Daily Blog • March 12th, 2010

Over the next couple of weeks my daily blog will breakdown the top players at each position for this year's NFL draft. In today's blog, I have included my top 15 quarterbacks complete with strengths, weaknesses and an overall projection of what round each prospect will likely be drafted in.

If you need complete rankings, career statistics, pictures and draft projections for this year's quarterbacks download my 2010 Draft Guide absolutely free! Also included in the draft guide is pro day workout dates, a draft order for the 1st two rounds, combine invitees by position plus college teams with most draft losses!

Keep checking the guide regularly to get all the latest and greatest information on this year's draft as we will be adding new information daily. I will be back on Monday with my RB rankings followed by my WR rankings on Wednesday and my OL rankings on Friday. Have a great weekend!

Top QB Prospects for 2010 Draft

1. Sam Bradford, Oklahoma
Height: 6’4
Weight: 236
40 Time: 4.71

Strengths: Has quick release with great accuracy. Plays well under pressure. Gets the ball to all of his playmakers and has the ability to hit them in stride before they make their breaks.  Respected leader and makes excellent decisions evidence of his career 88-16 ratio.

Weaknesses: Injury concerns after suffering two shoulder injuries his junior season. Played mostly out of the shotgun in a spread offense and will have to adjust his reads. Needs to feel the rush better and protect his body from contact.

Overall: Bradford answered some questions about his frame when he checked in at 236 lbs at the combine and will easily be a Top 10 pick probably going no lower than 4th to the Redskins. While he will need a season or two to adjust completely to the pro-style offense, Bradford has all the tools to be a franchise QB.

2. Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame
Height: 6’3
Weight: 222
40 Time: 4.73

Strengths: Played in a pro style offense. Showed toughness playing through injuries and played well under pressure in close games last year. Improved accuracy and decision-making significantly his junior season.

Weaknesses: Questions have arose about his maturity level and many teams may be leery of his attitude. Played with very talented receivers and a lot of his production came from his receivers making big plays in jump ball situations.

Overall: While Clausen’s mental maturity may be in question, his physical tools matured over his 3 years in South Bend (gained 35 lbs) and he improved his TD-INT ratio from 32-23 his first two years to a 28-4 ratio his junior season.  Clausen may fall outside the Top 10 but he is a certain 1st rounder and could develop into a reliable starter at the next level.

3. Colt McCoy, Texas
Height: 6’1
Weight: 216
40 Time: 4.79

Strengths: Very experienced and finished his career as the winningest QB in NCAA history. His career 70.3% completion rate details his great accuracy in the short to intermediate range. Has decent release and knows where to go with the ball.

Weaknesses: Size maybe a factor at only 6’1.  Struggled vs consistent pressure (127 yds vs Oklahoma, 3 INT vs Nebraska his senior year) Sometimes does not go through all of progressions which leads to balls being batted down at the line.

Overall: McCoy will likely get drafted in the 2nd-3rd round by a team that runs the West Coast offense. McCoy will have to overcome his size and use his experience to become a starter in the NFL.

4. Tim Tebow, Florida
Height: 6’3
Weight: 236
40 Time: 4.72

Strengths:  Great leader and competitor. Clutch performer and showed the ability to play with pain. Good athleticism for his size. Can still get the ball down the field while rolling out of the pocket. Very rarely puts the ball in a bad spot where defenders can get their hands on it.

Weaknesses: Needs a lot of work on his mechanics and delivery to become an NFL quality passer.  Throws flat-footed too often and his needs to improve his ball placement as his throws are often low for his receivers. Will have to quicken his delivery and be able to make progressions much quicker. Often keys onto just one receiver.

Overall: Tebow is going to have to work very hard on his mechanics especially his delivery and get used to being under center after playing 4 years in Urban Meyer’s offense. It’s the same offense that San Francisco QB Alex Smith played in and he has struggled mightily adjusting to the next level. While Tebow’s character and determination are second to none, he’s got a lot of improvement to make if he’s going to be a consistent starting QB in the NFL. However, because of those intangibles, he will likely get drafted in the 2nd-3rd round.

5. Tony Pike, Cincinnati
Height: 6’6
Weight: 223
40 Time: 4.91

Strengths: Is able to fit the ball into tight spots especially the deep out routes. Is very good at leading receivers on slant routes. He is surprisingly quick and can move out of the pocket with ease.  Does a great job of avoiding the rush and consistently dumps the ball off to the safety valve.

Weaknesses: Despite gaining 12 lbs already, Pike still has a weak frame and will have to continue to put on weight. Suffered several injuries in college so durability is a ? mark. Will need to work on mechanics and footwork especially stepping up in the pocket instead of rolling out all the time like he did in college.

Overall: Pike went from 4th-5th string on the Bearcat depth chart to a top 100 draft pick in just over a year.  While he will probably need a year to add weight to his frame and improve his mechanics, Pike can become a consistent starter at the next level.

6. Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan
Height: 6’3
Weight: 229
40 Time: 4.66

Strengths: Showed good athletic ability and mobility. Avoids pressure in the pocket well and has good strength to shake free from sacks. Has decent arm strength and shows good ability to read defenses at the line.

Weaknesses: Will have to adjust to being under center at the next level and improve his mechanics especially his release. His footwork is going to have be worked on as he often throws off his back foot. Several scouts questioned his overall competitiveness when he decided not to throw at the combine after most of the top QBs were unable to perform passing drills because of injury.

Overall: LeFevour had an outstanding college career finishing #2 all-time in total yards and #1 in total TDs. However, he played in a spread style offense and will have to adjust to being under center. He probably will need at least a year to adjust and his decision not to throw at the combine will probably drop him to the 3rd-4th round.

7. Jarrett Brown, West Virginia
Height: 6’3
Weight: 219
40 Time: 4.54

Strengths: Very good athlete evidence of his impressive 4.54 40 time he ran at the combine. Can make big plays down the field especially when scrambling out of the pocket. Has big arm and has the strength to complete all the NFL throws.

Weaknesses: Will have to improve his footwork and mechanics. Also at times was very inconsistent in his accuracy. He will also have to adjust to a pro style offense and be able to make his reads much quicker.

Overall: Brown only had 1 full season as a starter after playing behind Pat White for 4 years. Right now he is a better athlete than QB and will need to be coached up. Coming into Senior Bowl week, Brown was a 6th-7th round pick at best, but after his impressive performance throughout the week followed by a good combine workout, Brown is moving up draft boards and will be selected in the 4th round range. However, he does have a lot of work to do to become a starter at the next level.

8. Jevan Snead, Mississippi
Height: 6’3
Weight: 215
40 Time: 4.68

Strengths: Has the ability to make all the throws at the next level and can fit the ball in tight spots down the field. Can get rid of the ball very quickly and showed the ability to make accurate throws after stepping up in the pocket.

Weaknesses: Very very inconsistent passer evidence of his 20 interceptions he threw last season. There a several questions about his throwing motion as he tends to sidearm it on occasion. Many times last season he stared down his primary receiver, which led to DBs making plays on the ball. When faced with pressure, he often didn’t follow thru on his throwing motion.

Overall: Snead has the talent and all the physical tools to become a good NFL starting QB. However, he will have to significantly improve his decision-making and improve his throwing motion. Snead made a big mistake coming out early and he could have used another year at Mississippi to improve his draft stock. Snead will get drafted somewhere in the 4th-5th round because of his ability but he could have been a 1st-2nd round pick next year if he would have stayed in school and improved.

9. Armanti Edwards, Appalachian St
Height: 5’11
Weight: 187
40 Time: 4.52

Strengths: Great athlete that has the speed and elusiveness to make plays at any level. Despite his size, he stood tough in the pocket and is not afraid to take a hit. Showed good accuracy on short to intermediate routes and can be very accurate when throwing on the move. Was able to perform at a high level many times during clutch situations (Michigan ’07, ’07 and ’08 FCS champ games)

Weaknesses: Lacks the ideal size and strength of a typical NFL QB. Will have to improve his mechanics and footwork and adjust to a completely different offense at the next level. Didn’t see a lot of elite competition in college and lacks the arm strength to be accurate on deep throws.

Overall: Edwards is an interesting prospect that will probably end up at the slot position in the NFL. He has drawn a lot of comparisons to Hines Ward and Antwan Randle El who both played QB in college and developed into fine receivers. If he gets moved to the slot, Edwards will have to improve his strength. While he probably won’t play QB in the league, teams will be looking to draft Edwards somewhere in the 5th-6th round to take advantage of his overall athletic ability.

10. Mike Kafka, Northwestern
Height: 6’3
Weight: 216
40 Time: 4.88

Strengths: Has good size and showed willingness to stand tall in the pocket. Showed good mobility and has a nice delivery. Can avoid the rush and buy extra time with his feet.

Weaknesses: Has a history of battling injuries (hamstring) and because of those injuries only played a full year in college. He will also need to improve his arm strength and ability to read varying defenses.

Overall: Kafka has the toughness and the intelligence to make an NFL roster this year but he will find it tough in becoming an NFL starter. If he goes to the right situation Kafka can become a quality NFL backup and expect some team to pick him up around the 6th round.

11. Sean Canfield, Oregon St
Height: 6’4
Weight: 221
40 Time: 4.98

Strengths: Has good size and footwork and showed good accuracy on underneath passes. Has good fundamentals and mechanics and can put great touch on the ball. Uses good judgment both pre and post snap.

Weaknesses: Did not show good arm strength when throwing out patterns down the field in college or at the combine workouts. Lacks the mobility to step away from pressure. Has had shoulder injuries in the past and worked primarily out of the shotgun in college. He will also have to quicken his release.

Overall: Canfield had a great senior season for the Beavers and was projected to be a 5th-6th round pick right after the season. However after a poor performance at the combine, Canfield will probably fall to the 7th round. If Canfield has aspirations of becoming an NFL starter someday he will have to improve his arm strength and become quicker with his release and reads. Realistically, Canfield will be a backup at the next level.

12. Tim Hiller, Western Michigan
Height: 6’4
Weight: 229
40 Time: 4.96

Strengths: Very experienced player and showed good accuracy on short to intermediate routes throughout his college career. Very effective at managing a game and usually makes good decisions with the ball.

Weaknesses: Not very athletic and has trouble escaping the pocket when feeling inside pressure. Played in a simplified offense. Suffered some injuries and durability is a ? mark.

Overall: Hiller had an outstanding career at Western Michigan and will be a good fit in a West Coast offense system. However, his limited mobility and injury concerns will make him a 7th round pick at best. Hiller will probably have to settle for being an NFL backup.

13. Zac Robinson, Oklahoma St
Height: 6’2
Weight: 214
40 Time: 4.71

Strengths: Plays with great competitiveness and has surprisingly good athletic ability and quickness. Showed courage in the pocket and is not afraid to take a hit. Can be very accurate on deep fade routes and has the strength to make all the NFL throws.

Weaknesses: Was inconsistent with his footwork and passing mechanics. Right now he is probably a better overall athlete than QB. Can lock into his primary receivers which gives DBs a chance to make a play on the ball. Is really going to have to improve his ability to read defenses.

Overall: Robinson had a fine career at Oklahoma St and possesses many tools of a typical NFL QB. However, he will need a lot of work in the passing game. Realistically, a team might like his athletic ability and take him in the 7th round, but Robinson will find it tough cracking the starting lineup in the NFL.

14. Levi Brown, Troy
Height: 6’3
Weight: 229
40 Time: 4.79

Strengths: Has good size and a nice frame. Showed good ability to make plays with his feet. Can get rid the ball very quickly and has solid arm strength. Can hit all the short to intermediate routes and shows good accuracy with pressure in his face.

Weaknesses: He tends to take more sacks than he needs to and has to work on his deep passes especially putting more zip on the ball. Took a lot of big hits in college and has to improve his pocket awareness.

Overall: There are varying opinions on Brown from NFL scouts. Some think he will need time to adjust coming from a spread offense, while others like his quick release and his arm strength and think his adjustment will be easier. Overall, he could end up in the 5th-6th round or go undrafted. Realistically, he will probably end up as a quality backup at the next level.

15. Jonathan Crompton, Tennessee
Height: 6’3
Weight: 222
40 Time: 4.80

Strengths: Shows good arm strength and can make all the throws at the next level. Can put the ball on the money in tight spots especially on quick slant passes. Played in a pro-style offense his senior season. Has quick delivery and gets rid of the ball fast. Has decent mobility and can get out of the pocket.

Weaknesses: Didn’t show consistency and accuracy until mid way thru his senior season. Sometimes can be stiff in the pocket and can stare down his receivers. Is often late at getting rid of the ball when facing pressure and takes the big hit too often.

Overall: Crompton showed considerable improvement his senior season and has a lot of upside. Before the season, Crompton wasn’t even among the Top 30 QBs on most draft boards but has been rising as of late. With good coaching, Crompton can eventually become a starter in the league some day, but will have to continue his improvement in all phases of his game.