Monday, April 4, 2011
Posted: 12 p.m.
By Ron Burke
CSNPhilly.com Contributor
The 2011 quarterback class is relatively weak. Even the top-tier passers have flaws that give me pause. Cam Newton is the only quarterback I would select with the first-overall pick, because his intangibles can carry him through some of the rough spots a rookie QB is certain to encounter.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Philadelphia sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Below are my evaluations of many of the quarterback prospects in the 2011 NFL draft, with my opinion of where I believe each ideally should be selected.
Cam Newton, Auburn 6-5248
He plays tough, has great running ability and a strong armbut is more of a thrower than a sharp passer. Newton played in a shotgun-heavy system at Auburn, so he must develop drop-back skills. His pre-snap read recognition is lacking, but Newton is the most intriguing QB in the class because of his ability to create big plays with his elusiveness. He was a big-time winner in JUCO and last year in the SEC. Newton has first-round potential, but second-round passing skills that figure to take some time to develop. First round.
Jake Locker, Washington 6-3231
Locker is smart and tough. Hes a good runner, very athletic and can save plays with his legs. Locker was beat up by Stanford, but more than anything that game revealed the talent deficiency surrounding Locker. His pocket awareness needs work and sometimes he will hold on to the ball too long, which also may be a result of receivers not getting open. He tends to make ball-handling mistakes when flushed from the pocket or pressured from the side. With the proper coaching, Locker has everything in place to flourish. First round.
Blaine Gabbert, Missouri, 6-4234
A difficult player to gauge because he played in a spread offense that required the QB to catch and pitch all over the yardGabberts footwork suffered as a result. Hes more of a slinger than crisp passer, but can create outside the pocket. He has good accuracy, but will develop sloppy footwork and bail out when pressured. I don't see Gabbert as a No.1 overall pick. Second round.
Ryan Mallett, Arkansas 6-7253
Mallet is a big and strong-armed passerhe throws the best ball of any QB in the class. When he's mechanically sound and steps into his throws, he's picture-perfect. Mallet is primarily a pocket threat, but does not handle heavy rushes well because he lacks the ability to escape. He can be pressured into negative plays. Mallet is accurate down the seam, but tends to misfire on sideline routes. He needs protection to be effective and his lack of mobility will knock him down a bit. He side-stepped questions from reporters about alleged past drug use, choosing to discuss only with NFL teams. Mallett has a chance to be a first-round pick, but must go to a team that can protect him. Second round.
News
Andy Dalton, TCU 6-2215
A sharp passer that makes sound throws in the short-to-intermediate range. Dalton is not consistently accurate on deep throws and played in a shotgun-heavy offense at TCU. He needs to be more consistent in his top-level performance to become an NFL starter. Dalton does many things well, but does not have a particular strong suitthough he does have sound leadership skills and a good feel for finding open receivers. My bottom-line concern with Dalton is: has he reached his ceiling? Third round.
Christian Ponder, Florida State 6-2229
A tough competitor, and a very athletic passer that can deliver from the pocket and throw on the run. Ponder will try to get all he can out of a play, which opens him up to take big shots. He played in a shotgun-heavy offense, and his footwork is lacking. Hes not a crisp thrower, and his passes tend to flutter. With proper development, he could become a solid pro. Third round.
Jerrod Johnson, Texas A&M, 6-5245
A big, strong, pass-first QB that runs well, played in shotgun offense, stands tall in the pocket and will take hits. Johnson throws darts and can hit any pass required. He throws with a looping 34 motion that's similar to Vince Young's. He got away with staring down receivers in college, but that won't fly in the NFL. He needs to clean up some bad habits, but has a great chance to become a contributor with proper teaching. Third round.
Colin Kaepernick, Nevada, 6-5233
Long-legged combo passer-runner that made big plays with his arm and his legs. He has a strong arm and makes smart decisions and pressures defenses when he gets outside the pocket. My gut tells me he will be drafted higher than he should be. Fourth round.
Greg McElroy, Alabama, 6-2220
Rhodes Scholar candidate plays a smart game. He played mostly in the shotgun formation and was surrounded by super talent in college. Hes athletic, but won't run away from speedy NFL defenders; doesn't lift a team but can make a well-built offense go. Fourth round.
Ricky Stanzi, Iowa, 6-4223
Stanzi has a strong arm and can make deeps throws, but will need plenty of time to develop. Inconsistency hurts his draft stock. Fifth to sixth round.
Pat Devlin, Delaware , 6-3225
Transferred from Penn State and played a lot. He spreads the ball around and is at his best as a short-yardage passes. He has big-game experience on the FCS level. Still, Devlin does not stand out in any particular area. Sixth round.
Taylor Potts, Texas Tech, 6-4218
Potts is an under-the-radar prospect that was not even invited to the combine. He may be stigmatized by the slew of previous Red Raider quarterbacks that put up huge numbers in college, then failed to make a dent in the NFL. He moves fluidly and has a nice arm, plus he sees the field well, which may be a byproduct of his wide-open, spread offense. Worth a third-day pick as a developmental QB. Sixth Round.
Tyrod Taylor, Virginia Tech, 6-1217
A terrific athlete, but does not yet possess NFL-caliber consistencyhell be a project that best fits a team that can afford to groom him into a more stable passer. His ability to move around boosts his stock. Sixth round.
Nathan Enderle, Idaho, 6-4240
Hes a drop-back passer with a smooth throwing motion, but is a project. Hes a better short and intermediate passer than long-thrower. Sixth to seventh round.
Mitch Mustain, USC, 6-2200
Mustain played little for the Trojans after transferring from Arkansas, but his recent inexperience makes him a gamble. Undrafted free agent.
Sleeper Pick
Scott Tolzien, Wisconsin, 6-2212
Hes smart and competitive. Tolzien is workmanlike passer with noticeable leadership skills. He can fit the ball in tight space, though he does not have a cannon and that lack of arm strength probably relegates him to a backup role. His intangibles are intriguing. Sixth to seventh round.
E-mail Ron Burke at rburke@comcastsportsnet.com