2008 NFL Draft: Best Quarterback Picks

There is an interesting mix of quarterbacks entering the 2008 NFL Draft.

This year’s quarterback class consists of QBs who can step in right away and contribute, and QBs who might not be able to step in and play right away, but have the potential to develop into great quarterbacks in the future.

For this reason I am going to analyze both the top quarterbacks in the 2008 draft at this very moment and also the top quarterbacks from the 2008 draft five years into the future.

Top Quarterbacks at This Moment in the 2008 Draft

Matt Ryan

Matt Ryan is probably the most developed quarterback in the draft at this moment.

He is very accurate and is an excellent decision maker. He is quick to drop back from center to his throwing point, and has the strength to sit in the pocket and absorb some punishment; although he does need to put on about 10 more pounds of bulk.

Ryan’s main negative point is that he lacks the arm strength to challenge the deep secondary.

The NFL combine analysis states that he “Lacks the arm strength to challenge the deep secondary, as his long throws tend to flutter or hang up long enough for defenders to attack the ball in flight.” 

At the NFL Combine, Ryan was most often compared to Chad Pennington, only with slightly better arm strength and more of an ability to execute an intermediate passing attack.

Brian Brohm

Brohm has good arm strength and the ability to throw on the run.

Brohm is not a running threat but has enough mobility to avoid defenders rolling out to the right or the left, and has the arm strength to make accurate intermediate passes while on the move. 

Brohm is considered a very intelligent quarterback with a high football IQ. He is the type of quarterback that spends extra hours analyzing tapes and can quickly learn complex offensive systems. 

Brohm needs to develop better strength in his lower body and he needs to work on his throwing trajectory. He had a number of passes deflected this past season and he will only be up against taller linemen in the NFL.

John David Booty

Now before you throw your arms up in the air at your computer with this choice, remember that this is a list of quarterbacks who can step in and contribute right away.

This is not necessarily a list of the best or most talented quarterbacks in the draft. 

John David Booty is ranked third on this list simply because of his experience at USC. USC runs the closest thing to a NFL offensive of any college team in the nation. Booty’s experience at USC will allow him to quickly learn and step into an NFL offense.

He has good arm strength and accuracy, and can make most intermediate NFL throws.

Although he is good at stepping up in the pocket, he lacks the agility to avoid defenders. He must also improve his arm strength to have a chance at presenting a deep threat to NFL defenses.

Chad Henne

Henne has the arm strength to air the ball out on long throws, but he is better at executing intermediate throws. 

Henne has good upper body mechanics and does a nice job of delivering the ball over the top. He has a good football IQ and will not take many reps for him to learn complex plays. 

Henne can get animated at the line and in the huddle. He needs to learn when to throw the ball away and how to make better audible and pre-snap changes.

Andre Woodson

Woodson has a tall, athletic frame. He has a powerful arm and can throw with a lot of velocity while on the move.

He does a nice job of reading defenses and is probably the most athletic quarterback in the draft, but is still raw in terms of honing his fundamental football skills and his awareness on the field.

Top 2008 Draft Quarterbacks Five Years into the Future

Joe Flacco

Flacco was somewhat unheard of entering the 2008 NFL combine, but he is now on every NFL scout’s radar after his performance at the combine. 

With a 6'6", 232-pound frame and tremendous arm strength, Flacco is the most prototypical NFL quarterback entering the draft. He is widely compared to Ben Roethlisberger. 

Flacco is coming from the University of Delaware and is still very raw. But, as far as throwing the football, Flacco is the most physically talented quarterback in the draft. 

He will need a few years to develop, but if given time, Flacco could develop into a quarterback very similar to Ben Roethlisberger, but with even better arm strength.

Brian Brohm

Brohm has all the tools to develop into a great NFL quarterback.

He has been most compared to Drew Brees, but with better arm strength and better decision making skills. Brohm’s football IQ and willingness to spend hours studying video will allow him to develop into a true professional quarterback. 

Combine Brohm’s physical ability with his football IQ, and you have the recipe for a great NFL quarterback.

Andre Woodson

Woodson is very physically talented but is still a little raw.

A few years of working with NFL quarterbacks coaches will allow Woodson to hone his physical ability and become more fundamentally sound.

His size, physical strength and arm strength, combined with better fundamentals could make Woodson into a top quality NFL quarterback.

Matt Ryan

Ryan was very impressive at Boston College this past season.

But I think that his arm strength is going to present a problem in the NFL.

Not being able to throw the long ball severely limits a team’s offensive options. I think that Ryan will turn into a quarterback similar to Chad Pennington, but with better arm strength, and better ability to scramble.

Matt Ryan could develop into a quarterback with the ability to lead his team to a Super Bowl, but this will be more difficult for him than some of the other quarterbacks with better physical abilities, such as Flacco and Brohm. 

I would predict that Matt Ryan will have an average NFL career.

John David Booty

Booty’s career will wind up being similar to Ryan’s, but not quite as good.

Booty will probably wind up being an average to below average starter in the NFL or a good backup quarterback option for NFL teams.

Booty’s accuracy, experience and ability to play in an NFL style offense could allow Booty to develop into a better quarterback than many expect.

But I think he is just lacking the physical tools to become a good NFL quarterback down the line. My prediction is that five years down the road Booty will be a good back-up option for a team.

Only time will tell how many of the 2008 NFL Draft quarterbacks will develop. But when trying to foretell where these quarterbacks will stand three to five years down the road, you need to look beyond the surface. You need to look at more than college stats and fame.

No one can predict the future.  But to have a chance at estimating how good a quarterback will be three to five years into the future, you need to look heavily at their physical tools—more than any other attribute.