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Ranking the QBs in the NFL draft class for 2023
Evaluating quarterbacks requires more film work than any other position group. The quest to find the consistency of mechanics, as well as how things like pocket presence, accuracy, awareness and athleticism worked in college and twill ranslate to the next level is arduous — and inexact. Yet it’s also the most critical position for NFL teams to get right.
2023 NFL draft big board: Running backs
Here’s how I rank the quarterbacks in the draft class of 2023.
The Minnesota Vikings need a quarterback of the future and they will have five picks to take one in the 2023 NFL Draft.
The Minnesota Vikings need a quarterback of the future more than any other position. How they go about seelcting that player will show a lot about what the Vikings want to do.
There is a chance that the Vikings prioritize Kirk Cousins as their future at the position. If they do, a quarterback isn’t likely to be taken this year.
If they choose to take a quarterback of the future in April’s draft, they could do so at any time. Here are some quarterbacks that the Bears could target in each round.
QB Clayton Tune said at the Houston Cougars pro day he can help any NFL team, and would love to play for the Houston Texans in @bigsargesportz’s latest.
HOUSTON — There was palpable energy onsite at the University of Houston Thursday afternoon.
One would assume that the vivaciousness was generated as the men’s basketball team prepares to play in the “Sweet 16” round of the NCAA Tournament against the Miami Hurricanes as they take one step closer to playing at NRG Stadium in the Final Four.
Yet, that was not the case as excitement emanated from the indoor football facility as 16 players from the Cougars prepared to showcase their skills to all the NFL personnel that was in attendance.
“It is a fun day,” coach Dana Holgorsen said. “This is the one thing that makes the players say, ‘I have waited my whole life for this moment.’ It is about those guys, and I am here to support them and hopefully, they do a really good job here like I know they will.”
University of Houston QB Clayton Tune says he has a meeting with the Houston Texans and talks about what it would be like to be drafted by the home town team. #UH #Coogs #ProDay2023 #Texans #Sarge @TheTexansWire @UHCougarFB @ClaytonTune7 pic.twitter.com/wjDZOjS7vx
— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) March 24, 2023
Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio and special teams coach Frank Ross watched intently as the players went through agility and position drills. One player that has caught the attention of the Texans throughout their college season and the NFL combine workouts has been quarterback Clayton Tune.
Tune led the Cougars to an 8-5 record this season, capped off with a 23-16 comeback win over the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns in the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl. His 40 passing touchdowns set an American Athletic Conference single-season record and earned him First-Team All-AAC honors.
The Carrollton, Texas, native finished his career completing 63 percent of his passes while throwing for 11, 127 yards and 95 touchdowns. He added 1,298 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns of production to his resumé.
“It felt good, I thought I did well,” Tune told reporters after his throwing session. “A couple of teams came up to me afterward and said, ‘Good job,’ you are ripping it around and we look forward to staying in touch.”
Tune elaborated more on why an NFL team should draft him early despite some analysts speculating that he is a late third-day prospect.
“I think if you just look at my track record, I just make the team better wherever I go,” said Tune. “As long as I have been playing football, I make the team better, I help us win games. This past season if you just look at the amount of times, we had to come back in the fourth quarter. I feel like I was able to play well in crunch time and bring my team along to get us the lead late in the game.”
Even with the speculation that the Texans will select a quarterback with the number two overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, they are one of many teams Tune is scheduled to meet with here soon.
“It would be awesome,” Tune expressed about possibly playing for the Texans. “To be able to stay in Houston and play in front of my fans. I am sure there are a lot of UH fans, that are also Texans fans, so being able to play in front of the same crowd would be great. I am super familiar with the city so it would be awesome.”
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The New Orleans Saints scheduled a visit with Houston Cougars QB prospect Clayton Tune after his Senior Bowl audition:
The New Orleans Saints scheduled a visit with Houston Cougars quarterback prospect Clayton Tune after his audition at the Senior Bowl earlier this offseason, reports KPRC2 Houston’s Aaron Wilson, who adds that a couple of other teams showing interest include the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, and Houston Texans. Tune, 24, projects to be picked in the middling rounds of the 2023 NFL draft — as high as round three, maybe as low as round six. Teams are using the weeks ahead to nail down his grade and relative value within the draft class.
He completed 67.4% of his throws for 4,069 yards and 40 touchdown passes (against 10 interceptions) last season, having also gained 544 rushing yards and 5 touchdown runs. He put together a very impressive athletic profile after weighing in at 6-foot-2 1/2 and 220 pounds, timing the 40-yard dash in 4.64 seconds and posting a pro shuttle time of 4.25 seconds. He also logged a 37 1/2-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot-2 broad jump. It made for a rare Relative Athletic Score of 9.8.
Right now the Saints have just three quarterbacks under contract for 2023, between the newly-signed starter (Derek Carr), the veteran backup (Jameis Winston), and a holdover from last year’s practice squad (Jake Luton). It would make sense to invest in a developmental prospect like Tune who can back up Carr once Winston leaves in free agency next offseason. The Saints also scheduled a throwing session with Incarnate Word quarterback Lindsey Scott Jr., so at least some rookie passers are on their radar.
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Could the duo stay together in Cleveland?
With the 2023 NFL Draft just over a month away, the Cleveland Browns have continued their draft visits with this year’s prospects. Aaron Wilson is reporting that the Browns are meeting with Houston’s quarterback Clayton Tune as well as his top target in wide receiver Tank Dell.
Even after trading for former Jets’ wide receiver Elijah Moore, the team could look to add more speed and playmaking. Tank Dell however is already 23 and will be 24 this year and likely is too old for general manager Andrew Berry. Dell does have amazing quickness and speed but as a really small receiver, there are durability concerns as well.
Clayton Tune makes sense as a player that has good athleticism and can extend plays and gain yards with his legs. The team did just bring back Josh Dobbs to be QB2 they could look for young talent for the practice squad.
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How does free agency shift the draft plans of the Browns?
Step one of the off-season is well underway as the Cleveland Browns have added talent to their roster this week during NFL free agency. What better time for a 2023 NFL Mock Draft? The Browns needed to rebuild their defensive line for Jim Schwartz and have added an impressive young pass rusher as well as three defensive tackles including Dalvin Tomlinson.
After adding Juan Thornhill on Thursday the 2023 NFL Draft for the Browns will likely be with an eye past 2023. Having filled most of the starting roster holes in free agency the team won’t need rookies to have major roles barring injuries. Let’s look ahead at some young players that could develop into important role players in Cleveland.
The backup QB spot is one the Rams could bolster this offseason and Clayton Tune is an option via the draft.
The Los Angeles Rams will currently enter the 2023 NFL draft with 10 total picks. Sean McVay’s squad has quite a few holes to address this offseason, and on the offensive side of the ball, the Rams need to find a reliable backup behind Matthew Stafford.
The Rams could unquestionably look to free agency to add a proven veteran or someone that fits McVay’s style of offense. On the other hand, the Rams could also look to find a long-term backup or potential future starter via the draft.
With the Rams likely considering all options at the No. 2 spot at quarterback on the depth chart, we’ll be taking a look at Clayton Tune out of Houston.
Sam Hartman and Clayton Tune climbed the all-time list after the 2022 campaign.
Scoring touchdowns is the name of the game and some quarterbacks did it better than others.
The single-season record currently sits at 62, held by former Houston Baptist and Western Kentucky quarterback Bailey Zappe. He set the record with the Hilltoppers in 2021, less than two seasons after LSU Tigers’ quarterback Joe Burrow broke Colt Brennan’s record of 58. Burrow threw 60 touchdown passes en route to winning Heisman Trophy.
It goes beyond one season for the career passing touchdown records. Which quarterbacks showed up consistently each season to rack up the points and give their team the opportunity to win? Plenty of names on the top 25 list are similar to our rundown of the career passing yards list. However, the order might look a bit different for some players.
Former Wake Forest quarterback and current Notre Dame signal-caller Sam Hartman climbed the list after the 2022 season. He was joined by former Houston Cougars gunslinger Clayton Tune, who also climbed the ranks.
We break down the top 25 passing touchdown leaders in FBS history. Ties are listed in alphabetical order.
When the scouting combine drills get going, here are six offensive players who could tear it up, and the tape is also intriguing.
INDIANAPOLIS — There are some draft prospects who look great on the field, and just don’t show up in the drills, whether it’s at the scouting combine or at their pro days. And there are those prospects who show up at events like this week’s combine ready to blow everyone away… and then, when you go back to their game tape, it’s a big ball of “meh.”
The obvious goal for NFL evaluators seated in the luxury boxes at Lucas Oil Stadium this week is to focus in on the players who look great during the workouts, and the tape matches up. Spinning that forward to the prospects who might be under the radar, if you get enough of those guys on your roster, you might just be on to something.
Here are six offensive skill position players whose tape stands out enough to bank on their athleticism on the field at Lucas Oil Stadium, and it’ll make them more than just workout warriors.
The final practice of Senior Bowl week had some great wide receiver/cornerback matchups. @MattAnderson_8 breaks it all down
The Senior Bowl practices have wrapped up here in Mobile, Alabama, and for the American Team, it’s been a fun week of practice. Many players have improved their draft stock and confirmed many experts’ prior assumptions about them.
Let’s take a look and see who hurt and helped their draft stock following the final day of practice.
