Cam Newton, Mike Vick among best QB prospects I've scouted

[Ace_Aladdin]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000815791/article/cam-newton-mike-vick-among-best-qb-prospects-ive-scouted

Quote

if you ask any NFL coach or scout which position is the toughest to evaluate, most would cite quarterback. It's widely considered the most challenging position when it comes to projecting long-term potential.

During my 17 years as an evaluator, I've had my fair share of hits and misses while grading QBs. There's already plenty of buzz about the next wave of passers in the college game, although I'm not as high on the group as some of my colleagues. Looking back at my notes of every quarterback class since the 2001 draft, I thought it would be interesting to rank the quarterbacks based on the grades that I placed on them during the pre-draft process.

Before you @ me on Twitter with comments suggesting I'm crazy for having some of the top guys rated in the middle of the pack here, I have to tell you that some of the stars at the position had warts on their game prior to entering the league and they had to rectify those flaws before ascending to the top of the league at the position.

With that said, here are the top 10 quarterback prospects I've scouted.

1. Cam Newton, Auburn

 

Drafted: First overall, 2011, Carolina Panthers.

Despite questions about his inexperience (only one full season as a starter at a major college program) and readiness for a pro-style offense after directing Auburn's spread system, I viewed Newton as a transcendent talent at the position due to his combination of rare size, athleticism and arm talent. I thought his charismatic leadership style would help transform a franchise into a title contender, just like he did at Blinn College (where he spent a year before transferring) and Auburn.

The 2015 NFL MVP certainly lived up to the hype by shattering a host of records on the way to becoming the first player in NFL history to have at least 20,000 passing yards and 3,000 rushing yards in his first six seasons. In addition, his 48 rushing touchdowns are the most by a quarterback since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. With a Super Bowl appearance also on his resume, Newton has already exceeded most of the expectations that preceded his arrival in Caroli

 

 

 

 

[YoungPanthers89]

VIck is 9th, btw.

[LinvilleGorge]

What a shock, every single one of his top 10 QB prospects became at least a serviceable NFL QB. Such is the benefit of hindsight.

[GoobyPls]

I feel theirs a lot hindsight 20/20 going into Brooks list. Cam wasn't that highly rated a prospect. And how is Sam Bradford not on the list? I vividly remember people praising him as the best prospect since Manning.

[tiger7_88]

39 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

What a shock, every single one of his top 10 QB prospects became at least a serviceable NFL QB. Such is the benefit of hindsight.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the article said this ranking was from his grades he assigned to the QBs at the the time he had scouted them.

That's not hindsight.

Now he could be lying and doing exactly what you said and using hindsight in his rankings and adjusting them to make him look good but, if that's what he is doing, why wouldn't he have a guy like Aaron Rodgers on top?  

To me, I think the evidence shows that he is NOT doing that... thus he is not using hindsight.

[TheSpecialJuan]

dumb

[LinvilleGorge]

21 minutes ago, tiger7_88 said:

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the article said this ranking was from his grades he assigned to the QBs at the the time he had scouted them.

That's not hindsight.

Now he could be lying and doing exactly what you said and using hindsight in his rankings and adjusting them to make him look good but, if that's what he is doing, why wouldn't he have a guy like Aaron Rodgers on top?  

To me, I think the evidence shows that he is NOT doing that... thus he is not using hindsight.

That's what I'm saying. You don't want to make it too obvious and loaded, but I highly doubt all 10 of his highest rated QB prospects all turned out to be at least moderately successful NFL QBs. If true, the man should be an NFL GM.

As for Cam Newton, here's Bucky Brooks' top 12 2011 prospects.

http://www.nfl.com/photos/09000d5d8180d1a3

Two things jump out to me. First, Jake Locker is his #1 prospect. Second, Cam Newton isn't even listed. So you're telling me that Bucky Brooks' #1 QB prospect ever wasn't even the #1 QB prospect in his own draft class and wasn't a top 12 overall prospect in that draft class?

I'm not saying he's just making poo up with this latest article, but... well yeah, he's just making poo up.

[KillerKat]

5 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

That's what I'm saying. You don't want to make it too obvious and loaded, but I highly doubt all 10 of his highest rated QB prospects all turned out to be at least moderately successful NFL QBs. If true, the man should be an NFL GM.

As for Cam Newton, here's Bucky Brooks' top 12 2011 prospects.

http://www.nfl.com/photos/09000d5d8180d1a3

Two things jump out to me. First, Jake Locker is his #1 prospect. Second, Cam Newton isn't even listed. So you're telling me that Bucky Brooks' #1 QB prospect ever wasn't even the #1 QB prospect in his own draft class and wasn't a top 12 overall prospect in that draft class?

I'm not saying he's just making poo up with this latest article, but... well yeah, he's just making poo up.

Damn son, you just exposed him.

[GoobyPls]

Here's another Brooks article from April 2011 http://www.nfl.com/draft/story/09000d5d81f7d21b/article/lots-of-talent-but-theres-no-perfect-qb-in-2011-draft

 

In 2012 He said RG3 was Vick but a better passer, so how is he not on the list?

[tiger7_88]

1 hour ago, GoobyPls said:

Here's another Brooks article from April 2011 http://www.nfl.com/draft/story/09000d5d81f7d21b/article/lots-of-talent-but-theres-no-perfect-qb-in-2011-draft

 

In 2012 He said RG3 was Vick but a better passer, so how is he not on the list?

Here's how I think he did it... its not because he adjusted his grades or hindsight.

I think what he did is he's, by saying he's ranking "the quarterbacks" is he's left out three words that he's implying:

"current starting NFL quarterbacks".

In other words, he's not using hindsight or adjusting grades, he's using weasel-words.  He's only giving you the top 10 grades of QBs who are currently starters in the league right now.

Which is a good way of making you look good.  In other words, he's not lying, he's stacking the evidential deck in his favor.

[TheSpecialJuan]

This is cat crap

[cookinbrak]

25 minutes ago, tiger7_88 said:

"current starting NFL quarterbacks".

Michael Vick

[nctarheel0619]

2 hours ago, GoobyPls said:

I feel theirs a lot hindsight 20/20 going into Brooks list. Cam wasn't that highly rated a prospect. And how is Sam Bradford not on the list? I vividly remember people praising him as the best prospect since Manning.

He was only a 3 star coming out of High School.  Cam out of high school was a 5, before being kicked out of Florida.  Then a high rated four coming out of Blinn.  FYI.  

[nctarheel0619]

2 hours ago, LinvilleGorge said:

That's what I'm saying. You don't want to make it too obvious and loaded, but I highly doubt all 10 of his highest rated QB prospects all turned out to be at least moderately successful NFL QBs. If true, the man should be an NFL GM.

As for Cam Newton, here's Bucky Brooks' top 12 2011 prospects.

http://www.nfl.com/photos/09000d5d8180d1a3

Two things jump out to me. First, Jake Locker is his #1 prospect. Second, Cam Newton isn't even listed. So you're telling me that Bucky Brooks' #1 QB prospect ever wasn't even the #1 QB prospect in his own draft class and wasn't a top 12 overall prospect in that draft class?

I'm not saying he's just making poo up with this latest article, but... well yeah, he's just making poo up.

To be fair to Bucky, the only film prior to 2010 was Cam at Blinn College.  Also, Locker was one of the best QB's after 2010.  Which is what I think this list is based on, because Bruce Carter was somehow Top 12.  After 2010, you could argue he was a Top 12 player.  After 2011 College season?  No way.