2007 NFL Draft -- Top QB Prospects

This is a pretty good QB class boasting 2 players who could come in and start right away. While neither of them are likely to rank highly in 2007 fantasy football projections, in dynasty style leagues they have high value. And like last year, when we saw 4 rookie QB's come in and provide fantasy football help, there could be a couple of others who surprise, too.

1. JaMarcus Russell, LSU, 6’5 3/8”, 256 lbs: Russell shot up draft boards everywhere after LSU shellacked Notre Dame 41-14 in the Sugar Bowl. Russell out dueled Brady Quinn and decided that since his stock likely can’t be any higher, he should renounce his final year of eligibility and declare for the NFL draft after his Junior season. Russell is a mammoth sized QB with a huge arm. But one of the knocks on him is that he’ll rely on his arm strength alone sometimes to make throws, so mechanics is a concern. Also his accuracy suffers because of it. Needs to learn to put more touch on his passes as he fastball’s a lot of his passes. His 4.83 40 time at his pro day was disappointing as most thought he would be faster. Russell isn’t as big a rushing threat as the QB he’s most compared to in the NFL (Daunte Culpepper). However, his size and strength could help him break tackles. Russell’s ideal situation would be to learn for a year, but considering he’s likely to be taken by the Oakland Raiders with the #1 overall pick, it’s unlikely he’s sitting on the bench for long into the regular season, if at all.

2. Brady Quinn, Notre Dame, 6’3 ½”, 232 lbs: Up until Notre Dame’s loss to JaMarcus Russell and LSU in the Sugar Bowl, Quinn was all but penciled in as the top QB in the draft and possibly the first overall pick. Funny how one game can do that? Quinn excelled under Charlie Weis’s tutelage at Notre Dame the last 2 seasons completing nearly 64% of his passes for 7,345 yards, 69 TD’s, and only 14 INT’s. Under Weis, Quinn got to learn a true pro-style offense and learned how to break down film. Quinn possesses excellent size for the position, has shown playmaking ability and intelligence, and probably is the best prepared QB in the draft to start right away in the NFL. The knocks on Quinn are that he is easily flustered when the pocket collapses and while generally accurate, is erratic with his deeper passes. Quinn could go to the Detroit Lions at #2 in the 1st round, but won’t slide any further than the Minnesota Vikings at #7.

3. Drew Stanton, Michigan State, 6’ 2 7/8”, 226 lbs: A good scrambling QB, Stanton has the physical size and tools to make the step up into the NFL. But he’s been inconsistent and while generally considered a smart guy, it hasn’t always translated into making smart decisions on the football field.

4. Troy Smith, Ohio State, 6’0”, 225 lbs: If he were three inches taller, he’d probably be ranked higher. Smith is an excellent athlete with a strong arm and good speed (4.65 in the 40). But his lack of size means more passes batted down and there are questions about his character.

5. Kevin Kolb, Houston, 6’3”, 218 lbs: A 4 year starter, Kolb put up great numbers in Conference USA. But that wasn’t a pro-style offense he ran there and he’ll need to adjust to the NFL. An intriguing prospect, Kolb may be one of the QB’s taken late day one or early on day 2 who develops into a starting NFL QB in a year or two.

Others to keep an eye on: Trent Edwards, Stanford; John Beck, BYU; Jordan Palmer, UTEP (little brother of Carson Palmer); Isaiah Stanback, Washington.

See Russ's other 2007 NFL Draft Preview articles:

• 2007 NFL Draft Preview: Running Backs
• 2007 NFL Draft Preview: Wide Receivers
• 2007 NFL Draft Preview: Tight Ends/Kickers

Russ Bliss is Fantasy Football Starters' exclusive fantasy football expert, a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association, and for 11 years has been the radio host of "The Red Zone, Talking Fantasy Football and the NFL," in Phoenix, Arizona.

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