Senior Bowl 2013: Ranking Top Quarterbacks Heading into NFL Draft

A handful of top quarterbacks in the nation will showcase their skills one more time for NFL teams on January 26 at the 2013 Senior Bowl.

The Senior Bowl is meant to give players who have excelled throughout their careers the opportunity to play in front of thousands before they enter the NFL draft with the hopes of getting drafted and getting a shot at the next level.

Although West Virginia star Geno Smith—arguably the top quarterback available in April’s draft—won’t be on the field, several other notable quarterbacks will and they’re sure to impress.

Let’s take a look at the top quarterbacks playing in the Senior Bowl and where they’re expected to go in a couple of months.

3. Mike Glennon, North Carolina State

Mike Glennon isn’t expected to play nearly as well as former teammate Russell Wilson has at the NFL level, but he’s is projected to be taken somewhere between the second and third round of the NFL draft.

Glennon finished the season with the ninth-most passing yards in the nation—throwing for just over 4,000—while passing for 31 touchdowns and 17 interceptions.

Glennon is a big kid at 6’5’’ and 232 pounds that is most likely headed for a backup role as a rookie. He has a relatively strong arm, but needs to improve in a few areas before earning the opportunity to start on a regular basis in the NFL.

Glennon is probably the second-best quarterback that will be taking snaps for the North come Saturday, ahead of Zac Dysert of Miami (OH), but behind the next player featured.

2. Ryan Nassib, Syracuse

Ryan Nassib might not be one of the better-known quarterbacks in the country, but he deserves some credit. He helped Syracuse to a successful regular season, a bowl berth and a New Era Pinstripe Bowl victory over West Virginia.

Nassib finished his senior campaign with more than 3,700 yards, 26 touchdowns and 10 picks—getting a little better each season as a part of the Orange.

Nassib isn’t as strong as some of the other quarterbacks available, but is mobile and can evade sacks on the move. One of the major weaknesses he has is that he’s been regarded as a quarterback that forces passes. Around two percent of his attempts been interception, but countless have been too close for comfort.

As one of the top five quarterbacks available in April, Nassib is likely to go somewhere early in the second round of the draft. The aforementioned Smith, Matt Barkley and the next featured quarterback are all expected to hear their names called before him.

1. Tyler Wilson, Arkansas

Tyler Wilson has been as consistent as they come the past two seasons leading the Razorbacks although Arkansas in general has been inconsistent. After winning the Cotton Bowl in 2011, they only won four games in 2012 and missed bowl season completely.

But back to Wilson, he’s thrown for at least 3,300 yards each of the last two seasons, while also completing around 62 percent of his passes and throwing at least 20 touchdowns.

Wilson will do whatever it takes to try and make a good pass, even if it means taking a huge hit at the end of the play. He’s got a pretty strong arm compared to other available quarterbacks and is definitely more of a pocket passer more than anything.

Wilson could go as early as top 15 in the 2013 NFL draft, but could also go as late as early-second round. Not a ton of teams are going to go with a quarterback early, but he’ll likely be the second off the board no matter what.