Rookie QB conundrum: Mental game/Safe Pick vs Physical talent High Risk/High Reward.

[Eazy-E]

You almost always hear the debate that rookie QBs should sit and learn the NFL game because it is incredibly hard to succeed on physical talent alone. Bryce Young was highly touted because of his mental acumen while a guy like Anthony Richardson skyrocketed up draft boards due to his insane physical traits for a QB.
 

We were all told and sold on the idea that Bryce was leaps and bounds ahead of most rookie QBs in the mental side of the game and one of the smartest QBs to ever come out in the draft. It’s the reason we were told we traded up for him because he would be a plug and play starter who would only get better the more he plays. Unfortunately his physical talent has not translated well to the NFL. It’s all fine and dandy if you can process multiple scenarios and outcomes in your head in seconds but what good does that do you if you can’t physically execute half of it.

It’s the reason NFL teams will usually take huge risks on insanely physical freaks and usually not on physically limited, highly intelligent players. You can teach a player the game but you can’t teach size, speed, and strength.

Cam Newton was a physical freak who also dominated college football and was still not a unanimous number one overall pick because people were worried he would not be able to process and learn an NFL offense. That’s why a guy like Blaine Gabbert was in the conversation to go number one overall. That’s all ancient history at this point and we all saw how that turned out.

Rarely do you have a prospect like an Andrew Luck or Trevor Lawrence that has the combination of both mental and physical talent that most agree are can’t miss, once in a generation type players.

Is the NFL shifting to physical talent being more important than the mental side of things, especially for QBs?

[Newtcase]

The NFL is some grown ass men, many of them fierce and fighting through tons of adversity to get their opportunity.  Physical attributes will never be a bad thing, lack of them almost always is. 

[Eazy-E]

3 minutes ago, Newtcase said:

The NFL is some grown ass men, many of them fierce and fighting through tons of adversity to get their opportunity.  Physical attributes will never be a bad thing, lack of them almost always is. 

I noticed RAS score being mentioned a bunch this past draft and it seems like Fitt and co referenced it when talking about a couple of our own draft picks. It’s not a new scoring system but I don’t think I had ever even heard of it 5+ years ago.

[LinvilleGorge]

There aren't any steadfast rules. Ultimately, you need a combination of physical talent and mental acuity and mental toughness. Every player is his own unique evaluation and that's why it's so tough. It'll always be more art than science no matter how many measurables they come up with for the evaluation process. Busts and steals are just the way it goes.

[96Bravo]

I say, if a 6'1+ QB can do all the things Bryce can, pick them. But if a QB, UNDER 6ft, absolutely HAS to improvise and extend plays because he's can't see the field...BIG RED FLAG!!!