Not sure if you'd be interested... The point of this thread is to try to rate this draft top QBs careers and then check this thread three seasons from now to see how things are turning out. I tried to do it with any player, not only QBs but it was getting way too complicated. Maybe I'll do it anyway, but not today. The rankings: 1. TOP: Elite HOFer type player. Brilliant career. 2. SOLID: Starter, franchise kind of player. Solid career. 3. GOOD: Starter... sometimes, has his moments or streaks. Better than nothing, journeyman. 4. NOTHING: Eternal backup or a bust. The players: Cam Newton Blaine Gabbert Jake Locker Ryan Mallett Colin Kaepernick Christian Ponder Andy Dalton Ricky Stanzi An example of this: --- Cam Newton (solid) Blaine Gabbert (good) Jake Locker (good) Ryan Mallett (solid) Colin Kaepernick (good) Christian Ponder (solid) Andy Dalton (nothing) Ricky Stanzi (nothing)
With regard to your ranking system, imo a "Franchise" QB IS a top QB, not just solid, but will go with your system. Also, I think there's a difference between a bust and a career backup, so I'm putting backups with "good." Solid backups aren't that easy to find, hence so many journeyman QBs that are able to hold on for years and years, even though they are the definition of mediocre. Cam Newton - TOP How I rank Cam depends upon who drafts him and how soon he is forced into starting. I think he has the potential to become a HOF QB and re-define the QB position as McNabb and Vick, and Randall Cunningham a generation earlier was supposed to do. At the very least, if he receives solid coaching, has some talent around him, a half decent OL and is able to sit for a year or two, at the very least I think he will be a solid starter for whomever takes him. If he gets in the right situation and works hard, the sky's the limit. Gabbert - SOLID based on his arm and size, he has the potential to become at least a solid starter. I'm not sure he will ever be much more than that, but unless he fails miserably at reading Ds, that should be plenty good to help his team win a lot of games due to his accuracy. Locker - probably GOOD. Has the arm and all the talent in the world, but does he have the right mindset and work ethic? If he can get in the right situation and decides to work, he could become at least a solid starter if not more. Conversely, in the wrong situation, he could wind up being a bust or a journeyman. Mallet - NOTHING. He's NFL ready and has talent, but has major character concerns and probably a lousy work ethic. Can be streaky and make very bad decisions. Could challenge Favre's interception record if he is able to stay out of trouble and stick around long enough. I think he has to get in the perfect situation in order to become a solid starter, and I'm not sure where that would be or if it exists. Maybe Denver with Elway there to kick his ass. Kaepernick - GOOD Ponder - GOOD. For him health is the key. If he can stay healthy, at a minimum, he will become an excellent backup. I think he has the potential to possibly become a solid starter, but at least good. Dalton - GOOD. Again, at a minimum, I think he makes someone a very, very good backup. I think he can be a decent if not solid starter. Stanzi - NOTHING
Pretty much I mean all of the "safe" QB picks have super limited upside, all the big upside Qbs all have huge risks involved. If I was taking a QB, I would wait till next year
Cam Newton- TOP. Going to be a monster. And if he's not, then he'll probably move to WR or TE and be a stud there. Blaine Gabbert- GOOD. I just don't see great player in him, I think if he busts it'll be the kind where he just can't ever get things going and keep a starting gig. Jake Locker- SOLID. In the classic rags to riches story, the more people crap on him, the more I like him. He was a terrible option as a top ten guy, but I'd be all over him in Rd 2 if I were a bunch of teams. Ryan Mallett- NOTHING. Drugs are bad... mmkay. Colin Kaepernick- GOOD. I honestly have no clue how he'll translate, he could seriously be any of those levels and not surprise me at all. Christian Ponder- NOTHING. He's just not a good QB. Arm like soggy waffle. Andy Dalton- SOLID. Guaranteed to be good (maybe spot great) for long time. Like Boomer Esiason. Ricky Stanzi- GOOD. Eh, I like him for some reason. If there was a later round guy to make good, he'd be my pick.
I can't wait for Cam Newton to prove his doubters wrong. The kid has so much potential. Andy Dalton and Colin Kaepernick are serious sleepers. Dalton will more than likely play right away depending on where he ends up.
Cam Newton- TOP. I really think his success or lack thereof will depend on what team drafts him, as with most prospects but more so him. Assuming Carolina takes him I think he has a good chance to reach his all world potential. Blaine Gabbert- GOOD. I don't see anything special in him. At best I see him being a pretty good starter, at worst a decent starter. I don't see greatness in him but don't see him being terrible either Jake Locker- GOOD. Last year I thought he was completey overrated, this year I think he has become completely underrated. I'm just starting to believe he will become a really good QB at the next level. Got the talent and work ethic to succeed and I think he will. Ryan Mallett- NOTHING. Recipe for disaster, hoping he is the next Dolphins QB. Has potentia to be top if he grows up but these kind of prospects at the QB position usually fail miserably at the next level. Also think he will end up going higher then expected due to some team falling in ove with his arm and thinking they can get his head on straight. Colin Kaepernick- SOLID. I like this kid, at worst he is a solid backup. Don't think he will ever be a pro bowl QB. Christian Ponder- NOTHING. I don't see how he is considered anything more then a mid round prospect Andy Dalton- NOTHING. Backup at best, will be drafted way to high Ricky Stanzi- Solid. Backup at best but as a mid to late round pick, nothing wrong with that.
