STILLWATER, Okla. —
Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden should be the first of the second-tier quarterbacks selected in the NFL Draft April 26-28 at New York’s Radio City Music Hall, ESPN NFL Analyst Jon Gruden said Wednesday.
Most mock drafts have the Indianapolis Colts taking Andrew Luck and the Washington Redskins selecting Heisman Trophy-winner Robert Griffin III with the first two picks.
Those mock drafts also have the Miami Dolphins grabbing Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill with the eighth pick.
In a telephone conference call from Tampa, Gruden said he sees Weeden, Michigan State’s Kirk Cousins and Wisconsin’s Russell Wilson as the fourth, fifth and sixth quarterbacks selected.
“I love Brandon Weeden if you want a quarterback that’s tough as hell and that’s a winner. He’s already beat Nick Foles in a bowl game two years ago. He beat Robert Griffin 59-24. He beat Andrew Luck in the Fiesta Bowl. He beat Landry Jones. He beat (Ryan) Tannehill. I like Weeden as you can tell. I would find something for him to do.”
Weeden made the most difficult throws in the 2011 season while playing for one of the most unique offenses in college football, Gruden said.
“They do some wicked things to defenses with the no-huddle tempo and the way they used Justin Blackmon.” Gruden said.
Weeden completed 409 of his 565 pass attempts for 4,727 yards. He tossed 37 touchdown passes with 13 interceptions this past season. He compiled a 23-3 record as OSU’s starting quarterback.
Gruden said he reviewed the top 20 passes by Luck, Griffin, Tannehill, Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore and Weeden.
“You walk away and you say Brandon Weeden makes the most difficult throws in college football,” Gruden said. “He has a tremendous arm and great anticipation.”
Weeden was surrounded by great players, especially his go-to guy Justin Blackmon, the two-time Biletnikoff Award winner, Gruden said.
“Whenever it was man-to-man (coverage) they turned those two guys loose,” Gruden said. “It’s a pleasure watching Weeden throw the football.”
Weeden’s age is the only drawback that will keep him from being drafted earlier. Weeden will be a 28-year-old rookie quarterback.
OSU Sports
Related Photos
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ESPN's Monday Night Football analyst Jon Gruden, right, talks with Oklahoma State University quarterback Brandon Weeden during a segment of the 2012 Gruden's QB Camp.
ESPN Analyst Jon Gruden says OSU quarterback Brandon Weeden made the most difficult throws in college football.
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