2009 NFL Draft Preview: The Top Quarterbacks

Many an NFL expert will say that had Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy come out in this year’s draft, it would have been one of the best drafts for quarterbacks possibly since the 2004 NFL Draft which produced such players as Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger and Phillip Rivers. However, there are only a few bright shining stars at the position this year but there could be a few surprises.

With the Senior Bowl over and more evaluations in on some of the players in the 2009 NFL Draft, let’s take a look at the top five quarterbacks in the draft as it stands right now, this final week of February 2009.

Matthew Stafford-Georgia-Many experts predict Stafford to not only be the first quarterback selected but to also be the first player selected in the 2009 NFL Draft. While this can be disputed (and will be for some time up until draft time) Stafford does have a lot of talent and could really help out any team that drafts him. In the positive, Stafford has the arm strength and size to compete well in the NFL. He can also take a hit and get right back up and keep on going. He has a ton of ability along with some room to grow. On the downside, Stafford has been known to be a poor decision maker and his accuracy has some scouts scratching their heads. He also tends to force the ball into coverage leaving him wide open to turn the ball over or cause an incompletion.

If Stafford went to the Detroit Lions with the first pick, the Lions would probably expect to drop him into the starting lineup right away and this could damage Stafford’s career. He is one of the most NFL ready quarterbacks, granted, but he isn’t quite that ready and shouldn’t be thrown into the starting lineup until he is. I would look for him to go somewhere in the top five to ten of the NFL Draft, possibly to Detroit or possibly to Seattle or even Kansas City.

Mark Sanchez-USC-Sanchez’ arrival into the NFL Draft was somewhat of a surprise for many as there are several experts who think that Sanchez could have used another season to improve his skills and win more games. However, he has come out now and the NFL will certainly find a place for him. When looking at his upside, Sanchez has ideal size and skill for the position and has very good accuracy. He is able to make plays with on the move with his feet. Toughness is another trait that Sanchez possesses and he can take a hit. He is also one of the smartest quarterbacks in the draft and could pick up an NFL offense in a hurry. When looking at the negative aspects of Sanchez’s game, the first knock on him is his lack of experience. He has only started one season and that might scare off a few teams that are looking at him, at least as a high draft pick. He also needs to stick to the plan when he is on the field and not get too creative costing the team yards and points. Scouts also need to check his injury history and make sure he will be able to stand up to an NFL style pounding.

When looking at where Sanchez may go, it’s hard to say right now because he does have a lot of talent but he is a somewhat unknown commodity at this time. A lot about where he goes in the upcoming 2009 NFL Draft will depend on how he does in workouts as well as what the teams need a quarterback. If he is deemed to be first round talent, he could go early in the first round quite possibly to a team like Seattle or Kansas City or later in the round to Detroit (with their second pick) or perhaps even Chicago.

Josh Freeman-Kansas State-Freeman is a guy that is moving up fast on many draft boards thanks to his physical attributes and his potential but there are also a lot of questions surrounding his experience and whether or not he would be worthy of a first round pick (which is the round that some experts have him going in at this time). One of the biggest positive things with Freeman is his size. He is big and durable and can withstand a lot of pounding in the NFL. He also has a strong arm and can fling the ball far and zip it into tight places. He might have a lot of learning to do but he does have room to grow. The downside to Freeman is his experience. He doesn’t have a lot of time as a starter and needs to learn the finer points and nuances of the game but should be able to learn that fairly quickly in the NFL. Freeman also needs to make better decisions as some of time he doesn’t think through what he does on the field.

Freeman is still somewhat of a question mark to some heading into the draft and really should have remained for his senior season but coming out (most likely due to a coaching change at Kansas State) may have been the best idea. He will have to rely on workouts to help move his draft stock up and he should be able to do that easily. I would look for Freeman to go somewhere in the mid to bottom of the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft, possibly to Detroit (with their second pick) or even to a team like Tampa Bay.

Pat White-West Virginia-Sure, it might be difficult to envision Pat White being one of the top quarterbacks in the 2009 NFL Draft but after a solid career at the West Virginia as well as a great showing at the Senior Bowl and at practice he is definitely in the mix for a quarterback spot in this year’s draft. When looking at his upside White is a very athletic player who is able to make plays with his feet and also his arm. He does have good arm strength and pretty consistent accuracy. He can also make plays where they may not be able to be made and is a leader on the field. The biggest knock on White is his size. At 6’1” he may not be able to see the field very well and being as light as he is, he may not be able to stand up to the pounding that he would get in the NFL. He has also had some problems with mechanics on some of his throws.

Many NFL scouts feel that White is a hard guy to place in a position in the NFL because he could play both quarterback and wide receiver. His Senior Bowl performance may have actually increased the chance that he will play quarterback in the NFL but teams may find it difficult to place him that position due to his size. White is a great athlete though and will be of some value to the NFL team that picks him. It’s possible that White could go somewhere in the second round but he might slip a bit if teams think that he is an athlete rather than a quarterback.

Rhett Bomar-Sam Houston State-Bomar is somewhat of a surprise in being named one of the top five quarterbacks in the draft but after a decent performance at the Senior Bowl, he needs to be kept in any 2009 NFL Draft conversation. Bomar brings a few good things to the table in terms of positive attributes. He is a leader both on and off the field and has been an inspiration to his teammates. He also has a big arm and can needle a pass into his receivers with good precision. He can move too and make plays with his legs and keep the play going. Bomar seems to have some problems with his basic passing mechanics however and will have to improve upon that. He also makes some poor decisions at times. There are also health and character questions that come with Bomar.

Workouts will be key for Bomar who needs to have a good showing in order to move up the draft boards of many NFL teams. If he can prove that he isn’t going to be as mistake prone as he was in college, he should be able to catch the eyes of NFL scouts and head coaches and be a fairly hot commodity in this year’s draft. Look for Bomar to turn a lot of heads and quite possibly be selected in the late second to early third round of the 2009 NFL Draft.

By Bryan Dietzler