NFL Draft 2011: Power Ranking Top 10 Quarterbacks for Titans To Consider
Everyone is pretty much in agreement that the Tennessee Titans desperately have to make the right move for a quarterback in this year's NFL Draft if they're going to compete in the AFC anytime soon.
Although this year's draft class lacks a quarterback with as much pro-potential as say Stanford's Andrew Luck, there's still several quarterbacks who could very easily become solid NFL starters in the future.
The Titans will most likely take one of these in the draft, and here's a list of the best ones.
10. T.J. Yates (North Carolina)
1 of 10
T.J. Yates really hasn't gotten much hype heading into the draft thanks in large part to his lack of arm strength.
His inability to really throw the ball vertically makes him a big risk for any team who is in need of a franchise quarterback like the Titans.
However, Yates does have a lot of good things about his game that make him worth a look in the later rounds.
He's known for his leaderships qualities and deserves a ton of credit for leading his team to a Music City Bowl win despite losing so many players to suspension.
9. Tyrod Taylor (Virginia Tech)
2 of 10
There's only one thing keeping Tyrod Taylor from being one of the better prospects in this draft and that's the concerns with his accuracy.
Taylor only had a completion percentage of 56 for his collegiate career, but he did improve in his senior season.
If you take that part out then you've got yourself a quarterback that has a ton of potential when you consider his athleticism and toughness.
His arm strength is exceptional and he's obviously the most mobile quarterback in the draft class.
He'll slip down pretty far in the draft, but most likely the Titans will already have their quarterback long before the round comes where Taylor should be picked.
8. Christian Ponder (Florida State)
3 of 10
Their are tons of concerns surrounding Christian Ponder's ability stay healthy once he gets into the much more physical NFL game.
He had enough difficulty staying healthy in college.
Ponder had multiple injuries in 2010 that ranged from a concussion to ruptured bursa sac.
There are a lot of positive things to counter the health concerns.
He had a great Wonderlic score, and ended his collegiate career with a bang by earning MVP honors for the Senior Bowl.
Ponder is also one of the more accurate quarterbacks in this draft class, especially if he's inserted into a west coast offense that involved a lot of quick throws down the middle.
If the Titans want to address other needs during the early part of the draft and save a quarterback for later, then Ponder may be an option they'll have to consider.
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7. Ricky Stanzi (Iowa)
4 of 10
A quarterback with a great NFL-build, proven leadership qualities, and a record of 26-9 as a starter in college is what you'll be getting with Ricky Stanzi.
The best part about Stanzi's game that will serve him well in the NFL is his ability to shift in the pocket.
All of the great NFL quarterbacks are great at shifting around in the pocket, even if they're not necessarily that mobile.
The major knock on Stanzi is that he's not very accurate when he's flushed from the pocket, but that's something that can be fixed once he gets into the NFL.
He may not be a first-year starter, but whatever team gets him will have a lot to work with to make him an NFL starter.
6. Colin Kaepernick (Nevada)
5 of 10
No quarterback's draft stock has risen as much as Colin Kaepernick's has over the offseason.
He may not have even been on the list heading into the offseason.
The biggest part of Kaepernick's game is his ability to extend plays and run for the first down if needed, but that doesn't always equal success in the NFL.
Kaepernick's arm accuracy and decision-making has to get better before he becomes a full-time starter in the NFL.
He'll be a great fit for a team who can afford to keep him as a backup for at least one season so his mechanics can be fine-tuned.
There's no questioning his great, and often accurate arm that will make it hard for teams to pass on past the second round.
If the Titans want him, they'll have to pull the trigger with one of their first two picks most likely.
5. Andy Dalton (TCU)
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Anytime you bring in a quarterback that is use to winning as starter, then you're bringing in a talent that could end up doing great things for your organization.
Andy Dalton only suffered three losses in his last three seasons as a starter.
Frankly the major thing keeping Dalton from being a first-round pick is his physical frame, which is below average for an NFL quarterback.
It's all a question of whether his solid mechanics can outweigh his lack of size.
These kinds of decisions can make or break you in the draft, and Dalton will definitely be on the minds of the Titans front office on draft day.
4. Jake Locker (Washington)
7 of 10
An average senior season dropped Jake Locker from a possible top five pick to possibly slipping into the second round.
There's still no denying Locker's potential of being a great NFL starter with his ability to throw the ball deep down the field, and tuck it and run for the first down when needed.
He's also shown that he can take a beating as he played in an option-stye offense throughout his career.
You could make a mild comparison to how Ben Roethlisberger plays the game to how Locker has played at Washington.
Locker will most likely got late first round, but it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility if he slips down to the Titans' second round pick.
3. Ryan Mallett (Arkansas)
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Now we're getting to the cream of the crop of this year's quarterback draft class.
Ryan Mallett's character concerns have recently dropped his draft stock, but his mechanics are hard to ignore.
His arm strength and accuracy make him a possible first-year starter in the NFL if a team is desperate enough.
He played in a pro-style offense throughout his collegiate career at Arkansas.
Whichever team drafts him should make sure their offensive line is a good one because Mallet's pocket mobility is another concern.
2. Cam Newton (Auburn)
9 of 10
Just a moth ago it seemed very likely that the Titans would have an opportunity to maybe take Cam Newton, but his stock has risen more and more leading up to the draft.
Newton has the potential to be an NFL superstar with his athleticism, arm strength, and winning mentality.
However, the high risk is there to with his attitude and his inability to read multiple coverages. Newton only managed a 21 on the Wonderlic test, which is below the NFL average.
You still can't overlook his raw talent that can be developed into something greater over his first few seasons in the NFL.
1. Blaine Gabbert (Missouri)
10 of 10
By far the most accurate quarterback this year is Blaine Gabbert, and he has a quick delivery to go along with it.
He's also a lot tougher to bring down in the pocket than some people may realize, and that's a necessity in the NFL.
The only thing that may keep Gabbert from going in the top three is that he rarely lined up under center in college, something that always seemed to plague Vince Young.
However, no other quarterback is probably more capable of being a solid starter in his rookie season than Gabbert.
The draft class is much stronger at linebacker, and the Titans are weak in this area as well.
They'll need to consider many of the great linebacker prosepcts in this year's draft class.
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