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2014 NFL Draft Preview – Top QBs

2014 NFL Draft Preview – Top QBs

Nov 19, 2013

With the college football season coming to an end in just a few weeks, we can all look ahead and see how the top quarterback prospects’ talents will translate in the NFL.

Last year’s draft class was extremely thin at quarterback, where only one was selected in the first round (EJ Manuel, 16th overall, Bills). Good news for the NFL GMs – the upcoming draft is loaded with top tier talent at the QB position.

Thanks to a cloud of controversy, we all know about Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel, who is the star quarterback and is in contention with Florida State’s stellar redshirt freshmen signal caller, Jameis Winston, for his second consecutive Heisman trophy. Only Archie Griffin has accomplished this feat in college football.

There are three seniors and three underclassmen who have caught the NFL scouts and GMs’ attention. All six of them carry a first-round grade as they finish up their brilliant college careers.

Aside from Manziel and projected number one overall pick, Teddy Bridgewater, who are the other top quarterbacks? Let’s take a closer look at the prospects.

Teddy Bridgewater – Louisville

Junior | 6’3, 205 lbs | No. 1 overall prospect

Strengths: Bridgewater possesses all the tools and intangibles that would make GM’s salivate. He has a strong, accurate arm and remains poised in the pocket, which allows him to read the coverage and find an open receiver.

Bridgewater is exceptionally athletic and fast, but that doesn’t define who he is as a quarterback. He uses that speed and athleticism to escape the pass rushers while looking for passing lanes.

Weaknesses: Bridgewater’s size is not comparable to a prototypical NFL quarterback. If he packs on a few more pounds to withstand the rigors and hits in the next level, he should do just fine.

Analysis: Despite being a junior, no one expects Bridgewater to come back for his senior campaign at Louisville next season. Why? Bridgewater is the most NFL-ready quarterback of all the prospects and will step in right away with a litany of teams desperate for a franchise QB.

Marcus Mariota – Oregon

Redshirt Sophomore | 6’4, 215 lbs | No. 3 overall prospect

Strengths: Mariota may be a product of a popular spread option offense, but he’s blessed with the arm and legs to be successful in the NFL. He can throw accurately, read a defense quickly, and has the mobility to scramble.

Mariota doesn’t make mistakes often, except against Stanford, when the Ducks were ranked second in the country behind the mighty Alabama Crimson Tide. Mariota was shut down for three quarters but came roaring back in the last quarter. He has the will and leadership abilities to lead an NFL team.

Weaknesses: Mariota doesn’t have a whole lot of college experience under his belt. By the time the season ends, barring a catastrophic injury, he will have started 26 games in his brief college career. Should he choose to come out early and avoid a potential free fall like Matt Barkley and Matt Leinart did by staying another year, he will be limited in experience.

There’s also questions about how well the spread option offense that Oregon employs will translate to the NFL.

Analysis: Oregon’s high flying spread option offense is a spectacle to see in college football. However, the same style of offense is quite limited in the NFL with just a few teams running it (Redskins, Eagles). Either way, the dual-threat quarterback has excelled at Oregon and if he comes out early, Mariota will have to prove that spread option QB’s can be successful in the NFL.

Tajh Boyd – Clemson

Redshirt Senior | 6’1, 225 lbs | No. 14 overall prospect

Strengths: Boyd is a wily veteran college quarterback with the leadership abilities and intangibles. He runs a pro-style offense at Clemson under Dabo Swinney, so that should bode well for him in his transition to the NFL. Boyd has the arm to make deep throws as well as throws that require finesse and touch in timing routes. He is also patient in the pocket and can use his legs to evade pass rushers if necessary.

Weaknesses: Boyd is small at 6’1, but there are several NFL quarterbacks his size who are doing just fine – Drew Brees is 6′ and Russell Wilson is even shorter at 5’11. This shouldn’t be too big of a concern for the NFL GMs. His performance against conference rival, Florida State, was not typical Boyd and may have hurt his draft stock since it was a crucial game that could’ve catapulted Clemson into the top 5 BCS rankings had they beaten the Seminoles. So far, he has bounced back quite nicely and Clemson still remains in the top 10.

Analysis: Being a redshirt senior, Boyd has been through adversity and has grown into a fine leader and has great technique as a passer. Boyd’s lack of size doesn’t deter him from making spectacular plays with both his arm and legs.

Johnny Manziel – Texas A&M

Redshirt Sophomore | 6’0, 210 lbs | No. 16 overall prospect

Strengths: On the field, Manziel is an instinctive, smart, athletic quarterback in the toughest conference in college football. Last season, he won the Heisman trophy as a freshmen and is poised to win it again this year despite stiff competition from Florida State’s incredible freshmen quarterback, Jameis Winston.

Manziel has made terrific strides as a passer since last season. His decision making, reads, and accuracy have all improved. If you turn on a Texas A&M game, you’ll see Manziel putting up huge numbers and running around, making defenses whiff on their attempts to bring him down.

Weaknesses: On the field, not too many discerning weaknesses except his lack of size and reckless style of play at times. There is no way Manziel will last a full season in the NFL if he continues to run wild in the open field and absorbs the brutal hits and punishment from linebackers and safeties. If he wants to survive, he will have to learn how to avoid big hits and injuries.

Off the field, Manziel has been a public relations nightmare for Texas A&M with his hard partying ways, alleged autograph scandal and leaving the Manning Passing Academy early over the summer. Granted, there have been worse offenses in both college and in the NFL, but these are maturity and character issues, which should go away as he wises up.

Analysis: Manziel is an exciting player to watch and the cloud of controversy that follows him everywhere is what entices some people to watch him. His lack of size, reckless running style, and off-the-field issues will be red flags to NFL teams. But all it takes is just one team to believe in him and take a chance. The question is – do they believe Manziel has what it takes to be a franchise quarterback that will lead the team for the next decade or so?

Derek Carr – Fresno State

Redshirt Senior | 6’3, 215 lbs | No. 17 overall prospect

Strengths: Carr fits the prototypical mold of what NFL teams want in a quarterback – tall, sturdy, and big arm. His best asset is his arm, which allows him to throw all over the field with accuracy and velocity. Carr has also demonstrated athleticism and mobility in and out of the pocket. He is extremely mature, experienced, and has the intangibles to lead an NFL team.

Weaknesses: Carr will have to prove to NFL scouts and GM’s that he won’t be a bust like his brother, David, who was selected No. 1 overall by the Houston Texans.

On the field, Carr will struggle occasionally under pressure and make poor decisions. With the proper training and guidance, Carr can overcome this defect.

Analysis: With all of the physical tools and intangibles that NFL teams like, Carr should do just fine in the NFL. The only question is where he lands and what kind of situation he is in. There are at least 5 teams and potentially 10 who need franchise quarterbacks. As the most polished senior available, Carr has a good chance to start on an NFL team next season.

Zach Mettenberger, LSU

Redshirt Senior | 6’5, 235 lbs | No. 32 overall prospect

Strengths: No one has benefitted more under the guidance of offensive coordinator, Cam Cameron at LSU than Mettenberger. In just one season, Mettenberger has improved in almost every area and set himself up for a future in the NFL.

The redshirt senior is tall and thickly built with a strong arm. Mettenberger’s accuracy and velocity have improved under Cameron at LSU. The fact that Mettenberger made drastic strides in such a short period of time is good news for NFL teams. He is still raw as a quarterback, but has a great ceiling for improvement.

Weaknesses: At times, he falls back into his old ways and throws wild passes which leads to interceptions. Will Mettenberger continue to improve in the NFL or is a product of LSU’s offense and Cam Cameron’s system?

Analysis: Mettenberger can be streaky at times, but if he’s on his game, then no one can stop him. His size and arm strength are attractive attributes that NFL teams look for in a quarterback. Mettenberger would benefit greatly if he can sit for a season to learn the ropes and the nuisances of one of the most demanding positions in football.

Hey guys, allow me to introduce myself - my name is Chris or 'Shinjo', as I am affectionately called by my family. I was born in South Korea, but grew up in Cheshire, Connecticut. A recent Marist College graduate with a major in communications with a minor in criminal justice. Interned as a media relations coordinator for Westchester-Putnam Men's Senior Baseball League (West-Put MSBL) in Yonkers, New York. Avid fan of Yankees, Cowboys, Knicks, Bulls, Florida State University. A weird combination right? Played sports all my life - football and basketball being my favorites. I look forward to sharing my insight and articles with all the readers out there!

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