Scouting the 2013 NFL Draft: Breaking Down The Quarterbacks

Three days ago, our very own David Wyatt presented his big board of quarterback talent in the 2013 NFL Draft. I wanted to follow that up with my own brief scouting reports on the quarterbacks on each of the noteworthy quarterbacks in the draft.

I've included my own grades on the quarterbacks, which is when I would personally select them, as well as the round projection David stated as when they're likely to be taken.

Eugene "Geno" Smith

West Virginia University

During his junior and senior seasons, Smith worked out of Dana Holgorson’s high-powered Air Raid offense. As a result, he would fit best in a spread offense, although he does have experience from under center from his sophomore season. Smith is extremely accurate and has a quick release. He is primarily a pocket passer, although he has the athletic ability to run with the ball if absolutely necessary. He can make every throw. Inconsistency is a concern. Smith regressed during the middle of his senior season with his ability to progress through his reads and his footwork, although he improved towards the end of the season.

Grade: First Round ----- Round: First Round ----- Comparison: Sam Bradford

Matt Barkley

The University of Southern California

Barkley has experience running a pro-style offense, and would fit best in a West Coast Offense that can utilize his accuracy and ability to read defenses. He has significant experience as a starting quarterback, and is very good at pre-snap reads. Barkley has questionable arm strength and cannot be relied upon to make consistent deep throws into tight spaces, or outside the hashes. It is also unclear if Barkley can survive without a superior surrounding cast, as he struggled this past season with an inferior offensive line.

Grade: Second Round ----- Round: Second Round ----- Comparison: Drew Brees

Zac Dysert

Miami University (Ohio)

Dysert is an accurate quarterback with all of the physical tools to excel at the professional level. Although he played in a spread offense his senior year, he was most successful in a pro-style offense in 2011. Most importantly, he performed well even with a substandard supporting cast. Dysert isn’t afraid to take shots and is willing to look off his primary read, although he doesn’t generally work too far through his progressions. He is tough to take down, and is able to salvage a broken play with his feet to keep it alive, although he isn’t a runner in the Mike Vick mold. He is extremely good at changing the angle of his delivery to get around rushers and adjust the trajectory for his receivers. Dysert’s throwing motion is a slightly slower than ideal and his fundamentals are occasionally sloppy when hurried.

Grade: Second Round ----- Round: Fifth Round ----- Comparison: Ben Roethlisberger

Ryan Nassib

Syracuse University

Nassib is accurate on short-to-intermediate throws, with a rifle for an arm and a gunslinger mentality. However, he isn’t very accurate with his deep throws, and has a tendency to float the ball downfield. Nassib is inconsistent and doesn’t consistently make the easy throws you’d like to see, although his receivers themselves often dropped the ball, which did not help. Nassib is very tough in the pocket and makes excellent pump fakes, and has shown excellent development over his collegiate career.

Grade: Third Round ----- Round: Second Round ----- Comparison: Andy Dalton

James "Tyler" Wilson

The University of Arkansas

Wilson is primarily a pocket passer, as he has average athleticism and physical tools. However, he is tough as nails and a fantastic competitor and leader. Wilson is excellent at throwing on the run and has above-average arm strength with a gunslinger’s mentality. His biggest concerns are his small hands, which are not ideal for all-weather conditions or ball security, as well as his inconsistent placement of the ball. Wilson has a compact delivery, but sometimes side-arms the ball, which may lead to more batted balls as he does not have significant height to compensate.

Grade: Third Round ----- Round: Third Round ----- Comparison: Philip Rivers

Mike Glennon

North Carolina State University

Glennon is an interesting prospect. He has excellent height, but needs to add serious bulk to avoid being broken in half. He has excellent strength and good ball placement for short-to-intermediate throws. Furthermore, Glennon has experience in a pro-style offense. He had a weak supporting cast and received little help from his teammates. However, Glennon is inconsistent and poor under pressure. He is extremely limited in mobility and is limited almost exclusively to being a pocket passer. At several points in the season, Glennon’s fundamentals broke down, which is a concern.

Grade: Third Round ----- Round: Third Round ----- Comparison: Joe Flacco

Tyler Bray

The University of Tennessee

Bray has excellent size and easily the strongest arm in the draft. He has a quick release and can make all of the throws, particularly those deep. Bray has questionable accuracy on short throws, and his fundamentals, notably his footwork, are inconsistent. However, Bray’s biggest concerns are mostly mental. He is extremely immature and makes too many poor decisions, especially under pressure.

Grade: Fourth Round ----- Round: Fourth Round ----- Comparison: Jay Cutler

Matt Scott

The University of Arizona

Scott is one of the sleeper quarterbacks of the draft, although his stock has been rising lately. He is a dual-threat, with above-average arm strength and superior running ability. He has the arm strength to make defenses pay for keying in on his mobility, and can throw on the run. He has a quick release with a tight spiral. He is excellent at hitting his receivers in stride. As far as his running ability is concerned, he is agile and has good straight-line speed. However, he is too quick to take off running and throws into tight coverage too often. His footwork is inconsistent.

Grade: Fourth Round ----- Round: Fifth Round ----- Comparison: Russell Wilson

Erik "E.J." Manuel

Florida State University

Manuel has extremely high upside, but he is, first and foremost, a project quarterback. He has an extremely strong arm and has excellent mobility, making him perhaps the premier duel-threat quarterback in this class with all of the required physical tools to be elite. Manuel has inconsistent accuracy and forces throws into tight coverage too often, and needs to improve on his decision-making. Manuel operated out of a very simplistic offense, so he will need to work on his progressions and breaking down defenses. His footwork needs significant help, which may come with coaching.

Grade: Fifth Round ----- Round: Second Round ----- Comparison: Colin Kaepernick

Landry Jones

The University of Oklahoma

Jones has good size, an above-average arm, and is accurate, and has the production to prove it. As far as physical skills, Jones has the talent of a first round draft pick. However, the biggest concern with Jones is that he is truly terrible under pressure, and crumbles in high-pressure scenarios. Without a clean pocket, his fundamentals go out the window and he will make poor decisions. Jones is best when he can make quick passes, as he stumbles when the initial read is not there and he has to work through his progressions. Jones is physically all you can ask for, but his mental makeup is what is holding him back.

Grade: Fifth Round ----- Round: Fourth Round ----- Comparison: Matt Schaub

Sean Renfree

Duke University

Renfree was coached by David Cutliffe, who also taught Peyton Manning and Eli Manning. Cutliffe has said that Renfree has a work ethic equal to the Manning Brothers. Renfree is poised under pressure and has excellent pocket presence. He played in a pro-style offense and has the arm strength to make all the throws. His throwing motion is quick and compact, and he has excellent footwork. Renfree’s weaknesses are mostly mental, as he needs to improve with his decision making and working through his progressions. The level of his competition is also a concern. Renfree is a project that has considerable upside considering his technique and accuracy.

Grade: Fifth Round ----- Round: Sixth Round ----- Comparison: Matt Moore

Collin Klein

Kansas State University

Klein is big-bodied quarterback that will probably be forced to change positions in the National Football League, most likely to tight end or H-Back. He is inaccurate, with an elongated delivery. However, he makes smart decisions and does not turn the ball over excessively. He is a good leader, and a powerful runner that plays with an extremely physical style.

Grade: UDFA ----- Round: Seventh Round ----- Comparison: Tim Tebow