Next year's Draft will be a QB feast

[SissyBoyFloyd]

Will we be left out again by picking in the lower 3rd of the draft? Probably.

Should we mortgage the farm and do whatever it takes to get our perfect "QB"? If it's possible, maybe.

Can we risk waiting another year to secure and prepare Palmer's replacement? I would hope not.


I wouldn't gamble our future on procrastinating any longer. We all know what it is like not having a decent QB. It is hell, and costs coaches and management their jobs.

I hope we do whatever it takes to go after a highly thought of QB in next year's draft, even if we have to give up several draft picks. I don't want to suffer through another 10 yrs of fumbling around at QB. Even if we don't fill a couple other positions of need, we can work around that. But we have no team worth a damn without a good QB, and have little hope of being super bowl champs and contenders without a great one.

Here are a few college QBs who might go at the top in '16 draft:
The studs:
Connor Cook, Mich St
Christian Hackenberg, Penn St
Cardale Jones, Ohio St.
Jared Goff, Cal
Patrick Towles, Kentucky

Highly Rated but not a good Pro fit:
Cody Kessler, USC (not enamored with 6'1" QBs)
Dak Prescott, Mississippi State (can you say Tim Tebow)

Possible Risers into Group 1:
Nate Sudfeld, Indiana (love those 6'5" QBs)
Braxton Miller, Ohio St (could be 1st rounder who wasn't a starter)
Carson Wentz, No Dakota St (will we even get to see him play on TV)
Wes Lunt, Illinois (Another Big 10 pro style QB - that makes 6 in this draft)

Those that come out of no where:


What are your thoughts? Who do you like? What sayeth all of thee?

 

[devilalum]

Mike Bercovici's a gunslinger. I don't know if he's got NFL stuff but I bet he gets drafted somewhere.

 

[oaken1]

if Barrett stays healthy Cardale JOnes may never even see the field this season....that lack of starting experience will cause some teams to shy away....even though the guy started in all big games and played lights out each time. but it may cause him to drop in the draft.

but if it were me I would make the play to go get him and not chance that he falls.

 

[PJ1]

We will need to do something. I don't believe Thomas has a future as a backup much less a starter.

 

[Jetstream Green]

This was said the last few years about every new 'amazing' QB crop. Colleges no longer run an offense where a pro caliber QB can be developed, and they have more athletes than actual QBs... I think when the draft rolls around next year, it will be the same meh QB selection

 

[PACardsFan]

This was said the last few years about every new 'amazing' QB crop. Colleges no longer run an offense where a pro caliber QB can be developed, and they have more athletes than actual QBs... I think when the draft rolls around next year, it will be the same meh QB selection

Yep!!

 

[clif]

In the very limited viewing I did, Hackenberg is the clear cut leader in the clubhouse. I was not impressed with Towles.

 

[RON_IN_OC]

Mike Bercovici's a gunslinger. I don't know if he's got NFL stuff but I bet he gets drafted somewhere.

I've seen a few pick him as a Heisman sleeper. He's probably the most pro-style QB that Todd Graham has ever had...ASU will definitely have to adjust their offense a bit, to accommodate Berco.

 

[Cardiac]

This was said the last few years about every new 'amazing' QB crop. Colleges no longer run an offense where a pro caliber QB can be developed, and they have more athletes than actual QBs... I think when the draft rolls around next year, it will be the same meh QB selection

My first thought as well.

I get the argument for getting the QB of the future but it's more than a bit premature IMO at this point. By that I mean a week after the 2015 draft with an entire season to play out before knowing that Palmer is done and Thomas hasn't made any progress.

 

[devilalum]

I've seen a few pick him as a Heisman sleeper. He's probably the most pro-style QB that Todd Graham has ever had...ASU will definitely have to adjust their offense a bit, to accommodate Berco.

Definitely. Him running that read option is like cramming a square peg in a round hole.

 

[TigToad]

Funny, I don't recall which one, but one of the talking heads the other day was talking about how next year's QB class was going to be unspectacular as well.

 

[Jetstream Green]

Excellent article by Cable of the Hawks
http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/sto...s-college-spread-offense-disservice-criticism

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

I wouldn't trade up for any of those QB's. None of them come with "Franchise QB" label and that's the only type of QB I would trade up for. I'm not saying there aren't a couple decent prospects but none of them wow anyone.

Cardale Jones and Hackenberg have the best the best tool sets to develop into a franchise QB and I guess the ND State kid is supposed to be good but I have never seen him play.

Even if Braxton Miller would start at OSU, I wouldn't touch him in round 1, or 2 or 3 for that matter. He'd probably get drafted similarly to Brett Hundley.

 

[cardpa]

I would target one of these two and would seriously consider trading up to get one of them.

Connor Cook, Mich St
Christian Hackenberg, Penn St

 

[Garthshort]

At least by this time next year we'll know (hopefully) if Logan Thomas has a future with the team. Fingers crossed that he does.

 

[Chopper0080]

The NFL needs to change what it is looking for in QBs coming in because of how the college game has evolved. You can't be looking for a guy who has run your offense, because none of them do. What you need to look for, is which QBs process information quickly, have a top end work ethic, and can function in chaos. There is obviously a skill set required, but the pressure is on NFL teams to now prepare their offense to be able to bring in a college QB to develop on the field. You have to have a good offensive line. You need to have a defense that can allow you to have a balanced attack. You have to be able to run the ball to keep your QB out of as many predicated passing situations as possible. That will be the new requirement for teams who are looking for a QB going forward.

 

[Ohcrap75]

I love the potential of Jones, Hack, and Goff. But as a couple mentioned earlier, there a long ways to go and a lot of time for warts to show up. Unfortunately if these QB's reach their potential and the Cards do what we expect... No shot at them!

 

[az jam]

IMO 2016 NFL draft will not be a great class for NFL QBs. Some decent projects but no franchise qb. Could change and someone stand out with good season.

 

[Jetstream Green]

We might as well hold on to Logan Thomas, because in about 5 years most teams will have the same quality QB and at least ours will be above the learning curve lol

 

[cardpa]

If you want to see the real potential of Christian Hackenberg, Penn St go back to his Freshman year when he was under Bill O'Brian. He regressed with Franklin as the new HC. Franklin likes a spread offense and Hackenberg excels in a pro type offense. Franklin was trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.

It will be an interesting 2015 to see if Franklin changes his offense to fit Hackenberg's strengths. Also the Oline couldn't block a lick for Hackenberg either. He was sacked 44 times in just 11 games. They also couldn't run the ball averaging 2.9YPC.

 

[Stout]

If you want to see the real potential of Christian Hackenberg, Penn St go back to his Freshman year when he was under Bill O'Brian. He regressed with Franklin as the new HC. Franklin likes a spread offense and Hackenberg excels in a pro type offense. Franklin was trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.

It will be an interesting 2015 to see if Franklin changes his offense to fit Hackenberg's strengths. Also the Oline couldn't block a lick for Hackenberg either. He was sacked 44 times in just 11 games. They also couldn't run the ball averaging 2.9YPC.

This. The only thing I really worry about with Hackenberg is his feet. I don't care what kind of system you play in, you can't have feet mired in cement, and he often stood still, like a statue, this past season. If this continues, he'll fall to the mid-late rounds. Even if he doesn't have a great year, if his footwork improves, some team will likely take a shot on him in the higher rounds. If he has even a decent year, he'll go in the first. Let's just hope Franklin doesn't ruin him.

 

[Passepartout]

If 2015 was great, 2016 will be great. Just need to find that franchise QB. Palmer is short term.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

The NFL needs to change what it is looking for in QBs coming in because of how the college game has evolved. You can't be looking for a guy who has run your offense, because none of them do. What you need to look for, is which QBs process information quickly, have a top end work ethic, and can function in chaos. There is obviously a skill set required, but the pressure is on NFL teams to now prepare their offense to be able to bring in a college QB to develop on the field. You have to have a good offensive line. You need to have a defense that can allow you to have a balanced attack. You have to be able to run the ball to keep your QB out of as many predicated passing situations as possible. That will be the new requirement for teams who are looking for a QB going forward.

That is an important as anything

 

[splitsecond]

Mike Bercovici's a gunslinger. I don't know if he's got NFL stuff but I bet he gets drafted somewhere.

As a Wildcat I hate saying this because it means ASU is having a good year, but as a football fan I love watching him play. He reminds me a TON of Mark Brunell.

I've seen a few pick him as a Heisman sleeper. He's probably the most pro-style QB that Todd Graham has ever had...ASU will definitely have to adjust their offense a bit, to accommodate Berco.

Those people come from the land of Sun Devil Fiction who think think that ASU matters to the rest of the college football world. Berco is good, but even with a stellar season he has as much hope for a Heisman ad Kadeem Carey did at Arizona.

 

[cardpa]

This. The only thing I really worry about with Hackenberg is his feet. I don't care what kind of system you play in, you can't have feet mired in cement, and he often stood still, like a statue, this past season. If this continues, he'll fall to the mid-late rounds. Even if he doesn't have a great year, if his footwork improves, some team will likely take a shot on him in the higher rounds. If he has even a decent year, he'll go in the first. Let's just hope Franklin doesn't ruin him.

Point well taken Stout. He did play statue quite a bit in 2014. You kind of got the feeling Hackenberg was resentful of having to play in Franklin's offense. Franklin almost never gave him a chance to throw down field and had him throwing a lot of short stuff in a spread offense. O'Brian had him taking shots down field similar to a pro offense. I think Hackenberg hated the offensive system Franklin installed. Hopefully maturity will help Hackenberg.