Can Brett Hundley Make It As A NFL Starter?

UCLA’s junior quarterback Brett Hundley will make the leap to the NFL this weekend. His dream will become a reality during the 2015 NFL Draft.  But where will he fall?

In his junior year at UCLA, Hundley threw for 3,155 yards with 22 touchdowns and only 5 interceptions.   He led the Bruins to a 10-3 record and was victorious in the Valero Alamo Bowl to end his college career. Hundley finished his career at UCLA with 75 touchdowns to only 25 interceptions and also added 30 touchdowns on the ground.

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He might not have had the numbers as the top tier quarterbacks like Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota, but that didn’t stop Hundley from telling John Gruden at his annual Gruden’s QB Camp on ESPN, “I think I’ve done enough to put my name in that conversation”, credit to Michael Smith of profootballtalk.com.

Lets look at some numbers that Hundley posted at the NFL Combine. Hundley ran a 4.63 40-yard dash at this year’s NFL Combine, fourth fastest quarterback. Mariota ran a 4.52, first overall and Winston a 4.97, 12^th overall. He is a good mix of both Winston and Mariota, but talent wise, he is a step below.

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I love the fiery competitiveness of Hundley. According to NFL.com, Hundley is a projected fourth or fifth round pick, unless a team who needs a QB wants to take a risk on him earlier. All in all that is a fair assessment of where Hundley might land.

What teams could use Hundley?

Two teams stand out for me that would be a nice fit for Hundley. First, the Houston Texans, who hold the 16^th pick in the first round. Could they somehow take Hundley this early? With the obvious need for a quarterback in today’s game and the craziness of the NFL Draft over the years, anything can happen. The Texans second round (51) and third round (82) picks are more probable positions in which I could see them snagging the versatile ex-UCLA QB. The AFC South is there for the taking, with the only competition for the division is the Indianapolis Colts. Tennessee and Jacksonville are still rebuilding but improving very quickly. Houston boasts a fantastic defense and a dynamic offense with in need of a versatile QB.

The other team I could see taking Hundley are the Arizona Cardinals. They had their fair share of QB issues last season, with USC Alum Carson Palmer tearing his ACL to Logan Thomas barely being able to finish a game.  The Cardinals will pick 24^th in the first round on Thursday. Once again, I don’t see any team taking Hundley this early, but the Cardinals could use him even if he backs up Palmer to start the season with them knowing that Palmer is coming off that gruesome injury. Hundley is also from Chandler, AZ, so it would sort of be a homecoming for him.

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Both of these teams would be a good fit for Hundley because they have good young talent at the receiver spots, a good running game so he won’t have to step back every play, and an above average defense to take some pressure off the rookie QB. Hundley could also benefit from learning from a vet like Palmer. His elusiveness would be welcomed in AZ because of the furious pass rushers that are present in the tough NFC West.

Regardless of where Hundley falls, any NFL team will know they are getting a young kid with a big chip on his shoulder and a lot to prove. He might not come in and start day one for a franchise, but give him a couple years and he could be the best QB that came out of this draft. Keep in mind that Hundley will more than likely fall into a better situation than Winston and Mariota. Hundley will have less pressure on him to produce in the early going.