Each First-Round Rookie NFL Quarterback's Report Card Grade so Far

Ah, it's back-to-school time, so there's no better time to dole out some report cards for the 2012 NFL draft's Round 1 quarterbacks.

Some certainly have fared better than others, but the good news is that we still have a little over two weeks before the real opening kickoff. Therefore, these new signal-callers have some time to buff out the rough spots.

After all, that's what the preseason is for, right?

Let's take a gander at how Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, Ryan Tannehill and Brandon Weeden have panned out thus far.

Andrew Luck, Colts

The only way Andrew Luck can start his NFL career even better is by tossing a touchdown on his first play from scrimmage in the regular season.

In his first performance against the St. Louis Rams, he went above and beyond. Luck went 10-of-16 with two scores, no picks and 188 yards passing.

Yes, this was against the Rams in the preseason, so we can't get overzealous. Nonetheless, it was a great start. Game 2 against the Pittsburgh Steelers wasn't as impressive statistically, but Luck did go 16-of-25 and proved how well he can spread the field by putting confidence behind some tough throws over the middle.

Against one of the NFL's best defenses, Luck remained patient in the pocket and used his mobility when needed. If we saw anything, it was that he never got nervous and always focused on the next play.

For as much as Luck has remained in the spotlight since his days at Stanford, the kid has handled pressure exceptionally well on the field.

Grade: A+

Robert Griffin III, Redskins

Much like Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III had a solid first preseason performance.

Against the Buffalo Bills, he went 4-of-6 with a touchdown and neglected to take off running like his college days. Griffin also displayed patience, remaining poised and controlled in the pocket.

We know he possesses the arm strength and accuracy to make all the throws, so that will just become more evident in the regular season.

The Chicago Bears were next, and the Monsters of the Midway gave RG3 a rough welcome to the NFL. Unlike Buffalo, the Bears attacked and got to Griffin three times while also forcing a fumble. So despite the offensive line getting exposed, Griffin does need to improve at pre-snap reads.

Still, the man went 5-of-8 passing with no picks and gave us a minor glimpse of his mobility. This kind of game will just happen sometimes, so it's a matter of learning from it to continue the development.

For as little as we've seen RG3 this preseason, the potential does reside within.

Grade: B

Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins

So far, the common thread of impressive first games leads through Ryan Tannehill.

Going 14-of-21 for 167 yards and one touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers certainly gave a sense of relief to Miami Dolphins fans.

Of this draft class, Tannehill has arguably the strongest arm and quickest release, which he exhibited against the Bucs. The next step is to improve his feel for the pass rush. Although he wasn't sacked, developing in this area will only allow Tannehill to see the field better and increase his confidence.

The Carolina Panthers, though, were not so gracious. Tannehill was sacked three times and went just 11-of-23. Here, Tannehill could have used his mobility a bit more and made some better pre-snap reads.

That said, it's all a part of the developmental process. The Panthers exposed his current lack of pocket awareness and capitalized on Tannehill's NFL inexperience.

Grade: B

Brandon Weeden, Browns

On the contrary to his first-round predecessors, Brandon Weeden had a rough outing in Game 1 but enjoyed more success in Game 2.

The Detroit Lions rattled Weeden, and he went just 3-of-9 with an interception and a fumble. He was also sacked one time. Optimistically, though, Weeden did briefly display his arm strength and accuracy on the completions.

All he needed thereafter was to build consistency, which is what the Browns got in the second test.

In finishing 12-of-20 for 118 yards against the Green Bay Packers, Weeden certainly improved his setup in the pocket and feel for the rush. In taking what the defense gave him, Weeden emitted more confidence on his throws over the middle and stepped up nicely when facing pressure.

Granted, he also had typical (for a rookie) ill-advised decisions which led to overthrows and multiple near turnovers. Nevertheless, Weeden upped his game against a tougher opponent, and Cleveland can't ask for much more after his first appearance.

Grade: C+

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