CrimsonCrew wrote:Pattersonca65 wrote:Yea, lets waste more resources on another first round bust like Bryce. Makes sense after wasting all that capital on lance
Can we get him for the late-4th it cost to get Lance? If so, I'd at least consider it. I haven't scouted Bryce specifically, but he was the first pick for a reason, and was thrust into a pretty awful situation. You can rehabilitate guys like that in some cases, depending on the reason for their struggles. That said, it's relatively rare.
The problem is that a lot of guys can't see the game the way they need to. That is probably the single greatest issue for a lot of these physically talented players who bust. The college game is much simpler, so it's hard to determine what a guy can see. That's the single biggest issue with Lance. It's just not there. You can improve some of the physical things, especially accuracy (though sticking with Lance, he hasn't, really) and arm strength (a bit). But if you can't read a defense in real time, you almost certainly can't play in the NFL unless you are a supremely talented athlete.
Is that the reason that Bryce failed? I have no idea. I don't know that I've seen him play in the NFL, and if I saw him in college, it was probably just once. I know he's not a physical specimen the way many high picks are. But if a baseline vision and understanding aren't there, that's a really tough thing to markedly improve upon.
He's an outlier in terms of size. He's not an elite athlete or has a great arm like Kyler Murray.
So everything would have to go right for him. He'd have to be surrounded by talent that wins almost every play. That was the case in Alabama, with WRs, RBs and OL.
I assume that was also the case in high school, since he was a very highly-ranked recruit.
Smaller QBs like Wilson and Brees had big arms and Wilson could escape, make big plays outside the pocket or running for big gains.
Mayfield struggled as a #1 pick but later in his career seems to be doing well or at least is a competent starting QB. He's also listed at 6-1 215 vs. 5-10 204 pounds. Tua is listed at 6-1 227 but at least had a 3500 yard 25 TD 8 INT season in 2022.
I think that is why Bryce was drafted high, they figured small QBs from AL can succeed in the NFL. Of course Tua has one of the best WR rooms in the league.
Not saying he can't have a renaissance like Mayfield but it's just as likely that he has a trajectory like Zack Wilson, who's at least 6-2 215 and has probably a better than average arm.
But you wonder how he will hold up. He's been sacked 68 times in just 18 games and he's not exactly built for the punishment.