NFL Draft: Quarterback Rankings

With most positions I’ll post these in a table format because it’s easier. With QBs though, I’ve spent so much time scouting and compiling notes on each player that I wanted to do more. I didn’t think anyone would mind.

Dec 29, 2012; Bronx, NY, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers quarterback Geno Smith (12) drops back to pass during the second quarter against the Syracuse Orange at the 2012 New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

1) Geno Smith – West Virginia

I simply don’t get the Geno Smith hate in some draft spheres. It speaks of scoreboard and box score watching and not actually looking at film. Smith has a good arm, is accurate, has a very quick delivery, makes quick decisions, and can play with a dirty pocket. He is a legit top 10 pick. Smith is also mobile. He’s not Russell Wilson or Cam Newton mobile, more Alex Smith mobile, but still mobile.

2) Tyler Wilson – Arkansas

Wilson has the best arm talent in the draft. His arm isn’t a Ryan Mallet cannon, but it is still very good. Plays well with a dirty pocket. Attempts a lot of difficult throws and throws the ball into some absolutely tiny windows. Sometimes that leads to big plays, and other times it leads to picks. I’m surprised you don’t see more Brett Farve comparisons made, they are very similar players physically.

I fully expect Wilson to show up at the Senior bowl and wow the scouts there. Look for him to begin to “rocket up” the draft boards starting this week and through the combine.

3) Mike Glennon – North Carolina State

Mike Glennon is the guy that you’ll hear about a lot between now and April. He’s #1 on Mel Kiper’s board, not that it means much other than he’ll get national coverage. Glennon is a guy who has the talent. If you just scout his highlight real you’d come away impressed. But as with every player, scouting just the highlights is a mistake.

Glennon is a guy who looks outstanding until the pocket gets messy, then he looks very average. NFL pockets are rarely clean. He’s the type of guy who wows people with his potential, but struggles to regularly live up to it. Then again, with proper coaching he could be very good in a year or 2.

4) Zac Dysert – Miami (Ohio)

I’m not as high on Dysert as many draftniks are. I can see why they like him (good arm, quick decisions, accurate, quick release, good footwork, etc.) He makes plenty of NFL throws, but then seems to go through periods where everything breaks down and he can’t complete a pass. The talent is there, but I wonder if he can avoid those letdown when playing on Sundays.

5) Ryan Nassib – Syracuse

Nassib is an interesting player, and one that will cause me to learn something about evaluating QBs no matter whether he succeeds or fails in the NFL. He’s a guy without any glaring weaknesses, but also isn’t elite in any facet of the game. He’s just a very Jake Locker type of player, (that isn’t meant as a compliment), but it’s entirely possible that his lack of weaknesses allows him to become a quality NFL QB.

6) Matt Barkley – Southern Cal

Barkley is a guy that people are used to talking about as a top tier guy, but he really isn’t. Barkley has a well below average arm, and he doesn’t have an elite release either. He’s accurate under 10 yards, but to get the ball downfield at all he has to elongate his throwing motion which kills his accuracy. Barkley also really struggles when the pocket breaks down and he doesn’t have a lot of clean space around his feet.

Barkley has career backup potential. I can’t see him ever become more than Trent Dilfer. He still might go early in the draft though, there are still GMs who see win totals and let that cloud their judgement.

7) Tyler Bray – Tennessee

He should have gone back for his senior year.

8) Landry Jones – Oklahoma 

Jones is the ultimate fools gold of QB prospects. His measurables are all good. His stats look good. He isn’t good. When a guy makes decent throws but bad decisions as a Sophomore he has potential. When he’s still doing it as a 5th year Senior then he’s simply not an NFL QB.

9) EJ Manuel – Florida State

Manual is the first player on this list that I think the Seahawks might take a look at. He’s a great athlete and runs well. His long delivery and only sporadic accuracy means he’ll never be an NFL starter, but he’s the only guy in this draft that  do the things that Russell Wilson does. The Seahawks will be looking to find a QB like Manuel so they wont have to run a completely different offense if Wilson has to come out of the game.

10) Matt Scott – Arizona

Very similar to Manuel. Weaker arm, but more accurate. Looks best when playing in read-option. Take your pick.

11) Jordan Rogers – Vanderbilt 12) Brad Sorensen – Southern Utah 13) Colin Klein – KSU 14) Colby Cameron – Louisiana Tech 15) Jeff Tuel – WSU