The Houston Texans snared their franchise quarterback in Round 1 of last year’s NFL Draft, trading up to secure Deshaun Watson. But such is the importance of the position that having only one capable quarterback is not enough, as Texans fans will attest, given how badly the team performed down the stretch with Watson sidelined after tearing his ACL.
A capable and reliable backup quarterback is a hugely valued commodity. Just ask the Philadelphia Eagles, whose Super Bowl victory would not have been possible without the stellar playoff performances of Nick Foles.
Finding a backup quarterback is a key task for Houston this offseason. Neither Tom Savage nor T.J. Yates proved adequate in 2017, and most suggest the team look to both the free agent crop and the NFL Draft to find a potential backup for Watson.
Mentioned in the second of those linked articles is Logan Woodside, the former Toledo Rocket, and I believe he has plenty of qualities that the Texans should find attractive in a backup. The quarterback was an experienced and productive college player who broke several school records during a prolific senior season that saw him named MAC Offensive Player of the Year.
Woodside performed well in Indianapolis at the NFL Scouting Combine last week, throwing accurately in drills to all levels of the field. He tested surprising well athletically, too, with above-average numbers in the 40-yard dash and vertical jumps, and good marks in both agility tests. Indeed, his 4.15-second short shuttle was the second fastest of any quarterback at Lucas Oil Stadium. That figure is also considerably faster than Deshaun Watson’s time last year.
On tape, Woodside is an efficient and accurate passer in all regards, be it throwing quick-hitters or when looking downfield. He possesses accomplished footwork and strong mechanics in the pocket, which enable him to deliver the football with good placement. Perhaps his best quality is the ability to put the ball in front of his receiver to enable them to collect yards after the catch, a trait seldom mentioned when evaluating quarterbacks but vital for NFL success.
Woodside is a live athlete, but not necessarily a dynamic one. He moves well in the pocket with nimble feet and is able to exploit open running lanes if unable to find an open receiver. When knocked off base or disturbed mechanically, Woodside, like most quarterbacks, struggles somewhat, and he requires some development to become a more capable passer while on the move.
The two major drawbacks with Woodside are his size and apparent lack of pure arm strength. He is far from a noodle-armed distributor but he can float and flutter balls, particularly when throwing to the field side (greater distance to sideline). He tends to miss high rather than low, a trait he shares with Deshaun Watson and perhaps indicative of a lack of confidence in his ability to drive the ball to his intended target.
His size will be a breaking point for some NFL teams. At just 6-foot-1 and 213 pounds (NFL Scouting Combine measurements), Woodside is considerably smaller than the average NFL quarterback and a far cry from the behemoths who have typically taken snaps under Bill O’Brien. Can his slender and small frame withstand the rigors of the NFL? It should be noted that Woodside did not miss a game in college.
Woodside will have to learn how to operate a more complex system in the NFL, a learning curve even the most hotly-touted prospects face. He was not under center a great deal during his senior season, and the well-designed system offered plenty of one-read plays. There are times where Woodside shows he can work through progressions with proficiency, but further growth will be required.
Woodside impressed coaches at the NFLPA game with his personality and football nous, and NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock was extremely complementary during the combine. He has been mentioned as a potential New England Patriots addition, and given the strong links between the two, it is not a stretch to connect the dots and proffer Woodside as a potential Texans target.
A smart decision-maker and generally accurate thrower, Logan Woodside can be a reliable NFL backup with the ability to operate an offense similar to the one utilized by the Texans during Watson’s stint as the starter. He has a good deep ball and enough of an arm to take advantage of Will Fuller’s ability down the field, while players like Braxton Miller and Tyler Ervin would enjoy his ability to throw them into space.
In terms of a projecting his NFL future, I feel Woodside falls somewhere between Case Keenum and current Texans roster member Taylor Heinicke. Keenum is a high-end comparison; the former Houston Cougar and two-time Texan broke out as an above-average NFL starter in 2017, the Minnesota Vikings reaping the benefits.
Keenum is an all-around more talented quarterback with a better arm, but he has had to develop greatly in the NFL, particularly with regards to poise in the pocket; Houston fans are far too familiar with his tendency to quickly retreat at a mere semblance of pressure. I do not think Woodside possesses the upside of Keenum and doubt he will ever be more than a spot starter and backup.
Heinicke is a low-end comparison. In a similar mold as a productive small-school product, he has more athleticism than Woodside, but a slower release and inferior arm. He went undrafted in 2015, and spent time with the Vikings and Patriots before arriving in Houston last year.
I think Logan Woodside ultimately becomes a far superior player and evolves into an extremely reliable backup quarterback, and he is absolutely a player the Texans should target. The team selects thrice between picks 211 and 222, and Woodside is a player Houston should use one of those picks on.
