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Carson Strong NFL Draft Profile
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Carson Strong Scouting ReportCarson has prototypical size, he checks in around 6’4″, 215 pounds, and stands tall in the pocket. While size does bear some relation to durability, its importance has paled in recent years relative to other physical traits like athleticism and arm talent. So, how does Strong fare in those areas? Carson's arm is his best physical traits. Strong has a crisp, compact throwing motion, and he can generate velocity with ease. He carries enough arm strength to push the ball downfield and hit players in stride, as well as fit the ball into tight windows with touch. He also has enough arm elasticity to generate velocity on the run. Strong maximizes his arm with solid mechanics, hip torque, and synergy between his upper and lower body. Strong’s arm is his most valuable physical tool, but the Nevada QB isn’t a liability as an athlete. Strong is more of a pocket passer, but he has some underrated mobility within his archetype. He has some definite short-range spryness and escapability in the pocket, and he also flashes limited off-script ability. He can cover ground with long strides and extend plays to the sideline if necessary. Strong has a nice balance of patience and decisiveness as a thrower. He possesses the wherewithal to throw the ball away when he’s forced to the sideline. Furthermore, the Nevada product has naturally strong footwork and knows how to manipulate space in the pocket. He’s not lackadaisical with his movement. He snaps his shoulders around before throwing, and he has a steady, stable urgency as a thrower. Strong is especially accurate in the short ranges, where he can place the ball for yards after the catch. He uses his eyes to freeze linebackers and keep space open for receivers. He’s more than willing to give his pass catchers one-on-one chances, both downfield and in the red zone. |
Areas for ImprovementYoung quarterbacks always have flaws, and Strong is no different. He’s farther along than his age would suggest, but he’s also not a finished product. Most notably, pressure can create trouble for Strong. The Nevada QB can plant his feet prematurely at times and make himself vulnerable. He also tries to force the ball under pressure occasionally, which can lead to volatility and inaccuracy. He doesn’t always detect pressure on the backside, and although he can run when he has to, creating for himself isn’t a natural strength. Strong sometimes fades away as he throws, limiting downfield distance. He can be easily forced backward by blitzing players, and he tends to fade back on rollouts at times, limiting his leverage as a thrower. Even in high-pressure situations, Strong isn’t afraid to take risks, but he can sometimes lead the ball into dangerous areas. At times, he fails to identify defenders in range to undercut touch passes, and his release point can vary, resulting in varying throw trajectories. Strong’s downfield accuracy can be more consistent. He’s a fairly accurate thrower to all levels of the field. Still, his mechanics can falter as he tries to force the ball downfield. Moreover, Strong can add more experience with progressions. He’s shown he has the capacity to run through them quickly, but the Nevada offense employs many quick reads and screens.
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Carson Strong Career at SchoolStrong would log 1 carry for 4 yards as a true freshman, but he didn’t see any starting action. Instead, the Wolf Pack trotted out veteran quarterback Ty Gangi. Strong exercised his redshirt option that year. When Gangi left in 2019, a battle ensued at quarterback, and with his physical traits, Strong ultimately came out on top. The Nevada QB wasted no time securing the starting role, and he did so with authority. He started all 10 games in the Wolf Pack’s 2019 season, amassing 2,335 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions while completing 63.4% of his passes. It wasn’t an incredibly prolific season, but Strong progressed as the year went on, and his best performance — a 402-yard outing — came in Nevada’s bowl game against Ohio. Strong reprised his role as Nevada’s starting quarterback during the 2020 season. And this time, he wasn’t holding anything back. Strong exploded to the tune of 2,858 yards, 27 touchdowns, and just 4 interceptions over nine games. The Nevada QB completed 70.1% of his passes and upped his yards per attempt from 6.2 to 8.1. For his play, Strong was named a first-team All-MWC selection, as well as the Mountain West Conference’s Offensive Player of the Year.
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Carson Strong NFL Draft Player ProfileQuarterback evaluation evolves every year. Over the course of the past decade or so, teams have started to favor quarterbacks who can simply do more — both with their arm and with their athleticism. Strong’s mold — the pocket passer — is slowly becoming outdated, but that doesn’t mean a player like him can’t succeed. Strong, in particular, has the requisite traits to succeed as a pocket passer, even if he isn’t an overwhelming athlete. Carson has a great arm along with natural mechanics, accuracy, pocket navigation ability, eye discipline, and anticipation. In structure, he has the processing ability and quickness to make the most of his system. He also has enough mobility to manipulate the pocket, stay on his feet, and perform some limited work off-platform. There’s still some work to do, but Strong can undoubtedly be a first-round pick next April.
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