Why Brady Quinn should be wearing Red and Gold next season
Written by Heegos, Friday April 17 2009
Why would an NFL team trade a top-10 pick for a quarterback with a 65.8 QB rating?
According to the ESPN.com rumors page, the San Francisco 49ers are contemplating that question quite hard.
The report speculates that the Niners are the "mystery team" that has put it's first-round pick on the table for Brady Quinn. Team officials openly deny the report, but around draft time, who knows who is telling the truth and who isn't?
Whether ESPN or the Niners are blowing smoke, why not explore the option? It's obvious to football fans that no team is going to win the Super Bowl with Shaun Hill or Alex Smith. Quinn may be lacking in experience, but the former Notre Dame product should be given a chance to start somewhere in the NFL.
There is a list of reasons why SF shouldn't make the move, but writing about that wouldn't be any fun. For once, I won't be the naysayer, but I will prove them wrong.
1. "Why waste the pick on Quinn since he is unproven?"
Brady Quinn may have only 97 professional pass attempts under his belt (only 48 of which were completions), but the talent to be an NFL quarterback is there. In the 2005-06 seasons at Notre Dame, Quinn posted QB ratings of 158.4 and 146.65, respectively. He had completion percentages of 64.9 percent and 61.9 percent in those two seasons, running coach Charlie Weis' pro-style offense. I know the competition he faced in college isn't anywhere near as tough as NFL defenses, but that just leads to our next point…
2. "Why not draft Mark Sanchez or Matt Stafford, if available?"
If one is worried about inexperience, drafting a QB instead of trading for one doesn't make much sense. For those who flat-out believe Sanchez and/or Stafford are better than Quinn, take a look at each players' best collegiate season:
Quinn Att Comp Pct Yds TD Int Rating
2005 450 292 64.9 3,919 32 7 158.4
Sanchez Att Comp Pct Yds TD Int Rating
2008 366 241 65.8 3,207 34 10 164.6
Stafford Att Comp Pct Yds TD Int Rating
2008 383 235 61.4 3,459 25 10 153.5
While there is no doubt Stafford faced the toughest competition of the three, he threw fewer TDs and more picks than Quinn, while Sanchez posted fewer passing yards and only has one year as a starter at the D-1 level.
3. "Why not use a lower-round pick to acquire another QB?"
It looks like the only team with two possible starters on the roster (and is willing to part with one) is Cleveland. Derek Anderson has a Pro Bowl appearance, but in reality, he just not that good. 75.1 rating over 31 games, 27 of which were starts, is average at best. Plus Anderson's strong-arm, downfield style doesn't fit the direction the 49ers are heading offensively. Coach Mike Singletary's run-first offense is in need of a quarterback that can find the open man over the middle, as well as down the sideline. Any other QBs who may still be available, through trade or free agency, don't stand out above Quinn. The only QB rumored to be on the market who would be worth a first-rounder would be Jason Campbell, but that's up to Dan Snyder and how much he really wants Mark Sanchez.
4. "What about the team's other needs? Shouldn't they be filled with the pick?"
The Niners are far from a playoff team, but in a weak NFC West, the right piece could turn last season's two losses to Arizona to wins, as well as a conference title. Draft prognosticators have San Fran looking for a pass rusher at the 10 spot. The signing of Parys Haralson to a four-year deal, as well as the addition of DE Demetric Evans, shows that Singletary and Jed York are satisfied with the team's pass rush. The Niners also have a number of other holes to fill, including, but not limited to: a big-play wide receiver, right tackle and guard depth, safety and corner back depth, and a second running back to relieve Frank Gore. Oh yeah, and quarterback. The problem is No. 10 isn't a very good place to be sitting, especially with this year's class. Ten is a tricky spot. Unless a top five player falls, there is a great chance a team will reach on a player just to fill a need. Nothing is different this year. Unless Eugene Monroe or Andre Smith are available at No. 10, no player, not even Michael Crabtree, would have as big of an immediate impact in San Francisco as Quinn would.
The dream scenario for San Francisco would be to use a second- or third-round pick on Quinn, or even package the first rounder for Quinn and a third rounder.
Is Brady Quinn really worth a first-round pick? Probably not, but it's hard to tell if anyone available at that point in the draft would be worth it either.
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3 comments
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I just appreciate someone else covering bay area sports, no matter what they're point of view is. Who are we kidding, the draft, as well as Quinn, are both just a crap shoot. No one knows what they're gonna get with either of 'em. I wouldn't hate the trade as much as I did the Cutler deal, Bears gave up too much I think, but I've never been a Quinn fan, or ND fan, so maybe that's where I hesitate.
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I have no problem with Shaun Hill. He's just not the long-term answer that Quinn could be. Of course, Quinn is not a sure-thing. But college stats aren't irrelevant when being compared to two guys who haven't seen the field on Sunday yet. I firmly believe o-line is the Niners' biggest disparity, but there just aren't going to be the horses there at No. 10. And no, it's not essentially trading a 10 for a 22 because of the level of talent in the 2007 draft compared to this year. There were six Pro Bowlers picked before Quinn, as well as Calvin Johnson, who will be one day soon. That's a 1-in-3 chance you're picking a Pro Bowl player. I just don't see that happening this year. I just think too much emphasis is put on comparing the rank of the draft pick in different years, as opposed to players at the same position, or needs of teams drafting. Quinn dropped because Oakland took JaMarcus Russell and Miami decided Cleo Lemon was a fine choice to start the season at QB. Every other team either had an established quarterback, or had recently used a high draft pick on one to develop. Again, I don't think Quinn is worth the No. 10, but I'm not sure who will be available on Draft Day. And hey, someone has to make the argument. Thanks for reading and for the feedback
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As a Niner fan, I have to disagree wih you. Since you used a few irrelevant points such as the college stats, how about this: Quinn was chosen 22nd overall, so essentially you're trading a number 10 for a 22. And didn't Matt Cassel get traded for a 2nd rounder? And he at least had one good season! (can you say overrated though?) With the offense Singletary wants to run, a QB is not a priority. Shaun Hill is serviceable until all the other pieces are in place and maybe Smith will surprise some people. OL and DL are where he wants to win games, that's where they need to draft, even if they have to trade up to get a tackle or DT/DE. Grab Crabtree if he falls to 10. Why does everyone hate Shaun Hill anyways? Isn't he 7-3 as a starter?