The hype that Jones received would have been from that monstrous senior season he had at Bama throwing for 4500 yds, 41/4 & a
203 Rtg! His pre-draft scouting prospect grade was only
6.33 (
" Will eventually be plus starter"). The NFL uses the premier
"Prospect Grading Scale" which goes from the highest rating possible of
8.0 ("The Perfect Prospect") to the lowest rating of
5.50 ("Priority Undrafted Free Agent").
C.J. Stroud had
two monstrous seasons at Ohio St throwing for 8500 yds, 85/12 & a 182 Rtg. His prospect rating was
6.70 (Year 1 Starter). The $64k question is: Why hasn't Jones panned out to his potential while Stroud is playing magnificently in his rookie season? Is it coaching? Is it the system? Is it luck? They both had incredible college careers in top Power-5 conferences.
Purdy would be another paradox because his prospect grade was the
lowest on the scale at
5.51 ("Priority Undrafted Free Agent"). He has a litany of weaknesses listed on his scouting report, and though he had a solid 4 seasons at Iowa St, it was nothing on the scale of what Stroud & Jones had. So, how in the hell can Purdy be the starter at SF, performing at MVP levels & looking like
thee franchise QB with that dismal prospect rating? (for comparison Brett Rypien received a
5.60: "Candidate For Bottom Of The Roster Or Practice Squad" - right where he's been in his NFL career).
Interestingly, Wilson, who also had an eye-opening career at BYU, was surprisingly rated at
6.50 (
"Boom-or-Bust Potential"). The Jets would have known this ahead of time nonetheless taking him 2nd OA & gambling that he'd be a "Boom" & the second coming of Broadway Joe. They gambled wrong & look like fools now. Lol.
IM0, it's risky drafting a QB in the 1st round these days. Owners are paying out these colossal signing bonuses and not only expecting a year 1 starter, but for that QB to immediately step in & start winning games. The days of having the 1st rounder sit a year or two & learn under a season veteran QB are long gone (no more patience for that I guess).
Owners hype up these 1st rounders paying them ridiculous salaries & signing bonuses (for not playing one effin down of football!) & expecting them to jump right in as a week #1 starter & perform like an experienced veteran (that's tremendous pressure on these kids just coming out of college). And when things go wrong - or not up to expectations - like with Bryce Young, there's panic with finger pointing resulting in unmerciful media criticism, friction between the GMs & ownership, coaches/GMs fired, hostile fans, etc. Lol