2023 Senior Bowl Scouting Post-Event Re-grade: Quarterback (QB)
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.
After watching the Senior Bowl practices live and on tape, I've re-graded the group and added new commentary where needed. 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.
This is a second look (for me) at these prospects from a Senior Bowl perspective. We'll be looking at them again for the NFL Combine coming up…as we build our scouting profile and metrics on these prospects. My impressions/grading can and will change as we go through the year-long process.
Post-Senior Bowl week, here are my impressions, re-grades, and re-ranking of each position (except O-Line, we'll look at OLs after the Combine).
The Quarterbacks…
QB Will Levis, Kentucky (Post-SB Grade: B, 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
Post-SB comments:
Ultimately, Levis declined to attend. Status unaffected.
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Pre-SB comments:
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 in the 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 Max Duggan, TCU (Post-SB Grade: C, Pre-SB Grade: C/C-)
2022: 63.7%, 246.5 pass yds per game, 32 TDs/8 INTs, 423 rush yds, 9 rush TDs
6'1"/204
Projected 40-time: 4.65+
Projected 3-Cone: 7.0+
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 200
Post-SB comments:
Was voted the top QB for his team for practice week…and ran as the #1 guy all week, but then did not start the actual game and barely played. I have no idea why -- but it looked like a slap in the face. Speaking of things that didn't impress me…American Team Head Coach Luke Getsy did 'zero' for me listening to him talk to the players (the few times he did) and observing his coaching decisions. Really disappointing.
Duggan continues to look like a legit NFL starting QB to me…but continues to get dismissed by the system/scouts.
Came in an inch smaller, and 6 pounds lighter than listed…not helpful for his scouting/NFL acceptance. But he has the arm of a 6'3"-6'4"/220 guy.
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Pre-SB comments:
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 Hendon Hooker, Tennessee (Post-SB Grade: C-/D+, Pre-SB Grade: C+/C)
2022: 69.6%, 285.0 yds, 27 TDs/2 INT, 430 rush yds (11g)
6'4"/208
Projected 40-time: 4.65+
Projected 3-Cone: 7.0+
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 75
Post-SB comments:
Hooker's full scouting report is posted on FFM.
Hooker attended the Senior Bowl but did not participate in on-field action (ACL rehab) but did go on the field to observe and was in the meeting rooms to learn. Kudos to that, but in my deeper study…I did not like what I saw from his skillset/tape that much.
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Pre-SB comments:
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 Jake Haener, Fresno State (Post-SB Grade: D+, Pre-SB Grade: D+)
2022: 72.0%, 289.6 pass yds per game, 20 TDs/3 INT (10g)
6'0"/208
Projected 40-time: 4.85+
Projected 3-Cone: 7.0+
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 150
Post-SB comments:
He showed that he has the arm and instincts to play at the next level. He'll get Brock Purdy comps all draft season. I don't know that he is THAT good…but I didn't think Purdy would be AS good as he was right away either.
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Pre-SB comments:
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 Clayton Tune, Houston (Post-SB Grade: D+, Pre-SB Grade: D+)
2022: 67.3%. 313.4 pass yds per game, 40 TD/10 INT, 544 rush yds, 5 rush TDs (13g)
6'2"/216
Projected 40-time: 4.75+
Projected 3-Cone: 7.1+
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 200
Post-SB comments:
Accounted for himself well here. Throws a hot ball…strong arm. Still, a bit too inaccurate and not totally comfortable-looking, but it could've been the nerves of the moment and he can move to 'comfortable' in time. There's some hope here.
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Pre-SB comments:
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 the benefit of an ace WR (Dell) 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 Tyson Bagent, Shepherd (Post-SB Grade: D, Pre-SB Grade: D+)
2022: 305.3 pass yds per game, 41 TDs/8 INTs (15g)
6'3"/213
Projected 40-time: 4.8+
Projected 3-Cone: 7.1+
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 300
Post-SB comments:
Bagent, overall, accounted for himself well. He didn't look nearly as nervous as you'd think he would be in this spot. He didn't show any real passer fire/savvy/gunslinging, but he did show controlled QB play and ability to learn and he was never really rattled…just his talent would get overwhelmed by the defenders.
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Pre-SB comments:
See full scouting report on FFM.
A D2 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 me.
NFL Comp? = Keith Wenning, fringe NFL QB for few years
QB Jaren Hall, BYU (Post-SB Grade: D-, Pre-SB Grade: D+)
2022: 66.0%, 264.3 pass yds per game, 31 TD/6 INT, 350 rush yds
6'0"/211
Projected 40-time: 4.6+
Projected 3-Cone: 7.0+
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 150
Post-SB comments:
Total disappointment. Compared to the other QBs, Hall looked small with a weak arm…and no real instincts to give for the next level. He slowly fell out of the #1 spot for his team (Haener took over) and then he just disappeared for the game, leaving the team with just two QBs.
I think he could fall all the way out of the draft with this performance in Mobile.
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Pre-SB comments:
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 Malik Cunningham, Louisville (Post-SB Grade: F, Pre-SB Grade: n/a)
2022: 62.4%, 8 TDs/5 INTs, 156.8 passing yards and 56.0 rushing yards per game with 12 rush TDs (10g)
6'0"/188
Projected 40-time: 4.6+
Projected 3-Cone: 6.9+
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 225
Post-SB comments:
Bless his heart…he's never going to see an NFL regular-season field. He cannot pass the ball well at all. He runs just 'OK' and is rail thin. Good luck in the USFL or XFL.
NFL Comp? = A worse Kellen Mond but can run the ball some at least.
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Pre-SB comments:
Late addition, so I didn't have the chance to preview.
