2015 NFL Draft: Quarterbacks

This year's quarterback is shaping up well with some elite prospects and solid depth at the position. Last year saw three quarterbacks land in the first round, but two of this year's prospects may have gone ahead of all of them had the declared.

Oregon's Marcus Mariota was the odds on favorite to be the first quarterback selected, but he surprised many by returning to school for his junior season. He has done nothing but cement that thought, putting together a tremendous season that earned him the Heisman Trophy. Mariota has the complete package physically, but blends in all the intangibles you want in a franchise QB as well. He has good size, with even more room to fill out, but is also a tremendous athlete with a very good arm. As a passer, he shows the touch, accuracy, and arm strength to make every throw at the next level. He will stand tall in the pocket to make plays, and uses his athleticism and quick feet to elude the rush and throw well on the run. Mariota's athleticism and speed allow him to be a major threat as a runner as well. The physical tools are all there, but his leadership skills and work ethic make him special as well. The only obvious question with Mariota's game is the Oregon offense. He is not asked to line up under center or read the defense while dropping back. He is often asked to make one read and then escape and take off. His intelligence and work ethic should allow him to develop this trait, but it is a question mark nonetheless. Mariota is a true franchise caliber quarterback and will push for the chance to be taken #1 overall next year.

QB RANKINGS Marcus Mariota, Oregon Jameis Winston, Florida St Brett Hundley, UCLA Bryce Petty, Baylor Garrett Grayson, Colorado St. Shane Carden, East Carolina Sean Mannion, Oregon St. Bryan Bennett, SE Louisiana Brandon Bridge, South Alabama Cody Fajardo, Nevada

Very few can match the hype of Florida State's Jameis Winston. That's what happens when you win a title and Heisman trophy as a freshman. Winston's potential is amazing, but he's the biggest project of the top tier quarterbacks. That's not surprising considering he is just a redshirt sophomore, but he does have some work to do. Winston has tremendous size, having the prototypical pocket passer size already. He has tremendous arm, and doubles as a pitcher and outfielder for the baseball team. While he is a tremendous athlete, he isn't quite as gifted a runner as the two guys ahead of him. He can elude the rush and make some plays with his feet, but he's a true passer first. His physical tools are undeniable, and Winston showed impressive poise and the ability to perform on the biggest stage as a freshmen. On the field, he really must work on his throwing mechanics. He has a long, slow release that must be shortened to make it in the NFL. He has also needs work surveying the field, as he has the tendency to lock on to one receiver. Those both come with experience and coaching, and the time is there to develop. More concerning is some questionable off the field issues. There have been numerous instances of immature and entitled behavior, and those may be the biggest determining factor in his draft stock and ability to reach his potential. The potential is there to be the best QB out of this draft, but Winston definitely needs to prove his head is in the right place.

Brett Hundley opted to return to UCLA for his senior season despite having the possibility of landing in the first round of the draft because of his physical tools. He's another talented dual threat quarterback that could make a difference early in his career. He's as physically gifted as any QB in the draft, with a great frame, strong arm, and tremendous athleticism. He can make every throw with ease, and has tremendous mobility in and out of the pocket. Hundley does need work developing the finer points of the position, however. He is not asked to survey the field and go through his progressions often, and he is willing to leave the pocket a bit too quickly. He will have to develop these traits to maximize his potential. He is very efficient with the ball however. He is willing to throw the ball away rather than forcing it into coverage, which is a trait many developing quarterbacks do not possess. Hundley has not progressed as many hoped this year, but that is a bit misleading. He lacks the weapons and protection other top QB's have, and that has stunted some of his playmaking ability. He is often rushed in the pocket because his linemen do not give him long enough, and he UCLA does not have any real playmakers at the skill positions either to get open and create big plays. Hundley has some developing to do, but his ability as a passer and runner should make him a hot commodity on draft day.

Michigan State's Connor Cook is another big armed passer, developed in a pro style offense. NFL offenses are opening up and evolving, but lining up under center and reading defenses are required in any system. He has the size and the toughness to hang in the pocket and make plays under pressure. Cook also shows the quick feet and mobility to get out of the pocket and throw well on the run. While he is efficient with the ball and does not make a lot of bad throws, his mechanics break down which effects his accuracy at times. He doesn't always step into his throws and rushes at times, causing his accuracy to be erratic at times. These traits come with experience, and Cook is only a junior that could opt to return to school for his senior season. The size, arm strength, and toughness give Cook a chance to be a very good passer at the next level, whether he declares this season or finishes out his eligibility.

Bryce Petty took over for RGIII at Baylor, and the offense has not missed a beat. Some may give him the system quarterback tag, but that can be misleading. He is a great fit for the offense, but so is Marcus Mariota in Oregon, and he isn't written off for it. Petty does not jump out at you physically, other than having good size. He's got the arm to make all the throws, but may have issues fitting the ball into tight windows in the NFL. He's a decent athlete, with the ability to elude the rush and buy time but he may not be much of a running threat in the NFL. Petty had an amazing 14 rushing touchdowns last year, but the speed of NFL defenders will limit his ability to make plays on the ground. Where Petty does stand out, is his competitiveness and poise. He is not afraid to stand in the pocket and take a hit, and he's shown the willingness to stand tall and deliver a strike even when under duress. His ability as a runner shows toughness and the willingness to do whatever it takes to make plays. Baylor's offense is not very complex, but the timing he shows to succeed in the offense along with his intangibles, will carry over to the NFL. Petty may not appeal to every team in the league, but he's a definite NFL talent and could be a quality starter in the right scheme.

Shane Carden of East Carolina is another QB from a spread offense that has compiled big numbers on his way to establishing himself as a QB prospect for the 2015 NFL Draft. He has tremendous command of his offense, showcasing his quick release and tremendous accuracy on short and intermediate throws. He has good arm strength, gets the ball where it needs to be, and has pretty good zip on his passes all over the field when he sets his feet. Carden is a solid athlete and shows good mobility in the pocket, can throw well on the run, and occasionally can tuck it and run. As with the rest of the players in a spread offense, he is a bit limited on the more detailed aspects of the position. Carden is asked to get the ball out quick, so he does not have much experience setting up and throwing the ball down the field vertically. He also is not asked to find a second or third read often, which is a requirement of successful NFL quarterbacks. Carden has pretty good tools, is experienced, accurate, and intelligent on the field. He will need to develop his game and improve in some areas, but he is a prospect that could outplay his draft position eventually.

SE Louisiana's Bryan Bennett is a familiar name to draftniks. He was slated to take over at Oregon in 2012, when he was beaten out by a freshman named Marcus Mariota. Bennett transferred out and has been a star for the Lions in his two seasons there. As you would expect with a former Oregon QB, he is a tremendous athlete with standout dual threat ability. Bennett's athleticism is obvious both in his ability to elude the rush, and in his ability to make plays with his feet. He can make big plays after a pass breaks down, or on a designed run. As a passer, he shows a good enough arm and the ability to throw strikes from the pocket and on the run. There is definite work ahead for Bennett despite the standout physical skills. He has little experience lining up under center and passing after a drop back. He isn't asked to go through his progressions and is quick to tuck the ball and run. Bennett has the physical traits and a competitiveness about him that can definitely carry over to the NFL. He may take a little time to polish his game but a team with some patience and a quality QB coach could definitely reap some benefits down the road.

Sean Mannion of Oregon State is a bit of a throwback. He's the classic pocket passer, equipped with the big arm, gunslinger mentality, and lack of mobility. He's a four year starter, with extensive experience in a pro style attack, and a three time team captain. Mannion brings that 6'6 230lb frame and trusts his arm on every throw. That's both good and bad. It's allowed him to throw for 83 career touchdowns, but has also contributed to his 54 career interceptions. His faith in his arm causes him to force the ball at times, leading to many of those picks. His lack of mobility is a concern with front seven speed increasing, and it limits the style of offenses he will fit in. Mannion is an accomplished passer from the pocket, and his arm strength allows him to make some special throws. The work ethic and toughness are there to lead a team, so there are definite positives for his NFL future. There are obvious questions as well, but the right coach and system may be able to bring the best out of Mannion.

Keep an eye on: Cody Fajardo(Nevada), Dak Prescott(Mississippi St), and Garrett Grayson(Colorado St)

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