This is not a great draft at quarterback, that much we know, but Strong has really fallen Madden 24 coins down the boards from potential first round pick to now being a major sleeper. At this point it’s hard to imagine he’ll be taken in the first two rounds, opening the door for someone to get potentially get a steal.
It’s important to know what you’re getting from him. Strong was never a super mobile QB, and following a leg injury he’s basically a statue. He will not be able to escape pressure, or pick up yards with his legs — but that’s not why you would take him.
In terms of pure arm talent, only Malik Willis compares in this class. Strong has a cannon for an arm and has also shown an ability to put touch on passes, a trait that normally strong armed QBs struggle with. At 6’3”, 226 pounds he’s got the size to stand in the pocket and take a shot, but there’s a lot he needs to work on to be a plus-level QB.
Strong needs to learn to manipulate defenses better with his eyes and stop staring down his primary receiver, but he could have the potential to fit well in a passing scheme not requiring much creativity in the pocket from the quarterback.
Austin III is likely going to be a late Day 2, or early Day 3 player — and I think someone is going to get a hell of a bargain.Any team who selects Austin III thinking they’ll get a do-everything receiver is destined to fail. That is not how he’ll win at the next level.
Instead the former track star is best suited as a gadget player in a scheme more concerned with putting the ball in cheap mut 24 coins a weapon’s hands and letting them operate. At 5’8” and and a slight 170 pounds, he’s not out-muscling defensive backs or fighting for the ball — but his straight line speed and shiftiness could allow Austin III to develop into a plus-level player as a third or fourth weapon.