/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/10683203/20120908_lbm_ak4_469.0.jpg)
The quarterback (QB) class didn't get any stronger through the combine and pro days. Although the top ten QBs remain the same, their order has changed quite a bit.
See my last quarterback ranking from January here.
1. Geno Smith 6-3 214lbs - West Virginia Stock: Steady Projection: Top 10
2. Matt Barkley 6-2 230lbs - Southern California Stock: Rising Projection: Top 20
3. Tyler Wilson 6-3 220lbs - Arkansas Stock: Rising Projection: 2nd round
4. E.J. Manuel 6-5 240lbs - Florida State Stock: Rising Projection: 2nd round
5. Ryan Nassib 6-2 228lbs - Syracuse Stock: Steady Projection: 2nd round
6. Zac Dysert 6-4 228lbs - Miami (Ohio) Stock: Rising Projection: 2nd round
7. Mike Glennon 6-6 232lbs - North Carolina State Stock: Falling Projection: 2nd round
8. Tyler Bray 6-6 215lbs - Tennessee Stock: Steady Projection: 3rd - 4th round
9. Matt Scott 6-3 197lbs - Arizona Stock: Rising Projection: 4th- 5th round
10. Landry Jones 6-4 218lbs - Oklahoma Stock: Falling Projection: 4th- 5th round
Risers:
I know listing Matt Barkley as the second best quarterback in this draft class will cause many of you to question my sanity. However, as I've stated before, quarterbacks have been over-drafted in every single draft over the past 5-10 years.
Barkley is winning scouts and front offices over with interviews and intelligence. Remember, this guy has been touted as a top QB prospect since his days in high school. It only takes one team to reach and I firmly believe Barkley will be a first round pick come April's draft. ESPN's Adam Schefter agrees.
Perhaps no one's stock has risen higher than Florida State QB E.J. Manuel. Manuel was named MVP of the Senior Bowl in January. More important than the award, Manuel showed that he is extremely coachable. Senior Bowl staff asked Manuel to make some minor changes in his delivery. Not only was this change successful in practice, it continued during the game.
Manuel continued to impress during the combine, posting a 4.59 forty time. After Manuel's pro day, NFL Network's Mike Mayock moved him to No. 2 on his QB rankings and said he thought Manuel was a better pro prospect than 2011's twelfth overall pick Christian Ponder.
Matt Scott recently made some noise after throwing 85 passes at his pro day, whereas most QBs typically only throw about 60 passes. Considered to be a mid-round prospect, Scott's most intriguing characteristics are his ability to both throw and run. The NFL is a copycat league and with the recent unearthing of Seattle's Russell Wilson and San Francisco's own Colin Kaepernick, teams will be trying to find their own version of the dual threat quarterback.
Fallers:
NC State QB Mike Glennon has one of the stronger arms in this year's class. However, accuracy issues continue to hamper the tall and lean (6-7, 225lbs) QB. Glennon consistently overthrew and underthrew receivers at the combine, causing many to question whether he has what it takes to be a franchise QB.
Glennon's arm strength will probably lead to a relatively high draft spot even though he's likely ‘worth' only a third or fourth round selection.
Landry Jones of Oklahoma has been the epitome of average during pre-draft workouts. He's tough to get a firm grasp on when trying to rank him, because one minute he looks like a first round pick and the next he almost looks undraftable.
Jones' inconsistency coupled with a limited ceiling will likely lead to fourth or fifth round selection.
Follow me on Twitter @BigSwinginNick or comment below to discuss the quarterbacks of the 2013 NFL Draft.