Quarterbacks
2012 certainly is not the best class of QBs you will ever see available, but there is certainly decent talent at the very top of this group in Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III, who may very likely be taken 1 and 2 in this year’s draft. Depth after that is certainly in the eye of the beholder, and while there may be some keen late round steals, early and middle round talent does not seem to abound. That being said, much like in 2011, the dearth of great NFL QBs will likely tempt teams to reach in the 1st round for 2nd, 3rd, or even 4th round talent (see Jake Locker, Blaine Gabbert, etc.).Late round small school prospect could steal some show time, but expect some serious whiffs to come from this group, which will be evident in training camp.
The Top Prospects
#1 Andrew Luck, Stanford
Luck, son of West Virginia AD and former NFL QB Oliver Luck, is a lock for the best QB in the 2012 draft in our opinion. He may not have had the flashy numbers that others had in front of him on the stat sheet, but he certainly is the most pro ready QB in the draft, and even stayed a year longer in college to develop further, despite the departure of head coach Jim Harbaugh for the 49ers. Those expecting a Harbaugh/Luck NFL reunion can forget about it, as the Niners will never be able to climb high enough to pry the top pick out of the hands of the Colts. Besides, Luck certainly proved in 2012 that he was his own man.
Pros: It's been a long time since I have seen a QB in the college game operate the way that Luck does under center. He already possesses the innate skill at reading defenses and realigning his offense to suit what the defense is throwing at him. He almost operates as his own OC on the field, changing plays like the best of them. He reads defenses spectacularly well, and has an amazing football IQ. He is certainly a high IQ guy, on and off of the field.He has the right build for the position, and is built to take some punishment. He fits just about any offense in the NFL, as he has operated in a run first, grind it out offense in 2012, and in prior seasons had also shown the ability to toss the ball around. He started for three years, which means that he has an amazing amount of experience.Luck passed for 3517 yards and 37 TDs in 2012, and threw only 10 picks while completing 71.29% of his passes, all outstanding numbers. He passed for 3338 yards with 32 TDs and 8 picks, completing 70.7% of his passes in 2010, and passed for 2575 yards with 13TDs and 4 picks as a freshman. He progressed and got better every season at Stanford, and the team got better around him, including in 2011, when he had probably the worst receivers during his time at Stanford. Makes all of the throws, and is smart about where he puts the football on throws. Can also make plays with his feet, in and out of the pocket.
Cons: Can't really find many in his game. The only drawback that one can think of is that he may not be a great fit for a high powered pass happy team. He is best in a balanced system, where he can play off of a power run game in play action. Fits best with a team that uses the TE, but really, he can fit anyone's scheme at the end of the day. May struggle at first with a team that may not have the best line in front of him. As was said earlier, he is built to take a beating, but that doesn't mean that he should.
Overview: His percentage improved every season at Stanford, and he continues to grow every season. He is a motivator. He takes the reigns of his team and moves them on his shoulders. Do not blame the end of the Fiesta Bowl this season on him, as play calling from the sidelines was awful in OT. Luck is a consummate leader and pro, and whomever drafts him may get one of the best young QBs to enter the league in a long time. Put a good, solid power back behind him, give him top flight TEs, and watch him go to work. He will likely play on a dome team in Indy, but he could fit very nicely in any of the cold weather outdoor cities as well. Luck is the absolute best player available, and will be the face of a franchise.
#2 Robert Griffin III, Baylor
Griffin came to Baylor as an athlete, and left as a QB. That says everything that you need to know about the work ethic and smarts of Griffin, the 2011 Heisman winner and Big 12 player of the year. If Griffin was healthy, he was starting, and that happened from day one in Waco for him. He missed one season (sophomore) with a major knee injury, but bounced back better than ever, and his improvements at QB were tangible. That being said, there are major differences between what Griffin brings to the table, and what Luck brings as well.
Pros: Griffin is a very high IQ guy, and his character is beyond reproach. You can't find a guy with a bigger competitive motor on the football field. He was a game changer for the Bears in every way, as Baylor was in the toilet when he arrived. By the time he left, the Bears were competing for the Big 12 title, a fete that nobody really thought would ever be possible. He has improved his arm every season, and makes some very good throws, especially on deep balls down the middle of the field. He totaled 47 TDs last season, with 37 coming by pass. He is extremely accurate on timed passes. He completed 72.4% of his passes in 2011, and passed for 4293 yards on the season. His percentage rate increased by 5.4% from 2010 to 2011, meaning that he put in the work to be a more accurate passer. Even though he tried to reduce his workload in the run game, he still managed to rush for 699 yards and 10 scores, which was actually increased output from 2010 on the ground. He thinks pass first, not run, despite his athletic ability. He would be a huge pick for a team that plays on a fast track with quick slashing receivers, as that is the kind of system that he is used to.
Cons: He was primarily a shotgun QB at Baylor, and came from a very specific system built for his strengths. You cannot expect him to come into a standard pro set offense and excel right away. He is used to making quick reads on dump off and bubble typed passing routes, where he just delivers the goods to slashing receivers who do most of the work. He loses a little something on throws from side to side, and is strongest when hitting passes right over the middle. Can be neutralized by DBs that are jamming his targets. He had a major knee injury his sophomore season, and although it has not been an issue since, it's still something to consider long term. He has a tendency at times to try to make too many plays on his feet even still, and was sacked 27 times for his trouble. If you are a team that keeps your QB in the pocket, he'll make you want to scream. In all likelihood, anyone that drafts him will have to taylor their offensive scheme around what he can do, and limit him for a year or two until he fully integrates into the NFL way of doing things. He has nice size, but in my opinion, he does not have great size. He can afford to bulk up a bit, but not too much. If he tries to scramble too much in the NFL, he could find himself getting wrecked early on.
Overview: I like Griffin very much, but there are concerns with him. If he is handled the right way, you get a great player, but if he is thrown to the wolves with too many responsibilities early on, he may flame out. Let us not forget, he has the Heisman curse to live off of. That being said, he was a one man wrecking crew at Baylor, and took that program where they have not been before. He has the potential to be a super talent for the right team, but he has to go to the right team. Where Luck can thrive in any environment, Griffin cannot, and would be a terrible fit for a team like the Bears or Redskins. He is a dome QB to the letter on the next level, and if the right players are not around him, he may be a dangerous pick for some teams. He is a major risk/reward selection, and the jury will be out on him until he shows what he can do in training camp and beyond. All of that taken into consideration, he is still a top 3 selection, worst case.
#3 Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State
There is one thing that Mike Gundy has mastered, and that's building QBs in Stillwater. When Zac Robinson graduated, most of us thought that OSU would step back a minute to rebuild, but Weeden proved everyone wrong, and became arguably the best QB to ever play for the Cowboys. That being said, he has his own list of detracting issues, as well as a list of items that make him a valuable commodity on the next level.
Pros: Weeden produces and wins. That is the first thing that you need to know about this guy. He has a strong understanding for the game, and the position. He has a cannon of an arm, and makes smart decisions with the football. He wrapped up his career by winning the Big 12 title, and the Fiesta Bowl over fellow draftee Andrew Luck and Stanford. He had an outstanding 37 TD passes to just 13 picks, a number that is highly acceptable when he scores and produces as much as he did in 2012. He completed 72.3% of his passes on the season, a 5.4% improvement from year to year over 2010. He also tossed 3 more TD passes in 2011. Was sacked only 20 times over 2 seasons, and passed for 9004 yards over the last two years, including a 500 yard increase in 2011. He had 11 multiple TD games in 2011, and has 22 multiple TD games over the last two seasons to just 9 multiple INT games in the same time span. He has thrown a total of 75 TDs in his two seasons as starter. Has compiled a 23-3 record in two seasons as the starter.
Cons: He's a system QB. He may not be for everyone, and has played mostly in shotgun offenses. Another issue is his age, as he will be 28 in 2012. He played minor league baseball before joining the Cowboys. He also had the best receiver in college football as a target in Justin Blackmon the last two seasons, and Blackmon could make anyone look good. He's a short yardage passer, averaging just 8.4 yards per attempt in 2011, and also averaged 8.4 yards per attempt in 2010. He's a dump off, dink and dunk QB that does not fit in with many offenses in the NFL, and teams are not as likely to change an offense to suit him as they would for Luck or Griffin. He is not a scrambler or a runner, and has mostly evaded sacks due to great line play. If he goes to a team without a great line, he could be in trouble. He'll break down a lot faster than most other QBs in this class strictly because of the age thing. Again, suits only fast track, dome teams that like to move the ball quickly. Does not fit in a grind it out scheme.
Overview: I am a Weeden fan, but he has many risks involved. That being said, he also has huge upside as he was extremely efficient and successful at Oklahoma State, driving them to a league title as QB in the Big 12 last fall. He has the ability to be very successful in the right situation, but taking him early would be a big picture mistake. If you can take him in the 3rd or 4th round, that is a great thing. If there is a run for him earlier than that, let someone else take the gamble and be happy that the pressure is not on you. Do not be too tempted by the upside to take too early a grab, or you could get stung.Weeden is all about value, and is a winner. It's tough out there for a 28 year old rookie.
#4 Nick Foles, Arizona
Perhaps there is no bigger enigma amongst the top QBs in this draft than Foles. Foles always seemed to be better than the team around him at Arizona, but Foles never seemed to be able to bring the rest of the team up to his ability. In 2011, Foles passed for 4334 yards, but the Wildcats finished dead last in the Pac 12 South. Of course, as always, there were many issues that assisted in the Arizona slide in 2012, but with a special QB like Foles, you always would have figured that he would have gotten them farther along in his career.
Pros: He can throw the ball, of that I have no doubt. Like was stated above, he passed for 4334 yards with 28 TDs in 2011, and completed 69.1% of his passes while averaging 361.2 yards passing per game. All of those numbers were huge upgrades from 2010, where he passed for 3191 yards and 20 TDs, while completing 67.1% of his passes. One also has to consider that Foles is also a gamer, having played through some significant injury during his time at Arizona, including knee and shoulder issues. He passed for 425 yards and 4 scores against USC last fall, and tossed 5 scores against FCS member Northern Arizona in the season opener. He completed 30 or more passes 9 times in 2011 alone, and performed that same fete 4 times in 2010. He was a three year starter at Arizona, and never completed less than 63% of his passes in any of those three seasons, with that being his lowest mark in his first season. His QB rating increased in each season as a starter, and was 25 points higher in 2011 than it was in his first season in 2009, showing a strong work ethic and an upward progress swing. His TD rate increased in every season as well. Every major statistical area of his game improved every year, with no setbacks in any area.
Cons: While Foles improved every season, the Wildcats didn't do the same around him. Of course, much of that had to do with coaching, as Mike Stoops had completely lost the team by early 2011. That being said, great players generally make the players around him better. Foles never seemed to be able to pull that off over a whole season, and made only one bowl appearance during his three years as starter, which has him lacking in post season experience to a great degree. That one post season appearance (2010 Alamo Bowl) was a team disaster, and was one of Foles' worst games, where he tossed 3 picks to just 1 TD, and Arizona lost to Oklahoma State 36-10. Foles also has the knack for throwing picks. His best season was in 2009, where he tossed only 9 INTs, but he tossed 10 in 2010, and 14 in 2011. That can be explained off as to how many passes he tosses in a game, but it's a red flag that he may try to do too much to compensate, and me be prone to force throws into traffic to make plays that even he can't make. He also has an injury history, and has missed full games and parts of others due to injury. He was sacked 53 times in 3 seasons, which could also be problematic. He is not a great play maker with his feet, and is not a threat to run the ball, or run it well.
Overview: He was a great QB on a bad to maybe average at best football team, and has never been a big winner. Someone will take a flyer on Foles, but realistically, there are enough red flags here to move him down to the 3rd round or lower. He is a gamer, and a stat producer, but his lack of winning, and his injury and INT history shows some issues that have to be worked out early in his NFL career, and it may take some time. If you draft him and throw him into action too early, he will be labeled as a likely bust. A few years as a backup would serve him very well, if he played under a decent QB with a stable coaching staff. Foles is good, but not yet great.
#5 Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M
Tannehill is perhaps the biggest risk in this group in 2012. A WR for most of three years, he was recruited at wideout, not QB, which he played in high school. He finally emerged in 2010, beating out starter Jarrod Johnson mid-season after Johnson had some infamous struggles in high profile games for the Aggies, a move more likely made by Mike Sherman to save his own ass, which he eventually failed at. In short, Tannehill has the shortest career at QB amongst the QBs covered in this report, and has just as much upside as down, as he may not have developed fully at this time.
Pros: He has athleticism in bounds, as he has played both WR and QB, and has the ability to move fluidly. He can fit into almost any system, as he can gun sling, and also fit into a more established NFL ground control offense. He was coached by a former NFL offensive assistant and head coach in Mike Sherman, so you know that he has been coached up and knows what to expect at the next level. Seven of his 19 starts ended with Tannehill passing for 300 or more yards, and he recorded 12 multiple TD games. Due to his background as a receiver, he is more than able to run the ball well, and rushed for 326 yards in 2011. He can move easily in the pocket, and makes some nice throws on a line. Has power in his arm, and can spread it around. He completed 25.15 passes per game in 2011, and hit on a respectable 63.1% of his passes. He finished 2011 by passing for 3744 yards, which is a very nice number for a QB with very little overall experience coming into the season.
Cons: Due to his limited experience, he has received a short amount of coaching at the QB position on a higher level. He still has much to learn, and may be a project of sorts until he irons out the nuances of the pro passing game. Due to his short time as a QB in college, he would be a tremendous risk pick early in the draft, and I would not suggest taking him on the first day, even though there are rumors of teams wanting to take him in the 1st round, which would be a huge mistake.He tossed 15 picks in 2011, and his TD to INT ratio was not quite 2/1, which troubles me with any starting caliber QB on any level. He takes too many chances with the ball still, which is a sign of immaturity at the position.He did not show the ability to make the team around him better, and A&M stumbled in the second half of the 2011 season, losing 4 of 5 to close the regular season, before winning their bowl game. He played poorly in the three biggest games of the season against Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, and Texas, where he tossed more picks than TD passes in those games. He may flame out in pressure games. His bowl performances in two games were mixed. He was decent against Northwestern but was awful against LSU in the Cotton Bowl, where he also tossed more picks (3) than scores (2). In two post season games, he threw 3 TDs and 4 INTs.
Overview: I have mild interest in Tannehill, but only because of the unexplored potential that he has. He still has much work to accomplish before he is even remotely ready to run an NFL offense, He dangles a carrot in front of you, for certain, but whether he can deliver or not is completely an enigma. He does have some skills, but once more, he was a solid player on a not so solid football team, and Mike Sherman did not survive as coach after last season, so that's something to consider. Tannehill should be viewed as a three year project before he is ever ready to fully run the QB position for any NFL team.
#6 Kirk Cousins, Michigan State
A three year starter at Michigan State, Cousins probably goes down as one of the best to ever play QB for the Spartans, and was hugely successful during his career in the green and white. He finished 27-13 in 40 career starts for Michigan State, and by his junior year had established himself as a solid team leader. It also never hurts that he finished with a career 3-0 record over Michigan. It would probably be best to not speak of his 1-2 record against Notre Dame, including a 31-13 loss in 2011.All of that being said, Cousins brings a high degree of quality to anyone looking to build a QB on the next level over a period of time.
Pros: Passed for 3316 yards in a run oriented offense that instills balance on that side of the football. He had a 2.5 to 1 TD to INT ratio in his senior year, which shows solid decision making skills, and that ratio improved in each of his 3 years as the starting QB. Even with his losing record against rival Notre Dame, he never played poorly in those games, and was actually more effective against the Irish than he was against the Wolverines, who he never lost to. He passed for 200 yards or more 26 times in his career, with a career high 353 yards coming against Western Michigan in 2010. He has a huge arm, and can rifle the ball to his receivers. He completed 19.07 passes per game in 2011, which is huge considering the balanced offense that MSU tends to run. He always seemed just as happy to hand the ball off to his deep and talented stable of running backs as he was to make the big play through the air. Comes off as a real team guy. Stable presence in the locker room.He has the ability to make plays with his feet, and was only sacked 15 times in 2011. He is at his best when he has time in the pocket to make the solid throw.He has the absolute right size to play in the league, at 6-2 and over 200 lbs. Totally looks the part.
Cons: He just takes too damned many chances, and sometimes believes in his arm just a bit too much, and more than he should, despite his abilities. He has 7 multiple pick games in his career, and tossed three picks in his career finale against Georgia. His career mark against Notre Dame was 4 TDs to 3 picks, and was only 3/2 against Michigan despite the 3-0 record against them. He seemed to learn more by his senior season, as he only had two of those multiple pick games in 2011, and the Spartans finished 1-1 in those games.His completion percentage was a bit low for a three year guy at 63.7%, especially for a team that relied so much on play action and a deep set at RB. He lost over 3% on his efficiency from his junior season to his senior season, which is not a likable trend, and his QB rating fell over 5 points. On that note, he did throw the ball more often in 2011, but those numbers are a bit of a red flag, as his numbers dropped as his coaches put more faith into him by calling his number more often. He has had several games where he just tends to fold and disappear, such as the unexpected loss to Nebraska in 2011, where he only passed for 86 yards on 11/27 passing. He can get a bit baffled by complex blitz packages, and may need some more learning when it comes to reading certain coverages in the NFL.
Overview: Cousins can be high reward at times, but can also be exceptionally frustrating, as he has that tendency to fold at times. His mistakes certainly became fewer as a senior, but he still has a bunch of work to do on the next level to become a successful NFL QB. He'll take some coaching, and will need a few years on the sidelines learning to read NFL defenses. He has potential, but may also never fully develop into a starting NFL QB. Too many inconsistencies that must be broken. Definite second day pick.
#7 Russell Wilson, Wisconsin
When you look at Wilson off of the field, you may never know that he was an elite NCAA QB. He certainly does not look the part. That being said, all he did was win as a senior at Wisconsin, after playing at NC State. Wilson also has a looming potential baseball career hanging over his head, as his rights have been owned by the Colorado Rockies as a pitcher. Which road he chooses eventually will dictate what he is able to do at the next level of his football career, if he so chooses to have one.
Pros: He wins. He was absolutely the piece that the Badgers needed as they brought him in for a one year experiment. His TD to INT ratio was simply amazing at just over 8/1 last season (33 TDs to just 4 picks), and he passed for 3175 yards, which is off the charts for any QB at Wisconsin. His 72.82% completion rate was simply stellar, as he seemed to make all of the plays throughout his season. He tossed 99 TD passes in 4 seasons between NC State and Wisconsin, and tossed 30 picks in 4 seasons, which is less than 8 per year. Between two seasons (senior and freshman) he threw just 5 picks. To say that he is highly efficient is just redundant, but I'll say it anyway. He won 31 games as a starter in 4 years, but many of the 22 losses that he suffered were at the hands of a terrible NC State defense. He had 12 games over 300 yards in his career, and passed for 200 or more 32 times in 4 years. He owns 36 multiple TD games in his career, with just 7 multiple pick games in 4 seasons.He is a play maker on the ground as well, rushing for 773 yards and 15 TDs over the last two seasons. With that in mind, he is a pass first QB who runs only when necessary.He has won 20 games over the last two seasons, and helped Wisconsin win the first ever Big 10 Championship game.
Cons: First of all, there are not many, but a glaring issue is his size. He is listed at 5-11, but that appears to be a bit liberal, and could scare off several teams. That being said, production sometimes has to be valued over physical commodity.Due to his lack of size, he is best when he can roll out of the pocket, giving him the option to pass out to the flat, hit a rolling receiver, or take off and run. He'll need an offense that is more tailored to his skill set, which means a conventional NFL offense may not work for him. He has the potential to be a Michael Vick type QB with a much more impressive and accurate arm. Wilson had slid a bit as a junior at NC State before experiencing a resurgence at Wisconsin, and may get stagnated over time. That could also be blamed on poor coaching at NC State, which I believe to be the case. Whatever the deal was, he seemed to have a sort of falling out with Tom O'Brien at NC State, which has never fully been explained.
Overview: Wilson has a major choice to make between baseball and football. He may not fit in entirely in the NFL due to his physical stature, but at the same time, he has been so amazingly productive that it hurts to not take a look at him and kick the tires. Wilson has never been a bad QB ever. If I were an NFL GM, I may be tempted to make a mid-round gamble on him just to see what happens. He is worth that chance.
#8 Kellen Moore, Boise State
Not only was Kellen Moore the best QB ever at Boise State, he was one of the best ever on the collegiate level. A four year starter for the Broncos, Moore improved every year, and became an icon that led the Broncos to heights that they had never realized before. While true that Boise State was on an upward swing when he took over, Moore took them though the stratosphere. That being said, there are still lingering doubts about his ability to replicate what he has done in Boise in the NFL.
Pros: What Moore did in 2011 was simply outstanding from a production point of view. He passed for 3800 yards and 43 TDs to just 9 picks, falling just short of a 5 to 1 TD to INT ratio. He completed 73.9% of his passes on the season, and made it look easy most of the time.He passed for 7685 yards over two seasons with 78 TDs to just 15 INTs. His completion percentage improved from junior to senior year by over 2 points, and his QB rating was over 175 both seasons. Moore tossed 10 picks in a season just once, and that was as a freshman (10) in 2008. Moore brings an insanely high football IQ to the table and is a consummate leader on and off of the field.All he does is win football games, as he has collected a record of 50-3 as a starter in 4 seasons. Moore simply does not know the meaning of a personal bad game. In 53 career starts, he has only recorded 4 multiple pick games, and never has he tossed more than 2 in a game. He has 46 career games of 200 yards or more passing, and has recorded 46 multiple TD games in 4 seasons.He is an instant NCAA Hall of Fame QB, and his name will be held in iconic status in the college game for years to come.
Cons: Some feel, rather incorrectly I feel, that it was lack of strong competition that made Moore into the QB that he became. Some feel that he beefed up and bad teams in WAC and Mountain West play during his career, but in reality, when you look at his numbers, Moore never lost to a BCS opponent.Some also feel that he lacks the size to hold up in the NFL, as he is liberally listed at 6-0 and 191 lbs to start the 2011 season. In truth, he looks the part in person and on the field.Some will tell you that the system that he played in also was to credit for making him who he was, as the system at Boise State allowed him to throw high percentage passes on short routes to smallish receivers. Again, I don't really agree with that assessment.
Overview: Moore is way too productive a QB to ignore, but NFL teams end up falling in love with physical packages rather than productivity, and if that is the case again with Moore, than he will fall like a rock, because he does not look like an NFL QB. If I am a GM, I take him no later than round three and take the risk. If teams let him slide to the bottom, he would be a rock star in the CFL, where his skills would be a perfect fit. I would rather see him do that than languish on a bench for his entire career. However, I see a guy who can make it on the next level, and I truly believe in him.
#9 Case Keenum, Houston
The most productive passer in NCAA history, Keenum is an enigma of sorts. He played in a pass happy offense that was nothing more than the Run and Shoot with lipstick, but damn can he toss the ball. He was also a major winner at Houston, and when he was not there, the team fell apart without him. If nothing more, he certainly is a game changer.
Pros: Productive as hell. Passed for 5631 yards in 2011 with 48 TDs to just 5 picks, over a 9 to 1 ratio on the season, and that was coming back from major knee surgery that cost him most of the 2011 season. He completed 71% of his passes, which was amazing considering that he attempted 603 passes on the season.He has a very good arm, and does not lock onto any one receiver. He shares the wealth with as many different receivers as his offense him to go to.He passed for 19217 yards for his career, and added 155 TD passes for his career at Houston.
Cons: Played in a college system that would never work in the NFL, as it never was used again after Wayne Fontes left Detroit. While a great college QB, probably one of the best ever, he may not translate well to the next level.He looks smaller than his listed size of 6-2 and 210. Has to be in a system that allows for shotgun only sets, as he has never played under center in his college career. Learning to play under center would likely neutralize his effectiveness.While he threw for over 150 TDs, he also tossed 46 INTs during his career, which is probably more a testament to how many times he was asked to throw the football, and that kind of thing will happen, but he does toss the ball into crowds at times to make a play, and is easy to read as he throws so many slants, and quick slants at that.
Overview: He put up far too many numbers to completely ignore, but the NFL learned all about system QBs with Andre Ware and David Klingler. I can see Keenum going in the 6th or 7th round, but he is far too much a gamble to take any earlier than that. He may just be too lost in translation to make it.
#10 Brock Osweiler, Arizona State
This guy is like bait to a rainbow trout. He certainly has some elements to his game that some NFL scouts are going to fall in love with, but that could be the trap. Osweiler, while certainly possessing some skills, may have just as many drawbacks to his game that could leave some teams feeling cheated at the end of the day.
Pros: He is certainly built for success, at 6-8 and 242 lbs, but that could also be a con. Look below for that info. He passed for 4036 yards on the season and 26 TDs, and completed a respectable if not great 63.2% of his passes. Consider that a plus as he did not have elite offensive talent to throw the football to.He averaged 310.5 yards per game in 2011.Possesses a cannon arm, and can make all of the downfield throws.
Cons: There are more than a few. He actually measured two inches shorter at the NFL combine. Still, he is incredibly lanky, and does not move well on his feet. Think Dan McGwire. His completion percentage was nowhere what it should have been, and he will have issues with short tosses to smaller receivers as he will have to throw the ball in a downward motion, never a good thing, and very difficult to do accurately. He was never consistent, and could be construed as a one year wonder. He played sparingly during his career, and Steven Threet was brought in as a transfer rather than let him be the man last season, and if Threet had not had to quit due to concussion syndrome, he still may not be the guy. Seemed to win the job in 2011 by default. His TD ratio was only 2 to 1 in 2011 (26 TDs, 13 picks) and tossed 5 picks in his final 3 games. Started only 16 games in 3 seasons at ASU.
Overview: Osweiler does not bring nearly enough upside to you for any value as a drafted player. Look not at the one season totals, which were good but not great, but look at the big picture which shows an erratic at best player that never really asserted himself in a conference where the QB is king. Do the right thing by your franchise, and let someone else make this mistake.
To view the rest of the QB Class of 2012, please read the report at: www.powerratedsports.com/NFLDraft2012_QB
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