Senior Bowl 2012: Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden Is Cream of the QB Crop

By now, we've all seen the popular in-game graphic showing all the current NFL quarterbacks that are younger than former Oklahoma State signal-caller Brandon Weeden. You can't even mention Weeden's name without his age taking over the conversation. 

Weeden was born in October 1983, making him 28 years old. In the eyes of some experts and NFL scouts, Weeden might as well be 48. 

Those experts and scouts are too focused on graduating and early-entry college quarterbacks under the age of 24 to laud the efforts of a guy who was born five months after the theatrical release of The Return of the Jedi. 

And who can blame them? In a sport that turns out an abundance of 32-year-old retirees, NFL franchises have less time to maximize a player's potential than ever before.

Obviously, early retirement is not as big of a concern for quarterbacks as it is for running backs or other players that are constantly pounding or being pounded, but most drafted quarterbacks do not start from day one in the NFL. 

Aaron Rodgers, coincidentally one of the current NFL quarterbacks younger than Weeden, waited behind Brett Favre for three years before becoming the starter in Green Bay. Luckily, Rodgers was 22 when he was drafted. 

The last quarterback drafted at 28 years of age was Chris Weinke. Weinke, like Weeden, was drafted in the second round of the MLB Draft right out of high school. After toiling in the minor leagues for six years, Weinke went to Florida State on a football scholarship and proceeded to win a Heisman while leading the Seminoles to three straight BCS Championship games and one national title.

Weinke was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the fourth round of 2001 NFL Draft. He started 15 games in Carolina that season and threw six more interceptions than touchdowns. Over the next seven seasons, Weinke made just five starts. 

In just two days of Senior Bowl practice, Brandon Weeden has distinguished himself as the best quarterback prospect from two rosters that include Russell Wilson, Kellen Moore, Kirk Cousins, Ryan Lindley and Nick Foles. 

Weeden is making crisp throws and sound decisions. Weeden looks more ready for the next level than any of the other five quarterbacks at the Senior Bowl.  

With most of his would-be professional developmental years already spent, Weeden would certainly be a risk to draft at 28. But the more he proves and produces between now and April, the more scouts and experts should be willing look past his age.