This Weak QB Class
After going a couple rounds with a few commenters in my most recent Clausen puffery, the elegant commenter downdown voodoo brown proposed that I do a bit on other QBs that I’d be interested in the Chiefs acquiring.
I have already comprehensively broken down two positions in this upcoming Draft — nose tackle and safety (although I’ve dumped on the wide receivers in this class). But here, I will only examine the small handful of players I personally like for the Chiefs offense, and where I’d prefer we grab them.
As you can see, there’s really only one QB that I see in this Draft that’s a franchise guy. Moreover, there’s really nobody on this list that I think can become more than a solid backup, but there are a couple folks that have potential…
Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame (pick: 1st rounder) — Ahem.
Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan (pick: 4th rounder) — Paddy had a pretty solid argument for LeFevour that he wrote in wake of the news that Weis had actually hosted a personal meeting with the small school prospect. He’s an interesting prospect, but I don’t think he’s a game changer for any team. Instead I think he’s someone worth grooming to see if he’s worth anything. Now he has a lot more promise than most — at times during this offseason there was talk that had he gone through all the drills this offseason, he’d be the #3 guy behind Bradford and Clausen. LeFevour, like most of the guys on this list, is destined to be a pretty good game manager if he can adjust well to the NFL game. His accuracy, and not just on dinks and dunks, is pretty stellar. But he finds a way to target as many throws downfield as any game manager you’re going to find. He’s got a great eye for the field, and can anticipate windows opening up before they do. But he’s no world-beater.
Several more after the jump.
John Skelton, Fordham (pick: 5th rounder) — Every year seems to have a guy like this come out. I look at the massive Skelton and I see a lot of Joe Flacco in him. 6’5″, 240+ pounds… but coming from a program that makes Delaware look like Ohio State. Skelton doesn’t have Flacco’s intangibles and it should be at least a good two seasons away from ever seeing the field. If you have the patience on this guy, he’s found ways to produce. He’s got the best arm in this Draft of course, but he’s about as close to being an NFL starter as Tim Tebow. That said, it’s a weak class, someone will drop a 3rd on him. But I sure wouldn’t.
Tony Pike, Cincinnati (pick: 5th rounder) — Pike is, well, Matt Cassel. Physically, he is an inferior prospect. There’s not a lot to like about his athleticism, his arm strength, and his ability to create on the move. (Although he does have nice height.) Pike is not a starter in the NFL, and does not even have the roof to become a starter. Instead, he is a rock solid backup option, as he has exceptionally above-average accuracy and intelligence. He is able to take what the defense gives him and rarely tries to do too much. He will not win a game single-handedly for you, but that’s not what he’s here for. A pretty good grab with a 5th if we’re convinced (as I am) that Croyle’s not a viable option behind Cassel.
Jonathan Crompton, Tennessee (pick: 6th rounder) — Crompton’s big issue is his accuracy, but that’s mainly because he’s played with a bunch of non-NFL caliber talent in the SEC, a very tough defensive conference. The important thing to remember about Crompton is that he’s essentially had all the cards dealt against him. But over time, the talent around him has slowly improved, and the new coaches have been much better. And to nobody’s surprised, he’s started looking like a real NFL quality QB. Now, he’s a late rounder at best, because he could never get that completion percentage above 60%, but there’s no question the promise is there.
Sean Canfield, Oregon State (pick: 7th rounder) — Heeeeere’s the sleeper I really like. I think there’s even a chance he goes well before the 7th round. But if Pioli doesn’t elect to pick up Canfield with a 5th, or trade back into the late rounds, and Canfield somehow becomes a UDFA, he’s a no-brainer pickup. Canfield, who I have pictured above, is one of the smartest players coming out in the Draft this year, and his has a fantastic arm that proves to be extremely accurate when he’s given time. He’ll need to be faster and better with his decision-making, but this is a late-rounder that I think has the potential to develop into the next Tom Brady. A very effective manager of the game (his TD/INT ratio is second in this Draft only to Clausen), he possesses the raw physical abilities needed to take his game to the next level. Of all the late round QB prospects in this Draft to luck into a starting gig eventually, Canfield is my pick to pull it off.