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Sizing up the top quarterbacks available in Thursday's NFL draft.
-- 1. BLAINE GABBERT, MISSOURI
Height/weight: 6-4, 234.
Upside: Extremely athletic, possesses a rapid release and can throw from a variety of angles. Has the ability to escape the rush and throw on the move. Intelligent and competitive; should be able to pick up things quickly at the next level.
Downside: Used exclusively out of the shotgun with predetermined reads in college; tended to panic when primary read was covered. He can be rattled by pressure; footwork can be faulty. A sidearm or three-quarters delivery troubles some scouts.
Statistically: Had 6,822 yards passing with 40 touchdowns, 18 interceptions and a 60.9 completion percentage in 31 games (26 starts) over three seasons.
-- 2. CAM NEWTON, AUBURN
Height/weight: 6-5, 248
Upside: Has a big-time arm and can make throws while off balance. Also a threat to run; gives defenders fits because of his size.
Downside: Played in a very basic scheme at Auburn; can he run a much more complex NFL offense? Throwing mechanics could be another issue.
Statistically: Completed 185 of 280 passes for 2,854 yards with 30 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 14 starts last season in his one year at Auburn after guiding Blinn (Texas) to the 2009 national junior college championship.
-- 3. JAKE LOCKER, WASHINGTON
Height/weight: 6-2, 231
Upside: Outstanding athlete, excellent arm strength, best at making throws while on the move. Demonstrates poise that an NFL team wants from its quarterback.
Downside: Needs to improve passing percentage from the pocket and make better decisions. He completed only 55.4 percent of his passes last season.
Statistically: Threw for a career-high 2,800 yards and 21 touchdowns in 12 games as a junior and 2,265 yards with 17 TDs and nine picks in 12 games last season.
-- 4. CHRISTIAN PONDER, FLORIDA STATE
Height/weight: 6-2, 229
Upside: Another intelligent player -- he earned his undergraduate degree in 2-1/2 years -- with good intangibles. Showed his toughness last season by playing despite a bruised triceps, a ruptured right bursa sac and a concussion.
Downside: Suffered a Grade-3 separation of his throwing (right) shoulder and underwent season-ending surgery nine games into the 2009 season. Also has a tendency to make curious decisions at times.
Statistically: Completed 184 of 299 passes (61.5 percent) for 2,044 yards with 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 12 games as a senior.
-- 5. ANDY DALTON, TCU
Height/weight: 6-2, 215
Upside: A two-time selection as the Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Year, he went 42-7 as a starter and led the Horned Frogs to a victory over Wisconsin last season in the Rose Bowl for a perfect 13-0 record. A vocal leader who can hold up under pressure and has a quick release.
Downside: Like so many college quarterbacks, his experience came working out of the shotgun. Made some questionable decisions in his throws and doesn't have great foot speed to escape.
Statistically: The four-year starter threw for a career-high 2,857 yards with 27 touchdowns and only six interceptions in 13 games last season, with a .661 completion percentage.
-- 6. RYAN MALLETT, ARKANSAS
Height/weight: 6-7, 247
Upside: Posted a career record of 21-8 and might possess the best arm of any quarterback in this draft.
Downside: The most scrutinized of any quarterback in this class. Former NFL executive Tony Softli, who works for a St. Louis radio station, reported there were rumors of drug use by Mallett that kept him from coming out for the 2010 draft. Mallett has been knocked for being immature and didn't help his cause at the NFL combine when he seemed to bristle when the media pressed him on the drug rumors.
Statistically: Coming off an impressive season in which he completed 266 of 411 passes (64.7 percent) for 3,869 yards with 32 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 13 games.
-- 7. RICKY STANZI, IOWA
Height/weight: 6-4, 223
Upside: Spent time in a pro-style offense and, unlike many college quarterbacks, is comfortable working from under center. Arm strength has increased in recent seasons. Pro Football Weekly: "Eerily similar semblance to a young Tom Brady."
Downside: Can be forced into making bad throws; needs to improve his ability in reading the entire field.
Statistically: Threw for a career-best 3,004 yards and 25 touchdowns with six interceptions in 13 starts in 2010. His .641 completion percentage (221 of 345) also was the best he posted. Started 35 of 37 games over his final three seasons.
-- 8. COLIN KAEPERNICK, NEVADA
Height/weight: 6-4, 233
Upside: Only player in NCAA history to have 10,000 yards passing and 4,000 yards rushing in a career. Considered a very hard worker and intelligent. Handles pressure well and has outstanding velocity on his passes.
Downside: Spent time working in a short-shotgun pistol offense that does not necessarily translate to an NFL style. Actually, he will need to learn to take some velocity off certain passes. Has a tendency to get a bit careless.
Statistically: Threw for 3,022 yards with 21 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 14 starts last season, completing 233 of 359 passes (64.9 percent).
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
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