The upcoming NFL Draft is set to take place April 30 through May 2 in Chicago, Illinois. Here is a breakdown of the top ten college quarterbacks from last season.
There are always last-minute trades, with teams shifting and moving up and down the board depending on their needs. If history proves anything it is that mistakes are common place and players are often overrated and undervalued.
Two of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the NFL were selected in the later rounds. San Francisco 49er quarterback Joe Montana was chosen in the third round and was the 82nd player selected overall in the 1989 draft. New England quarterback Tom Brady was taken in the 2000 draft in the sixth round and was the 199th overall choice.
We might also add that two of the all-time biggest mistakes in the history of the league were taken early. In 1998, quarterback Ryan Leaf was chosen by the San Diego Chargers as the number-two pick in the first round, while quarterback JaMarcus Russell was taken as the first overall number-one pick by the Oakland Raiders in the 2007 draft. They remain two of the biggest blunders in the history of the NFL.
1. Marcus Mariota, Oregon
Granted Mariota is a spread offence quarterback that really hasn’t played in an NFL-style system while he was leading the Ducks.
Nevertheless, there is a tremendous upside to Mariota. His size, athletic ability and football IQ overshadow his lack of knowledge of the NFL game. Mariota is great outside the pocket and he has the ability to create and keep plays alive if he is on the move.
First and foremost is his character. He will work his tail off and give everything he has to succeed with the team that chooses him. He is a quiet leader and used to winning. That might not pay off for the first few years but down the line Mariota will eventually be a better choice than the number-two quarterback on our list.
2. Jameis Winston, Florida State
Winston has all the tools to be an outstanding quarterback in the NFL. However, his lack of maturity off the field has left some serious question marks about his character.
His brushes with the law, his foolish actions on campus at Florida State and his general arrogance make me wonder will he be able to survive the scrutiny of playing his position while so many people will be watching his every move.
This isn’t about talent, but about character and Winston repeatedly making bad choices off the field.
He played in a pro system for the Seminoles and he scans the field exceptionally well and he can make all the throws. One other factor is that he is a little heavy and pudgy around the middle. He is far too young to be sporting a gut and once again it is all about choices.
3. Brett Hundley, UCLA
This is a guy I really like on pure athletic ability. It might take some time to see him improve, but the team that ends up with the former Bruin is getting a big, strong, moveable quarterback that can create plays in and out of the pocket.
He has a rocket arm but also happy feet, and if flushed from the pocket he is prone for taking off to daylight. NFL coaches will need to work on his reads and his ability to find second and third receivers but Hundley might be the surprise of the draft.
4. Garrett Grayson, Colorado State
Once again, this is a guy I really like based on his performance for the Rams coming off his 2014 college season.
Grayson has excellent touch and accuracy on his deep throws. Let’s face it, it is all about picking up yardage via the passing game in the NFL, and despite average arm strength Grayson will go long and put up points.
He had an excellent combine and his physical tools measure up to Mariota. Much like Hundley, Grayson is a possible steal in the mid-rounds of the draft.
5. Sean Mannion, Oregon State
I got the opportunity to see this guy a fair amount playing in the Pac-12. To me he had a better junior year than a senior season but he has the ability to play at the next level.
He is a tall, rangy, gunslinger that tends to force the ball somewhat into tight coverage. Nevertheless, if he is in the right system and finds a quarterback coach to instil confidence there is a big upside to Mannion.
He doesn’t have a great arm but he is a competitor and has the willingness to work.
6. Bryce Petty, Baylor
I love this guy’s size, leadership skills and the other qualities that make for a winning quarterback.
Some scouts didn’t like his senior season, but on the big stage he put up nice numbers and was ready to air it out long.
The knock on Petty was that he didn’t go through his progressions well and he struggled finding his second and third receivers.
He would lock on to the first option and you simply can’t do that with defensive backs in the NFL.
The quarterback who did that when he first came into the league as a backup to Drew Bledsole was Tom Brady. Bledsole got hurt and Brady continued to improve every game, but there was a learning period and a steep curve. Petty could be that guy.
7. Connor Halliday, Washington State
OK, Halliday is yet another Pac-12 quarterback that is right out of the gunslinger school of tall, rangy and rawboned athletes.
What I like about him is the continued improvement he has demonstrated over his last two years. If he lands with the right team he could be a solid backup quarterback. He is still learning the game and the deal with tall quarterbacks is that they put on muscle and physically mature. That, with study, combined with preparation and watching tape until your eyes bug out are the keys to success.
8. Blake Sims, Alabama
The last three guys on the list are long shots, but you simply never can tell what the future holds. Sims sort of reminds me of Drew Brees, at least physically.
He is undersized and tough as nails and a better quarterback on the move than in the pocket.
For Sims to succeed he is going to have to do it on grit and guts, two qualities he has in abundance.
9. Bryan Bennett, Southeastern Louisiana
Bennett has a great arm, but has gotten by with just his physical talent and not so much with an overwhelming football IQ.
Bennett needs to dramatically improve his progressions and reads. He needs to see the entire field before he unloads. That said, he reminds a little of an old quarterback out of Southern Mississippi – Brett Favre.
10. Taylor Heinicke, Old Dominion
Taylor isn’t a big guy, but he has a way of finding receivers and he is exceptionally accurate.
The problem is he doesn’t have the big cannon to hit wideouts in a small window. He is more about guile and leadership.
Heinicke will struggle to make a team but you never can tell what might happen – just ask the teams that drafted Joe Montana and Tom Brady.
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