NFL Draft Prospects | Top 10 QB’s

Draft Prospects: Quarterback, NFL Draft, National Football League

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The interesting thing about this year’s draft class actually has nothing to do with this year. Scouts have lamented over the weakness of the quarterbacks coming out in next year’s draft; artificially inflating the value of this year’s offering. Don’t be surprised to see a QB get taken by a team you didn’t expect. Also, you might see some teams reaching for QBs and mining for gold with late round fliers.

#1 Matt Ryan, Boston College

Many feel he is the most NFL ready of all quarterbacks entering the draft. While I would agree, I don’t believe he is worthy of the top 5 selection he will likely command. Ryan’s pocket presence is by far the best in class but he tends to make poor decisions and force the ball on occasion. That being said, Ryan has the ability to make all of the throws necessary to be a solid NFL starter. Easily the best quarterback available, I’d be surprised if he gets by Atlanta at #3.

#2 Brian Brohm, Louisville

Injuries and poor play late in the season knocked Brohm out from the consensus number 1 QB spot. Brohm is talented enough to make throws many NFL QBs have difficulty making and if given time, he will destroy a defense in ways few can. However, he has difficulty escaping pressure and rarely is able to create outside of the pocket. I think the system of the team Brohm is drafted into will have much to say about his career in the NFL.

#3 Chad Henne, Michigan

I think Chad has done too much to not be considered a top 3 selection this year. His leadership and intangibles are rivaled only by Matt Ryan. He put up an excellent senior bowl and combine. Chad can consistently evade the pass rush and buy extra seconds to make a play. His arm is strong and his throws are accurate. Henne will become a solid starter in the NFL.

#4 Andre Woodson, Kentucky

A poor senior bowl and an injury keeping him out of the combine explain Woodson’s fall. His season at the helm of Kentucky was one to gawk at but questions of consistency and football IQ crept into the fold. However, when healthy, Woodson’s physical tools cannot be questioned. A bit of a project, Woodson should serve a patient team very well.

#5 Joe Flacco, Delaware

Flacco is a bit of an enigma. His size and arm strength are tops in the class but his accuracy and feel for the pocket are sketchy at best. Flacco will be drafted by the third based on physical tools alone but between the quality of his competition and the system run by Delaware, physical tools may be the few things Flacco has over other QBs in the draft. Expect a team looking for a high upside QB like Carolina or Minnesota take a flier on him hoping to strike gold.

#6 John David Booty, USC

The latest offering from the juggernaut that is USC. Booty struggled during the combine displaying poor accuracy and an extremely small hand size. This hand size might lead to fumbling in the NFL as seen by fellow small-hands man Alex Smith. Booty’s main strength over other QBs is his football IQ, you cannot be a simple minded football player when you play PAC-10 football for USC. His knowledge of complex defensive schemes and how to beat them is matched by no one in the draft.

#7 Erik Ainge, Tennessee

Ainge has put in many gutty performances over the course of this year, playing through injuries and doing it effectively. A knock on Ainge is that he is not a leader amongst the Vols depsite being a four year starter. In the wake of Eli Manning’s passive leadership style taking his team to a Super Bowl, I’m not to sure how much that will affect scouts’ opinion of him. Ainge has a full compliment of starting experience however, something that cannot be said by most of the QB prospects available.

#8 Josh Johnson, San Diego

The second Div-II QB in the top ten? What’s going on? Well when you throw for 9699 yds and 113 TD/15 INT with a 68% completion rate over your college career, you get to be considered. Johnson’s numbers are ridiculous. The system San Diego State plays paired with weak Div-II defense gave Josh the perfect storm to pad his stats. He ran a lightning-quick (for a QB) 4.44 forty time but displayed poor accuracy in throwing the ball at the combine. Someone will take a flier on this guy similar to Tarvaris Jackson.

#9 Colt Brennan, Hawaii

Oh how the mighty have fallen. If Colt Brennan declares last year, he’s given first round consideration. Now I’d be surprised if Brennan is drafted in the first half of the draft. Much of the knock on Brennan is centered around measureables and non-football performance (combine etc.) but he isn’t doing himself any favors by acting “like a jackass” in interviews (yes, that is an actual quote). Brennan is a better QB than his ranking of 9 on the list but between his combine, his interviews and his injuries, I doubt if he is drafted earlier than the fourth round.

#10 Matt Flynn, LSU

The national champion QB wasn’t wowed any scouts with his senior bowl or combine efforts. His hot-cold play will draw the ire of many coaches but he has the ability to be a quality QB on occasion. He is a leader on his team and has proven to be able to play (inconsistently albeit) in big games. Barely hanging onto this number 10 spot with many QBs on his heels.

Close to the cut:

Dennis Dixon (Oregon) - Should be 7-10 on this list but coming off of a torn ACL, Dixon cannot showcase his talent.
Kevin O’Connell (San Diego State) - A scrambling QB; O’Connell does not have the throwing accuracy the NFL demands.
Anthony Morelli (Penn State) - Good size and arm but off the field issues and poor play have him below all aforementioned.

tag: NFL, Draft, Prospects, Rankings, QB, quarterback, woodson, henne, flacco, ryan, brohm, combine

Tjford @ March 4, 2008