2007 NFL Draft Preview: Give Drew Stanton a Chance

So I've been reading  a lot of the upcoming previews of the NFL Draft, and I'm a little upset with the rankings Drew Stanton has been receiving.

 

Drew Stanton was a standout quarterback for the Michigan State Spartans for three seasons. He didn't have a very good supporting cast and still managed to win them some big football games. My problem with the experts is that they seem to be judging Stanton on the record of his team, without taking into account the fact that Michigan State didn't have the personnel to consistently compete in the Big 10.

 

Stanton was a standout in Senior Bowl workouts and played well in the game. He won two out of the three skills competitions, proving both his mobility and his throwing accuracy. He was a Heisman candidate early in his junior season, and his numbers make it obvious that he can play at a high level.

The Spartans often struggled during Stanton's career, suffering particularly tough losses when they blew leads against Michigan in 2005 and against Notre Dame in 2006. Even then, though, Stanton had a knack for shining on the biggest stages, and seemed to play his best in big games against elite teams.

Don't forget: We're dealing with a quarterback who completed over 60 percent of his passes in his career, and who has both the body and the skills to succeed on Sundays. Other than JaMarcus Russell, I think Stanton is the most NFL-ready signal caller in the draft—and I think the teams who pass on him in April will be kicking themselves a few years down the road.

I for one am hoping that Stanton gets a nod late in the first round. In fact, that scenario might be ideal for him, as it would probably send him to a contender. If nothing else, you can bet that he'll impress scouts with his combine workouts, and it will be interesting to see where the pride of East Lansing finally lands on Draft Day.