NFL Draft 2012: 5 Reasons Ryan Tannehill Will Fail as an NFL QB

Ryan Tannehill has become the focus of one of the biggest debates of this coming NFL draft. As the No. 3-ranked quarterback behind Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III, Tannehill is projected to be a first-round selection and a possible franchise quarterback.  

Colts owner Jim Irsay has sang Tannehill's praises via Twitter, calling him a hidden gem. Tannehill is one of the most athletic prospects in the draft and has many of the qualities needed to be an NFL quarterback.

However, not everybody is aboard the Tannehill bandwagon. Former Baltimore Ravens coach Brian Billick gave some negative feedback regarding the Texas A&M quarterback, saying Tannehill reminds him of JaMarcus Russell.

Considering Russell is arguably the biggest bust in NFL draft history, the comparison may be a bit extreme. But it's not much of a stretch to assume that Tannehill will be a bust at the professional level.

Here are five reasons why he might fall into that infamous category.

1. True Quarterback?

Ryan Tannehill didn't begin his college career playing quarterback. The Texas A&M product started off as a wide receiver. But by midway in his junior season, he took over at quarterback.

There were some impressive games for Tannehill, but also some head-scratchers as well. In his first official start, Tannehill completed 36 of 50 passes for 449 yards and four touchdowns against Texas Tech.

On the other hand, Tannehill struggled at times his senior season, throwing nine interceptions, three in each game, in losses to Texas, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.

While his athleticism gives him a slight benefit of the doubt, one can't help but wonder if he truly made the transition to quarterback. If he struggled converting to quarterback in college, he'll have a rough road trying to transition to the position in the NFL.

2. Winner?

The majority of Tannehill's glory came in his senior season, but the bigger proportion of that success was at an individual level. 

Texas A&M finished 7-6 his senior season, including a Meineke Car Care Bowl victory against Northwestern. However, the wins and losses are big red flags on Tannehill's resume.

The Aggies didn't struggle much against weaker competition, but wound up on the losing end of games against legitimate teams. Texas A&M lost close games to Oklahoma State, Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas State and Texas.

With no real signature victory, is Tannehill worth the hype that surrounds him? If you're referring to his physical attributes and some impressive statistical showings, sure. But in the NFL, statistics have to be accompanied by quality victories. Tannehill doesn't have enough of those.

3. Competition Still in School

Tannehill is the No. 3-ranked quarterback prospect, but that wouldn't be the case if some other quarterbacks had entered the draft.

The most talked-about quarterbacks in this past college season were Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, Matt Barkley and Landry Jones. Luck and Griffin have already entered their names in the draft, and will more than likely be the first two names called by Roger Goodell in New York.

With hopes of having a more successful season and being a higher NFL draft pick next year, Barkley and Jones decided to go back to school.

Until Barkley and Jones decided to go back to school, Tannehill was an afterthought. His college accomplishments didn't earn him much attention from NFL scouts, and all for good reason. Tannehill had limited time as the Aggies' starting quarterback. More needed to be done for him to surpass Barkley and Jones in the eyes of NFL talent evaluators. 

4. Good but Not Great Numbers

A lot of Tannehill's positive analysis comes from his 6'4", 225-pound frame, and his unique athletic ability as a dual-threat quarterback. These positives have helped boost Tannehill's stock, forcing some mock drafts to place him as a top-10 pick.

However, his numbers and production don't validate those projections. His wins weren't impressive, and his stats compared to other college quarterbacks didn't stand out. Tannehill threw for 3,744 yards, with 29 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. The touchdowns and yards aren't bad numbers, but they don't equal a top-10 draft pick either. 

Heisman winner Robert Griffin III threw for 4,293 yards, with 37 touchdowns and only six interceptions. Andrew Luck, the consensus No. 1 overall pick, threw for 3,517 yards, with 37 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Matt Barkley threw for 3,528 yards, with 39 touchdowns and seven interceptions. And in leading Oklahoma to a 10-3 record, Landry Jones threw for 4,463 yards, with 29 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.

Tannehill's numbers don't justify the hype and attention that has surrounded him in this draft process. Tannehill was extremely impressive in his pro day and left scouts amazed. On the field against college competition, there wasn't enough proof to truly label him as one of the better prospects coming out this year.  

5. Teams Will Reach for QB Need

The NFL today is a quarterback-driven league, and teams will do just about anything to find the right guy. 

The Miami Dolphins and the Cleveland Browns are the favorites to land Tannehill. The Browns are sitting at the No. 4 spot. However, Cleveland is notorious for trading down in the first round to gain more picks.

After trading its first-round pick to the Atlanta Falcons in the draft last year and losing out on Julio Jones, and not trading up this year with the St. Louis Rams for the No. 2 pick and the opportunity to draft Robert Griffin III, this could be the year Cleveland stops trading down and selects Tannehill at No. 4. 

Miami has been linked to Tannehill with the No. 8 pick, but the Browns are in desperate need of a franchise quarterback.

If these teams pass on Tannehill, he could possibly fall to a team like the Kansas City Chiefs. With no sure long-term quarterback under center, Tannehill could be picked as a project player behind Matt Cassel.

Tannehill seems best-suited for a West Coast offense, but that doesn't mean he's an automatic first-round pick. With quarterbacks in demand in the NFL, many teams will more than likely make a strong push to reel in Tannehill.

Realistically, he's a second-round talent. But his physical prowess will earn him some luck and a higher selection in this year's draft.