- Joined
- Jul 31, 2010
- Messages
- 8,874
NFL draft: A look at the quarterbacks
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_8115c67f-1c27-5e1c-bd44-fe5364fc3a7c.html
CREAM OF THE CROP
Jameis Winston • Florida St., 6-4, 231
Lots of skill, but is he mature enough to succeed in the NFL?
Marcus Mariota • Oregon, 6-4, 222
Best athlete among QBs; must make adjustment to pro style.
Bryce Petty • Baylor, 6-3, 230
Also must transition from pinball-style spread offense to pros.
Brett Hundley • UCLA, 6-3, 226
Prototype size, arm strength; questionable pocket presence.
Garrett Grayson • Colorado St., 6-2, 213
Plays with poise, confidence; doesn’t have overwhelming skills.
DON'T OVERLOOK
Chris Bonner, Colorado State-Pueblo
Brandon Bridge, So. Alabama
Shane Carden, East Carolina
Connor Halliday, Washington St.
Sean Mannion, Oregon State
FUN FACT
Before transferring to South Alabama, Brandon Bridge picked up the nickname “Air Canada” at Alcorn State. He’s from Toronto.
QUOTABLE
“I don’t think this quarterback class is anywhere near some of the ones in the past, but I think (Winston and Mariota) are quality guys.”
—Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians
RAMS NEEDS
All three quarterbacks on the current roster — Nick Foles, Case Keenum and Austin Davis — have contracts that expire after the 2015 season. (And that’s assuming Davis doesn’t get an outside offer as a restricted free agent. The deadline for such offers is April 24.) Even with his outstanding 2013 season in Philadelphia, Foles is far from a sure thing. So it seems imperative that the Rams add a quarterback via the draft, and take one early. Under that scenario, Keenum and Davis would battle for the No. 2 job in camp, with the drafted QB watching and learning.
RATING THE FIELD
As Arians mentioned above, this is a thin class devoid of starting-caliber talent. For that reason some of the second-tier QBs — a group that includes Petty, Hundley, Grayson and Mannion — could be pushed up a round or two in the draft. Winston and Mariota, who are expected to go 1-2 overall, are the only probable first-rounders.
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_8115c67f-1c27-5e1c-bd44-fe5364fc3a7c.html
CREAM OF THE CROP
Jameis Winston • Florida St., 6-4, 231
Lots of skill, but is he mature enough to succeed in the NFL?
Marcus Mariota • Oregon, 6-4, 222
Best athlete among QBs; must make adjustment to pro style.
Bryce Petty • Baylor, 6-3, 230
Also must transition from pinball-style spread offense to pros.
Brett Hundley • UCLA, 6-3, 226
Prototype size, arm strength; questionable pocket presence.
Garrett Grayson • Colorado St., 6-2, 213
Plays with poise, confidence; doesn’t have overwhelming skills.
DON'T OVERLOOK
Chris Bonner, Colorado State-Pueblo
Brandon Bridge, So. Alabama
Shane Carden, East Carolina
Connor Halliday, Washington St.
Sean Mannion, Oregon State
FUN FACT
Before transferring to South Alabama, Brandon Bridge picked up the nickname “Air Canada” at Alcorn State. He’s from Toronto.
QUOTABLE
“I don’t think this quarterback class is anywhere near some of the ones in the past, but I think (Winston and Mariota) are quality guys.”
—Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians
RAMS NEEDS
All three quarterbacks on the current roster — Nick Foles, Case Keenum and Austin Davis — have contracts that expire after the 2015 season. (And that’s assuming Davis doesn’t get an outside offer as a restricted free agent. The deadline for such offers is April 24.) Even with his outstanding 2013 season in Philadelphia, Foles is far from a sure thing. So it seems imperative that the Rams add a quarterback via the draft, and take one early. Under that scenario, Keenum and Davis would battle for the No. 2 job in camp, with the drafted QB watching and learning.
RATING THE FIELD
As Arians mentioned above, this is a thin class devoid of starting-caliber talent. For that reason some of the second-tier QBs — a group that includes Petty, Hundley, Grayson and Mannion — could be pushed up a round or two in the draft. Winston and Mariota, who are expected to go 1-2 overall, are the only probable first-rounders.