#1 pick annual NFL QB Club. NFL Draft edition

[#1 pick]

Accolades...
Most pro ready: Ryan Mallett

Most potential: Cam Newton and Jake Locker

Best Intangibles: 4 players: Cam Newton, Colin Kaepernick, Andy Dalton, and Greg McElroy

Best Mobility: Cam Newton and Tyrod Taylor

Best passer: Ryan Mallett

Biggest steal: Christian Ponder in the 2nd round

Best Arm: Ryan Mallett

Most accurate: 3t: Cam Newton, Christian Ponder, and Blaine Gabbert

Best runners: Cam Newton and Jake Locker

Smartest QB on the field: Christian Ponder and Andy Dalton

Most likely to be a bust: Blaine Gabbert if he's not given the time.

Best leader: A lot of standouts since this is the best group of QB's I've evaluated but here are the ones with the "it" factor:
Newton, Locker, and Ponder.

Sleeper: Nathan Enderle and Josh Portis

Watch for: Andy Dalton

Best fits:

1. Newton- Bills
2. Locker- 49ers
3. Mallett- Seahawks or a team who needs a QB with a good line or better.
4. Gabbert- Jaguars, Cowboys, Redskins as well.
5. Ponder- Browns if A.J. Green is first pick
6. Kaepernick- 49ers and Jaguars
7. Delvin- Patriots
8. Taylor- Eagles and Jaguars
9. Dalton- Eagles, Texans, and Jaguars
10. Stanzi- Any team with a very good or elite defense.

I haven't been this impressed with a QB class in it's entirety in a while. Now there are no Matt Ryan or Sam Bradford types, you know, the ones who can play right now and be great. I think Mallett can play right now and give you a decent performance which is an upgrade for some teams in the league. Newton would be too inconsistent if he's your starter going into the 2011-12 season. Most classes are very weak once the top guys are gone but not this class. They can really play. This is a buyer class if you are looking at QB's as potential starters or backups.

 

[#1 pick]

Grades:
1st Top 10- Elite prospect potential (Rodgers, Manning, Vick, Rivers)

1st Mid to late- Franchise QB potential (Romo, VY, Cutler, Eli M, Garrard)

2nd- Very good QB potential (Same as the mid to late but more developmental)

3rd-Solid QB potential (Schaub, Fitzpatrick, Bulger, M. Hasslebeck, J. Campbell)

4rd- Average to below average QB potential (T. Jackson, McCown, A. Smith, Orton)

5th- Backup QB potential (Redman, Leftwich)

6th- 3rd string potential (D. Shockley, JPW, J. Harrington)

7th- PS QB potential (Kitner, A. Woodson)

UDFA- Outside chance at the NFL as a QB. (UFL QB's)

 

[BDBIID]

Locker=Aaron Rodgers

 

[#1 pick]

Locker=Aaron Rodgers

You must remember that Rodgers sat for three seasons and the Packers even drafted Brian Brohm in the 2nd round after Rodgers 2nd season. Don't be naive, I am not saying he's Rodgers of today. He's not even in the same column in that tense but potentially, yes.

 

[t_m_a_c_f_a_n73088]

What I do is evaluated QB's. I been doing this since 2003 and I usually do a top 10 and sometimes just a top 5 if I am not impressed with the QB's in the draft. In this draft, I did a top 10. I think this is the deepest QB class since 2004 and I hope everyone pans out. Here is my list.

I seen a lot of tape on my guys and was impressed with some guys who aren't on my previous list like Nathan Enderle and Josh Portis.

Here's my new top 10 with a couple additions as honorable guys.

1. Newton- Top 10. NFL Comparison: A more raw mix of Ben Roethlisberger and Michael Vick

2. Locker- Top 10. NFL Comparison: Aaron Rodgers when he came out of the draft and has the same limitless potential as Rodgers.

3. Mallett- Mid to Late 1st. NFL Comparison: Drew Bledsoe

4. Gabbert- Mid to Late 1st. NFL Comparison: A slightly bigger very mobile version of Chris Chandler

5. Ponder- Mid to Late 1st. NFL Comparison: I like him a lot and will get a lot of hate for this but Joe Montana. Perfect WCO QB and has the tools to be a great one.

6. Kaepernick- 2nd. NFL Comparison: Randall Cunningham

7. Taylor- 2nd. NFL Comparison: Tony Romo less accurate, more mobile.

8. Dalton- 2nd. NFL Comparison: Kevin Kolb

9. Delvin- 4th. NFL Comparison: Jimmy Clausen(both are projects but Delvin doesn't have the hype and hopefully will get time to develop.

10. Stanzi- 6th. NFL Comparison: Kyle Orton. Could be better than I feel.

Honorable mention:

Nathan Enderle 7th. NFL Comparison: poor man's Drew Bledsoe. ...I think he could be better than I rated him here but I seen a lot good from his Jr season with the bad as well from this season. Lighting release...

Josh Portis 7th. NFL Comparison: Aaron Brooks. ...Could be a better player than many think. He has ability and can play football. Don't sleep on him but could be passed up.

Greg McElroy 7th. NFL Comparison: Steve Beuerlein. ...I think he's a better QB than JPW, I like his potential as a very good backup more than JPW. I think he could be average as a starter given two to three years in the league.

No other guy who is not listed got a better than UDFA grade.

I respect everything about your list, but the bolded

 

[#1 pick]

I respect everything about your list, but the bolded

I think real highly of Locker of what he could be if given the time. Give him three seasons to hold the clipboard like Rodgers, the sky is the limit.

 

[t_m_a_c_f_a_n73088]

I agree with you on some points and I'll list them:
- Biggest one to watch out for: Andy Dalton- agree on this one. I really think Dalton could flourish in the right system like the west coast as you said and I like the kevin kolb comparison except I think Kolb has a better pocket presence. I'd also add Kaepernick to your list. As long as he can be accurate down field I really like him, yea he'll have to adjust from the pistol but I think he has potential.

- Most pro ready: Obviously it's mallett, he can make all of the throws necessary. Only two questions with him: 1) his pocket presence... he has to get better in the pocket, become better @ moving his feet and he'll DEFINITELY need a good line to be successful 2: His attitude, he worked on NOT being a hot head during the off-season last year and it seemed to help but obviously only he knows if he's gonna be on some ryan leaf shit or not.

- Comparisons I like: Kaepernick-Cunningham... dead on. Mallett- Bledsoe.. again dead on.

- Most likely to be busts: Ponder and Locker. Why? Because their strengths fade depending on the situation and they're inconsistent as hell. I guess we can't really consider them busts if they don't get drafted high but I could see both of them starting easily and I could see both of them as a 3rd stringer easily.

-Smartest QB's: I agree w/ Dalton but Ponder? Dude still has trouble getting to his second read and looking off his first

-

 

[greenwood1921]

I don't see this as the strong QB class people are making it out to be. None of these QBs really wow me to be honest.

 

[t_m_a_c_f_a_n73088]

I don't see this as the strong QB class people are making it out to be. None of these QBs really wow me to be honest.

I agree. I could see all of them being busts and I only think three of them have the potential to be VERY GOOD. The rest I see as clipboard holders, game managers or out of the league

 

[#1 pick]

I agree with you on some points and I'll list them:
- Biggest one to watch out for: Andy Dalton- agree on this one. I really think Dalton could flourish in the right system like the west coast as you said and I like the kevin kolb comparison except I think Kolb has a better pocket presence. I'd also add Kaepernick to your list. As long as he can be accurate down field I really like him, yea he'll have to adjust from the pistol but I think he has potential.

- Most pro ready: Obviously it's mallett, he can make all of the throws necessary. Only two questions with him: 1) his pocket presence... he has to get better in the pocket, become better @ moving his feet and he'll DEFINITELY need a good line to be successful 2: His attitude, he worked on NOT being a hot head during the off-season last year and it seemed to help but obviously only he knows if he's gonna be on some ryan leaf shit or not.

- Comparisons I like: Kaepernick-Cunningham... dead on. Mallett- Bledsoe.. again dead on.

- Most likely to be busts: Ponder and Locker. Why? Because their strengths fade depending on the situation and they're inconsistent as hell. I guess we can't really consider them busts if they don't get drafted high but I could see both of them starting easily and I could see both of them as a 3rd stringer easily.

-Smartest QB's: I agree w/ Dalton but Ponder? Dude still has trouble getting to his second read and looking off his first

-

Kolb did have better pocket presence at Houston than Dalton but Dalton leadership and will are on another level. While I don't see the "it" factor with either one, Dalton has elite intangibles.

It should take Colin a year max to adjust, he unlike Locker is closer to being ready in contribute in the NFL. His accuracy down-field will always be an issue but he reminds you of the next Cunningham. I hope he goes to the right team for his ability.

I agree with Mallett, I don't see him being able to overcome it but Jay Cutler, Eli Manning, Vince Young really haven't overcome their issues and they are top 8-12 QB's in the NFL. As talented as he is, that should be all that matters. He's more talented than 1/3 of the QB's in the NFL right now.

- I love Ponder more than anyone not named Cam in this draft but I agree with one thing. The situation is critical for him. It's WCO or bust. No middle ground about that but in the WCO, he can be elite given the personnel. Locker needs time, at least three years. That just the way it is. But you give him three years and in his sixth year he's elite. Why not? Sometimes that's the most important part of it all. Can he become elite? Matt Schaub is a solid QB, but he will never become elite. Why not take Locker, give him three years to learn and then start who is clearly the better QB at that time which is Locker. Just an example but six years later after the draft, Alex Smith is a bust, what is Rodgers who wasn't close to being ready at the time. A top 6 QB and a SB champion. It's an investment, not a quick return in Locker's case.

Ponder- In the WCO, he wouldn't have to make advanced reads as much as quick reads. He's the best at the quick read in this draft and probably in the last five drafts. Don't quote me on that since I don't remember everyone in the last five years but I do have a rate chart and he is at the top by a good margin.

-On another note, Gabbert to me has a lot of talent, but I didn't see anything on tape that was elite. Absolutely nothing. I don't know one QB who has become elite with nothing elite to their names, it's almost impossible to think of anyone. I do think he will be a good QB, very good possibly but not elite in his career ever.

 

[greenwood1921]

I agree. I could see all of them being busts and I only think three of them have the potential to be VERY GOOD. The rest I see as clipboard holders, game managers or out of the league

Werd. People forget that there are only going to be 3-5 elite QBs in the league at a time. The rest will be on Gary Kubiak status for most of their careers.

 

[#1 pick]

I agree. I could see all of them being busts and I only think three of them have the potential to be VERY GOOD. The rest I see as clipboard holders, game managers or out of the league

I rated a lot of QB drafts that way but this one stood out. No one seems instantly surefire like they say but I see a lot of guys who could be franchise QB's in this draft. Eight of them which is 6 more than last year. Sam Bradford was the only QB I thought was going to be an elite guy if healthy. I did like Tebow as a franchise QB given the time which in his case was 3 seasons. Cam and Locker could be elite, Cam could be another level that we haven't seen but I will wait to see where he goes.

 

[#1 pick]

Werd. People forget that there are only going to be 3-5 elite QBs in the league at a time. The rest will be on Gary Kubiak status for most of their careers.

I clearly disagree but they could though.

 

[greenwood1921]

I clearly disagree but they could though.

That's the hard pill sports fans have to swallow before they start actin' like kid on christmas come draft day. Just go and look at all the 1st round QBs drafted just in the last 10 years. You don't even have to go back to the Kubiak days.

I'll give you about 3 seasons before you're looking at all the names like...

ALL of those cats were supposed to be "Elite" within 2-3 years. Good luck.

 

[t_m_a_c_f_a_n73088]

Kolb did have better pocket presence at Houston than Dalton but Dalton leadership and will are on another level. While I don't see the "it" factor with either one, Dalton has elite intangibles.

It should take Colin a year max to adjust, he unlike Locker is closer to being ready in contribute in the NFL. His accuracy down-field will always be an issue but he reminds you of the next Cunningham. I hope he goes to the right team for his ability.

I agree with Mallett, I don't see him being able to overcome it but Jay Cutler, Eli Manning, Vince Young really haven't overcome their issues and they are top 8-12 QB's in the NFL. As talented as he is, that should be all that matters. He's more talented than 1/3 of the QB's in the NFL right now.

- I love Ponder more than anyone not named Cam in this draft but I agree with one thing. The situation is critical for him. It's WCO or bust. No middle ground about that but in the WCO, he can be elite given the personnel. Locker needs time, at least three years. That just the way it is. But you give him three years and in his sixth year he's elite. Why not? Sometimes that's the most important part of it all. Can he become elite? Matt Schaub is a solid QB, but he will never become elite. Why not take Locker, give him three years to learn and then start who is clearly the better QB at that time which is Locker. Just an example but six years later after the draft, Alex Smith is a bust, what is Rodgers who wasn't close to being ready at the time. A top 6 QB and a SB champion. It's an investment, not a quick return in Locker's case.

Ponder- In the WCO, he wouldn't have to make advanced reads as much as quick reads. He's the best at the quick read in this draft and probably in the last five drafts. Don't quote me on that since I don't remember everyone in the last five years but I do have a rate chart and he is at the top by a good margin.

-On another note, Gabbert to me has a lot of talent, but I didn't see anything on tape that was elite. Absolutely nothing. I don't know one QB who has become elite with nothing elite to their names, it's almost impossible to think of anyone. I do think he will be a good QB, very good possibly but not elite in his career ever.

Exactly, I view him the way I viewed brandon roy coming out of uw, but thats NOT a good thing for qb's lmao......

 

[#1 pick]

Exactly, I view him the way I viewed brandon roy coming out of uw, but thats NOT a good thing for qb's lmao......

LOL, It's a little different for QB's. I mean B Roy is elite in terms of versatility. Gabbert is elite at nothing. I guess he has elite shampoo for his hair :shrugs:... Gabbert is too much like Chris Chandler. From the terrible pocket presence to the lack of a consistent deep ball, to the fact that both are talented. The difference is running ability. That's the big difference between the two.