Finding Broncos: Carson Strong | QB

Measurements

Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 226 pounds
Arms: 32 inches
Hands: 9-1/8 inches

Combine Results

Did not participate in drills.

Stats

Pros

Has a good arm for the NFL that can make all the needed throws.
Production has been great.
Isn't mobile but can maneuver the pocket to help out his O-line.
Has the required touch and velocity to make different throws and understands when to use which.
His release is simple, easy, and can be executed from different angles.
Does well when forced to make throws off-platform, mainly due to the overwhelming arm talent.
Good ball placement on his throws that can get through tight windows most of the time.
Doesn't lead his receivers into hospital balls and will place it to do his best to protect them.
Knows his college offense like the back of his hand but questions what he knows outside of it.
Can put enough on the deep ball to give his receivers time and space to run under it.
Isn't a moment too big and he stays poised in the pocket and will hang in there to make the needed throw.
No doubt about his toughness, leadership, and desire to be out there on the football field.
Mechanics overall are sound as a passer.

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Cons

Extensive medical concerns revolve around his knees and long-term stability.
Multiple reports surfaced from the Senior Bowl about how poor he was on the whiteboard in interviews, leading to football IQ concerns.
Isn't a mobile quarterback and will be mostly constrained to staying in the pocket.
Must improve his ability to look safeties off.
Took a lot of risks in college that won't turn out in his favor in the NFL.
Stares down his receivers at times which you can't do in the NFL.
Will hold the ball too long, which will lead to sacks because of the lack of mobility.
Many NFL concepts could be ruled out because of the lack of mobility.

Overview

There are few questions about the arm talent of Carson Strong, but the concerns come with his medicals. He had multiple surgeries on his knee during a short time, and he rushed back to play last season after his latest surgery so teams will have gotten a good look at him during the medical portion of the NFL Combine to gauge how much of a concern the past injuries are.

On top of that, Strong knows his college offense, but, again, there have been reports about how underwhelming he was during meetings at the Senior Bowl. Basically, he knows the offense he ran at Nevada but doesn't know much outside of that, which includes multiple NFL concepts.

Strong has the physical tools, but more and more concerns surface about the mental aspects. Many NFL quarterbacks have the physical tools but not the mental side of it down.

Those quarterbacks don't typically last long in the NFL, especially when compared to those without the arm talent but a good grasp of the mental side of things. This will work against Strong and his overall value in the draft.

Fit with Broncos

The Denver Broncos could be looking for another quarterback to compete for the backup job or even a third-string job with Josh Johnson and Brett Rypien. Unfortunately, Strong is unlikely to be one the Broncos look at because of his medicals and lack of mobility despite the physical aspect.

Teams want a backup quarterback that doesn't require a dramatic scheme change to accommodate and with Strong, the Broncos would have to do that. There is a chance he would be more of an option if he had the mental side of things more mastered, but we know the buzz... For a backup job in the NFL, you need to have the mental side of the game down.

Grade: Early Round 3

Where he Goes: Late Round 3 (or later, depending on medicals)

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