Ranking Under-25 NFL Quarterbacks' Futures: How Low Can Tim Tebow Go

Selecting a quarterback in the first round of the NFL draft is often an easy decision for NFL teams, but selecting the right one is quite the challenging task. 

Front offices must keep in mind that there is not a lot of leeway between a bust and a gem when you spend a high draft pick on an unproven draftee.

If the selected quarterback leads your team to the playoffs within a few seasons or elevates your team's performance significantly, you have yourself a gem. 

On the other hand, if your quarterback is unable to meet the fan's aspirations, even when surrounded by talent, he is quickly abandoned by the fanbase and relegated to bust status. 

The following list is not an opinion of how each quarterback stands in relation to the other at this time. This list is a prediction of how every young quarterback's career will go down in the books. It also includes the all-telling verdict of bust or gem. 

Tier 5: Practice Squad / Third Stringers

35. Chris Pizzotti, Green Bay Packers, Age 24

The 6'6" Harvard product has battled injury problems since he arrived on campus, but his smarts, attitude, and work ethic will earn him a spot on the Packers' practice squad. 

34. Mike Teel, Seattle Seahawks, Age 24

Teel is a natural leader who has adequate accuracy and arm strength, but his inconsistency and interception struggles prevent him from rising to second string status. 

33. Thaddeus Lewis, St. Louis Rams, Age 22

Lewis has a good arm and contains above average scrambling ability, but he has too many quarterbacks ahead of him to grab a roster spot at this time in St. Louis. 

32. Rudy Carpenter, Tampa Bay Bucs, Age 24

It will be a challenge for Carpenter to see the field as a Buccaneer, but he is a hard worker and is skilled enough to be worthy of a roster spot. 

31. Rusty Smith, Tennessee Titians, Age 23

If Smith can't maintain a roster spot on the Titans, he will somewhere else. His arm strength will intrigue other NFL teams, although his marginal accuracy is a turnoff.  

30. Tony Pike, Carolina Panthers, Age 24

Pike has an average skillset, but he is currently fourth on the depth chart and far behind Hunter Cantwell for the third spot. The Panthers will likely place him on the practice squad if no one else takes a chance on him. 

29. Stephen McGee, Dallas Cowboys, Age 24

McGee will stick in Dallas as the No. 3 for now, but they have hopes that he will eventually step in for Jon Kitna as the No. 2 quarterback on the Cowboys depth chart. While I think he is a good kid, he is not talented enough to start if Romo comes down with an injury. 

28. Bill Stull, Kansas City Chiefs, Age 23

Stull has adequate tools, but lack of starting experience at the collegiate level will hold him back from assuring his spot on the team.

27. Joe Webb, Minnesota Vikings, Age 23

Webb has been impressive thus far, but it will be difficult to assign one responsibility to Webb due to his talent across the board. At this point, he is a developmental role player. 

26. Keith Null, St. Louis Rams, Age 24

Null has experience in the NFL, albeit most of it was pretty rough. It will take time for him to adjust from the level of play at DII to the talent of the NFL, but he certainly has some talent. 

25. John Parker Wilson, Atlanta Falcons, Age 24

Wilson's biggest strength is his lack of a weakness. He moves around well, but is not a scrambler, and his arm is powerful enough to keep him on the Falcons roster for as long as he wants to stay there.

24. Pat White, Miami Dolphins, Age 24

The opinion that White is not an NFL quarterback is a point of view that the Dolphins might share at this time. He could develop into a weapon out of the Wildcat, but he will never be a reliable backup quarterback. 

Tier 4: Second Stringers / Temporary Starters

23. Levi Brown, Buffalo Bills, Age 23

Brown is athletic and has a good arm, but he has a long ladder to climb if he plans on winning the backup job in Buffalo. 

22. Jonathan Crompton, San Diego, Age 23

Crompton plays confidently and is accurate while moving out of the pocket. To succeed against NFL defenses, he will have to work on his pocket presence. He will have plenty of time to do that because Philip Rivers is cemented as the franchise quarterback. 

21. Dan LeFevour, Chicago Bears, Age 23

LeFevour is very similar to Denver quarterback Tim Tebow. He is a dual threat and has an incredible work ethic. He started from his freshman year through his senior season and enters the NFL as one of the most interesting prospects. 

20. Max Hall, Arizona Cardinals, Age 24

I think of Hall as a Drew Brees-lite, but doesn't rely on his accuracy quite as much. Where he does compare more to Brees though is as an emotional leader, even if he is not the starter. 

19. Josh Johnson, Tampa Bay Bucs, Age 24

Johnson is a playmaker with his legs and arm. He progresses quickly and his upside will likely earn him the backup spot for the Buccaneers for many seasons. 

18. Zac Robinson, New England, Age 23

Robinson is smart and athletic, but struggled in his senior season. This led to a drop in his draft stock, but I believe he still contains all of the skills necessary to become the eventual backup for the Patriots. 

17. Brian Hoyer, New England Patriots, Age 24

Hoyer showed the ability to step in for Tom Brady last year in limited action. He has very good arm strength and is accurate on all throws, but is erratic when under pressure, something he won't have to deal with much if he plays in New England. 

16. Caleb Hanie, Chicago Bears, Age 24

Hanie has a very strong arm and is currently stuck at the No. 2 spot on the Bears depth chart, but Dan LeFevour will put up a battle to back up starter Jay Cutler. 

15. Chase Daniel, New Orleans Saints, Age 23

Alike teammate Drew Brees, Daniel is very accurate but doesn't have typical NFL height or elite arm strength. Daniel has good enough vision though to compensate for his 6'0" frame. 

14. Jarrett Brown, San Francisco 49ers, Age 23

Brown had a solid senior season after backing up Dolphins quarterback Pat White for the majority of his West Virginia career. Despite a small sample size though, Brown's athleticism and arm strength are enough for any NFL team to take a look at him. 

13. Hunter Cantwell, Carolina Panthers, Age 24

Cantwell has a big arm and good accuracy, but he did not play much during his collegiate career, and when he did play, he struggled. Cantwell maintains a roster spot purely based on potential. 

12. Tim Tebow, Denver Broncos, Age 23

Tebow is an emotional leader and tough scrambler, but he has accuracy problems and his strong religious beliefs have caused controversy at times. Despite this, Tebow has enough talent to be a temporary starter for a team who is just trying to keep its head above water. 

Tier 3: Starters / Game Managers

11. Sean Canfield, New Orleans Saints, Age 23

Canfield is very accurate in short to medium passes, but he still has room for improvement on his deep ball. He does have the competitive drive and arm strength to eventually start earn a starting job down the road. He may even wait in New Orleans for Drew Brees to retire. 

10. Brian Brohm, Buffalo Bills, Age 24

Brohm has good football knowledge, but he made a big mental mistake by leaving college a year late. He went from being one of the top picks in the draft to a late second round pick. Brohm's skills have not yet translated to success, but he has the skillset to succeed as a starter. 

9. Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay Bucs, Age 22

Freeman has a big arm and shows flashes of deep accuracy, but is inconsistent. Talent is not the problem, production has been in college and thus far through one NFL season. 

Tier 2: Pro-Bowlers / Game Changers

8. Tim Hiller, Indianapolis Colts, Age 23

Hiller has the size and arm strength that make NFL teams drool. Under Peyton Manning, he will have time to adjust to the NFL and eventually will replace Manning as the starter in Indianapolis. 

7. Nate Davis, San Francisco 49ers, Age 23

Davis does not have prototypical size at 6'1", but he does have prototypical arm strength and accuracy. He consistently shows good zip on his passes, but also can put good touch on the ball. Alex Smith played decent last season, but Davis has the talent to supplant him as the starter within the next two seasons. 

6. Colt McCoy, Cleveland Browns, Age 24

McCoy does not have a cannon, but he is very accurate and is a natural leader. Currently, he is behind the aging Jake Delhomme who could retire within the next few seasons. This will give McCoy adequate time to adjust and learn the Browns' system.

5. John Skelton, Arizona Cardinals, Age 22

Skelton is in prime position to win a starting job in the NFL. Matt Leinart has been a disappointing player for the Cardinals and his confidence seems shot. Skelton on the other hand is a promising newcomer who was drafted low because the small university of Fordham was the only one willing to offer him a chance. His big arm, good accuracy, and quick throwing motion will make teams who passed on him regret that decision.

4. Jimmy Clausen, Carolina Panthers, Age 22

Clausen is a vital part of the youth movement in Carolina. Currently, Matt Moore is the starter and he is a solid quarterback, but not as skilled as Clausen. Clausen does not have a big hole in his game and John Fox's mentality will take the pressure off of him. And yes, John Fox will be around for awhile. 

3. Mark Sanchez, New York Jets, Age 23

Sanchez is very skilled and will have a great career because the Jets have the money and will to give him all of the weapons he needs. Young receivers like Braylon Edwards, Santonio Holmes, Dustin Keller, and Jerricho Cotchery will make life easy on Mark for many years to come. 

Tier 1: Hall of Famers

2. Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions, Age 22

Two seasons ago, the Detroit Lions were the joke of the NFL. Stafford brought his energetic attitude and leadership skills to the Lions in 2009, reviving the team and instilling a positive attitude in the organization. 

Stafford has a good core of receivers around him and they are one weapon away from becoming a dangerous offense. 

What will make Stafford a Hall of Famer is his ability to turn around a franchise with his leadership and rocket arm. 

Tier 1: Hall Of Famers...Continued

1. Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams, Age 22

Similar to Matthew Stafford, Bradford was chosen by the worst team in the league and has hopes to turn around the direction of the franchise. There is no question that he has the ability to do so.

He is not the same type of vocal leader that Stafford is, but he is more accurate and makes better decisions. He is not as interception prone and that could prove vital for a team that was in the bottom five in interceptions thrown. 

The only question with Bradford is, what lucky lady is going to be this future Hall of Famer's Gisele Bündchen?