Drafting the "One": Which Quarterback Should the Tennessee Titans Take?

The Tennessee Titans will be left with a tough decision this April as they try and decide who to take with the eighth overall draft pick.

With Andrew Luck staying at Stanford, the quarterback class gets thin real quick. It also doesn’t help that six of the seven teams ahead of the Titans do not have a solid quarterback in place.

Assuming that no quarterback gets taken ahead of the Titans, who should they pick? Here is a breakdown of each quarterback and why the Titans should draft them.

Blaine Gabbert, Missouri, JR. 6’5″, 235lbs

Gabbert seems to be ESPN’s favorite to be the first quarterback selected. Gabbert looked good this last year, completing 63 percent of his passes. He threw for 3,000 yards and threw seven more touchdowns than interceptions.

Gabbert is a typical pocket passer and makes very accurate throws. He is not officially in the draft, and considering he had a better sophomore year than he did junior, he may decide to finish one more year before coming out.

Jake Locker, Washington, SR. 6’3″, 230lbs

Locker was predicted to go No. 1 overall last year, before he decided to return for his senior year at Washington. He threw for just over 2,000 yards, which was 800 yards shy of his sophomore stats. However, his lack in stats does not mean he is a bad quarterback.

Locker’s biggest fault is his size. At only 6’3″, he is one of the shortest quarterbacks in the draft. This is why he will fall to the second or third round. One thing you cannot teach in the NFL is height.

Ryan Mallett, Arkansas, JR. 6’6″, 238lbs

Mallett was another quarterback who was expected to go to the draft last year, but instead returned to school. Mallett has one of the stronger arms in college football and is extremely accurate, throwing a 65 percent completion percentage.

Mallett’s biggest fault is his immobility. If he does not have a good offensive line, he will be trapped in the pocket. However, Peyton Manning, Brett Favre and Tom Brady are not the most mobile quarterbacks either.

Cam Newton, Auburn, JR. 6’6″, 250lbs

Newton is the best quarterback in the draft. ESPN will disagree, but the stats don’t lie. His 2,800 yards passing does not sound like a lot, but add that to his 1,500 yards rushing and he has more yards than any other quarterback. He managed 50 total touchdowns and less than 10 turnovers.

There really is not a downside to Newton, but everyone seems to think he will not translate to the NFL.

So there you have it, the four quarterbacks who the Titans might take with the eighth overall pick. If it were up to me I would pick Newton, but will Bud Adams or Jeff Fisher want another Vince Young on their hands?

If the Titans do not take a quarterback in the draft who should they pick up? Find out who I think be reading my latest blog: Tennessee Titans: 5 Quarterbacks Who Could Replace Vince Young in 2011