Terrelle Pryor: 5 Predictions for the Former Buckeye's NFL Career

Former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor entered the NFL's Supplemental Draft after his scandal-driven departure from the Buckeyes. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell allowed Pryor to enter the draft where he was chosen in the third round by the Oakland Raiders. The Raiders gave up a third-round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft in order to take Pryor.

Pryor will start his NFL career with the five-game suspension he was set to serve for the Buckeyes before he left the team for the pros. Although he is an extremely talented football player, how his career plays out is still uncertain.

Here are five predictions for Terrelle Pryor's NFL career.

No. 1: Pryor Replaces Zach Miller as the Raider's Starting TE

During his college days, Pryor's throwing mechanics were often criticized. It was a popular theory that Pryor would eventually be a tight end or receiver in the NFL instead of a quarterback. That theory just might come true once Pryor hits the field in a Raiders uniform.

Last season, the Raiders' leading receiver was tight end Zach Miller. Miller, now a member of the Seattle Seahawks, caught 60 passes for 685 yards and five touchdowns last season. Miller's departure leaves the Raiders with very few reliable pass catchers.

Pryor's size makes him an immediate candidate to step in and become the big target that Miller was for whomever Oakland's quarterback may be. Pryor is 6'5" and 233 pounds. Compare that to Miller, who is 6'5" and 255 pounds, and it is obvious Pryor could excel at the position.

Although Pryor only caught a handful of passes in college, his pure athleticism would make the transition a relatively easy one.

No. 2: Pryor Will Replace Jason Campbell as the Starting QB

Last season, Raiders quarterback Jason Campbell threw for 2,387 yards and 13 touchdowns. The other two quarterbacks on Oakland's roster are Kyle Boller and Trent Edwards. Needless to say, the Raiders are not the most talented team at the quarterback position.

If Campbell cannot stay healthy and doesn't put up good numbers, it is very possible Pryor could step in at starting quarterback once his five-game suspension is up and he gets acclimated to the Raiders' offense. Pryor also has the ability to run the ball effectively if none of his receivers can get open. That ability opens up a whole new set of options for the Raiders offensively.

Although this prediction may be somewhat unlikely for Pryor's first season in the NFL, it remains a possibility for him considering he plays for a team owned by Al Davis, who is known for playing by his own rules when it comes to his football team.

No. 3: Pryor Plays Multiple Positions in His First NFL Season

Pryor's pure athleticism makes him a candidate to occupy multiple positions in the Oakland Raiders offense. His ability to contribute to the team from multiple positions should help him to earn playing time during his first season in the NFL.

It is a real possibility to see Pryor take snaps from the quarterback position, catch a pass deep down the sidelines and gain yardage on the ground all in the same game in 2011. Instead of being limited to playing one position, Pryor will be able to help his team in a variety of ways and that should help him as he starts his NFL career.

No. 4: Pryor Becomes the Next Michael Vick

Throughout his career, Michael Vick has been known as one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks of all time. His ability to run the ball and get it into the hands of his receivers has taken many of his teams into the playoffs.

Pryor has a very similar skill set to Vick and is a full five inches taller and 18 pounds heavier than the Eagles' QB. That extra size should make Pryor more durable than Vick has been in his career and will only help him to put up stats that rival what Vick has accumulated in his career.

Despite the fact that Pryor has yet to take a snap in the NFL, there is a possibility that he will be known as a player who became more successful than Michael Vick in the years to come.

No. 5: Pryor Becomes the Next JaMarcus Russell

When the Oakland Raiders drafted quarterback JaMarcus Russell out of LSU in 2007, they thought they were getting the most talented player in that draft class and their quarterback of the future. Despite a great college career and the size it takes to succeed in the NFL, Russell's career was nothing but a disappointment. Russell is no longer even on any NFL team's roster.

Pryor is very similar to Russell in both size and skill set. It is also entirely possible that they will be similar in the types of career that they will have had. Russell ended up playing parts of three seasons with the Raiders. His best season came in 2008 when he passed for 2,423 yards and 13 touchdowns—not the most impressive stats for such a lauded young talent.

Pryor's career can go in many different directions and following in Russell's footsteps is one definite possibility.