Do you like Marcus Mariota? Or is Jameis Winston the top quarterback prospect?
Winston seems to have a livelier, NFL-type arm. Mariota may have benefitted from playing in a quirky up-tempo college offense.
We’ve learned in the past that what works in college doesn’t necessarily translate to the pros. David Klinger, Andre Ware, David Carr, Johnny Manziel, Joey Harrington.
Strictly off stats (a poor way to grade guys) Mariota last year threw 42 touchdowns versus only 4 interceptions, the best numbers we’ve seen from any first-round quarterback in the last 10 years.
Winston last year threw only 7 more touchdowns than interception. In the last 10 years, only two other quarterbacks selected in the first round have been under plus-12 in this category. Sam Bradford (who played in only three games) and Blaine Gabbert, who quickly fizzled out.
| FIRST-ROUND QUARTERBACKS, 2006-2015 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Quarterback | Pct | TDP | Int | Diff |
| 2015 | Marcus Mariota | 68.3% | 42 | 4 | 38 |
| 2012 | Robert Griffin III | 71.7% | 37 | 6 | 31 |
| 2007 | Brady Quinn | 61.9% | 37 | 7 | 30 |
| 2012 | Andrew Luck | 71.3% | 37 | 10 | 27 |
| 2014 | Teddy Bridgewater | 71.0% | 31 | 4 | 27 |
| 2012 | Brandon Weeden | 72.3% | 37 | 13 | 24 |
| 2014 | Johnny Manziel | 69.9% | 37 | 13 | 24 |
| 2009 | Mark Sanchez | 65.8% | 34 | 10 | 24 |
| 2011 | Cam Newton | 66.1% | 30 | 7 | 23 |
| 2007 | JaMarcus Russell | 67.8% | 28 | 8 | 20 |
| 2006 | Matt Leinart | 65.7% | 28 | 8 | 20 |
| 2008 | Joe Flacco | 63.5% | 23 | 5 | 18 |
| 2010 | Tim Tebow | 67.8% | 21 | 5 | 16 |
| 2014 | Blake Bortles | 67.8% | 25 | 9 | 16 |
| 2006 | Vince Young | 65.2% | 26 | 10 | 16 |
| 2009 | Matthew Stafford | 61.4% | 25 | 10 | 15 |
| 2012 | Ryan Tannehill | 61.6% | 29 | 15 | 14 |
| 2013 | EJ Manuel | 68.0% | 23 | 10 | 13 |
| 2011 | Christian Ponder | 61.5% | 20 | 8 | 12 |
| 2008 | Matt Ryan | 59.3% | 31 | 19 | 12 |
| 2006 | Jay Cutler | 59.1% | 21 | 9 | 12 |
| 2009 | Josh Freeman | 58.6% | 20 | 8 | 12 |
| 2011 | Jake Locker | 55.4% | 17 | 9 | 8 |
| 2015 | Jameis Winston | 65.3% | 25 | 18 | 7 |
| 2011 | Blaine Gabbert | 63.4% | 16 | 9 | 7 |
| 2010 | Sam Bradford | 56.5% | 2 | 0 | 2 |
—Ian Allan