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Ryan Mallett has as big an arm as anybody in the draft, but concerns about his mobility places him among a group that could go in the first round but might be available in the second round.
MIKE MAYOCK'S CHOSEN FEW
BLAINE GABBERT6-4, 234, MissouriCompleted 568-of-933 passes for 6,822 yards and 40 touchdowns with 18 interceptions over two full seasons and very limited action in a third…In 2010, led Missouri to just its fourth 10-win season in the 120-year history of Missouri football…Threw nine interceptions each year as a starter but had 24 touchdown passes in 2009 versus 16 in 2010…Noted for accuracy on short passes out of spread offense…Has good arm strength but will have to develop downfield accuracy in a pro-style offense.
CAM NEWTON6-5, 248, AuburnLed Auburn to the BCS National Championship in 2010 and claimed the Heisman Trophy along the way…Completed 185-of-280 passes for 2,854 yards and an SEC-record 30 touchdowns with seven interceptions last season…Also rushed for 1,473 yards and a school-record 20 touchdowns…Led Blinn Junior College to the national title in 2009…Remarkable athleticism and potential but also a product of the spread offense.
JAKE LOCKER6-3, 231, WashingtonFour-year starter completed 619-of-1,147 passes for 7,639 yards and 53 touchdowns with 35 interceptions…Also rushed for 1,939 yards and 29 touchdowns…Considered by many as the potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 draft but returned to school and struggled at times during senior season…A dual-threat quarterback and professional baseball prospect who has struggled with his consistency and injuries at times.
RYAN MALLETT6-7, 253, ArkansasCompleted 491-of-814 passes for 7,496 yards and 62 touchdowns with 19 interceptions as a two-year starter at Arkansas…Played at Michigan in 2007 as a back-up to Chad Henne and completed 61-of-141 passes for 892 yards and five touchdowns with seven interceptions…Unquestioned arm strength and accuracy, but athleticism and ability to move in and out of the pocket are being questioned.
ANDY DALTON6-2, 215, Texas ChristianFour-year starter completed 812-of-1,317 passes for 10,314 yards and 71 touchdowns with 30 interceptions to break every career passing record at a school that produced Sammy Baugh and Davey O'Brien…Led the Horned Frogs to an unbeaten 2010 season, throwing 27 touchdowns and six interceptions…Unremarkable physical tools on the whole but known for intelligence and toughness.
STRICKLAND'S SECOND LOOK
COLIN KAEPERNICK6-5, 233, NevadaTook over as starter five games into freshman season and remained there through senior season, hitting on 740-of-1,271 passes for 10,098 yards and 82 touchdowns with 24 interceptions…Also rushed for 4,112 yards and 59 touchdowns, with three 1,000-yard rushing seasons…Panthers wide receiver Armanti Edwards is the only other player in Division I history to pass for more than 10,000 yards and rush for more than 4,000…Intriguing athlete from a spread-option system shooting up some draft boards.
CHRISTIAN PONDER6-2, 229, Florida StateThree-year starter completed 596-of-965 passes for 6,872 yards and 49 touchdowns with 30 interceptions…Also rushed for 833 yards and 10 touchdowns…An intriguing mix of athleticism and accuracy, adept at completing passes on the move…Injury history is a concern, specifically two surgeries on throwing elbow.
RICKY STANZI6-4, 223, IowaThird in school history with 56 touchdown passes and 7,377 passing yards…School record 21 consecutive games with at least one touchdown pass…Only quarterback to ever go 3-0 as a starter against legendary Penn State head coach Joe Paterno…Good size and looks good on tape but hasn't looked as good in workouts.
TYROD TAYLOR 6-1, 217, Virginia TechSteadily improved from a run-first quarterback to a complete quarterback, surpassing former Hokies signal caller Michael Vick statistically along the way…Holds school records with 7,017 passing yards and 2,196 rushing yards…Extremely accurate as a senior with 24 touchdown passes against just five interceptions.
T.J. YATES6-3, 219, North CarolinaEntered senior season with nearly as many career interceptions (37) as touchdown passes (39) but turned that around with 19 touchdown passes against nine interceptions in 2010…Joined the draft discussion as a senior with a 66.8-percent completion rate and 3,418 yards…Does lots of things well but isn't exceptional in many areas.
