Oakland Raiders: Why Terrelle Pryor Will Remain a Quarterback.

Everyone knows by now the Oakland Raiders selected Terrelle Pryor in Monday's NFL Supplemental Draft. The Raiders' third-round selection has gotten a lot of criticism, both on and the off the field.

Furthermore, coming to a team such as the Raiders may not help Pryor in this regard, lets just be honest. If any other team had decided to take a risk on Pryor, it would have been seen as a genius decision. However, when the Raiders make the overall cheap investment, it seems like a terrible decision.

Well, it is not a terrible decision. In fact, it is actually a decision Al Davis should be applauded for, rather than bashed. Pryor's measurables are off the charts, we all know this, and had Pryor entered the 2011 draft class, he would have probably been a first-round pick.

If he had decided to remain at Ohio State and entered the Draft in 2012, he would've been in a much better Quarterback draft class, yet probably not gotten out of the second round.

Despite many believing Pryor was a reach, the Raiders still got Pryor for way less than he most likely would have gone for.

Changing Pryor to a different position is not only a bad idea, but also unnecessary. Here is why.

Measurabless

All I hear about is how Pryor's measureables fit the wide receiver or tight end positions.

He's 6'5", 235 pounds, but isn't Ryan Mallett 6'6", 245lbs? Josh Freeman measures the same. 

Maybe it's the speed?

Pryor ran a 4.38 at his Pro-Day. Michael Vick was just as fast, if not faster. Vick plays quarterback right? Okay, just making sure.

What is my point? The point is, Pryor's measurables are just as much a fit at the quarterback position as they are any other offensive skill position. So the argument that Pryor would better fit WR or TE doesn't really go to far.

Pryor needs to improve his footwork and accuracy right? So did Vick, and Donovan McNabb, and they both went on to be respected quarterbacks in the NFL.

Coach him. Don't give up on him.

College Production

You can say what you want about Pryor's flaws, and how his game does not translate to the NFL. That is very true. My argument is not that Pryor was flawless at the QB position. My argument was that he was productive at the QB position. Much more so than as a WR.

His record at Ohio State was 31-4 and he was an MVP of two BCS Bowl games. So, you can't say he wasn't a winner.

"Oh but he had a great team around him." I can hear that argument from ten miles away. Last time I checked, this was a team game, and I don't see Trent Dillfer and Brad Johnson being criticized for being bad NFL quarterbacks, and Pryor has way more upside than they do.

Every young quarterback is judged based on his progression. Well, after throwing 12 touchdowns and four interceptions, with a 60.9 completion percentage in a short freshman year, Pryor threw 18 touchdowns to eleven interceptions in his sophmore year. Then, followed by throwing for 27 touchdowns and 11 interceptions with a 65.0 completion percentage in his junior campaign.

So, if a young quarterback is judged based on his production and progression, why is it that Pryor is consistently given up on as a quarterback?

You Already Have a Quarterback in Place

The Raiders already have a guy in place in Jason Campbell. A quarterback who still has something to prove. I say, let him prove it.

Campbell is finally in a system for more than one year. He has the respect of his teammates and has become a much stronger leader. That is not going to change now that Pryor is with the Raiders. The Raiders are going to give Campbell every opportunity to lead this team to the playoffs and hopefully beyond.

Even if Campbell does not lead this team to the playoffs, but still wins between seven and nine games, you can believe the Raiders will bring him back. Why? Because the rush to play Pryor is nothing like the rush to play former number one overall pick JaMarcus Russell. If the Raiders truly believe Pryor can be a quarterback, which I believe they do, they would understand this.

Quarterback free agency is not great these days. So the teams who would ordinarily want Campbell's services are most likely going to draft a first round quarterback anyway. So the pressure to play a first-round pick is much higher than a third-round supplemental pick. If Campbell still wants a chance to start, which I assume he does, than the Raiders are still his best bet, despite Pryor behind him.

Campbell knows that.

Why WR Just Doesn't Work: Existing Wide Receiver Projects.

The Raiders have a talented yet young receiving corps. Louis Murphy and Jacoby Ford may be our best at that position, but they are hardly polished. Darrius Heyward-Bey, who we all knew would be a project, finally seems to be catching up, but still has to be productive in the regular season. Chaz Schilens has the most promise in the world, but the guy just has to stay healthy. Denarius Moore is looking like a weapon no one can stop, but I'm not going to give him a Pro-Bowl berth just yet.

The Raiders already have their work cut out for them with these young receivers, and bringing along another doesn't help this team at all, now or in the future.

Because by the time the Raiders get Pryor to become a legit WR, Jason Campbell could potentially be gone. Than what would the Raiders be looking for? A quarterback. Looking for a quarterback when they already had one they couldv'e taken their time with.

So ask yourself, does it make sense to make Pryor a Wide Receiver? In the short term, maybe. Use him in packages, let him be a red zone threat. But what about long term? Is the experiment worth it? Not for me.

Why TE Just Doesn't Work: David Ausberry

For those of you outside the Raider fan base who think Pryor could be a tight end, let me tell you now, the Raiders are already making one of their rookies change positions. His name is David Ausberry.

You may not know him now, but Ausberry has the potential to be a household name. The former USC receiver stands 6'4", 245 pound and can run a 4.4 40-yard dash. A bit slow to be an Al Davis receiver, but Davis knows an athlete when he sees one.

The Raiders lost Pro Bowl tight end Zach Miller in free agency, but signed Kevin Boss to replace him. Boss was a great addition, yet is injured right now with a sprained knee. So Ausberry has the opportunity to show every bit of his abiltiy with Boss out for a while.

Don't be shocked if Ausberry even gets a few starts in the regular season. The guy can ball.

The Investment

For all of the people out there who say Pryor was a reach. I say, how?

I already explained what would've happened if Pryor went into the traditional draft, whether it had been in 2011 or 2012. The Raiders got him for a whole lot cheaper, so from a perspective of money I have no idea how people could argue that Pryor was a reach.

Maybe it is because of the round. Well, lets say the Raiders waited until the fifth round (the Round many thought Pryor would go). Do you really think Miami or Buffalo would've let Pryor fall to the Raiders? I don't care what Mike Shanahan says, John Beck is not a franchise quarterback; do you think Washington would've let the Raiders grab Pryor in the fifth round?

I don't think so. If the Raiders wanted Pryor, the third-round was the only round to get him.

Besides, it is $2 million dollar deal over four years. So even if it takes Pryor two years to develop, which is about the same time it took Aaron Rodgers and Philip Rivers before they became starters, you are talking about having a starting quarterback for less than a million dollars. That's crazy.

"But it was such a high pick, we needed lineman or an outside linebacker." Yeah I thought you might say that.

The Raiders just lost three of the top fifteen free agents, and didn't do much to replace them. So we are most likely going to get that third-rounder back.

And the best thing about compensatory picks is that you can't trade them. So we can still get that lineman or outside linebacker.

Calm down.

Terrelle Pryor Is Not Jamarcus Russell

You can read it on his chest: "Embrace the grind."

A shirt and philosophy JaMarcus Russell did not wear or follow. Pryor's comparisons to Russell make no sense to me. Yes, they are both 6'5" to 6'6" and both have great arm strength. After that and their complexion, that's it.

Despite Pryor's off the field decision, Pryor's work habits have never been a concern. Ohio State's head coach Jim Tressell has had nothing but positve things to say about Pryor even after the scandal. In fact, when Pryor and the five other violators (they forget to tell you that part) were doing whatever they were doing, Tressel protected them.

I think that says a lot about how a coach views the character of his players and quarterback. Besides, Pryor only got a few free tatoos and $2500. That's really not that bad when the $2500 goes to your Mom so she can pay rent.

Until Russell's "Purple Drank" scandal, his record was squeaky clean. His only question, which everyone heard over and over, was "does he love the game?" I think we all know the answer to that question now.

Pryor has made it known that he will try different positions if it helps the team, but he wants quarterback.

"I live it, I breathe it," were his words.

Does anyone remember Russell saying anything remotely similar? Me neither.

The Redemption of Al Davis

This is the number one reason why Terrelle Pryor is going to remain at quarterback.

Al Davis made the biggest mistake in the history of the NFL Draft. As a Raider fan I always try to make a case for Ryan Leaf, but the fact is, Al Davis had faith that Russell wound not only get his act together, but that he would also become a "great player." Less than two years after that statement, Davis had to let Russell go.

Honestly, I am sad for the man. That had to be hard. He did everything he could to let the public know he knew he made a mistake, without actually admitting he was wrong.

Now in Davis' mind he has a second chance. Why? Because Terrelle Pryor is everything Jamarcus was not. He is everything Russell was supposed to be. And this 2011 Oakland Raider team is everything the 2006-09 Oakland Raiders were not. This team is not dependent on Pryor being an instant success.

This is a team with a head coach that has a very respectful history with quarterbacks, and an offensive coordinator that has the same.

This is a team that has a legitimate mentor for Pryor (no one really thought Daunte Culpepper was the answer for Russell).

If this works, they will call Davis a genius once again. Especially if Pryor can lead this team to a Super Bowl.

"I'd rather be right than consistent." A quote that will forever live with the Godfather of the NFL.

Pryor needs the Raiders, and Davis needs Pryor.