Clayton Tune, The University of Houston’s quarterback, has been linked to the Buccaneers with a report from Ian Rapoport indicating his sources have given him that information. This is an intriguing prospect. One I have been mocking to the Buccaneers in day three of the draft and passing on all other quarterbacks in previous rounds.
Tune’s Profile
He starts off with good measurements, standing in at 6’ 2”, 220 pounds, with a 40-yard dash of 4.64 seconds, and a 6.89 second cone drill. This equated to an athleticism score of 89 in the combine (second best among participating quarterbacks).
Then there are the stats. Though against some lesser talent he dominated at times. This last season he threw for 4,065 yards, 40 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Balance that with a completion percentage of 67.1% with a less than stellar cast of weapons and it should get your attention. Then we go back and look at his previous numbers. He’s consistently improved each season, something I look for when analyzing my would-be draft picks. Additionally, per PFF, his passing under pressure grade of 67.7 stands out to me. Moreover, his time to throw average was just 3.2 seconds, only .7 seconds off from former Buccaneer, future first ballot Hall of Famer, and the GOAT, Tom Brady. But don’t just take my word for it.
To top it off, Tune’s pocket presence is great and his ability to feel the rush and move up in the pocket has been shown all season. His highlight reel is loaded with passes only the receiver can get his hands on, and throwing people open. He is severely underrated at this point.
Don’t Just Take My Word For It
As stated by fellow Bucs Report writer J.T. Olsen when reporting on the Senior Bowl.
“Clayton Tune is as well rounded and impressive of a sleeper quarterback as you’ll find. He has good size (6’3 and 220 lbs) good arm strength and the ability to make plays with his legs.”
I love his use of the word sleeper here. I feel as though this is a term that thrown around too much but fits perfectly here. I’m very high on the Tune’s potential and feel as though he could be a strong starter in this league. A stark contrast to NFL Analyst Lance Zierlein’s prediction as a backup.
Did I mention he can run? Last season he made a leap in his pocket presence and choices when to run the ball. Carrying the ball 128 times for 544 yards and an average of 4.3 yards a carry. The result was five more touchdowns.
Final Thought
It’s picks like this that if given the right opportunity can turn into some of the greatest steals in draft history. I’ve never felt this strongly about a late round quarterback prospect before. I hope the Buccaneers take a chance on Tune and he proves me right.
Follow, Like and Subscribe to Bucs Report
For more on this and everything Buccaneers check back here hourly at BucsReport.com