Panic in the Draft Rooms

Now that Pro Days have kicked into high gear on campuses across the land, it is also the time of year that one word starts to creep into draft rooms of NFL teams. Panic.

The panic comes from teams not having a franchise quarterback. Plain and simple. When mock drafts started to be released even before the Super Bowl, Blaine Gabbert and Cam Newton were seen as potential #5-#15 picks, with Jake Locker and Ryan Mallett late first or even second round picks. Their performances at the combine, one would think, didn't endear the top quarterbacks to many teams. Gabbert didn't throw. Newton couldn't hit water if he were standing on a pier. Mallett answered questions at his media interviews as if he were running for office. Locker had the best overall workout, but there are accuracy questions from his senior season that still linger. After all, what top of the draft quarterback goes into the second half of his bowl game before completing a pass?

Now Pro Days have begun. Quarterbacks can show off their wares to teams under controlled and scripted workouts. Throw to receivers they are familiar with. Work with coaches that know them and their routine. And the biggest benefit of all-NFL teams start to panic and tell themselves 'We need a quarterback. We need a quarterback. We need a quarterback.'

So the Post-Combine mock drafts that are coming out are more and more putting either Gabbert or Newton at the first overall pick of the Carolina Panthers, third to Buffalo, and fourth to Cincinnati. Arizona, San Francisco, Tennessee and Washington are also looking for quarterbacks within the top ten. So when panic sets in at NFL Drafts Rooms, quarterbacks rise to the top of the boards.

The player who is going to benefit the most may be Ryan Mallett. Character issues are still following him, but there is no denying his talent. Of the four top quarterbacks, he is by far the most pro ready. Played in a pro style/non-spread offense, and has the best arm. A team that cannot draft Gabbert, Newton or Locker is going to trade up into the first round and grab Mallett. Which means the team that drafts Mallett is going to have a very solid piece of the puzzle in place from the top of the first round and then select their quarterback. The question is: Which team is going to panic the least and wait for the draft to unfold? We shall see.