The Art of The Draft

Whenever I ramble to my peers about NFL prospect Cam Newton, whether it be his scrutinized college career, or his remarkable climb to the top, the most common response I receive is "Why don't you just suck his.....(ya know)". Anyway, after I wittily respond with "present it", I come back from the world of soccer, and try to re-evaluate the current Heisman Trophy Winner. Yet, no matter which way I look at it, what Mr. Newton has accomplished over the past year is remarkable. And I believe there are 32 NFL GM's who have thought exactly the same thing.

The only difference is that if I think Newton is good, the worst it can do is hurt my fantasy team, whereas it could cost a team millions of dollars to invest in the Auburn Quarterback. And the same situation exists across the board for this years crop of Quarterback prospects, and for all draftees for that matter. But I'll leave the cross-examination of corners and offensive linemen to the owners, and focus instead on the head of the offense.

There are easily 6-7 quarterbacks in this years draft capable of leading a team in the 2011-12 season (pending that the season occurs); they range from the likes of Jamarcus Russell to Tom Brady, and with each of them comes a different characteristic that will either help or hurt them in the NFL

The Confidence Man
So let's start with Newton. An unbelievable runner, a modest, confident man, and a player who knows how to handle the spotlight. Sounds perfect, right? Well, in an ideal world, Newton would be great for the NFL, but (and there's always a 'but'), we all know things don't go how they are supposed to. Whether he fails to adapt to a pro system, or his lack of ability to pass into coverage begins to shine, it is very possible that Newton's career is one of major heartache. Added is the fact that every time Newton is given an opportunity (whether it be the combine or his pro day or an individual team workout), analysts and coaches alike never seem too certain in his throwing ability. They tend to chalk it up to a poor outing, or lack of chemistry with a receiver, both of which are things an NFL caliber quarterback should be able to overcome. But, in all honesty, I see many scenarios in which Newton is successful right out of the gate, acting as the Tim Tebow (if not better) of this year's draft class. His numbers speak for themselves, and his will to win is unmatched in recent memory. Thus, Newton gets a pass for now, although I would still be wary high in the draft (Carolina....Cincinnati....Arizona).

The Pretty Boy

Next, we move to the gun-slinging Mizzou Tiger, Blaine Gabbert. Immediately, when presented with Gabbert, I jump to comparisons with Ronnie Bass, the pretty-boy quarterback from Remember the Titans. Both were leaders of their teams, and both sport incredibly fashionable hair. Yes, I just compared looks on a sports blog, but if Jon Gruden can do it on ESPN, I can do it here. But Gabbert is much more than a pretty face. He is considered the most well developed quarterback in this year's draft, and most people's top choice (although Newton has gained some top-pick buzz over the past couple of weeks). But, as is the case with many quarterbacks this year, Blaine's lack of experience in a pro-style offense may prove to drop his stock.

So, who is really the best quarterback in the draft? Although Gabbert and Newton will probably be the top two off the board, I believe the riskiest prospect this year may be the best NFL player.


The 'Druggie'

Former Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett has seen his NFL draft stock drop severely due to "off the field issues". But what the fuck are "off the field issues"? So he partied once or twice while at Arkansas. So he may have had some "drug scares". So what? What college kid can say they didn't? However, when I said that there are Tom Bradys and Jamarcus Russells in this draft class it is possible that they are both present in Mallett. Mallett has been criticized for his off field performance, and will to work, much like Russell, and has been noted for being too slow, much like Brady. As well he has been labeled the "quarterback with the big arm", very similarly to Russell, and we know how that worked out. His college journey was also much like the two, starting at Michigan (like Brady), and transferring to Arkansas (in the same SEC that Russell played in). His Brady-like physique has dropped Mallett's draft stock severely, and maybe that'll work out for Ryan, as he would gladly garner as much success as Mr. Brady.

So I say to all the NFL teams stressing about a quarterback in tomorrow's draft, enjoy this year's class, and don't pass up on Mallett