2009 NFL Draft Analysis: Quarterbacks
No position on the field matters more than the signal caller, and while this year’s crop is young there are some impressive leaders coming out in this year’s draft. Here is a look at this year’s top five quarterbacks in the NFL draft.
1. Matthew Stafford, Georgia - Stafford is the unquestioned number one quarterback in this year’s draft and he is likely to be a top five pick, depending on the team needs at those positions. He has a very strong arm and is very accurate. There is some concern that he may become a Brett Favre style gunslinger, but overall he is a very talented athlete and will make an excellent pro in the right situation.
2. Mark Sanchez, USC - Coming out in his junior year, Sanchez is viewed by many as the most “pro ready” quarterback in the draft having started for USC’s pro-style offense and national exposure. Sanchez is another good athlete with above average arm strength but not quite to the level of Stafford. There is some concern about his lack of playing time in college (he started just one season), but coming off an outstanding Rose Bowl showing, he should be a first round or early second round pick.
3. Josh Freeman, Kansas State - Freeman is a big quarterback at 6′6″ and 248 pounds, and fits the typical NFL quarterback mold with his frame. Despite being as large as he is he can move around quite well and has a good arm. He is a raw player with a lot of potential but the reward will likely be worth the risk for a team and Freeman’s name could be called early on the first day.
4. Rhett Bomar, Sam Houston State - Bomar is an intriguning prospect from Sam Houston state, where he transferred after losing his spot at Oklahoma due to a booster scandal. Bomar has a decent arm and is mobile enough to move around the pocket. He suffered an ACL injury in 2007 so being “injury prone” could be a concern.
5. Nate Davis, Ball State - Davis doesnt have great size at just 6′1″ but he is a great athlete and can make plays on the fly. He proved his leadership ability at Ball State getting off to a 12-0 start on a team without a ton of talent around him. Davis should be a borderline first day draft pick or could be a tremendous value for someone early on day two.
6. Graham Harrell, Texas Tech - Harrell will have his share of doubters from the “gimicky” Texas Tech offense to throwing to the best receiver in the game in Michael Crabtree. Harrell has decent but not spectacular size at just over 6 foot 2, and has a decent, but unspectactular arm. Still he’s a smart leader and should make an above average pro should he land in the right situation.
