2011 NFL Draft: The 15 Best Impact QBs on the Big Board
The 2011 NFL Draft will have a very deep crop of quarterbacks, and chances are there are a lot more quarterbacks drafted in the first four rounds than there were last year.
There are quarterback questions on far too many teams in the league for the kinds of drops we saw for quarterbacks last year.
So how big of an impact will some of these quarterbacks have? It's hard to say for sure in November, but we can speculate.
This order is based on how big of an impact we think the quarterback will have in the league, it is not necessarily based on draft order.
15. Case Keenum, Houston
1 of 15
Case Keenum is a "project" quarterback, but he has tremendous arm strength, which will give him a chance somewhere in the league.
You won't see Keenum his rookie year, but time and injuries to starters will allow him to eventually get on the field. Once given a chance, and if he listens to his coaches, Keenum will become a familiar name in the league.
14. Nathan Enderle, Idaho
2 of 15
Enderle has shown good leadership skills, but he has been bitten by the injury bug on more than one occassion.
If he can stay healthy, Enderle has shown he also is a very smart quarterback and has been given more freedom to call his own plays than is usual for a lot of college signal-callers.
With that kind of intelligence and confidence, Endlerle can impress coaches and make a roster easily this year. He's the kind of quarterback that makes the most of his opportunities.
13. Blaine Gabbert, Missouri
3 of 15
Another spread quarterback, Gabbert has to work on his reads and throws into coverage.
Gabbert is known as a hard worker and his arm strength is considered elite. Like any other strong-armed quarterback, his ability to impress the coaches in other aspects of the game will determine whether or not he gets on the field.
If he does, look out.
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12. Tyrod Taylor, Virginia Tech
4 of 15
At "only" 6' 1", Taylor's height is considered "marginal" by the scouts. While it's true another inch or two can make a real difference, Taylor has been a proven winner over the years who does what he needs to do to win the game.
Taylor's downgraded because of his footwork and other deficiencies when it comes to specific skills, but those are all coachable, and its very possible Taylor will be a starting quarterback in the NFL if given the chance.
11. Ricky Stanzi, Iowa
5 of 15
Stanzi is a leader, there has been no question about that, but he gets huge black marks for being able to read and react to defenses, and his tendency to throw into coverage.
Stanzi also has been criticized for his "wind up" before he throws, but look no farther than Tim Tebow to see how much that matters. If it's a technical problem, pro coaches believe they can fix it.
If Stanzi is a natural leader, he'll command the offense enough during practice to earn a shot at the field when times are tough.
10. Colin Kaepernick, Nevada
6 of 15
Kaepernick also will have to learn the pro game due to the system he plays in now, but Kaepernick has a great arm and good touch for mid-range passes.
Kaepernick is a very good athlete, though, and his potential is very good.
9. Pat Devlin, Delaware
7 of 15
Devlin is 6' 3", 220 lbs and is getting a reputation for making good decisions, not forcing the ball and being accurate with his throws.
He has good height and bulk, and if you go through his scouting report, you may wonder why he's not ranked higher.
Devlin has a very good chance of starting the 2011 season as a second string, and the opportunities that may open are endless.
8. Andy Dalton, TCU
8 of 15
Dalton is a very mobile quarterback who makes good reads, good decisions and is one of the more accurate passers in the draft.
Dalton's mobility will get him noticed, and if he can adjust to the NFL game (he plays in a spread offense), Dalton quickly will supplant a veteran quarterback.
7. Greg McElroy, Alabama
9 of 15
Greg McIlroy has one pretty big game on his resume that included a fourth quarter, game-winning drive last year.
This year he continues to impress, and his leadership skills are not questioned. McIlroy will have to start all over in the NFL, but he'll quickly make an impression and help a struggling team.
6. Kellen Moore, Boise State
10 of 15
With a 188.84 QB rating, almost 3,000 yards passing and 28 touchdowns so far this year, there's no doubt Kellen Moore will get a chance somewhere in the NFL next year.
Moore already plays in a big-time program, even if the BCS doesn't want to talk about it, and he's shown he can lead an offense and make big plays.
Moore probably will get drafted higher than people think, and he may end up getting an opportunity to start before the end of the 2011 season.
5. Christian Ponder, Florida State
11 of 15
Christian Ponder has exhibited all the skills you want to see out of a top prospect, and he has the leadership, arm and intelligence to be a successful quarterback.
Depending on the team who drafts him, he may or may not start right away. But once he does get in the game, he'll stake his claim and there will be no dislodging him from the role.
Ponder is that good.
4. Ryan Mallett, Arkansas
12 of 15
Ryan Mallett may be a first-round draft pick, but his impact the first season will be questionable, depending on who takes him.
Mallett is very tall, has great size and a great arm. However, his decision-making has been questioned, and some of his skills need work.
There's no doubt Mallett will make an impact in 2011, but if he's not coached properly it could be a bad one.
3. Jake Locker, Washington
13 of 15
Jake Locker is going to remind people of a combination of several quarterbacks. He appears to have Brett Favre's on-field ability to make plays happen while throwing himself all over the field, he has Tom Brady's leadership skills and he's athletic enough to be compared to a plethora of young quarterbacks.
Locker is a star in the making, and whatever team gets him will have him starting in Week 1.
2. Andrew Luck, Stanford
14 of 15
Andrew Luck will be a starting quarterback in the NFL in Week 1 of the 2011 season. His impact will be immediate, on the level of Matthew Stafford and Sam Bradford.
The only thing keeping him from being number one is this little quarterback from a small school you might have heard of . . .
1. Cam Newton, Auburn
15 of 15
Cam Newton's time at Auburn now looks to be about over as the NCAA continues its investigation.
Whatever the outcome, Newton no longer will be around to care about it.
Newton is 6' 5", 248 lbs., and has incredible arm strength, and he throws on the run a lot, which will invite comparisons to Michael Vick.
Deserved or not, Newton is fast becoming the talk of draft gurus as the NCAA investigation apparently will prompt him to come out of college a year early.
Newton is a project, but like Tim Tebow before him, his potential is high, and there are teams who will want to develop him and make him part of their success story.
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