LincolnBorglum79 said:

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In my opinion the top 4 best comparisons are:
B Young. Floor Tua. Ceiling drew Brees.
Richardson. Floor Jamarcus Russell ceiling Cam Newton
Levis. Floor Mitch trubiski. Ceiling Josh Allen
Stroud. Floor. Haskins. Ceiling. Russell Wilson

All have issues from size of young to How well Ohio st QBs end up with no careers. Maybe Stroud is different and I think he does go 1 or 2.

I honestly think that the Texans want Bryce Young and if he's gone may trade down rather than settle for stroud at 2. None of the defenders are really worth going 2. Anderson disappeared in the biggest games for Bama.

If they trade down they will take a QB somewhere maybe Hooker or Bennett or even Levis if he slides to round 2. It's pretty rare that a QB drafted 2 ends up being a star.

---

I don't like comparisons because they never match up...all of these guys will be their own player, whoever that is.

I've evolved on Stroud. I didn't like him for most of the season because (1) he didn't show up in big games, and (2) he was really hard to judge because his receiving corps was soooooooooo good.

Three things changed that:
1. The Georgia game. Kid was spectacular against the best defense in NCAA.
2. Combine. You don't want to make too much of that, but without any rehearsal with his receivers, he was putting the ball in the exact right spot most of the time. His accuracy is as about as good as anybody's.
3. Knowing that we will be running the Shanahan/Kubiak offense. His skillset translates really well to that offense.

After we lost to Indy, I was furious that we might have to settle for Stroud. On April 6th, I'm not sure that he wouldn't be better here than Young would be.

I still want Young, but I don't believe Stroud is a consolation prize.

A bigger question is if Young goes first, and we don't want Stroud...where do we go for QB? Richardson is fascinating, but is a big gamble. Levis sucks. I like Hooker, but I see him as more of a low level starter/good backup in the NFL.

If they pass on a QB at 2, there aren't any options I'm crazy about.

Snake Jazz said:

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LincolnBorglum79 said:

---

In my opinion the top 4 best comparisons are:
B Young. Floor Tua. Ceiling drew Brees.
Richardson. Floor Jamarcus Russell ceiling Cam Newton
Levis. Floor Mitch trubiski. Ceiling Josh Allen
Stroud. Floor. Haskins. Ceiling. Russell Wilson

All have issues from size of young to How well Ohio st QBs end up with no careers. Maybe Stroud is different and I think he does go 1 or 2.

I honestly think that the Texans want Bryce Young and if he's gone may trade down rather than settle for stroud at 2. None of the defenders are really worth going 2. Anderson disappeared in the biggest games for Bama.

If they trade down they will take a QB somewhere maybe Hooker or Bennett or even Levis if he slides to round 2. It's pretty rare that a QB drafted 2 ends up being a star.

---

I don't like comparisons because they never match up...all of these guys will be their own player, whoever that is.

I've evolved on Stroud. I didn't like him for most of the season because (1) he didn't show up in big games, and (2) he was really hard to judge because his receiving corps was soooooooooo good.

Three things changed that:
1. The Georgia game. Kid was spectacular against the best defense in NCAA.
2. Combine. You don't want to make too much of that, but without any rehearsal with his receivers, he was putting the ball in the exact right spot most of the time. His accuracy is as about as good as anybody's.
3. Knowing that we will be running the Shanahan/Kubiak offense. His skillset translates really well to that offense.

After we lost to Indy, I was furious that we might have to settle for Stroud. On April 6th, I'm not sure that he wouldn't be better here than Young would be.

I still want Young, but I don't believe Stroud is a consolation prize.

A bigger question is if Young goes first, and we don't want Stroud...where do we go for QB? Richardson is fascinating, but is a big gamble. Levis sucks. I like Hooker, but I see him as more of a low level starter/good backup in the NFL.

If they pass on a QB at 2, there aren't any options I'm crazy about.

---

I'm with you. I view Young as 1a and Stroud as 1b, they're really different QBs, there are different things each excel at. I think Young processes the game faster, he has the intangibles, is able to do more improvisation if the play breaks down. Stroud is the best passer in the draft, period.

After those two I'm just not high on anyone else. Richardson is too much of a question mark and I've never been in on Levis. I'm still not sure what I think of Hendon Hooker.

I personally don't see them passing on a QB at 2, it'll be Young or Stroud. Next year my hope is that we are in position to take Marvin Harrison Jr. I'd rather have either of those QBs with that WR next year and have other teams worried about whether they can take Caleb Williams or Drake Maye.

I do think they should take a flyer in the later rounds on a guy like Stetson Bennett, Clayton Tune, or Jake Haener regardless. They have a ton of picks, get them in the building.

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2023-nfl-draft-regrading-every-first-round-qb-pick-over-the-last-15-years-from-trevor-lawrence-to-joe-flacco/?fbclid=IwAR0-_7ckwsY4MaEdAdZ-4mNEmYGQL0Z6BF5x0r44hOjxLgqs64zr1imRne8

Interesting dig into 1st round QBs over the last 15 years, and a good point to how hard it is to make the right pick.

Another one for the group

https://sports.yahoo.com/panthers-hc-frank-reich-reportedly-175025979.html

This begs the question, in the very unlikely scenario that the panthers went with Richardson with the first overall pick....who would we take? CJ or Young?

John Harris did a mock of the first two rounds last night (I think) and went Stroud at 2. Then he traded 12 for 17 and 49. Took Nolan Smith at 17, Jalen Hyatt at 33, and Jahmyr Gibbs at 49.

LincolnBorglum79 said:

---

In my opinion the top 4 best comparisons are:
B Young. Floor Tua. Ceiling drew Brees.
Richardson. Floor Jamarcus Russell ceiling Cam Newton
Levis. Floor Mitch trubiski. Ceiling Josh Allen
Stroud. Floor. Haskins. Ceiling. Russell Wilson

All have issues from size of young to How well Ohio st QBs end up with no careers. Maybe Stroud is different and I think he does go 1 or 2.

I honestly think that the Texans want Bryce Young and if he's gone may trade down rather than settle for stroud at 2. None of the defenders are really worth going 2. Anderson disappeared in the biggest games for Bama.

If they trade down they will take a QB somewhere maybe Hooker or Bennett or even Levis if he slides to round 2. It's pretty rare that a QB drafted 2 ends up being a star.

---

I think Stroud has a higher floor than Haskins. I'd also comp Levis ceiling to Steve McNair.

The main thing missing is the likelihood of those players reaching their ceiling. Young clearly seems the highest but I'm not convinced any of the other guys has a significantly higher probability than the other. That's why I'd rather take the 3rd or 4th option later. Either use the second pick on a guy more likely to be a stud regardless of position or trade down. I don't necessarily want more picks but that could allow us to package more later picks to move up into the second or third.

Definitely Young

Wrong thread

MaxPower said:

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Definitely Young

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I think so too, but man, I've resigned myself to the idea of taking the left over of Young or Stroud at #2, and have been looking at only the positives of both for the last few weeks. So the idea that both of them might be available threw me for a loop. lol

LincolnBorglum79 said:

---

In my opinion the top 4 best comparisons are:
B Young. Floor Tua. Ceiling drew Brees.
Richardson. Floor Jamarcus Russell ceiling Cam Newton
Levis. Floor Mitch trubiski. Ceiling Josh Allen
Stroud. Floor. Haskins. Ceiling. Russell Wilson

All have issues from size of young to How well Ohio st QBs end up with no careers. Maybe Stroud is different and I think he does go 1 or 2.

I honestly think that the Texans want Bryce Young and if he's gone may trade down rather than settle for stroud at 2. None of the defenders are really worth going 2. Anderson disappeared in the biggest games for Bama.

If they trade down they will take a QB somewhere maybe Hooker or Bennett or even Levis if he slides to round 2. It's pretty rare that a QB drafted 2 ends up being a star.

---

Those are very odd comparisons for Stroud. He has a much higher floor than Haskins, other than competition and capabilities, you have to look at the fact that Stroud has 2 complete seasons of starting. Haskins caught fire for 1 year with a great combination of schedule and players around him. Stroud wen through 2 seasons with a slew of different combinations of the support personal around him and still had 2 great seasons. I really don't understand the Russell Wilson comparison at, there are two different size and style players.

I would put Stroud comparisons (and I'm stealing these from a couple of sites, but I agree with them) as floor Jared Goff and ceiling Joe Burrow, with a good probability of Matt Ryan (which would still make him a great take).

Matt Ryan was successful in a pro style offense with limited weapons in college. Stroud has been in a college spread with the best weapons by a wide margin in about every game he's played. Given the track record of QBs produced in that offense, it's really hard to project him. I like him better than any other Ohio St QB the last decade but given how those guys panned out how much does that mean?

MaxPower said:

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Matt Ryan was successful in a pro style offense with limited weapons in college. Stroud has been in a college spread with the best weapons by a wide margin in about every game he's played. Given the track record of QBs produced in that offense, it's really hard to project him. I like him better than any other Ohio St QB the last decade but given how those guys panned out how much does that mean?

---

True, projections are hard, but I do look at the adjustments with the players he had, his first year he started he had arguably the 3 best WRs in the nation on his team, 2 of them went to the draft. The next year JSN, the supposed best of the bunch was injured, only to be replaced by the next best one in Harrison Jr. So, while he got to play with a ton of talent at Ohio State, his play didn't drop off when that talent was completely shuffled unlike a lot of QBs, so some of the WR success has to go back to him. I would be much more worried about drafting him if Stroud only had one year starting, like Haskins.

But from a playing style, I think Matt Ryan is a good comparison of what Stroud could do in the NFL, and if he is plays all the time like he did vs Georgia then he could be at the same level as Joe Burrow. But I also think his floor is probably a journey man QB ala Goff or Jimmy G. I don't see him at the level of Haskins where he just couldn't grasp anything.

speaking of college QB's playing with great WR's...

Mac Jones has not helped their case or cause

W said:

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speaking of college QB's playing with great WR's...

Mac Jones has not helped their case or cause

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The narrative that I've seen this draft cycle has been how OSU QBs don't do much in the pros. Which is funny because you could say the exact same thing about Bama QBs, but for some reason Bryce Young doesn't get dinged for that. At least not as much as Stroud does.

If you take the top 2 teams in each division last year, the 16 starting QBs come from 16 different colleges including 4 from the SEC, 3 each from the Big 12 and Acc and 2 each from the PAC, B1G and smaller schools.

So there currently isn't a QB factory in college football. The 4 best teams have QBs from Tech, Wyoming, ou and LSU.

Bama QB looked pretty good in the Super Bowl this year.

IrishAg said:

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W said:

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speaking of college QB's playing with great WR's...

Mac Jones has not helped their case or cause

---

In Mac Jones defense, the Patriots did decide to play without an offensive coordinator this year...or even anyone that had the qualifications to remotely be an offensive coordinator.

That said, yeah, he still doesn't help that cause lol

---

Yes. Jones looked pretty good the one year he played under Josh McDaniels, a real OC, then New England decided to turn a former DC into their OC, with predictable results.

LilSebastian13 said:

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John Harris did a mock of the first two rounds last night (I think) and went Stroud at 2. Then he traded 12 for 17 and 49. Took Nolan Smith at 17, Jalen Hyatt at 33, and Jahmyr Gibbs at 49.

---

I would be good with that return. Now if JSN is available at 12, might prefer that and best available at 33.

Bogey1996 said:

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LilSebastian13 said:

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John Harris did a mock of the first two rounds last night (I think) and went Stroud at 2. Then he traded 12 for 17 and 49. Took Nolan Smith at 17, Jalen Hyatt at 33, and Jahmyr Gibbs at 49.

---

I would be good with that return. Now if JSN is available at 12, might prefer that and best available at 33.

---

I think Harris's mock is a best case scenario right there. But no matter who's there at WR I think we go d-line with our 2nd 1st rounder. DeMeco's defense is built on a strong d-line, and ours is anything but at the moment.

Snake Jazz said:

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I know that nobody knows anything for sure, but it definitely is starting to feel as if the Panthers are going to take Bryce Young first.

Stupid Colts game.

---

Try not to worry too much about it, but the Panthers have been linked with Stroud, Young, and Richardson. The only one of the 4 top QB's they haven't been linked with is Levis. If you're drafting at 1 you can say whatever you want and it doesn't really matter. The fact that you can't say without a doubt that it's any of them means they don't know yet either. They might think it's Young this week, then go back to the tape and put Stroud at the top. They could still look at Richardson's potential upside as too high to ignore and take him, none of those 3 picks would surprise me. If you're picking at 1 and you know who you're taking then just come out and say who it's going to be. Cleveland drafted Baker Mayfield at number 1 and no one saw that coming.

We also don't know who Houston sees as QB1 in this draft. I like Young but they might like Stroud or even Richardson with that pick. They could be indifferent to the top 4 QB's, take Will Anderson at 2, and shake up the entire draft after that pick. While I don't think this is the strongest draft, I do think it's really interesting.

Coming from SF/Shanahan and seeing a QB roster with Trey Lance, Jimmy G, and Brock Purdy each of whom are really different QB's Slowik could be dead set on one guy, or he might have the mindset that he can build an offense around any of them. The key to any QB they draft is going to be building the best supporting cast possible. Offensive line, receivers, TEs and running backs. Any one of those positions that gets upgraded enhances the QB's chance for success. It doesn't matter who they draft if they fail to do that.

I can get down with #2 Stroud + #12 JSN and call it a day. If only watching the Burrow/Chase connection work so well, might lessen the learning curve.

Snake Jazz said:

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I know that nobody knows anything for sure, but it definitely is starting to feel as if the Panthers are going to take Bryce Young first.

Stupid Colts game.

---

Yeah, that Colts game was freaking stupid.

But, I would take anything that the Panthers leak with a grain of salt. I'm sure they're playing games to see how Houston will respond, and maybe steal an extra mid-round pick from us to guarantee the QB we want. I'm hoping (and confident they will) the coaches have developed a game plan for either QB in the offense so that we can move forward quickly no matter who the pick is.

Max Power said:

---

Snake Jazz said:

---

I know that nobody knows anything for sure, but it definitely is starting to feel as if the Panthers are going to take Bryce Young first.

Stupid Colts game.

---

Try not to worry too much about it, but the Panthers have been linked with Stroud, Young, and Richardson. The only one of the 4 top QB's they haven't been linked with is Levis. If you're drafting at 1 you can say whatever you want and it doesn't really matter. The fact that you can't say without a doubt that it's any of them means they don't know yet either. They might think it's Young this week, then go back to the tape and put Stroud at the top. They could still look at Richardson's potential upside as too high to ignore and take him, none of those 3 picks would surprise me. If you're picking at 1 and you know who you're taking then just come out and say who it's going to be. Cleveland drafted Baker Mayfield at number 1 and no one saw that coming.

We also don't know who Houston sees as QB1 in this draft. I like Young but they might like Stroud or even Richardson with that pick. They could be indifferent to the top 4 QB's, take Will Anderson at 2, and shake up the entire draft after that pick. While I don't think this is the strongest draft, I do think it's really interesting.

Coming from SF/Shanahan and seeing a QB roster with Trey Lance, Jimmy G, and Brock Purdy each of whom are really different QB's Slowik could be dead set on one guy, or he might have the mindset that he can build an offense around any of them. The key to any QB they draft is going to be building the best supporting cast possible. Offensive line, receivers, TEs and running backs. Any one of those positions that gets upgraded enhances the QB's chance for success. It doesn't matter who they draft if they fail to do that.

---

I agree with most of this...this is the season of disinformation, so only the people in the building in both Charlotte and Houston know what is going on.

But, my gut feeling is that the Panthers take Young, and the Texans don't love any of the other QB's at two. They take Anderson or Wilson and pick a Levis or even Hooker at 12. Man, I don't like this. I hate Levis, and I'm not sold on Hooker as a future NFL starter.

That is what I'm most afraid of. I want Young, but I've talked myself into the idea that Stroud could be good in the Shanahan offense. I don't see them taking Richardson, but based on his physical talent, I could be talked into rolling the dice there. I'm just afraid the Texans aren't crazy about either of those guys and we shop out of the bargain bin instead. Just seems like a very Texans thing to do.

Snake Jazz said:

---

Max Power said:

---

Snake Jazz said:

---

I know that nobody knows anything for sure, but it definitely is starting to feel as if the Panthers are going to take Bryce Young first.

Stupid Colts game.

---

Try not to worry too much about it, but the Panthers have been linked with Stroud, Young, and Richardson. The only one of the 4 top QB's they haven't been linked with is Levis. If you're drafting at 1 you can say whatever you want and it doesn't really matter. The fact that you can't say without a doubt that it's any of them means they don't know yet either. They might think it's Young this week, then go back to the tape and put Stroud at the top. They could still look at Richardson's potential upside as too high to ignore and take him, none of those 3 picks would surprise me. If you're picking at 1 and you know who you're taking then just come out and say who it's going to be. Cleveland drafted Baker Mayfield at number 1 and no one saw that coming.

We also don't know who Houston sees as QB1 in this draft. I like Young but they might like Stroud or even Richardson with that pick. They could be indifferent to the top 4 QB's, take Will Anderson at 2, and shake up the entire draft after that pick. While I don't think this is the strongest draft, I do think it's really interesting.

Coming from SF/Shanahan and seeing a QB roster with Trey Lance, Jimmy G, and Brock Purdy each of whom are really different QB's Slowik could be dead set on one guy, or he might have the mindset that he can build an offense around any of them. The key to any QB they draft is going to be building the best supporting cast possible. Offensive line, receivers, TEs and running backs. Any one of those positions that gets upgraded enhances the QB's chance for success. It doesn't matter who they draft if they fail to do that.

---

I agree with most of this...this is the season of disinformation, so only the people in the building in both Charlotte and Houston know what is going on.

But, my gut feeling is that the Panthers take Young, and the Texans don't love any of the other QB's at two. They take Anderson or Wilson and pick a Levis or even Hooker at 12. Man, I don't like this. I hate Levis, and I'm not sold on Hooker as a future NFL starter.

That is what I'm most afraid of. I want Young, but I've talked myself into the idea that Stroud could be good in the Shanahan offense. I don't see them taking Richardson, but based on his physical talent, I could be talked into rolling the dice there. I'm just afraid the Texans aren't crazy about either of those guys and we shop out of the bargain bin instead. Just seems like a very Texans thing to do.

---

.

It wasn't a very Texans thing to hire an up and coming coach like Demeco. Yea, his affiliation helped. But, still, not a very Texans thing to do.

IrishAg said:

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Snake Jazz said:

---

I know that nobody knows anything for sure, but it definitely is starting to feel as if the Panthers are going to take Bryce Young first.

Stupid Colts game.

---

Yeah, that Colts game was freaking stupid.

But, I would take anything that the Panthers leak with a grain of salt. I'm sure they're playing games to see how Houston will respond, and maybe steal an extra mid-round pick from us to guarantee the QB we want. I'm hoping (and confident they will) the coaches have developed a game plan for either QB in the offense so that we can move forward quickly no matter who the pick is.

---

You may be right, but it doesn't make any sense to me for the Colts to play games at this point. They gave up a lot to move up and get the first pick...why get cute with it and try to trade back now?

I think the Colts just haven't made up their mind yet. I think they're probably leaning heavily one way, but haven't finalized the decision.

My guess is that we will not go into the draft with uncertainty about who the first pick will be. I bet within a day or two of the draft, we'll know who the Panthers are picking, and then the pressure will mount on Caserio on how to proceed. I just hope that the QB they want the most is not going to Carolina.

Panthers are trying to play Nick. I hope he calls their bluff and see if they actually pick Young.

"I don't think it's a lock that Houston is going QB at 2"

—@AdamSchefter on what he thinks the Texans will do at the top of the draft 😳 pic.twitter.com/yVNP5gipRg

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) April 11, 2023

pic.twitter.com/ecjHUn6tSB

— Space Cowboy (@HouSportsFiend) April 12, 2023

. . . said:

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"I don't think it's a lock that Houston is going QB at 2"

—@AdamSchefter on what he thinks the Texans will do at the top of the draft 😳 pic.twitter.com/yVNP5gipRg

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) April 11, 2023

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I just don't see nic doing this. I question his ability to evaluate talent but not do something that stupid. If we trade up I have no doubt it's because cowboy cal's pornstache demanded it.

What would it take for the Texans to trade out of number 2? If ArIzona really has 6 teams interested in 3, can Houston get another first round pick next year plus a bunch of picks this year? Is this all just the usual smoke screen 2 weeks before the draft?

If the Eagles really would give up picks 10 and 30 and both a 1 and 2 next year to trade up to 2, I think the Texans might bite. SF built a great defense, good skill positions on offense and Brock Purdy at QB and almost made the SB. Could Hooker or Stetson Bennett or Maybe Richardson get the Texans to 8-9 with the weak schedule and a much improved defense? If not then you have 3 ones next year to get your next guy.

Looking back to 2002, had the Texans drafted Peppers instead of David Carr first overall, would they have been better off? Some years there are no great QBs and ever Pat Mahomes went 10th, 8 spots after Mitch Tribisky.

The pre draft bluffing will continue.

I mean at that point can Mills and/or Keenum get you to 8-9 wins with an improved defense? I don't think they can

I just don't se the benefit of drafting a QB that far down. Either take one at 2 or don't take one at all.

Plus you said it yourself...The 49ers had good skill players on offense. Texans have jack shlt as far as skill players on offense. Pierce is it on offense. They don't even have a #1 WR