2014 NFL Draft: Quarterback Prospects You Should Know

In this series of articles, I will be picking one position group each week from which I will be choosing four players to evaluate.  There will be three that you’ve probably heard of, and one that you probably haven’t. Please enjoy and I look forward to reading your comments.

Sept 22 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Louisville Cardinals quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) passes the ball against the Florida International Golden Panthers in the first quarter at FIU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

When I first started brainstorming on this series of articles, I thought I would start with the defense and work from the inside out, but after further contemplation, I decided that I’m going to start with the most exciting position group. This draft class could very well be just as talented as the draft class of 2012, which included Andrew Luck and RGIII. My sleeper for this position group is especially exciting and I think, if my instincts are correct, you will all know his name by the end of the year. Let’s start with the most obvious choices.

 Teddy Bridgewater – 6’3 – 218lbs – Louisville

 When Teddy Bridgewater first arrived on Louisville’s campus is January, 2011, he only weighed 179lbs. Louisville immediately put him on a weight gain plan and he has since reaped the benefits. Bulked up nearly 40lbs, Teddy explained how he felt, per Andrea Adelson of ESPN in 2012:

"“I feel great. A lot of weight is in my arms and legs, so it helps me as far as throwing the ball and being more explosive. With the way I’ve been throwing the ball, I know I’ve built up my muscle endurance.”"

Last year Bridgewater led Louisville to an 11-2 season, including a win in The Sugar Bowl over Florida. He completed 68.5 percent of his passes and threw 27 touchdowns to 8 interceptions. From all accounts he appears to be a stand up kid with all the physical talents you could want in a franchise QB. This year will be extremely important for Bridgewater and he has somewhat of a target on his back. We’ll see how he handles it. After five games last year, Geno Smith looked pretty incredible and we all see how that’s shaping up now. We’ll give him the season and check back on him later, but as of right now, he’s the frontrunner for first QB taken in 2014.