2011 NFL Draft Predictions: Which QBs Will Shine or Flop at the NFL Combine?

The NFL Combine serves as time when players can greatly improve their draft stock. Players can also drastically hurt their stock by under performing at the combine. 

For those players not well known, being invited to the NFL Combine is a huge honor. They need to make the most of their time next week and impress the NFL scouts. 

In this article, we'll focus on the quarterbacks. I've selected 10 guys who will either shine or flop at the NFL Combine. Let the debate begin.  

10. Greg McElroy, Alabama

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ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 01: Greg McElroy #12 of the Alabama Crimson Tide warms up during the Capitol One Bowl against the Michigan State Spartans at the Florida Citrus Bowl on January 1, 2011 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Flop

Greg McElroy's height is of some concern. Some list him at 6'1" and others at 6'3". If he comes to the combine and measures towards the smaller end, scouts won't be too thrilled. McElroy weighs 225 pounds, which is a good build for an NFL quarterback if he's actually 6'3". 

McElroy isn't very mobile nor does he have a strong arm. He is a great leader with tremendous toughness; the guy knows how to take a hit. He can't make the deep throws which scouts will dislike. McElroy will also disappoint with his 40-yard dash time. His accuracy is good, but I don't believe McElroy will have a good showing at the combine.

9. Pat Devlin, Delaware

Flop 

Devlin is an inconsistent passer. He'll make a great throw one play, and then completely miss on the next. Devlin's pocket presence isn't the greatest, as he will hold onto the ball too long sometimes. 

Devlin needs some help with his footwork and often pushes the envelope with some throws. At the combine Devlin will miss his targets and his stock will fall. He's currently projected to go into the fourth round, but I believe that's based on his size. He's listed at 6'4" and 227 pounds. Scouts will see what he's really made of next week. 

8. Colin Kaepernick, Nevada

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LAS VEGAS - OCTOBER 02: Quarterback Colin Kaepernick #10 of the Nevada Reno Wolf Pack looks to pass against the UNLV Rebels in the third quarter of their game at Sam Boyd Stadium October 2, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Nevada Reno won 44-26. (Photo by Et

Shine

Kaepernick is another quarterback to keep your eyes on at the combine. Some say he's 6'6" and others say he's 6'4". He weighs 225 pounds, meaning he's got the size to translate well to the NFL. But does he have the skill?

Teams will be debating over Kaepernick as a mid- to late-round pick. He needs time to develop in the NFL to work on his passing skills. He has the athletic ability, and he'll showcase it at the combine. 

Kaepernick threw for over 3,000 yards, ran for over 1,200 yards and scored a total of 41 touchdowns last season. He'll have a good showing at the combine and wow the scouts with his skills. He's not the best passer out there, but he'll do enough to show he's worthy to be drafted. 

7. Ricky Stanzi, Iowa

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MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 29: Quarterback Ricky Stanzi #12 of the North Team passes over South Team defenders during second quarter of the Under Armour Senior Bowl on January 29, 2011 at Ladd Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Im

Shine 

Stanzi is going to be a starter one day. The NFL Combine is where he'll show that he can play. He's going to be drafted, but not until the later rounds. I predict Stanzi is going to be one of the steals of the draft. 

He needs time to develop as his footwork is messy, as is his accuracy. However, he will do much better than others at the combine, thus improving his draft stock. Stanzi is the ideal size for an NFL quarterback. He's listed at 6'4" and 225 pounds and can actually move well in the pocket. Stanzi is smart with the ball but needs work on his release.

He improved as his career went on, and he won't stop getting better.  

6. Christian Ponder, Florida State

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TALLAHASSEE, FL - NOVEMBER 27: Christian Ponder #7 of the Florida State Seminoles throws for a first down during a game against the Florida Gators at Doak Campbell Stadium on November 27, 2010 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Flop 

Ponder has great mobility and speed, which will impress the scouts, but he lacks all the other qualities a quarterback needs. He is inconsistent and not very wise with the football. Ponder telegraphs his throws and misses his targets on some routes. 

Ponder is solid at throwing over the middle, but needs work on the out routes and deep throws. He locks onto receivers and gets flustered when his go-to guy is covered. At the combine, he'll miss on a couple of throws, and it won't turn out well. Ponder lets his emotions get to him and it affects his play. 

5. Andy Dalton, TCU

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PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Quarterback Andy Dalton #14 of the TCU Horned Frogs throws a pass against the Wisconsin Badgers in the 97th Rose Bowl game on January 1, 2011 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Flop 

Many people are hoping on board the Andy Dalton train. I chose to stick it out and wait for another one. Dalton thrived on weak teams in the Mountain West Conference while in college. Many believe he's underrated and will surprise people at the combine. I am not one of them. 

Dalton has been getting a lot of praise recently from draft gurus Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr. They believe he could sneak into the second round. I'm not buying that. Dalton will flop at the combine and make the experts look dumb.

Dalton is listed at 6'2", 213, which is of concern to scouts. He'll definitely need to bulk up some to become a starter in the NFL. He reminds me a little of Jimmy Clausen, and we saw how well he did last year.  

4. Jake Locker, Washington

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SEATTLE - OCTOBER 30: Quarterback Jake Locker #10 of the Washington Huskies passes against the Stanford Cardinal on October 30, 2010 at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

Shine 

Locker's inconsistency is killing him. He was good, and then he was bad. He was great, and then he was really bad. His game play fluctuated too much over the course of the year and his stock fell. 

Many wonder what all this 6'3", 228 pound quarterback will do at the combine. I think Locker needs to do all drills to show scouts he isn't concerned with the negativity he's been receiving.

If he doesn't do some drills, scouts will look at it as if he's afraid to hurt his stock any more than it's already been hit. Get in there and show them what you've got, Jake. 

Locker will shine at the combine and reclaim his spot as one of the best quarterbacks in the draft. 

3. Ryan Mallett, Arkansas

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NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 04: Quarterback Ryan Mallett #15 of the Arkansas Razorbacks looks to pass against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome on January 4, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Matthew

Shine 

Another guy whose stock has taken a big hit over the past month. Mallett didn't have a great showing in the Sugar Bowl against Ohio State, which greatly hurt him. His last pass of his college career was an interception, not a good way to go out. 

Mallett has to compete in all the drills to show scouts everything he has. He may wait until his pro day to throw with his receivers, but throwing at the combine is the way to go. Only a select handful of teams make the trip to a player's pro day, whereas all teams are at the combine. 

At 6'6" and 238 pounds, Mallett is the ideal quarterback size. He could use some work on his footwork. What he lacks in speed he makes up for in arm strength. Mallett can throw it better than anyone in the draft.

The major thing scouts are worried about is his decision-making skills with the ball. He needs to be smarter with this throws. He'll do well in the drills at the combine, and sneak back into the first round in the mock drafts.  

2. Blaine Gabbert, Missouri

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TEMPE, AZ - DECEMBER 28: Quarterback Blaine Gabbert #11 of the Missouri Tigers drops back to pass during the Insight Bowl against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Sun Devil Stadium on December 28, 2010 in Tempe, Arizona. The Hawkeyes defeated the Tigers 27-24. (P

Flop 

Another guy with great size that NFL scouts are high on. Gabbert is listed at 6'5", 240 pounds. Once Andrew Luck decided to return for his senior season, Gabbert emerged as the top prospect at quarterback. Everybody bit on him and the hype continued to grow as the days went on.

I'm not buying into the Gabbert hype. I don't think his skills immediately translate well to the NFL. When you consider drafting a quarterback within the top 10, he better be a guy who can start right away. To me Gabbert still needs some work.

He came from a spread system that is based off the quick throws. Gabbert doesn't have great experience under center, which worries me. He moves well in the backfield but is going to need time to adjust to the pro-style drop back and the reads that come with it.

Gabbert is another guy who probably won't participate in all the workouts. He also may wait until his pro day to throw to his receivers. With the recent hype Cam Newton has received, I believe Gabbert should get out there and throw the ball. He needs to show the scouts that he is the clear No. 1.

If he gets out there and throws, I predict it won't end well, which is probably why he isn't going to throw. Gabbert will foil under the pressure.  

1. Cam Newton, Auburn

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SAN DIEGO, CA - FEBRUARY 10: 2010 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Cam Newton of the Auburn Tigers goes through his workout routine for the media at Cathedral High School's sports stadium on February 10, 2011 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Kent H

Shine

Really, I should put this as neutral. Newton is unlikely to participate in all the drills. He held a media workout where he blew some people away.

Newton has been working with Warren Moon and George Whitfield Jr., trying to improve his game. If he throws at the combine, which is doubtful, he'll turn a few heads by the way he's improved.

Newton will shine with his athletic ability. He still needs a lot of work with his throwing mechanics and overall decision making. However his size, strength and quickness will blow scouts away. 

The ideal situation for Newton would be to go to a team where he can wait and learn for a couple of years and then start. If Newton can get a few years of development, he could be really dangerous in the NFL. 

But things don't always work out the way you'd like them too. Newton has a ton of hype surrounding him, and if a team picks him too early and expects too much, it could be disastrous.