2012 NFL Draft: Top 10 Quarterbacks and Their NFL Counterparts

Still five months away from the draft, everyone has seen the Peyton Manning comparisons for Stanford's Andrew Luck. While this comparison has been made quite frequently, it may not be valid.

A comparison isn't necessarily an indication of how good a prospect will be, but rather what type of player a prospect will be. The aforementioned Manning comparison isn't saying Luck will be as good as Manning is, but that he will also be an accurate, cerebral quarterback.

Comparisons are especially of value to fans looking for a specific schematic fit. Would a fan of a team that runs a West Coast offense be more inclined to like a quarterback compared to Jeff Garcia? Absolutely.

These comparisons are, to an extent, meaningless. If the comparison doesn't tell you exactly how good a prospect will be, how valuable is the comparison?

So, no, comparisons aren't the most valuable thing in the world.

They sure are fun though.

10. Kirk Cousins: Michigan State

NFL Comparison: John David Booty

Like Booty, Cousins is a thin quarterback with very little upside. At 6'3", 205 pounds, Cousins lacks significant bulk and could have injury problems in the NFL.

The Michigan State quarterback has been a good, but not great college player and doesn't project especially well to the NFL. Though Cousins has decent accuracy and decent arm strength, he isn't really good at anything and will likely be a backup in the NFL.

9. Ryan Lindley: San Diego State

NFL Comparison: Curtis Painter

Though Painter has definitely struggled in the NFL, he's a talented player. Both Lindley and Painter are 6'4", 230 pounds and possess impressive arm strength.

Lindley has always thrown far too many interceptions, and this trend has continued in 2011. Likewise, Painter has struggled with decision making and struggles to read the defense and make progressions.

However, Lindley's biggest weakness is his inaccuracy. Lindley is having his most accurate season ever this year—and he's still only completing 56.7 percent of his passes. Painter is eerily similar and has completed just 54.7 percent of his passes with the Colts this year.

Lindley definitely has talent and upside, but he has a long way to go.

8. Nick Foles: Arizona

NFL Comparison: Matt Moore

Though Foles is bigger than Moore, both are inaccurate and throw quite a few interceptions. Moore's completion percentage this year doesn't show it, but he has been very inaccurate as the Dolphins' starter. Fortunately, Moore has enough talent to not play too terribly.

Though the 6'5", 240-pound Foles has a solid arm, he suffers from erratic accuracy and is prone to making poor decisions. Foles has also been extremely productive and only has one unimpressive stat this year—13 interceptions.

Foles has decent athletic ability and can make plays, but he's far too inconsistent and mistake-prone to be an early-round pick.

7. Brandon Weeden: Oklahoma State

NFL Comparison: Charlie Whitehurst

Though Whitehurst has been awful in the NFL, he was a decent prospect and a third-round draft pick in 2006. The Seattle quarterback has good size at 6'5", 225 pounds and also possesses good athletic ability and arm strength.

Physically, Weeden is almost identical to Whitehurst. The 28-year-old passer has above-average physical tools and is a talented player. However, Weeden doesn't have exceptional ability in any one area and is just solid across the board.

Weeden does have decent potential, but at his advanced age, it's unlikely he will ever be an above-average quarterback. Even if Weeden were younger, he wouldn't be a great prospect by any means.

6. Ryan Tannehill: Texas A&M

NFL Comparison: Jay Cutler

Like Cutler, Tannehill is an excellent athlete with a well-above average arm. Tannehill doesn't have quite the rocket Cutler does, but he can sling the ball nonetheless. Tannehill and Cutler share the same strengths—physical ability—and the same weaknesses—intelligence.

Cutler has become legendary for his interceptions, and fans have even coined the phrase "cutlerception." A former wide receiver, Tannehill is fairly accurate, but he makes far too many bone-headed throws.

Though Tannehill's physical ability gives him huge upside, he has a long way to go when it comes to the cerebral part of the game. With time, Tannehill can become a great quarterback. But don't be surprised if he still makes some really stupid plays.

5. Robert Griffin: Baylor*

NFL Comparison: Jake Plummer

Let me start by saying that I don't love this comparison. I just can't think of a better one.

With that said, Plummer and Griffin do have some similarities. Like Plummer, Griffin is on the shorter side with a slight build and is extremely mobile. Griffin is more accurate than Plummer ever was, however.

During his playing days, Plummer was well known for throwing an incredible amount of interceptions. Griffin hasn't had this issue in the NCAA; however, he does need to improve in diagnosing defenses.

With his mobility, accuracy, deep ball and quick release, Griffin has enormous potential. He's still raw, though, and may need some time to develop as a passer.

4. Landry Jones: Oklahoma*

NFL Comparison: Matt Schaub

Schaub has been a great player for the Texans since the team acquired him from the Atlanta Falcons in 2007. The 6'5", 240-pounder has a good arm, deep ball and field vision. It's undeniable, however, that Schaub has a tendency to throw interceptions.

Like Schaub, Jones has been incredibly productive. Sam Bradford's successor may have the strongest arm among all the draft-eligible quarterbacks and throws a spectacular deep ball. Jones also makes more than his fair share of awful decisions. And Jones just looks like Schaub when he throws the ball.

With his ideal size and great arm strength, Jones has the potential to be one of the game's best quarterbacks. He does, however, have an extremely low floor and could be out of the NFL in just a few years.

3. Matt Barkley: USC*

NFL Comparison: Drew Brees

Both Brees and Barkley are best known for their incredible accuracy. Though Barkley isn't as accurate as Brees at this moment, he could develop into an equally exact passer. Barkley is two inches taller than Brees, but both quarterbacks are on the short side.

In the NFL, Brees has always been somewhat limited by his lack of elite arm strength. Likewise, Barkley has a good, but not special arm. Brees is an elite quarterback because of his accuracy and intelligence, and Barkley is of the same mold.

Though Barkley does have some bust potential, he's a relatively safe pick. Many would say that Barkley lacks great upside because he lacks elite tools; however, he can be just as good of a player as Brees is.

2. Tyler Wilson: Arkansas*

NFL Comparison: Tony Romo

Romo is often criticized, but the Cowboys' star has been extremely productive. The 6'2", 228-pounder is a great athlete and has the gunslinger mentality to go with his strong arm.

Wilson is similar in every way. The 6'3", 220-pounder has similar size and equally excellent athleticism. Wilson's biggest strength, however, is his rocket arm and playmaking ability. Few players can make the throws that Wilson routinely completes.

Though he has always shown promise, Romo has never developed into as good of a player as he can be. Wilson cannot only be as good as Romo currently is, but much better.

1. Andrew Luck: Stanford*

NFL Comparison: Aaron Rodgers

Well, I'm guessing it surprises no one who came in at No. 1 here. The 6'4", 230-pound Luck is a great athlete with unbelievable intelligence. In fact, Luck might be the smartest quarterback to enter the draft since Peyton Manning in 1998.

Luck may not quite have elite accuracy, but he's still extremely accurate and can make any throw. The Stanford quarterback's arm strength has actually improved, and he can make virtually any throw on the field.

Everything I just said fits Aaron Rodgers perfectly. Rodgers uses his athletic ability to evade rushers and make plays outside of the pocket. The Green Bay star has one of the NFL's strongest arms and completes the most difficult of passes with ease. Through the first half of the 2011 season plus some, Rodger still has just four interceptions.

One could certainly argue that Rodgers is the NFL's most accurate quarterback, and in time, Luck could become equally precise. Rodgers is far and away the game's best quarterback; however, Luck can be just as good.