2012 NFL Draft Preview: Quarterbacks

Leading up to the draft we’re going to preview every position in the draft in a unique way. We’ll give you three players we love, two players we don’t, and one late round guy who could be a real sleeper.

Three Studs

Andrew Luck, Stanford Cardinal

You know this was coming. Andrew Luck is every bit as good as advertised. He has an arm that can make all the throws, he has a terrific feel for the game, he’s a much better athlete than people think. He’s built well. To me he reminds me much more of Eli Manning than he does of Peyton Manning. Eli Manning took a few years to figure it out, but is one of the best Quarterbacks in the league and if Eli Manning continues to play three more years the way he did in the 2011 season, it might one day be Hall of Fame Quarterback Eli Manning. I think the Colts would settle for that.

Robert Griffin III, Baylor Bears

On twitter I give off a vibe that I don’t like Robert Griffin III. That can’t be further from the truth. I just don’t buy all the talk that RGIII should be drafted before Andrew Luck. RGIII has some things that really worry me. One is his size. He’s not built like Andrew Luck, he’s much more wiry and he’s already had some injury issues at Baylor. He missed an entire season because of a knee, he’s suffered at least one concussion. He also has an inconsistent release point. I also think being so supremely gifted and fast can slow down a QB’s development at times. With all that being said, he’s a smart kid who is a good passer and has unlimited upside. He’s top five in our big board, like him a lot, but he’s not better than Andrew Luck.

Russel Wilson, QB, Wisconsin

At North Carolina State Wilson made a lot of players better, but he also tried to do too much and made a lot of bad throws. At Wisconsin behind that running game and offensive line, Wilson looked much better with his decisions. Wilson is mobile, smart, tough, has a pretty good arm, and made big plays in big moments. With all that being said he’s short and that’s cause for concern, but it’s overblown. He doesn’t play like Drew Brees, but he can be as good as Jeff Garcia and he’s going to be drafted in the 5th round based off projections. He’s much better than that.

Two Duds

Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A and M

I’m not piling on Tannehill and think he could really develop into a terrific QB. But if he gets drafted in the top 10 and then is made to play immediately, that’s a big mistake. He should sit a year or two and then be unleashed on the league. I fear that’s not what is going to happen though.

Kirk Cousins, QB, Michigan State

To me Kirk Cousins is Kyle Orton. Why is he getting talked about like a second round prospect. Would anyone trade a second round pick for Kyle Orton? Cousins has some intelligence and is a film-room junkie can command a huddle a bit, but he can’t really throw the football. He’s not carrying a team on his back. He’s a great backup type with some spot starter upside. That’s all. A 4th or 5th round value.

One Sleeper

Austin Davis, QB, Southern Mississippi

Austin Davis is a 7th round value right now. Davis is a very productive QB who has broken a lot of Brett Favre’s record at Southern Mississippi, he has enough mobility, enough arm power, enough size and toughness to be a very valuable backup and developmental Quarterback. I don’t think that he’s a franchise QB or anything, but definitely a guy who can start a few years while a team transitions to a NFL QB and that’s pretty good for a 7th round draft pick.

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