Why Ryan Tannehill Will Be the 2012 NFL Draft's Most Shocking Success Story

Ryan Tannehill did not work out at the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine thanks to his recovery from foot surgery, but that hasn't stopped the Texas A&M quarterback's rise up draft boards. 

Tannehill did measure in this week, and at 6'4" and 221 pounds he has ideal size for the position. The fact that he played wide receiver until the final year-and-a-half of his college career means he's raw, but he has shown an incredibly advanced feel for the position. He has the arm and decision-making ability to be a great NFL quarterback.

The drawback to what the Texas A&M product brings to the table is the fact that he doesn't have a ton of experience. He definitely won't be able to start as a rookie, and will have to continue his development from the sidelines. That said, he could have as much upside as anyone in the 2012 draft class.

Tannehill is a natural athlete and, thanks to his time as a receiver, has phenomenal agility for a quarterback. But he balances that with outstanding intangibles and a very good arm. 

As things stand now, Tannehill is almost certain to be the third quarterback taken after Stanford's Andrew Luck and Baylor's Robert Griffin III. In fact, according to Rotoworld, the NFL Network's Mike Mayock compared Tannehill favorably to Jake Locker and suggested that he could be a top 10 pick. 

There is just something about this kid on film that stands out. He seems like a winner, and he has all the measureables and intangibles you want from a franchise quarterback. 

Most people had probably never heard of Tannehill before the draft process started up, and even after this much time has passed, he's certainly not a household name. When you consider his upside, in three years he could be the most shocking success story of the 2012 draft class.