FanPost

QB Prospects 2012 Draft

Now the Quarterback prospects in this 2012 draft who do you like the most? Don't forget we still have Stanzi and Quinn if you guys think either of them can be the Chiefs next starting quarter back. So lets look at the prospects.

Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

Tannehill had some massive games in 2011. He also had some bad performances in the second half of games that contributed to the Aggies blowing big leads, and thereby losing games, to Oklahoma State and Arkansas. Tannehill threw three interceptions per game against the Cowboys, the Sooners and the Longhorns. For the season, he completed 62 percent of his passes for 3,744 yards with 29 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.

Tannehill is an excellent athlete and is very dangerous running with the football. Aside from his passing, he ran for 355 yards with four touchdowns. Tannehill has a strong arm with the potential to grow into an accurate passer. The senior also has special mobility.

Tannehill still needs to make up for a lot of lost time to learn the mental necessities of the position. The lack of quarterbacks in this class pushes him into first round, but he will enter the NFL with only 19 starts at quarterback. Tannehill has a special skill set, but he is going to need a lot of grooming at the professional level. However, the unknown of if Tannehill can handle it, pushes up the riskiness of picking him.

Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State

If Weeden were six or seven years younger, he could easily be a top-20 pick. A lot of teams like Weeden, but the reality is that by the time he's learned the pro-game well enough to be a consistently effective starter, his physical skills will already be on the decline. His status as a 29-year old rookie quarterback is the biggest negative for him.

Weeden had a strong Senior Bowl while throwing the ball well at the Combine and his pro day. Most believe that he will go in the first or second round. Every year, some quarterbacks slide on draft day, and if that happens to Weeden, he shouldn't fall out of the second day.

In 2011, Weeden completed 72 percent of his passes for 4,727 yards for 37 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He had a massive game in leading a furious comeback win over Texas A&M. Weeden had a rough game against Iowa State in an upset loss that killed any hope of Oklahoma State reaching the BCS National Championship Game. Throughout 2011, he displayed a strong, accurate arm and good pocket-passing skills.

Weeden finished his season with a huge game against a good Stanford defense. In the Fiesta Bowl, he threw for 399 yards and three touchdowns. Having Justin Blackmon made his job a lot easier as the nation's best receiver accounted for 186 of those yards and all three touchdowns.

Kirk Cousins, QB, Michigan State

Cousins helped his stock by throwing at the Combine, where he impressed scouts. Cousins had an average showing at the Senior Bowl, but he has shown enough skill to intrigue some in the scouting community. There is a big variety on his draft stock. Some see him as an early second-rounder while others think he should go on the third day of the draft. Splitting the difference and going in the third round may be the most likely.

At times in 2011, Cousins displayed good potential, but was held back by an offense that aimed to keep the ball on the ground. Against a good Nebraska defense, he struggled. However, Cousins came up clutch in the Spartans' two games against the Badgers. He threw three touchdowns in each of the battles with Wisconsin. For the season, Cousins completed 65 percent of his passes for 3,016 yards with 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Although after watching him on Jon Grudens football camp it looks like he's got the most football smarts out of everyone I've watched on it. He also has trouble throwing the fade.

Kirk Cousins completed 66.9 percent of his passes for 2,825 yards with 20 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Like Foles, Cousins’ numbers were similar to his sophomore year production when he completed 60 percent of his passes for 2,680 yards and 19 touchdowns with nine picks.

Cousins has an enough of an arm to be a starting NFL quarterback. He is a good game-manager who could be a good quarterback to install in a play-action-based passing attack with a strong running game. When given time to throw Cousins is very effective. He struggles and makes bad decisions when he gets defensive linemen in his face. Cousins will have to improve that to have a shot at sneaking into the first round. He has good leadership skills. The smart and efficient signal caller is the type of quarterback who should have a solid senior year and is a safe bet to be a second-round draft pick.

Russell Wilson, QB, Wisconsin

Wilson has some intrigue around him, but he did not build off that with a good performance at the Senior Bowl. Scouts were generally disappointed with how Wilson looked in Mobile. He performed better at the Combine. Some teams will look at him in the mid-rounds as a backup who could get snaps in a wildcat package.

Wilson was a fantastic college quarterback. He has a good arm, makes big plays with his feet and comes through in the clutch. Plus, Wilson is difficult for defenses to defend, and he can put up points on the scoreboard. The reason why his draft ranking is this low is his height.

It turns out that Wilson is slightly under his listed height. That really makes it tough to project him as a starting quarterback in the NFL. In that regard, he is similar to former Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith who was a late-round pick in 2007.

Wilson led Wisconsin to the Big Ten Title and a spot in the Rose Bowl. He had a stellar senior season in his one-year at Madison. Wilson completed 73 percent of his passes for 3,175 yards with 33 touchdowns and four interceptions. He also ran for 464 yards and six touchdowns. Compared to playing at North Carolina State in his first three seasons, Wilson had a much better supporting cast, along with one of the best running games in the country.

Wilson was consistently productive at North Carolina State. He completed 58 percent of his passes for 3,563 yards with 28 touchdowns and 14 interceptions as a junior. In 2009, Wilson had a 59 percent completion rate for 3,027 yards with 31 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. As a freshman, he completed 54.5 percent of his passes for 1,955 yards with 17 touchdowns and one interception

Brock Osweiler, QB, Arizona State

Osweiler was moving up draft boards as teams prepared for the Combine. He hurt his climb by not working out in Indianapolis. Osweiler is going to need an impressive pro day to be the fourth quarterback selected. Brandon Weeden and Kirk Cousins are his competition, and they both worked out at the Combine.


Osweiler is big-armed pocket passer who has surprising mobility. The former basketball player has good athletic ability for being so tall. Looking at him, one would think he would be a statue in the pocket, but that is definitely not the case.

As a junior this year, Osweiler completed 63 percent of his passes for 4,036 yards with 26 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He also ran for 298 yards and three touchdowns. His stats this season set the school records for yards, completions and attempts. In 2010, he had only two starts, but played well, throwing for 797 yards and five touchdowns with zero interceptions while also running for 168 yards and a score.

Osweiler has real arm strength and the gun to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. He is very raw and needs some work. If Osweiler goes to a good coaching staff that can develop him for a few years, he could turn into something. It wouldn't be surprising if Osweiler's stock rises during the lead up to the draft. He should have stayed in school and improved before going pro.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Arrowhead Pride's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Arrowhead Pride writers or editors.