2009 NFL Draft Preview: Quarterback Sleepers and Late Round Values

The 2009 NFL Draft is just a few weeks away, and teams are still taking a good amount of time to put their draft boards together. One of the toughest positions to gauge this year is the quarterback position. The 2009 NFL Draft is led by three great quarterbacks who all have tremendous potential. After that, however, there are few quarterbacks worth using anything more than a late round pick on.

Who are some of the best values at the quarterback position for teams looking to add a developmental arm? Here is a look at a few of the names that could become eventual NFL starters.

Brian Hoyer - Michigan State

6'2"/215

Hoyer is one of my favorite late-round quarterback selections. This quarterback class is thin, but I believe the Hoyer can be had in the fourth or fifth round. He could turn into a great caretaker quarterback-possibly more. He is a bit short for the quarterback position, which could spell issues for his field vision.

One thing about Brian Hoyer that I really like are his intangibles. Aside from being one of the most accurate passers in NCAA Football, Hoyer was a stellar leader for the Michigan State Spartans. His leadership and his willingness to learn could turn him into one of the NFL's best backups, at the very least.

Despite not having ideal arm strength, Hoyer is a great value if a team can snag him anywhere after the fourth roundﾠ

Stephen McGee - Texas A&M

6'3/225

McGee is another one of the 2009 draft class quarterbacks that I really like. McGee has great mobility for a player of his size-who knew a 225 pound quarterback could ever take off running? Like Hoyer, he has strong leadership skills and was a team captain.

McGee is a true project quarterback, as he is not extremely well off in accuracy or arm strength. Both will take some work to develop at the NFL level. However, if a team is willing to take the chance on a potential solid starter, McGee could become just that if he sits for a few years and learns the playbook.

Curtis Painter - Purdue

6'3/225

Painter comes out of Purdue University, who has produced some solid quarterback prospects over their history. Painter is not an accurate quarterback by any means, but he has a rocket arm and solid mobility that should allow him to capitalize on finding his receivers. Due to his accuracy issues, Painter should not be looked at as anything more than a late sixth-seventh round pick, and he could be a priority free agent.

That being said, Painter was a true leader at Purdue, and is a worthwhile add as a third or fourth-string quarterback. If a team gives him time to develop, he could become a very good backup quarterback.