I think that Michael Penix Jr is simply getting overlooked in this incredibly deep QB class, but he really deserves one of the top Pop spots on this list for absolutely dismantling Michigan State. He seriously made them look like he was tossing rocks against a community college intramural team.
Heās got an incredible arm, touch, poise in the pocket, the ability to throw the high point ball, then the frozen rope into double coverage. Heās really taken his game to the next level this year and no one is noticing. As of right now, he might be the best QB in this class if youāre looking for pocket QB. Check it outā¦
I see Penix in the discussion for QB3 most everywhere I look, so I donāt think itās thatās he being overlooked necessarily, especially by evaluators. Itās just that Shedeur and Colorado have stolen the spotlight. Penix, Bo Nix, McCarthy, Ewersā¦ theyāre all facing an uphill battle for attention in Deionās world.
Though that very spotlight falls squarely on Bo Nixās shoulders this week. Itās too bad Washington and Colorado donāt play this year, so Penix wonāt get that shot.
Bo Nix is a fascinating case study bc outside of his age there is this issue as to how teams handle the effects of changes of scenery on a playerās evaluation.
If he were 22 rather then 24 at the time of the draft and if Oregon had found him working at a car wash in Alabama rather than playing āquarterbackā at Auburn I think heād be right up there with Drake Maye.
Jordan Palmer predicted prior to the '21 season that he would go number 1 overall. I heard him on sports radio talking about him and other QBs that he was working with back then and he said that Nixās tool kit was amongst the best out of any guy heād ever worked with.
And Nix has been consistently awesome at Oregon. Consistent, clutch and exhibited transferable (to the NFL) tape. But then the Auburn tape is at times as much of a horror show as youāll ever see. So how do teams deal with that.
If Iām a team in itās window and with a QB issue (looking at you NYJ) Iād be all about Bo Nix.
Weāve known how toolsy he is for awhile now, and it didnāt help him much at Auburn. As you know, QB is much more about whatās upstairs than the tools (though the tools certainly donāt hurt!).
I am still hesitant about Nix because so much of what I saw of him at Auburn made me question what he had going on upstairs, but thereās no doubt heās improved drastically at Oregon. And itās a fact that guys CAN improve.
Which is precisely what Iām getting at. In this new era of collegiate player mobility how are teams going to handle pauper to prince storylines. I have no idea.
If itās me, with caution. I have a feeling youād be a bit more cavalier, but I also know youāve seen more him at Oregon than I have.
I like him better than Penix. Both are by no means slam dunks. But at least Nix is durable as all hell.
Nixās release is also much, much quicker. Both can wing it for sure though.
I do see why supporters can dream on both of them though.
Iām starting to really come around on Van Dyke. I watched his whole game against the cult and thought he was brilliant. Easy to see where all the Stafford comps come from. Looks like that shoulder injury last year was a legit reason, not an excuse.
Wonder if Papa Sanders does keep him out of the Draft.
Heās probably the best pace/nuance thrower in the class. The way he takes zip off when necessary, layers throws, etc. is impressive. He was supposedly a top 2 round pitcher if he didnāt have the football thing as an overhang. My guess is that his offspeed stuff and touch/feel were off the charts for a 17 year old.
Iām doubtful heās even in this draft class though. Given how loaded it will be at QB and the sort of NIL money that will get mustered up in South Florida if the Canes are on the brink of something special Iād lean towards him being a '25 guy. On the flip side he will be 23 years old in this draft class. 
But if he gets $1.5-$2m to stay in Coral Gables and theyāre coming off a big season I think that will be hard to pass up.
Been on Nabors and Newton.
Like to hear from Thatās and Husker on there opinion of Newton and Maason Smith
I like Newton a lot from a pressure perspective, but youāre gonna get some of the same issues with him as you get with Kancey. Heās just a smaller dude overall. Not as small as Kancey, but not quite as athletic either. Heās stronger than Kancey though and thus not quite the liability against the run. Heās got a really low center of gravity.
And like Kancey he can take over games with pressure, and itās hard not to like a guy that can do that. He was awesome against Penn State. I will have him much higher than I did Kancey when itās all said and done.
Smith was one of my favorite guys coming into the year but he needs to get his head on straight and start performing. And honestly Iām starting to worry heās not a Brad/Dan type of guy even if he does, in which case it will likely be moot (like Carter last year).
I think he probably ends up a 1st rounder with those tools, even in a class like this. I guess need will come into play like it did with Levis, but Van Dyke is far more advanced as a thrower than Levis.
He may wait, though Iām almost certain heāll be going up against Shedeur next year. Other QBs might actually make this the year to come out.
So letās assume Van Dyke is a 2024 first rounder. How many first round QBs are we talking about then?
too early to love QBās until we see how Goff does now-this season IMO.
Xavier Legette has to be one of if not the biggest riser of this draft class.
He went from probably going undrafted to likely destined for day 2 very quickly.
Our staff gives extra credit to players who are able to move to a new team/new city and produce immediately. They feel it says something about the individual and their ability to adapt to new situations. Bryce Young said that he is glad he chose Alabama over USC, because it forced him to learn to go into a new environment and adapt. He said if he would have went to USC it would have been an extension of high school for him. He knew the campus well and even knew half of the players already. So the NFL would have been his first time having to adapt to a new situation.
If Iām a NFL team drafting top 5, Iād be concerned about Marvin Harrisonās propensity for injury. Great great talent, but dude gets hurt in big games it seems like. And his frame is super skinny at 6ā4" 205. I mean you never know, look at Michael Thomas, but 6ā4" 205 is Charles Rogers territory or even skinnier. Love his talent though.