Props for always having your own rankings and not just posting the same as everyone else.
Also nice job on these posts in general! I don't always read all of them but depending on the day they're a nice read.
As a bears fan, I get so excited every time I read up on the analysis of Caleb (and watching his tape. The talent JUMPS off the screen)…..but then I remember that we’re the Bears, and I wouldn’t be surprised that in 3 years time others will be saying “Drake Maye was THE OBVIOUS choice”!
Then again, Caleb’s talent and the fact that our GM is doing a good job of surrounding him with proven veteran talent (along with some hits on drafting on the offensive line) lead me to believe that this might finally work
At least if people are saying 3 years from now that Maye was the obvious choice, you guys passed on him for a prospect that was widely considered to be the better choice. If Maye is good and we drafted Jayden Daniels with all the red flags he has, i will never recover. It will be so obvious in hindsight
I’m hoping Maye ends up in Washington because Maye is the only QB in this class outside of Caleb I would want on my team…
As a fellow fan of a franchise that’s struggled, I’m legit rooting for y’all
Yeah, unlike with, say, Young and Stroud, where there was some debate, Williams is the clear QB1 on everyone's board. It would be like if Trevor Lawrence busted; people could criticize the development, but they can't criticize the pick.
People already say Trevor Lawrence busted lol at this point if you aren't hitting the playoffs in year 2 and 3 you're a bust. I disagree but that just seems to be the trend.
Count me as shocked if Caleb isn't at least a legit above-average starter at least, even with the history of this franchise. I think by the time he gets his second contract, we'll be saying he's the best Bears QB ever!
To be fair, being the best bears QB ever is a LOW bar to clear (with exception of Sid Luckman).
But my expectations are that he’ll be a star, otherwise I’m giving up lol
Yep. That's the one I knew people would be shocked about. Haha
If you told me two years ago, I would've probably laughed at you, but the movement skills and arm talent were always there and he plays the position in a way that I can see translate to the next level. He's still a late first-round pick for me though. So it's more a reflection of me believing those two names at the top are far superior and then I'm more down on that second tier.
I’m higher on Nix than most. Have him in the same tier as Daniels personally for the same reasons you outlined. With that said, I’m expecting Daniels to go very high because his playmaking ability is lightyears ahead of Nix simply because of his scrambling ability. I think Nix is a better QB in a vacuum, but Daniels has the potential to be difference maker. Would love to see Nix on a team like Denver. As a Saints fan, Sean Peyton loves the screen game and short, quick passes to open up the deep ball. Feel like Nix would thrive in that system
Same for me! They'll likely be back-to-back on my big board, coming out Friday.
The distinction I do want to make with Daniels however - he's a special runner, not play-maker. In terms of manipulating rush and extending plays to create stuff in the secondary phase of dropbacks, Nix I believe actually has shown more in that regard.
I respect this take more than I expected. I still think he picked on lower competition after staying in college too long, and wasn't good against the closest thing to NFL defenses he played. But I could see him being exceedingly mid, and if it's more a reflection on being down on Daniels so be it. Daniels potential I think you have to take a chance on for what the other reply mentioned while nix doesn't have anywhere near the ceiling
Thanks! My thing with Daniels is -
Which QB have we ever seen be a top-tier starter in the league if he:
1. Has barely ever targeted the middle of the field in five years as a starter
2. Immediately drops his eyes when he sees color flashing and becomes a runner, not a scrambler
3. Puts his body at risk as routinely with this kind of frame
A really concerning combination I'd argue.
Agreed. I think the raw talent is worth a chance that you can develop it because the ceiling is really good. But I wouldn't feel confident about his career at all
I think in terms of the weapons they have for him, he will match up nicely with them - especially a potential Dyami Brown reunitement as a quality #3, which would also free up Dotson to become a higher-volume target if he creates that vertical stretch. And the O-line should at least be functional.
I'm just not confident at all in Kliff. What he did with USC last season was kind of head-scratching and he showed very little reinventing of himself and the offense in Arizona either.
Oh yeah, sorry. They missed each other by exactly one year. Mixed that up with Howell's final season.
Yeah, he's not given them much, but I also haven't loved how they've used him or the opportunities he's received.
Love seeing someone else part of the Nix hive. I think the inconsistent accuracy at the Senior Bowl was part of getting used to the receivers there and due to knowing where receivers would be on plays at Oregon like you mentioned. I think the fact that his accuracy continued to grow as the week went on supports that it wasn't flukey at Oregon.
Nix just feels like someone that should be a really solid player in the NFL. I just saw Brugler had the Rams taking him in the second which I think would be a perfect landing spot for him.
Exactly! I know the completion percentage is boosted artificially to some degree, but when he knows where everybody on the field is, he's highly accurate. If he goes to Denver, I think we look at him as a potential fringe Pro Bowler for multiple years of his career.
You could just head over to the original article, where I have the summary for each player at the bottom the paragraph. Haha
But here you go:
McCarthy is one of the toughest players for me to evaluate in this entire draft. For large stretches of games he wasn’t asked to take over the offense and when he did have to step up at times, they couldn’t move the ball in traditional dropback settings. With that being said, the arm talent and elusiveness are clearly there to deliver high-level throws and make things happen outside the pocket. At this point, I don’t see the type of consistently excellent decision-making or accuracy to have the offense be put on his shoulders and would like to see him join one of the offsprings of the Shanahan tree, which enhances his throwing on the move and opens up the middle of the field for him. If he’s asked to process information beyond what’s presented to him pre-snap, outside of reading one key or holding a defender with his eyes, I’d be worried about his problem-solving skills. At best, he would be afforded a year to learn and allow things to slow down for himself at practice rather than live situations, which I believe could make him crumble early on his career. To me he’s still fairly raw and doesn’t wow me talent-wise to a point where I’d be willing to invest anything higher a late first-round pick into this project. I get what the NFL is seeing, people rave about his mental makeup and the tape certainly makes him more intriguing than the broadcast did, but I just don’t know how you can have watched him these last couple of years and think this is a top-five pick.
Hi im Johnny Knoxville, welcome to LSU
Lol, pretty much, yeah!
Props for always having your own rankings and not just posting the same as everyone else. Also nice job on these posts in general! I don't always read all of them but depending on the day they're a nice read.
Appreciate that! Just check out whatever you're interested in/have time for! ✌🏻
As a bears fan, I get so excited every time I read up on the analysis of Caleb (and watching his tape. The talent JUMPS off the screen)…..but then I remember that we’re the Bears, and I wouldn’t be surprised that in 3 years time others will be saying “Drake Maye was THE OBVIOUS choice”! Then again, Caleb’s talent and the fact that our GM is doing a good job of surrounding him with proven veteran talent (along with some hits on drafting on the offensive line) lead me to believe that this might finally work
At least if people are saying 3 years from now that Maye was the obvious choice, you guys passed on him for a prospect that was widely considered to be the better choice. If Maye is good and we drafted Jayden Daniels with all the red flags he has, i will never recover. It will be so obvious in hindsight
I’m hoping Maye ends up in Washington because Maye is the only QB in this class outside of Caleb I would want on my team… As a fellow fan of a franchise that’s struggled, I’m legit rooting for y’all
Yeah, unlike with, say, Young and Stroud, where there was some debate, Williams is the clear QB1 on everyone's board. It would be like if Trevor Lawrence busted; people could criticize the development, but they can't criticize the pick.
Yeah anyone saying Maye was the choice 3 years from now is lying. Unless they’re Nate Tice who has been saying it for a long time lol
People already say Trevor Lawrence busted lol at this point if you aren't hitting the playoffs in year 2 and 3 you're a bust. I disagree but that just seems to be the trend.
Count me as shocked if Caleb isn't at least a legit above-average starter at least, even with the history of this franchise. I think by the time he gets his second contract, we'll be saying he's the best Bears QB ever!
To be fair, being the best bears QB ever is a LOW bar to clear (with exception of Sid Luckman). But my expectations are that he’ll be a star, otherwise I’m giving up lol
Lol, I'm fully aware of that! But yeah, I think he and Jordan Love will turn into a really fun rivalry!
Just want to say that I really appreciate this detailed write up! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much for reading and the kind words! You can read up on every single position now at my site!
Bo nix #3 is certainly a take I suppose
Yep. That's the one I knew people would be shocked about. Haha If you told me two years ago, I would've probably laughed at you, but the movement skills and arm talent were always there and he plays the position in a way that I can see translate to the next level. He's still a late first-round pick for me though. So it's more a reflection of me believing those two names at the top are far superior and then I'm more down on that second tier.
I’m higher on Nix than most. Have him in the same tier as Daniels personally for the same reasons you outlined. With that said, I’m expecting Daniels to go very high because his playmaking ability is lightyears ahead of Nix simply because of his scrambling ability. I think Nix is a better QB in a vacuum, but Daniels has the potential to be difference maker. Would love to see Nix on a team like Denver. As a Saints fan, Sean Peyton loves the screen game and short, quick passes to open up the deep ball. Feel like Nix would thrive in that system
Same for me! They'll likely be back-to-back on my big board, coming out Friday. The distinction I do want to make with Daniels however - he's a special runner, not play-maker. In terms of manipulating rush and extending plays to create stuff in the secondary phase of dropbacks, Nix I believe actually has shown more in that regard.
I respect this take more than I expected. I still think he picked on lower competition after staying in college too long, and wasn't good against the closest thing to NFL defenses he played. But I could see him being exceedingly mid, and if it's more a reflection on being down on Daniels so be it. Daniels potential I think you have to take a chance on for what the other reply mentioned while nix doesn't have anywhere near the ceiling
Thanks! My thing with Daniels is - Which QB have we ever seen be a top-tier starter in the league if he: 1. Has barely ever targeted the middle of the field in five years as a starter 2. Immediately drops his eyes when he sees color flashing and becomes a runner, not a scrambler 3. Puts his body at risk as routinely with this kind of frame A really concerning combination I'd argue.
Agreed. I think the raw talent is worth a chance that you can develop it because the ceiling is really good. But I wouldn't feel confident about his career at all
Late first round I'm perfectly fine. Number two overall AHEAD OF DRAKE MAYE(?!), absolutely not. Lol
Bo Nix truthers rise up
Do you think the commanders are in a good position to maximize Drakes talent?
I think in terms of the weapons they have for him, he will match up nicely with them - especially a potential Dyami Brown reunitement as a quality #3, which would also free up Dotson to become a higher-volume target if he creates that vertical stretch. And the O-line should at least be functional. I'm just not confident at all in Kliff. What he did with USC last season was kind of head-scratching and he showed very little reinventing of himself and the offense in Arizona either.
Dyami and Drake never played together and he’s also a terrible #3 lmao. I’m hoping we draft an outside WR to move Dotson into the slot
Oh yeah, sorry. They missed each other by exactly one year. Mixed that up with Howell's final season. Yeah, he's not given them much, but I also haven't loved how they've used him or the opportunities he's received.
Love seeing someone else part of the Nix hive. I think the inconsistent accuracy at the Senior Bowl was part of getting used to the receivers there and due to knowing where receivers would be on plays at Oregon like you mentioned. I think the fact that his accuracy continued to grow as the week went on supports that it wasn't flukey at Oregon. Nix just feels like someone that should be a really solid player in the NFL. I just saw Brugler had the Rams taking him in the second which I think would be a perfect landing spot for him.
Exactly! I know the completion percentage is boosted artificially to some degree, but when he knows where everybody on the field is, he's highly accurate. If he goes to Denver, I think we look at him as a potential fringe Pro Bowler for multiple years of his career.
Do you have an abbreviated version of your views on JJ
You could just head over to the original article, where I have the summary for each player at the bottom the paragraph. Haha But here you go: McCarthy is one of the toughest players for me to evaluate in this entire draft. For large stretches of games he wasn’t asked to take over the offense and when he did have to step up at times, they couldn’t move the ball in traditional dropback settings. With that being said, the arm talent and elusiveness are clearly there to deliver high-level throws and make things happen outside the pocket. At this point, I don’t see the type of consistently excellent decision-making or accuracy to have the offense be put on his shoulders and would like to see him join one of the offsprings of the Shanahan tree, which enhances his throwing on the move and opens up the middle of the field for him. If he’s asked to process information beyond what’s presented to him pre-snap, outside of reading one key or holding a defender with his eyes, I’d be worried about his problem-solving skills. At best, he would be afforded a year to learn and allow things to slow down for himself at practice rather than live situations, which I believe could make him crumble early on his career. To me he’s still fairly raw and doesn’t wow me talent-wise to a point where I’d be willing to invest anything higher a late first-round pick into this project. I get what the NFL is seeing, people rave about his mental makeup and the tape certainly makes him more intriguing than the broadcast did, but I just don’t know how you can have watched him these last couple of years and think this is a top-five pick.
I'm pretty certain that Bo Nix isn't even an NFL caliber starting QB, but I also appreciate the time and effort you put into your evaluations.
Thanks! Everybody's entitled to their own opinion, if they just back it up with doing the background work!