Nevada QB Carson Strong the ultimate wildcard of 2021 NFL Draft
By Cory Kinnan
What is his 2021 NFL Draft outlook
All it would take is one team to make Carson Strong a first round pick this upcoming April should he opt to declare for the 2021 NFL Draft. With a higher ceiling and a much bigger arm than the likes of Trask and Jones, Strong is currently slated as the QB5 on this writer’s positional rankings, just outside of the big four.
Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network thinks Strong is the next Moutain West quarterback to land in the first round, following the likes of Josh Allen and Jordan Love:
"“The redshirt sophomore is a gunslinger who makes good decisions with the ball. Strong did a much better job of not locking onto receivers as the game progressed, and he’s shown a lot of progress since last season. He has incredible upside and the physical gifts to lead a franchise at the next level.”"
More from With the First Pick
- 2024 NFL Draft: Prospect Viewing Guide for Week 0
- 2024 NFL Draft: All Eyes On NFL Draft Defensive Prospects
- Player Spotlight: USC Safety Calen Bullock
- 2024 Senior Bowl Watchlist Announced
- 2024 NFL Draft: Florida State is Loaded with Prospect in 2023
With Strong, however, he is a player who may need a year to learn before jumping into action as he would be making the jump from the Mountain West to the NFL. However there are a handful of teams who could be in the market for a young gunslinger at the back of the first round as they play out the remaining contracts of veterans at the end of their careers.
Looking at NFL Fits for Carson Strong
A few ideal landing spots for Strong would include the Indianapolis Colts, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints, and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Strong would be a great fit in a vertical offense, and completely out of sorts in a Kubiak-style wide zone offense as his ability to operate out of structure is lacking.
Will he declare this year? This is currently the million dollar question. As a redshirt sophomore, there could be plenty of college ball ahead of Strong. However he has the physical tools and arm talent to be a first round pick and potentially the fifth gunslinger off the board. For now, Strong remains a highly intriguing name to watch for as declarations are beginning to spill in.