Philadelphia Eagles 2012 NFL Draft Prospect: Is Brandon Weeden the Quarterback of the Future?

Published: 13th Feb 12 7:47 pm
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by Bryn Swartz
brynswartz
Howard Smith - US PRESSWIRE

After the 2010 season, the Philadelphia Eagles thought they had their quarterback of the future. Michael Vick had revived his career by unofficially finishing second in the NFL MVP voting (Tom Brady won the award unanimously but most people agreed that Vick would have been second) and leading the Eagles to the NFC East division title.

But Vick struggled in 2011. His turnovers increased and his production decreased, and heading into the 2012 season, it’s possible that the Eagles may give Vick just one more season as their quarterback.

Vick signed a six-year, $100 million deal before the start of the 2011 season but he can be cut after 2012. If the Eagles fail to reach the Super Bowl, or at least have a deep postseason run, and head coach Andy Reid is fired, I can see Vick getting cut as well. It’s not likely but it’s definitely possible.

So the Eagles would need a quarterback, obviously, and I have just the kind of guy that the Eagles would draft.

Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden.

Weeden is listed by NFL Draft Scout as the fourth best quarterback prospect available in the draft, behind Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin, and Ryan Tannehill.

He has good size, a strong arm, and natural instincts from the quarterback position. He finished third in the nation in passing yards last season, also throwing for 34 touchdowns against just 13 interceptions. He led Oklahoma State to an 11-1 record, good for a number three ranking in the NCS standings.

In his final college game, he threw for 399 yards and three touchdowns, leading Oklahoma State to a 41-38 victory in the Fiesta Bowl.

Earlier today, Pro Football Talk writer Evan Silva tweeted that Sporting News writer Russ Lande said that Weeden would be in the discussion for first overall pick with Luck and Griffin if he wasn’t 28 years old.

Yup.

As most NFL and college football fans know, Brandon Weeden is 28 years old, and will turn 29 this October.

That would make him older than exactly half of the current starting quarterbacks in the National Football League right now.

That alone could drop Weeden to a second or a third round pick. Draft expert Mel Kiper Jr projects Weeden to be a third to fourth round pick.

That’s the middle of the pack, and that’s exactly where I expect the Eagles to draft the 28-year old quarterback. Third round, pick number 77.

After all, the Eagles selected Danny Watkins with their first round pick last April, and he was 26 years old. That’s the oldest first round pick since 1980.

The Eagles never do things the normal way. They’ll make a ton of trades. They’ll draft former Olympic skiers. They’ll sign guys out of prison. They’ll draft the old guys.

Like Brandon Weeden, who I fully expect to be the backup quarterback for the Eagles next season.

And the starting quarterback in 2013.

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3 Rants to “Philadelphia Eagles 2012 NFL Draft Prospect: Is Br...”

  1. JFW says:

    I really don’t like this pick. 28 is WAY too old to draft a QB of the future. A couple years to get the system down and bam he’s 30 or 31. That gives him what, 2-3 years in his prime before we have to start thinking about his replacement? Yeah, maybe he stays good into his mid 30′s but even that would be a wasted pick, just like Watkins was a wasted pick. I’d prefer a little more mileage out of our low round picks. We should be spending them on young guys that will be able to contribute for lots of years at full peak.

  2. Rob says:

    Anyone who thinks picking up brandon weeden is a waste of a draft pick is a complete IDIOT. we wouldnt be drafting this guy because he is a scrambler…..which means him being older isnt a disadvantage. we would be drafting him to be a pocket passer, which at 28-35 will be his prime. and as long as the Eagles have a good O-Line he will remain upright and not have too many injury problems. if it was a 28 yr old RGIII i would agree, he is a scrambler, but a pocket passer can have some age and still be effective

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