Things I learned last week:
- Cutting QB highlights takes twice as long as any other offensive ‘skill’ position.
- Editing at midnight only leads to slipped audio tracks.
- There’s a lot of ‘middle ground’ among the quarterback class.
The fact is, even the best of this group - arguably Newton/Gabbert/Ponder depending on preference - is less polished than I’d like if I were to own a high draft pick and need a quarterback.
We can talk Newton/Gabbert upside, but the truth is even if you love one of those two or Ponder (who is considered more pro ready) it’s not a great class.
Normally a guy like TCU’s Andy Dalton is the perfect guy to target from late Day 2 onward. While a bit limited physically, Dalton’s a very smart guy who sees the field well and makes consistent good choices.
I think he’d be a very good backup from the get go and with some work, could be a solid starter. I’d take him anywhere from late third onward.
It looks like he’ll go in the second (maybe sooner), and I think that’s a bit risky, depending on situation.
If he goes to a team who can sit him a year, it’s early but he probably won’t be rushed into a starter’s slot. If he goes to a team with a deep QB need, he could end up in the lineup too soon which would be detrimental to his development.
