Tebow with the Panthers? Team could land a QB in upcoming draft

By Darin Gantt - daringantt@carolina.rr.com

CHARLOTTE -- No, the Carolina Panthers don't have a first-round pick in next year's draft.

But according to scouts and personnel men throughout the league, that wouldn't necessarily preclude them from drafting a “quarterback of the future” in April.

The Panthers knew they were taking a chance when they traded their 2010 first-rounder to San Francisco so they could take defensive end Everette Brown. If the season ended today, that pick would be 11th overall.

But they might be able to get the guy they need with their second-rounder in the mid-40s, according to a quick survey of college scouts and personnel men contacted by The Herald last week.

The consensus of those scouts is that there are “two, maybe three” first-round quarterbacks next year.

Several factors have combined to make 2010's annual selection meeting heavy with quarterback prospects. First is the looming labor uncertainty (there's no salary cap next year and there could be a lockout in 2011 without a new collective bargaining agreement).

That figures to send every junior with a pulse and a chance at professional football into this year's draft, which makes this year an intriguing crop of quarterbacks indeed.

Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen and Washington's Jake Locker are considered to be the only sure first-rounders. Oklahoma's Sam Bradford is next in line, but is a question because of his shoulder problems. If he throws well enough in predraft workouts, he likely will get a first-round grade, but one scout said last week that Bradford's medical report makes him too iffy to carry that grade at the moment.

All three are underclassmen.

Of the seniors, Texas' Colt McCoy is considered “no higher than a second(-rounder)” according to one of the scouts (because of concerns about his arm strength), and Cincinnati's Tony Pike and Florida's Tim Tebow are pegged in the same range or lower.

Juniors such as Ole Miss enigma Jevan Snead, Houston's system star Case Keenum and Florida State's Christian Ponder also could be available in the second to middle rounds if they come out.

Tebow is a particularly polarizing player, as his throwing mechanics are not to NFL standards, but his leadership, character and intangibles are “off the charts,” according to one scouting director. “You'll need to teach him how to throw,” one scout said.

“But he should be able to figure it out.”

What does that mean for the Panthers?

Somebody who could help them should be available when they pick first, somebody good enough to play as a rookie if need be.

“There might only be one or two guys who you'd say might be able to light it up right away,” one of the scouts said. “But there are a lot of guys out there who figure to be good NFL quarterbacks if you can groom them.”

For a season or two?

“Oh no,” the scout replied, “I'm talking eight or nine games in, like Tampa Bay did with (Josh) Freeman this year. There are a number of guys who can play as rookies, it's just going to be about finding the one that fits your system.”