Draft Countdown 2010: QB's the Seahawks May Target

It's the question all Seahawks fans will be pondering come draft day. Will the Seahawks take a QB in the first round? With picks 6 and 14 in the upcoming draft, it may seem obvious that Seattle will take a QB. But will they?

Hasselbeck has won a vote of confidence from Pete Carroll and the Seahawks front office. Carroll has publicly stated that he wants to win now. New GM John Schneider comes from a system in Green Bay that typically trades back in the draft to gain more picks. That being said, with so many needs on the roster, the Seahawks will have critical decisions to make early on in the draft with perhaps the most difficult, addressing the need of an heir apparent to Matt Hasselbeck.

Fortunately for the Seahawks, they don't neccissarily have to make that move in the first round. There will be quality quarterbacks all the way in to the 5th or 6th round this year. Sooner or later the Seahawks will have to make a decision and go after someone. However it is crucial that there is not to much emphasis put on one position, resulting in draft doosies like Rick Mire or Dan McGwire.

Let's take a look at some of the potential quarterbacks the Seahawks may target in this years upcoming draft.

Jimmy Clausen - Notre Dame

Jimmy Clausen is a franchise quarterback. He has carried the spotlight since he was a teenager and has surpassed the hype. He has an outstanding skill set with the elite intangibles you see in the great quarterbacks. Clausen isn't fazed by tense situations and has great leadership when the game is on the line. He puts in the hours to be a great quarterback and you see it on tape. Clausen will likely be the first quarterback drafted and is a projected top-five draft pick.

Strengths:
Solid size and adequate bulk
Very good arm strength; can fit balls into tight windows
Extremely quick, snappy release
Great accuracy
Nice hip torque on throws
Gets rid of ball quickly
Very decisive with the football
Takes what defense gives him; doesn't force ball/will throw away
Elite football IQ
Great touch
Well versed in NFL offense
Good sense of timing
Will step up/out of pocket
Knows how to read coverage
Sees the entire field; great vision
Very polished for a true junior
Shown outstanding development from freshman to junior season
Extremely intelligent
Ice in his veins; great poise
Mentally tough; plays through pain
Big leader
Confident
Film room rat
Elite intangibles
Good genetics and very well coached
Spent 3.5 years in a West Coast offense

Weaknesses:
Does a poor job of selling play action
Can get lazy with footwork - but has improved this
Not a fluid athlete
Personality might come off as abrasive
Sometimes gets too much air under fade route
Lacks a little pocket awareness

Clausen would be a great fit in Seattle as his arm strength would really open up the field, however some would argue this may be to early of a spot for the Seahawks to take a QB considering Pete Carrolls stance on Matt Hasselbeck. If Clausen dropped to 14, it would be very difficult for the Seahawks not to pull the trigger on him.

Sam Bradford - Oklahoma

Sam Bradford's first two seasons at Oklahoma are well documented. He threw for over 3,000 yards as a freshman and dominated the college football world as a sophomore, ending up with a trip to the BCS Championship game and a Heisman Trophy. Bradford could have been a first round pick after his sophomore season since he was draft eligible after redshirting in 2006.

Bradford missed the rest of the 2009 campaign, but he is still considered by many as the best signal caller in this class. Certainly he would be without the injuries and the injury problem seems to be a thing of the past. Bradford is a top five talent and his doctor is also the team doctor for the Redskins, who have the fourth overall pick in the draft. If he is healthy and available, do not expect him to have to wait until pick number five to hear his name called on draft day.

Strengths:
Good size with room to add some bulk
Peyton Manning-like accuracy
Outstanding job of anticipating routes
Solid arm strength
Capable of making all the throws
Smooth, consistent spiral
Textbook footwork and can drop back if asked
Great decision-maker since freshman year
Understands timing
Well versed in progression reads
Experienced
Very quick release
Ridiculous level of production
Sells play action
Places ball in stride of receiver
Will step up in pocket
Decent athleticism
Throws pro routes and has been under center more than given credit for in career
Strong leader and good character

Weaknesses:
Toughness really hasn't been tested at this point in his career; never seen pass rush
Arm strength is good, but he will struggle to fit ball in tight windows if he doesn't make very quick decisions
We really do not know if he can make throws on the run yet
Doesn't make any jaw-dropping throws
Doesn't have Stafford/Sanchez level of upside
Is never really forced out of pocket

Bradford would also be a good fit for the Seahawks. He would benefit a year of tutoring from Matt Hasselbeck and would be a viable back up for his first year in the NFL. It is not likely that Bradford will be available when the Seahawks are on the clock, however if he slips, he would need to be seriously considered.

Tim Tebow - Florida

Questions remain about his ability to be a quarterback at the next level. Urban Meyer's Florida offense has put Tebow in ideal conditions to succeed, so it remains to be seen how he will respond in passing situations against NFL defenses. Tebow has no fear sitting in the pocket, but he needs to do a better job of feeling pressure. His delivery on passes also starts way too low and has to change before he can become an NFL quarterback. Defensive linemen will have a field day of knocking the ball out of his hand if he continues with this same throwing motion.

Strengths:
Good height and great musculature
Solid arm strength
Very good deep ball accuracy
Great pass rush sense and pocket instincts
Athletic and can move chains with legs
Extremely powerful runner
Good trucking ability; picks up yards after contact
Good character and strong work ethic
Prototype leader

Weaknesses:
Absolutely horrendous footwork; has not gotten better since freshman year
Plays in run-option offense
Doesn't throw smooth ball; bad touch
Inaccurate on intermediate routes
Extremely long release
Very bad passing mechanics
Locks onto primary receiver
No pro reads in offense
Left-handed
Tucks and runs
Doesn't make pro-style passing progression reads
Comes from program with bad QB pedigree

The thing that stands out the most to me about Tim Tebow is his leadership. He is a tremendous personality and is a great person off the field. However, he cannot at this time seem to take a snap under center and many question his ability to translate to the next level. Once again, in Seattle, he will not be asked to start. I wouldn't make him a first round pick, but if Tebow is sitting there in the second round, he would have great value and warrant consideration. I like Tebow, he is a winner, and with a little time to learn and develop, he could do great things.

Colt McCoy - Texas

Colt McCoy is the next overhyped collegiate quarterback who really doesn't have much of a chance in the NFL. His talent is pretty mediocre when you consider the things he will have to do in the NFL in terms of the transition to a more West Coast or pro-style spread scheme. He won't stretch a defense in the NFL and the system makes him look far better than he is at Texas.

McCoy is a great college quarterback, but simply isn't an NFL mold.

Strengths:
Very athletic
Mobile
Experienced
Short and deep range accuracy
Quick release
Gets rid of football quickly
Makes quick decisions
Good pocket awareness
Crafty with football in hands
Leader with good character

Weaknesses:
Average frame
Offensive system exaggerate strengths, masks weaknesses
Mobility doesn't translate to NFL with zone reads and scripted runs
Weak arm
Aims ball and it doesn't look natural; passive thrower
Absolutely no stick throws (18-yard deep out, curl, dig, etc.)
Footwork needs a ton of work
Doesn't take many hits
Never operated under center
Stares down receivers
Floats deep ball
Limited upside

Hasselbeck will be the starting QB for the Seahawks in 2010 so you don't really need a guy to come in and play right away. McCoy is going to be a project QB. If it's the 5th round and McCoy is on the table, it won't be as much of a reach say as drafting him in the second round. This will also take the pressure off McCoy and give him the necessary time to develop.

Max Hall - BYU

Hall is a great leader with the competitiveness and toughness of an elite quarterback. He makes things happen on the field, and is able to stay in the pocket and take the punishment. Able to make quick reads and with a relatively short release time, Hall is a rhythm passer. When he is on, he is difficult to stop. Hall has decent quickness and good windup motion, and also shows good timing and touch on short-to-mid range passes. He is very accurate below the 15 yard range. NFL teams will love that he has experience against top tier teams and he is mature (will be 24 years old by training camp 2010).

However, Hall lacks ideal height and bulk. He also has just average arm strength, which makes for not enough zip on deep outs. Balls tend to sail when he attempts to drop passes over coverage. He also lacks speed and agility to create outside the pocket; he will need time to adjust to the speed of the pro game.

Hall lacks great size, arm strength and mobility, but his accuracy and intangibles should earn him a fourth round selection.

Max Hall would be a great late round edition for the Seahawks if they haven't selected a QB yet. He may lack size, but look at Drew Brees.

Jevan Snead - Ole Miss

Snead has all the physical tools to make an impact at the next level. The Ole Miss signal-caller stands in at 6'3'' and 218 pounds and his strong arm will allow him to convert all the throws required of an NFL quarterback.

Snead is relatively mobile in the pocket, especially for a quarterback of his size. He will also come without any injury history or off-the-field baggage, so that can only help his standing with NFL teams.

Strengths:
Nice frame to see over line - adequate bulk
Very athletic and can pick up first downs with legs
Big time arm
Can thread the needle
Nice touch and accuracy on deep ball
Quick release
Solid pocket awareness

Weaknesses:
Poor accuracy
Sloppy footwork
Hesitates to make decisions
Lacks balance as a passer
Marginal field vision
Throws in tight coverage too often
Very inconsistent
Lacks passing instincts
Stares down primary target
Not very good passer on the run
Questionable leadership and intangibles
Very raw mechanically
Average starting experience
Doesn't understanding timing

If Snead is having accuracy issues at the collegiate level, (54% completion, 20 int) what makes any one think he is all of the sudden going to come around when he makes the NFL. Snead has great athletic ability, but is too risky to be an every down player. He will warrant a late round pick, but if I'm Seattle, I stay away.

Jarrett Brown - West Virginia

What makes Brown an NFL prospect is his size. At 6-4 and 221 pounds, he has the look and arm strength of an NFL quarterback. With his elusiveness, he becomes even more valuable. The problem is he has only started one season and has not exactly taken the college football world by storm. Brown could develop into a dynamic quarterback, but no team will take a chance on him too early in the draft; though he is definitely worth a pick in the later rounds.

Brown is a very intriguing pick and could be a potential late round steal if the Seahawks don't have their man yet.

Dan LeFevour

Dan LeFevour is an absolute playmamker. He has tremendous athletic talent, and with an additional year of seasoning will be a better quarter back. However, Lefevour is a tough competitor who gives his team a great chance to win. Does good on progressions as a junior, and has excellent touch on the ball. He has good touch and his balls appear easy to catch for his receivers. Dan does an excellent job of buying time in the pocket and when scrambling is looking downfield for receivers and he throws well on the run. He is also extremely tough.

Weaknesses:
Marginal arm strength. Has over the top delivery, however it takes him a long time to wind up for it. Operates out of spread attack, and takes very few snaps under center, which could hurt his integration into a pro style offense. The quality of competition in the MAC, especially defensively lends him to have some inflated stats, even though he has looked ok in some spots against bcs conference competition.

Lefevour had a great senior bowl and looked like he was ready to rise to the challenges of the next level. He would warrant a late round pick at this point but look for his stock to rise after the combine.

Sean Canfield - Oregon State

Canfield shows good touch and timing. He has a quick release and throws with accuracy, and makes quick reads. He has good pass rush awareness in the pocket and he is a tough competitor.

Canfield lacks bulk and strength. He has only average speed (4.96) and elusiveness. Deep balls tend to flutter as he doesn't put great velocity on deep outs. He needs to do a better job taking care of the ball. He tends to make poor decisions when trying to force a pass into coverage. Also, he will have some lingering injury concerns.

Canfield does not have exceptional physical tools, but his competitiveness should enable him to make it to training camp. At this time, he projects as a late round pick--maybe the sixth. Canfield could improve his stock with an impressive showing at the NFL Combine. It will also benefit him that Pete Carroll is familar with him.

Tony Pike - Cincinatti

Pike projects strictly as a career backup in the NFL. He simply doesn't possess even an average arm to be a starter. Pike can be somewhat reliable since he makes great decisions and is highly intelligent, but he lacks a lot of talent, and you can't coach talent.

Strengths:
Good height; can comfortably see over line
Very quick decision-maker
Great football intelligence
Nice touch on the football; clean spiral
Has an adequate sixth sense for pass rush
Takes what the defense gives him; doesn't force throws
Solid accuracy down the field
Absolutely outstanding timing; throws ball before receiver even gets into break
Good character

Weaknesses:
Lacks some bulk in his body frame
Extremely weak arm strength
Lacks agility and athleticism; can't evade a pass rush
Somewhat of a statue in the pocket
Floats deep ball a little too much
Not a very good passer on the run
Throws difficult routes - but with unimpressive velocity/talent
Highly limited skill set
Competitiveness hasn't been tested yet
Older than the average prospect (will be a 24-year-old rookie)

Pike has a good frame and is a good decision maker. He would warrant a 6th or 7th round selection if the Seahawks don't have their QB by then.

Which Way Will Carrol and the Seahawks Go?

As you can see there will be many options for the Seahawks. The main focus is winning now. It all starts up front, with the ability to protect your quarterback and put pressure on the other team. These are two areas the Seahawks weren't so successful at last year.

If Seattle believes that Matt can give them another pro bowl year, they will refrain from taking a quarterback in the first or second round. If this is the case, I like Max Hall from BYU in the 4th round. If not, I like Jimmy Clausen at pick 14.

Scouting reports courtesy of Matt McGuire, WalterFootball.com