Scouts Inc. Top QB's

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McShay By Todd McShay
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Todd McShay breaks down the senior QBs, small-school prospects worth watching and ranks the QBs invited to the NFL scouting combine. To see this and more, become an ESPN Insider. Insider

The top four quarterbacks selected in the 2009 draft should hail from the ranks of the underclassmen. However, eight of the past 11 underclassman signal callers selected in the first round are either failing to live up to expectations or turned out to be complete busts. That's why NFL teams in search of their Matt Ryan or Joe Flacco will think long and hard before spending a top pick on Georgia's Matthew Stafford, USC's Mark Sanchez, Kansas State's Josh Freeman or Ball State's Nate Davis.

Stafford is the complete package physically, but his inconsistency and lack of ideal touch creates uneasiness for teams considering drafting him in the top five overall. Sanchez is more of a finesse passer who has excellent accuracy and timing in the short-to-intermediate zones. However, he started only 16 games in college and lacks the ideal arm strength to drive the ball downfield. Freeman can be erratic, but he is blessed with a cannon for an arm to go along with his massive frame and deceptive mobility. Davis' marginal height and late-season ball security issues will keep him out of the first round, but he is a playmaker with a strong arm and good overall athleticism. He's a perfect fit in the second or third round for a team willing to spend a couple of years developing him.

Preparing for the Combine

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An inside look at how three players are preparing for the 2009 Scouting Combine.
This year's crop of senior quarterbacks ranks among the worst in NFL draft history. Some signal callers simply couldn't live up to the hype. Clemson's Cullen Harper and Purdue's Curtis Painter are prime examples of that, while others are victims of circumstance. For example, Texas Tech's Graham Harrell and Missouri's Chase Daniel threw for a combined 9,446 yards, but the transition to life in the NFL for these shotgun-spread gunslingers should prove to be daunting -- particularly for the 6-foot tall Daniel. Alabama's John Parker Wilson is arguably the only senior quarterback to exceed expectations, but his physical limitations will cost him during draft weekend.

Shockingly enough, Michigan State's Brian Hoyer has actually emerged as our favorite of the seniors. Yes, he completed barely half of his pass attempts in 2008, but statistics don't always tell the full story. That's why there's no substitute for game tape -- and the more we watch, the higher Hoyer climbs up our draft board. Poor pass protection and a gross amount of drops are just two of the contributing factors to his poor statistics as a senior. Hoyer's mobility and arm strength are vastly underrated. He is a very accurate passer with a quick release and has all the necessary intangibles to develop into a late-round steal.

Sam Houston State's Rhett Bomar will be the first small-school quarterback off the board. The former Oklahoma Sooner has good size and a live arm, but off-the-field baggage and on-the-field inconsistency should keep him out of the first three rounds. Other small-school quarterbacks that could hear their names called on Day 2 include Central Washington's Mike Reilly, Central Arkansas' Nate Brown and Hartwick's Jason Boltus -- all three got the invite to Indy.

In addition, there are a couple of developmental prospects to monitor in Rounds 6 and 7. Fresno State's Tom Brandstater is unpolished, but he possesses an intriguing combination of size, arm strength and mobility. Buffalo's Drew Willy doesn't have any flashy skills, but he is a gritty competitor with a quick release and good overall accuracy as a passer.

Ranking the QBs at the NFL scouting combine
Player School Ht. Wt. Grade
1. Matthew Stafford* Georgia 6-2½ 235 96
2. Mark Sanchez* USC 6-2½ 225 95
3. Josh Freeman* Kansas State 6-5½ 238 90
4. Nate Davis* Ball State 6-1¾ 217 78
5. Brian Hoyer Michigan State 6-2 215 61
6. Rhett Bomar Sam Houston State 6-2⅛ 224 60
7. Hunter Cantwell Louisville 6-3⅞ 231 53
8. Stephen McGee Texas A&M 6-2⅞ 223 49
9. Graham Harrell Texas Tech 6-2 217 47
10. John Parker Wilson Alabama 6-1½ 215 42
11. Cullen Harper Clemson 6-2¾ 227 40
12. Tom Brandstater Fresno State 6-5 216 38
13. Curtis Painter Purdue 6-2¾ 222 34
14. Mike Reilly Central Washington 6-2¾ 215 32
15. Drew Willy Buffalo 6-3 217 31
16. Chase Daniel Missouri 6-0 218 30
17. Rudy Carpenter Arizona State 6-4 223 30
18. Nate Brown Central Arkansas 6-0⅝ 217 30
19. Chase Holbrook New Mexico State 6-4⅜ 246 30
20. Jason Boltus Hartwick 6-2⅞ 224 30