ESPN: NFL Draft Prospects & their NFL Counterparts
1. Geno Smith = Christian Ponder: Smith is a good leader who's hungry to win and driven to succeed. He's tough as nails, and exactly the kind of guy you want in a leadership position. Smith's mechanics are solid and he can be accurate when he knows where he wants to go with the ball, but he's still a work in progress. Like Ponder, he's a bright player but sometimes doesn't process his reads quickly enough. 2. Matt Barkley = Mark Sanchez: Sanchez and Barkley both lack elite arm strength, but Sanchez is a little bit better of an athlete. on the flip side, the mental aspect in terms of reading coverage, handling the blitz, and getting the ball out on time comes more naturally to Barkley. And like the Jets with Sanchez, the team that drafts Barkley will have to be smart about how it uses him, given his lack of top-shelf physical tools. 3. Mike Glennon = Joe Flaaco: Flaaco is a better athlete than Glennon, but both are towering quarterbacks who can see the entire field. Each has the arm strength to dissect a defense if given time and receivers who can get open down the field. Flaaco isn't a fiery leader, and scouts are trying to get a read on Glennon's seemingly laid-back leadership style. 4. Manti Te'o = Brian Urlacher: Te'o is doing everything faster this season against both the run and the pass. He's strong at the point of attack against the run, shows instincts and awareness in underneath coverage and has great body control in space. and as is the case with Urlacher, his leadership should not be overlooked. Teammates believe in Te'o and follow his examples, both on and off the field. He can charge a defense up emotionally, and his unit is the main reason Notre Dame is on the doorstep of a BCS title. 5. Robert Woods = Victor Cruz: Woods hasn't had as much production this season as in 2011, but he is a savvy route-runner who knows how to get open and makes some jaw-dropping catches. Woods doesn't have exceptional vertical speed, but like Cruz, he has the overall skill set to work outside as a secondary receiver or produce from the slot. For other comparisons, visit the link.

