Best Non-Luck QBs: My New Favorite

The consensus seems to be that the next-best QB prospects after Andrew Luck in the 2012 draft are, in some order, Matt Barkley and Landry Jones. 

After looking a little closer at Texas A&M senior Ryan Tannehill, however, I think he might be better than both of them. 

He's bigger than Barkley, and about the same size as Jones at 6-4 222 lbs.  The advantage he has over Jones is the system he plays in.  The head coach at A&M is former Packers coach Mike Sherman, which means he's running an NFL-style offense.  Take a look at his highlights against SMU this year.

http://youtu.be/yNcKHOJP-NQ

This isn't your typical highlight package only showing the big plays and completions.  It essentially shows every throw he made in that game.  Early on it's a lot of rollouts and bubble screens, but just when you think to yourself "I wonder if this guy can make NFL throws".... at about the 3:00 mark it starts.  He hits a skinny post over the middle to a diving receiver, and then drills a perfect seam route to his tight end for a score.  A couple of things stand out to me about Tannehill:

• He's working from under center, a lot.  I'd say 75% of the time.  This gives him a huge edge over Jones and other spread-system QB's.  
• His throwing motion looks nearly flawless; quick, mechanically sound, he really spins a nice spiral and he's accurate all over the field.  His arm also appears to be strong.  Maybe not Matt Stafford strong, but at least slightly above NFL average.
• He's athletic.  This is a guy who was the Aggies leading RECEIVER as a freshman and sophomore before winning the full-time starting QB job.  He really moves well in the pocket, rolls well, and throws accurately on the run. 

Look a little closer at his history, and there's even more to like about Tannehill.  He turned down multiple scholarship offers to walk on at A&M because he wanted so badly to be an Aggie.  After losing the starting QB job to Stephen McGee (now with the Dallas Cowboys) and Jerrod Johnson, he willingly made the switch to receiver and excelled, but he kept battling to play QB, and when he got his chance halfway through last season he made the most of it, leading his team to an upset over #11 Oklahoma and displacing Jerrod Johnson to the bench for good.

Oh, and another thing... he's smart.  His ultimate goal outside of football is to be an orthopedic surgeon.

I've seen Tannehill listed as a potential first-round pick, but the word "project" is used a lot.  I disagree.  I believe his combination of size, athletic ability, intelligence, arm talent and NFL coaching makes him an intriguing draft target.  I wouldn't be surprised it he ends up being the first QB taken after Andrew Luck in April, ahead of Barkley and Jones.  Also, his potential connection to Seattle shouldn't be ignored here, Seahawks G.M. Jon Schneider was in the Green Bay front office while Sherman was head coach. 

His Aggies are playing Oklahoma State on ESPN tomorrow.  I would suggest you check it out.  You might be looking at the next Seahawks QB.