NFL Draft 2011: Will Jake Locker or Blaine Gabbert Be the Better QB?

The surprise of the draft had to be when Jake Locker was picked ahead of Blaine Gabbert as Roger Goodell called out Locker’s name as a Tennessee Titans draft pick.

Whether the choice was perfection or flawed, Tennessee must resolve any conflict within their organization stemming from Vince Young’s departure and move forward with Locker as their leading man.

He showed spurts of franchise ability during his college years, specifically his junior season, but seemingly conked out as his senior season led fans to question his draft status.

Apparently, he did enough to shift Tennessee from that perspective, because they bypassed Gabbert, who was thought to be the more complete quarterback in this year’s draft. Now that the picks are in, which one of the two will be the more progressive pro league QB?

Your attention could dart toward Gabbert, because well, whose would not? He has been progressing in his footwork and ability to take snaps under center throughout the entire evaluation process. His Missouri Pro Day was thought to be one of the most impressive.

There were raving reviews and everyone felt like he would be a safer choice than the ultimate overall No. 1 pick, Cameron Jerell Newton.

Though none of these outlooks came to fruition, as Blaine sat in the green room starving for the phone call that would make him an official NFL quarterback, he still seems to be in the better position.

Gabbert was put on the emotional rollercoaster to end up in the Jacksonville Jaguars camp, who already have a starting quarterback in David Garrard.

The Jaguars were not thought to be in serious contention for a quarterback so high in the draft, so the choice came as something like a surprise.

However, it seems like Jacksonville is on a path that most other franchises have not explored yet.

They are preparing for the future, without catapulting one of their rookies into the lions’ den first. Gabbert will have the opportunity to learn under Garrard, for as long as Jacksonville allows him to.

This pick does put a burner under Garrard’s bottom as far as camp, workout and on-field achievement goes, but Blaine will be able to take his seat on the bench and develop as a quarterback instead of immediately starting in the franchise’s first game.

Most analysts will argue that this is the better way to learn as a football player, especially in the quarterback position.

Arizona Cardinals’ former star quarterback Kurt Warner spent his time on the NFL Network panel discussing how important it was for a QB to develop, especially coming out of an offensive situation that differs from the professional-level formations.

Jake Locker, on the other hand, will be expected to start immediately. Without Vince Young, the organization was looking forward to replacing him with a QB that will be there for years to come.

He was not the likely dynamic for Tennessee, but when you feel as if a young athlete can be the face and leader of your team, why not pull the trigger?

Regardless of how the rest of the world feels about the choice, the Titans would probably not make an ill-advised pick without weighing the risk/reward factor of it all.

Locker requires protection and seasoning as far as his pocket passing abilities are concerned, but he has the capabilities of throwing a bullet and his accuracy bursts in ways unknown to many of the other quarterback prospects coming out of collegiate-level football programs.

It is too soon to tell which quarterback will use the most of their opportunities and which will squander them away, but it will be very interesting to watch which will land in the postseason, if any.