Featured Discussion DRAFT 2025 LIVE THREAD

[BakoSaint]

Originally Posted by TheOak

While not 26 Michael “Beerman” Lewis at the age of 30 should fit the criteria.

Starbauch was 27

The problem about Shough that isn't an issue with these other examples is that he is being drafted based on the tape he put in at 25yo playing against 20yo kids.

Michael Lewis doesn't count because he was just a role player. His career wouldn't justify a #40 overall pick. Had Lewis been drafted #40 overall based on the tape he could put up at 29 against college kids, that would obviously have been a mistake.

Staubach was drafted based on what he did in college up to age 21, at the time they allowed redshirt juniors to be drafted and still play their senior year. He was drafted at 22 based on his play at 21, then played another year of college, 4 years in the military, and was a rookie at 27.

Kurt Warner was an UDFA at 23yo who didn't make the team, then played 3 years in the Arena league against men his own age, improved his skills, and made the best of another shot in the NFL. He proved his worth against players his age.

Warren Moon was a similar situation with the CFL.

Russell Wilson was 23yo as NFL rookie, and was drafted in the 3rd round. He also played 4 full seasons in college and won the starting job every season except his redshirt year.

Shough is more like Weinke or Weeden. Its not that he cannot succeed. I hope he succeeds. Its that you can't totally believe what you see on tape versus kids who are 5 years younger than him. We have to get lucky. There is no tape of Shough looking like an NFL QB against players his age, the last time he faced players his age he looked mediocre. I would feel better about Shough if he had declared for the draft 3 years ago, gone undrafted, went to the CFL or XFL, etc, won rings there, and we won a bidding war for his NFL services. Sam Darnold is only 21 months older than Shough.