Position re-grades: QB | RB | WR | TE | DT | LB | OLB/DE | CB | SAF
Position previews: QB | RB | WR | TE | DT | LB | OLB/DE | CB | SAF
Leading up to Senior Bowl week, I do 15-30 minutes of scouting preview work on each prospect set to attend -- watching a couple game tapes and looking over some performance data, etc., and then I give each prospect a pre-event scouting grade for the NFL based on that brief look.
After we scout their performance at the Senior Bowl week of practices, drills, etc., we update the grades and comments and re-rank. We continue to go through the same process for the NFL Combine, as we build a study for 2023 draft prospects until we ultimately choose to do an even deeper study of certain prospects and publish a full scouting report and run our computer scouting models for numerical grades on over 600+ prospects for the NFL Draft.
This is a very brief look for me, as a scout, to start to build my data and scouting notes for the weeks and months ahead, and to be ready to focus in on certain prospects in Mobile that are jumping at me from the early preview. It’s a first, sometimes second look (for me) at a prospect and their tape, actions, info and my impressions/grading can and will change as we go through the year long process.
After a January quick study, here are my impressions, grades, and ranking of each position (except O-Line, we’ll look at OLs after the Combine).
The Quarterbacks…
QB Will Levis, Kentucky (Pre-SB Grade: B)
2022: 65.4%, 218.7 pass yds, 19 TDs/10 INTs, -107 rushing yds (11g)
6’3”/232
Projected 40-time: 4.7+
Projected 3-Cone: 7.1+
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 10
Our full report on Levis is already posted.
Levis should show just fine at the Senior Bowl, but he’s also had so many nagging injuries 2022 season -- he might go for the interviews but not play…or have one practice in shorts/t-shirt and be done.
NFL Comp? = Aaron Rodgers/Andrew Luck-ish type profile.
QB Hendon Hooker, Tennessee (Pre-SB Grade: C+/C)
2022: 69.6%, 285.0 yds, 27 TDs/2 INT, 430 rush yds (11g)
6’4”/218
Projected 40-time: 4.65+
Projected 3-Cone: 7.0+
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 75
Tore his ACL in late 2022 season…or he might be a 1st-round prospect already. He may become a 1st-rounder anyway. 58 TDs/5 INTs as a passer the past two seasons. He’s been excellent since arriving at Tennessee from Va Tech in 2021.
A very good arm, shows accuracy, has good size, possesses decent movement skills and is very comfortable in the pocket. He has a lot of tools, and his excellent SEC performance (except against Georgia) should warrant a top 25-50 overall draft selection.
Doing a deeper dive on Hooker during Senior Bowl week. Hooker will likely attend the interviews, etc., but not participate on-field due to the injury.
NFL Comp? = A slower Deshaun Watson.
QB Max Duggan, TCU (Pre-SB Grade: C/C-)
2022: 63.7%, 246.5 pass yds per game, 32 TDs/8 INTs, 423 rush yds, 9 rush TDs
6’2”/210
Projected 40-time: 4.65+
Projected 3-Cone: 7.0+
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 200
I am starting my Duggan deeper studies soon after this SB preview reaction. But what I’ve seen from Duggan so far, I’ve been impressed…and I didn’t think I would be. He is a pretty talented QB prospect…not just a ‘good college QB’. He’s not a future star power NFL QB, but he looks like he can jump right into NFL action and be pretty solid…as most of the good college QBs can nowadays.
NFL Comp? = I hate to do it, but has some Andy Dalton in him (former TCU star)
QB Clayton Tune, Houston (Pre-SB Grade: D+)
2022: 67.3%. 313.4 pass yds per game, 40 TD/10 INT, 544 rush yds, 5 rush TDs (13g)
6’3”/220
Projected 40-time: 4.75+
Projected 3-Cone: 7.1+
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 200
Tune is OK. A typical modern era ‘good’ college QB -- comfortable in the pocket and knows how to run the offense, but for NFL purposes he’s got an average to below average arm. His college offense was very ‘free’ and taking deep shots, which he had an ace WR to throw to, so Tune put up numbers but he won’t run that type of offense in the NFL. He’s college good, NFL fringe.
NFL Comp? = Cooper Rush-like, but with better feet.
QB Jake Haener, Fresno State (Pre-SB Grade: D+)
2022: 72.0%, 289.6 pass yds per game, 20 TDs/3 INT (10g)
6’1”/200
Projected 40-time: 4.85+
Projected 3-Cone: 7.0+
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 200
Knows how to play QB/is very comfortable running an offense. Quick release, decent arm/velocity on passes. Savvy. But ran a freewheeling passing game in college…the kind of game he won’t run in the pros. For a pro style NFL offense, Haener is a bit smaller with an average arm making all the throws. He’s not-nothing, but no star potential or serious NFL starter talent here.
NFL Comp? = A cross of Taylor Heinicke and Josh Rosen.
QB Jaren Hall, BYU (Pre-SB Grade: D+)
2022: 66.0%, 264.3 pass yds per game, 31 TD/6 INT, 350 rush yds
6’0”/200
Projected 40-time: 4.6+
Projected 3-Cone: 7.0+
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 100
Below average size, below average arm. He knows how to play QB, but he doesn’t have the physical or arm tools to be drafted highly or taken seriously for NFL teams. He’ll be a journeyman QB who needs to grind his way to a roster somehow over the year.
NFL Comp? = Lesser Ian Book
QB Tyson Bagent, Shepherd (Pre-SB Grade: D+)
2022: 305.3 pass yds per game, 41 TDs/8 INTs (15g)
6’3”/215
Projected 40-time: 4.8+
Projected 3-Cone: 7.1+
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 300
See full scouting report on FFM.
A D3 star, who had a license to throw…he shows some comfort/skills but could be way over his head in Mobile. Can’t wait to see this D3 star face D1 defensive talent. He might shock some people, including g me.
NFL Comp? = Keith Wenning, fringe NFL QB for few years
