IF We Take A QB At #10...Who Do You Want?

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

As long as we're talking about players who vastly underacheived expectations in 2010, I like Texas A&M's Jerrod Johnson as a 6th or 7th round project. I think he has a lot of Tyrod Taylor's skill set, but with way less of the steep curve that's ahead of teams who look at Taylor as a future NFL starter.

Taylor is a lot like Troy Smith coming out of college. 4 years later, Smith really still plays like a successful college QB instead of a long-term pro prospect. There's nothing inherent to suggest that Taylor is doomed to the same fate: I could see him being a great pro player. But having the complete skill set isn't a guarantee of NFL success.

I don't think much of Taylor's success as a QB in the NFL. I've watched enough of both he and Newton to realize the two are quite indistinguishable from each on the field other than their height.

But taking a flyer on Taylor in the 4th (I knew and know we don't have one) seems like a helluva better deal than drafting Cam Newton at 10. We don't have the luxury of drafting players with gigantic potential downsides like he does.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

I don't think much of Taylor's success as a QB in the NFL. I've watched enough of both he and Newton to realize the two are quite indistinguishable from each on the field other than their height.

But taking a flyer on Taylor in the 4th (I knew and know we don't have one) seems like a helluva better deal than drafting Cam Newton at 10. We don't have the luxury of drafting players with gigantic potential downsides like he does.

Your bottom line is why Newton probably isn't a good investment at number ten. We have one other example of a Gus Malzahn QB going to the next level, with Mitch Mustain going from high school to division I college. Mustain couldn't get to the top of the depth chart at two different schools.

Newton, from the pocket, is probably the strongest player in the draft. He's got a quick release, and is accurate. He does not make particularly great decisions, and for a guy who played in a one-two read system in college, he's not as good before the snap as I would like. I think he's good enough, but if I'm using the 10th overall pick, I'd like more than "good enough" to possibly make it at the pros.

Gabbert, to me, gives me everything I'm looking for in a top ten quarterback. If he's gone, I think we need to look elsewhere. Ryan Mallett would be a small reach at no. 10 and I see no reason to think Shanahan interested, but Mallett would be defensible if Gabbert is gone. I'd find it hard to get too excited if we drafted Mallett. I'd rather have Ponder.