The Arizona Cardinals selected quarterback Clayton Tune in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft class. A decorated player in college, the Cardinals took him 139th overall.
Where did Tune go to college, and what did he accomplish before reaching the NFL?
Where Clayton Tune Went to College
Tune played collegiate football at the University of Houston. He played under head coach Dana Holgorsen in four of his five years in college. Tune earned the starting job as a sophomore in 2019, finishing with 42 career starts.
Playing in the Air Raid system, Tune saw his production grow leaps and bounds in his final two seasons. In 2021 and 2022, he combined for 7,618 yards and 70 touchdowns. His efficiency leaped as well, completing 68.3% and 67.3% of his passes in those seasons, respectively.
The three-time team captain produced an impressive array of accomplishments throughout his tenure. He finished second in school history in touchdowns, third in completions, and fourth in wins.
The Cougars peaked in 2021 with Tune, finishing with a 12-2 record. This set expectations extraordinarily high for the 2022 campaign, but the team didn’t have the defensive consistency needed to build upon its 12-win mark. Houston produced an 8-5 record in 2022.
Tune certainly held his end of the bargain, though. He became more of a dual-threat player, using his legs to create a career high in rushing yards, totaling 544 yards and five scores on the ground.
Add that production to 4,074 yards and 40 touchdowns through the air, and Tune was amongst the elite producers in the nation. His ability to rise when needed to earned him recognition across multiple media outlets.
Tune is closer to average than elite in most areas, but he does have above-average physical tools.
He’s a good athlete for his size, as evidenced by his 4.64 40-yard dash, 37.5″ vertical, 10’2″ broad jump, and 6.89 three-cone at the NFL Combine. Tune also flashes above-average arm strength and has enough elasticity to adjust his throwing angles and work off-platform.
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Along with his passable physical talent, Tune also brings elite toughness, poise, and exceptional pocket management skills to the fold.
Not only is he composed under pressure, but he has the spatial awareness to make subtle adjustments and keep himself clean, always keeping his eyes up.
Tune isn’t the best processor at the moment, which impacts his consistency as a thrower. His trigger can be late, and his field vision runs hot and cold. Mechanically, he can improve as well, as his accuracy wanes at times. These limitations prevented Tune from earning consistent early-round interest.
Tune has enough talent and operational utility to see the field early, and his strong Senior Bowl showing was proof of that. He can be a quality developmental backup early on, and if he can keep honing the mental side of his game, he could go on to be a solid spot-starter and safety blanket.
Landing in Arizona may be a blessing. With Kyler Murray’s ACL recovery ongoing, it’s unknown how Murray will play in the near and short term. Tune could be more relied upon than expected, or even replace Murray if the right circumstances play out.
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