NFL Combine Report: Joe Flacco

If you have not yet heard of Joe Flacco, I can assure you that you will be hearing a lot about him in the coming weeks.

Flacco is a 6'6", 232-pound quarterback from the University of Delaware.

Flacco has been creating quite a buzz at the 2008 NFL Scouting Combine. He looks the part of a NFL quarterback and has been continuously compared to Ben Roethlisberger.

Flacco has exceptional arm strength and, surprisingly, he has excellent accuracy for a quarterback that many have labeled as "raw."

The official NFL Combine report on Flacco states that he has a prototype NFL arm, has solid mechanics and can make all NFL throws with ease.

The downside to Flacco is that there are questions about his ability to adjust to a NFL style offense. Flacco spent most of his time out of the shotgun at Delaware, which raises major questions as to his ability to drop back from the line of scrimmage.

There are also questions about his ability to adjust to the speed of a NFL game as he has spent his college career playing against players of a quality far below that of NFL players.

As far as pure physical ability, Flacco could be the best quarterback in the draft.

Where Flacco suffers is in his ability to step in and make an immediate contribution to whatever team drafts him. He is the type of quarterback that will need some leeway for development.

It is rare to find a quarterback with the size, arm strength and accuracy of Flacco. Teams that are in a long-term rebuilding process should give Flacco some serious thought.

Flacco is the hidden gem in the 2008 NFL Draft—although, if he continues creating a buzz at the combine, he might no longer be a "hidden" gem.