Considering what CJ Stroud has been doing, I’m interested in seeing how teams handle drafting a QB high from here on out. Over the last 20 years or so, I think we’ve seen less and less patience when it comes to rookie QBs. There used to be a time where a guy could get drafted and would essentially be a clipboard holder his first 2-3 years if the guy ahead of him was producing at at least a Cincy Andy Dalton level. We’ve seen a lot more get thrown out to the fire early and they get a lot less leeway now than they did when I first started watching football 20 something years ago.
Still tho, a lot of fans still like to justify why their teams young QB is underperforming and usually point to factors that are out of their control (roster, coaching staff, front office, lack of experience)
And this guy CJ Stroud comes into the league with a franchise in perhaps its darkest days with a rookie head coach to boot, no notable weapons at the start of the season and he’s got them in the playoff hunt and hasn’t only been playing well for a rookie but he has been one of the best performing QBs in the league this season.
I’m already seeing a lot of rumblings on social media in regards to other young QBs that have yet to play like CJ has and some guys that had supporters before this season have lost a lot of them. It’s just hard to keep justifying poor play with external excuses when this guy isn’t in an ideal situation at all and making it happen.
It’s a cyclical thing I guess. Cam Newton, Andrew Luck, RG3, Justin Herbert (once he began starting) were all recent examples of guys who had exceptional rookie seasons.
Then you had a few start slowly, like Lawrence, Josh Allen, Goff (maybe not the best example, he was so up and down), etc. who took a while to hit their stride.
I think the lesson here isn’t that they’re going to have less time to prove themselves, it’s that regardless of how quickly they get it (or don’t), you need to be patient.
I generally think a first year is a learning year, the second year is going to give you a relative idea of a prospect’s ceiling and floor, and by the end of the third year he’s either getting it or he’s not. There are of course exceptions to this, but that’s generally how I’ve seen it.
Yeah this is the first time a rookie QB has ever been good, it’s totally gonna change the league
CJ is an exception to the rule. No one should ever be compared to the exception. It’s bullshit people are already calling Bryce a “bust” - like what? He’s struggling and it makes more sense to struggle as a rookie QB than it does to play well IMO.
No, but the margin of error has shorten.
A Rookie QB likely isn’t long for being a starter with a bad first season depending on circumstances (see Trevor Lawrence), especially with disasters like Zach Wilson being a prime example for years to come.
No, but there is something to be said about teams that have expensive middling QBs giving an experienced mid-late round Rookie a chance.
Purdy + Dak are great examples of how a disciplined, collegiately experienced QB can be a real value to an already good roster.
Getting cheap at QB and better at other spots is likely the new strategy.
I am looking right at the Seahawks when I say this. They could add 2 more significant pieces if they go rookie QB next year and be a legit roster. Similar story with the Vikings.
Herbert didn’t change anything so???
I think he might have changed it a little bit. 9ers punted the #3 overall pick a year after drafting him.