philba101

Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker announces again today that he will be ready for the start of training camp. “I’m well beyond where I’m projected to be,” Hooker told ESPN’s Kevin Seifert. “My doctor … has done a great job communicating how my recovery should be and how I should take care of myself,” Hooker said. “I’ll be good to go by camp time, ready to compete, be better than ever.” https://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/articles/amp/hendon_hooker_says_hell_be_ready_for_start_of_training_camp/s1_17039_387205

Or the Titans at #11. I would not be happy if he went to either one of those teams. I feel like if the Colts fail to get a QB at #4, that they need to find a way to get Hooker in the middle of that first round. His evaluations are all over the board because of his injury but I would be curious to know where Hooker ranks on the Colts draft board, and whether he has a 1st-round grade with them.

You are right, due diligence, just in case something happens to allow some QB's to slide. Maybe the Patriots are not thinking about moving up within the top 2 or 3, but maybe inside the top 10 if Levis would slide for some reason.

I would guess you are correct on that. Even Reich liked a taller QB when he was here, which makes me curious about the Panthers picking Young. I believe Young was the only prospect under 6'1" who visited the Colts. With Stroud's production, accuracy, and 6'4" frame, I feel like the Colts would be hard-pressed to pass on him if he falls to #4.

Could the Colts get jumped by the Patriots? Kentucky QB Will Levis did a Top 30 visit with the Patriots today. Are the Patriots expecting him to fall to where they pick at #14, or could they be a team potentially looking to move up in the draft? https://nfltraderumors.co/patriots-hosted-kentucky-qb-will-levis-for-visit-wednesday/

Don't forget "the Alabama guy doesn't look bad I'll tell ya"-JI, maybe since Irsay didn't get Young he will be okay with Levis.

For once I actually agree with Ballard on this. A QB can improve a little bit on accuracy but needs to be accurate to begin with. Ballard relies on tape more than combine workouts and pro days. Does Richardson even have enough on tape to properly evaluate his chances as a future NFL QB? I would be shocked beyond belief if Ballard pulls the trigger at #4 for Richardson.

If he is so great at those things then why 56.5% career accuracy? I buy that he has freakish athleticism but I am not buying that he is doing all the pre-snap things well.

The real number is closer to 24 total for his career.

Side by Side Stats for all of the QB's the Colts hosted on private visits: Young: Completion Rate 65.8% over 34 games; 8,518 all-purpose yds, 87 TD's, 12 interceptions; Career PER 163.20 Stroud: Completion Rate 69.3% over 26 games; 8,259 all-purpose yds, 86 TD's, 12 interceptions; Career PER 177.66 Levis: Completion Rate 64.9% over 38 games; 6,618 all-purpose yds, 63 TD's, 25 interceptions; Career PER 151.87 Richardson: Completion Rate 56.5% over 22 games; 4,221 all-purpose yds, 36 TD's, 15 interceptions; Career PER 133.60 Hooker: Completion Rate 66.9% over 45 games;11,053 all-purpose yds, 105 TD's, 12 interceptions; Career PER 175.51 Cunningham: Completion Rate 62.6% for 56 games;12,839 all-purpose yds, 120 TD's, 29 interceptions, Career PER 130.33 Hall: Completion Rate 65.2% over 29 games; 6,974 all-purpose yds, 62 TD's, 11 interceptions, Career PER 160.81 O'Connell: Completion Rate 66.7% over 33 games; 9,219 all-purpose yds, 67 TD's, 30 interceptions, Career PER 132.22 (*PER= Passing Efficiency Rating)-NCAA.com Negative Stats to consider: (Interceptions are above) Young: 52 sacks, 9 fumbles in 34 career games Stroud: 25 sacks, 5 fumbles in 26 career games Levis: 73 sacks; 17 fumbles in 38 career games. Richardson: 16 sacks, 4 fumbles in 22 career games (12 starts) Hooker: 91 sacks, 24 fumbles in 45 career games Cunningham: 98 sacks, 13 fumbles in 56 career games Hall: 28 sacks, 12 fumbles in 29 career games O'Connell: 54 sacks, 11 fumbles in 33 career games

That is way too many, but that problem can likely be fixed with proper coaching. I wonder how many were actually turnovers? Levis had 25 interceptions in his career which are definite turnovers. That is playing 8 less games than Hooker. Could not find Levis's # of fumbles but it looks like only a handful over his career.

By my count, Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker has met with at least half the teams in the league, including the Colts. https://www.si.com/college/tennessee/football/hendon-hooker-meets-with-giants

In that scenario Seattle would likely take Richardson. Even if Houston traded back up to #3 to take Levis or Richardson. That would still leave Stroud and whoever the Texans don't take for the Colts at #4.

That makes some sense as Carroll seemed to connect with Richardson and I believe the Raiders liked Young and Stroud. The question is does either team like those prospects enough to give up several draft picks to get them? Unlike the Colts, both of those teams have QB's in place who are expected to start for them. Not that Minshew couldn't start for the Colts, but Minshew didn't get starter money like the other two did.

I would think so too, but the Texans would certainly want to keep it quiet as they lose leverage if that gets out. Stroud's agent probably told him to keep it quiet as well because it probably doesn't look good from a PR standpoint for him as everyone he met with would be asking him about it (total speculation here).

It wouldn't be the first time a prospective college QB told an NFL team he didn't want to play for them. This theory could hold up unless the Texans deal that pick to someone who wants Stroud. Then Ballard is left choosing between Levis and Richardson, but it seems he is okay with that anyway.

You make some really interesting points about how Steichen could utilize Richardson's strengths. It might take awhile for Richardson to become good, but I think it would definitely be fun football to watch. The only thing that makes me think they would not take Richardson is because both Ballard and Steichen have publicly stated how much they value accuracy. Ballard in particular is a stickler about that even going as far as to say "you can't improve accuracy that much, you can a little but you want your QB to be accurate from the start. This draft has two guys, Stroud (69.3%) and Hooker (66.9%) who have really high accuracy rates, in fact both were ranked #1 (Stroud), #2 (Hooker) in the country in Passing Efficiency. Young and Levis are seen as accurate throwers as well. Then you have Richardson sitting at 56.5%. Of course this is only one factor and Richardson has freakish athletic skills some of the other QB's may not be able to match. If Richardson had mid-60's completion rates like many of the other prospects, and more games on tape, I think the Colts might actually move up to take him. But because both coach and GM value accuracy, Richardson's numbers in this area may be too much to overlook.

That is true. Plus they drafted a QB two years ago in Davis Mills. He played pretty good his 1st year and then regressed last year. It is not like the Texans were a juggernaut last year and Mills should have improved vastly. They definitely could be eyeing 2024 to get their next franchise QB.

Some QB's are just not a good fit for a team. Maybe they want to fill other holes on their team? Remember, they are at the bottom of their division along with the Colts. Both teams have a lot of needs. They also have the luxury of 12 picks in this draft. They may be able to get a QB they like in the middle of the 1st round or later. I have heard that Stroud has the same agent as Deshaun Watson and they don't like to deal with him anymore. There could be a hundred different reasons. Maybe their evaluation of Stroud is wrong? The Texans FO has not exactly been nailing it over the last couple years. Maybe they will prove to be right and Stroud will be a bust? We probably won't know any of these things for a couple years. There are teams that love and hate Levis and Richardson, why should Stroud be any different?

All his stats back it up. He was almost 70% accurate over his career, and ranked #1 in the country in Passing Efficiency in 2022, just ahead of Hendon Hooker. This second stat includes all QB's including Williams and Maye.

Nothing literally since he is a TV personality...just a topic for discussion while we wait for the real stuff.

Peter Schrager's latest mock draft has the Colts trading the 4th pick and DeForest Buckner to the Texans for the #2 pick. The Colts use the #2 pick to select C.J. Stroud. Schrager suggests that if the Colts don't want to play against Buckner twice a year going forward, to add a 2nd or 3rd round pick instead. As much as I would like to see Stroud go to the Colts, I believe Ballard will sit tight at #4. https://www.nfl.com/news/peter-schrager-2023-nfl-mock-draft-1-0-texans-trade-out-of-no-2-two-rbs-picked-i

Agreed. I would love to see what Steichen can do with Stroud or Richardson. Levis seems to be the guy the Colts like so they must believe they can win with him also.

Texans GM Nick Caserio Regarding the 2nd overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft: “Are we open for business?” G.M. Nick Caserio said during Monday’s pre-draft press conference. “I would say we’re open to listening.” Caserio added that the Texans have gotten a few calls regarding the pick. That’s always news but it’s never new. Executives aren’t doing their jobs if they’re not exploring what it would take to trade up to any and every spot above where their team currently sits. And with the evidence becoming increasingly clear that the Panthers will select Alabama quarterback Bryce Young with the first overall pick, the pick held by the Texans becomes the C.J. Stroud selection. If, as some now think, the Texans are inclined to not take Stroud, they could trade down to a team that does. The shorter the drop, the more likely they’d get the guy they would take anyway in the second spot. https://www.yahoo.com/sports/nick-caserio-says-texans-gotten-202445241.html

As someone already pointed out, Arizona may not want to trade with divisional opponent Seattle, but if the Texans are looking to move from #2, Seattle may be willing to move up to get Richardson.