Everyone wants to have their franchise quarterback, the guy that they can look at and say, “This is the guy who’s going to lead my team for the next decade, and be one of the best in the league.”

Not everyone gets their wish, because every NFL quarterback doesn’t turn out to be the next Joe Montana, Steve Young, Brett Favre, Tom Brady, or Peyton Manning.

For everyone of those guys, there’s a Todd Marinovich, Ryan Leaf, Cade McNown, or Tim Couch.

Is there anyone in this year’s draft class with the tools to become the next great one? There are a couple, but as is the case with anyone, whether you’re Manning or McNown, only time will tell just how good you will be.

With that said, here’s a look at how the 2008 draft class of signal-callers shapes up heading into next week‘s combine.

So, Who’s at the Top?

After Kentucky’s Andre’ Woodson saw his stock take a hit at the Senior Bowl, there are only two quarterbacks who are locks for the first round at this point, in Boston College’s and Louisville’s , who both possess the ability to be able to step in and start quickly. They both skipped the Senior Bowl, but that won’t deter either of them from being picked in the first several picks.

Many view Ryan as the #1 guy right now, because he is viewed to have the best mechanics and intangibles, along with the fact that he excelled despite not having as much talent around him as some of the other prospects. As for Brohm, he could have been one of the first few quarterbacks taken in the 2007 draft - and maybe even the first - but elected to come back for his senior season and had a career year, but his team went 6-6 and didn’t go to a bowl game.

Even though those two are the only first-round locks at this point, there are a few other guys, including Woodson, who could solidify themselves as first-round prospects at the combine.

Stock Rising

There are several guys who helped their cause significantly by impressing at the various postseason all-star games.

Henne - on the rise.Michigan’s helped his stock at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, with a strong week of practice and a solid outing in the game, as he was 5 of 9 for 64 yards and two touchdowns in the North’s 17-16 loss to the South. With the third QB spot no longer solid, there’s a chance that Henne could slide in there, which could mean, at the least, a second-round pick.

One lesser-known QB moved himself into first-day contention, as I-AA mid-major San Diego’s turned in an MVP performance at the East-West Shrine Bowl. Johnson put up monster numbers as a three-year starter with the Toreros (9,564 yards passing, 113 TD, 1,445 yards rushing, 17 TD), playing under former NFL QB and current Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh for two of those seasons.

Johnson flashed his arm by going 5 of 11 for 78 yards and a touchdown, but it may have been his mobility that was most impressive, as he ran for 91 yards and a touchdown on only three carries.

Stock Falling

The most notable dropper in the bunch is Woodson. Woodson was one of the nation’s top quarterbacks for the last two seasons, and far and away, the best of the best in the SEC. And, he may have even jumped Louisville’s as the best pro prospect in the state. However, after coming into the Senior Bowl with a chance to lock down #2 behind Ryan. But, he struggled mightily, and didn’t look nearly as sharp as he needed to in order to impress all of the scouts in attendance. As a result, he’s not even a lock for the first round right now.

The bad night Hawaii’s had in the Sugar Bowl against Georgia carried over to the Senior Bowl, as he came in weighing only 186 pounds (thanks to a stomach virus). He struggled with accuracy all week, and capped off a bad week by going only 2 of 6 for 29 yards and an interception in the game.

Wacko for Flacco?

Joe Flacco - small school, big talent.A few years ago, was stuck behind Tyler Palko on the depth chart at Pitt. Now, the Delaware QB is one of the hottest names on the draft board.

He’s got all the tools that wow the scouts - the size (6’6, 230), the arm (he beat out and at a recent skills competition by throwing it 74 yards), and while he’s no track star, he’s very mobile and knows how to use his feet well (he also won the scrambling event in the same competition).

He’s also got the intangibles as well. Not only does he have a big arm, but he knows how to use it. He’s got a quick release, but that doesn’t mean he’s got a quick trigger - he knows how to make all the throws, and more importantly than that, knows when to make them. In 521 pass attempts in 2007, Flacco had only five interceptions. Just like is ’Matty Ice,’ Flacco is ’Joe Cool.’

The one knock on Flacco, and it’s to be expected, is the level of competition he played against. But in October against Navy, he went 30 of 41 for 434 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions - in a 59-52 Delaware win.

He may have been the most impressive QB in Mobile, which has him moving up the draft boards in a hurry, in second-round contention, if not better. If he has another great showing at the combine, he may get snatched up as the second or third QB off of the board.

Now, without further ado, here’s the Top 10. If you want to keep track of all of the prospect rankings as they each go up, and as they change, just click the ‘Draft’ tab at the top of the page.

2008 NFL Draft Quarterback Rankings

  • Share/Save/Bookmark

Related posts on The Red Zone Report