Each year the debate around the league is always which quarterback will be selected first in the upcoming NFL Draft? The quarterback is (in some eyes) the most important position on the field. They are the field General's who run the offense and manage the game for their respective teams. Though, drafting a quarterback in the earlier rounds of the NFL Draft can come with a hefty price. First, the salaries associated with that player are very high (compared to other positions). Second, you are realistically investing your franchise in this player who if does not pan out will be classified as a bust and set back the organization possibly five years. Then there is the "boom or bust" factor associated with the QB position, which seems to draw the most criticisms and praises of any position. Every team that drafts in the Top 5 overall picks will always have their selections put under a microscope but any 1st Round QB seems to be analyzed. There have been many misses by teams in the 1st Round but the one position that everyone remembers is quarterback.

Pat White, the standout quarterback from West Virginia is not your typical NFL qurterback at 5'10'' and 190 pounds. Because of this he has been labeled a WR and "wildcat" only QB. I believe the #1 reason Pat is not regarded as a 1st Round caliber quarterback talent is based solely on his stature and the position he may be forced to play.

For example, in 1999 the Cleveland Browns selected Tim Couch from Kentucky. This team had no coach, no real players or stars and no business drafting a QB #1 overall. But quarterback is the glamorous pick at the top of an NFL Draft, and if a team uses their top pick on a quarterback there is a higher likihood of  higher ticket sales and of course more money for the organization. Would Tim Couch have succeeded on a "real" team? ("real" defined as non-expansion team) Many have argued that Edgerin James, Torry Holt or Champ Bailey would all have been better choices over Tim Couch but why is that? Is that based solely on looking back 10 years later and comparing each of their NFL careers or based on their football skills at that time?  My 2 cents: Tim Couch could have been a solid QB in the NFL with the right team but based on the circumstances the end result classifies him as a bust.

Are the Detroit Lions (0-16 in 2008) in the same situation as the 1999 Cleveland Browns were in? Even with a new coach and a new system, Detroit has a better layout within its organization than the Browns did back in 1999. Also, the Lions have a few players that are far better than anyone on the 1999 Browns roster: Calvin Johnson, Kevin Smith, Jeff Backus, Gosder Cherilus and Jason Hanson to name a few. So now that we have dissected the Lions it is safe to say they could take a quarterback #1 overall and give that player the protection and weapons he needs to succeed. So with that said, is Matt Stafford or Mark Sanchez worthy of the #1 overall selection?

Take a look at this table below which outlines college statistics for Mark Sanchez, Matt Stafford and Pat White.

So which quarterback is Pat White? Quarterback #2 has to be Sanchez by default since he has only played one season in college. A 64.3% completion % is solid and close to 4,000 yards is also impressive for the USC star as I have him rated as my #2 QB in this year's NFL Draft.

QB #3 is actually Matt Stafford.

He has a 7.7% lower completion percentage than White and only 1,682 more passing yards more than White.  Fifty-seven passing touchdowns is a pretty solid total for Stafford in his three seasons at Georgia but Pat White's 56 passing touchdowns matches Stafford with White also compiling 47 rushing touchdowns. Now before I get hundreds of emails stating the obvious that Pat White will not be able to do what he did on the ground in the NFL that he has accomplished in college, let me go a little deeper into my argument.

First, my arguments against drafting Matt Stafford:

a) He is very inconsistent with his throws (deep balls and short routes)
b) He throws quite a few interceptions making incorrect reads
c) He had solid receivers to throw to along with Knowshon Moreno in the backfield and still did not put up the big numbers everyone expected.

I believe that Pat's White Completion percentage is higher than Stafford's because White has always had that option in his back pocket that he can run so the defenses have always had to keep that in mind playing against West Virginia. But with that said, Pat has displayed countless times that he is a pure passer regardless of the success he has had with his legs. He had a stellar Senior Bowl week and game, along with a solid performance at the NFL Combine and his Pro Day workout was solid.

Another argument that always is debated is the competition each quarterback faces during college and since Georgia plays a tougher schedule in a tougher conference, he has in essence faced the best of the best and is more ready for the next level than others. When I hear things like this I laugh and think of Joe Flacco. I will be honest and tell you that I fell off the coach in laughter when Baltimore not only drafted Flacco in the 1st Round but traded up to get him. Like many others I did the comparisons and said no way is he NFL ready as a rookie and Troy Smith or Kyle Boller will be the starting QB for the 2009 season. But Flacco proved everyone wrong as he showed that a Division II quarterback can succeed in the right situation.

Pat White accumulated 4,480 yards and 47 touchdowns rushing at West Virginia. I doubt he posts similar numbers at the pro level but he is one of the few quarterbacks that have the skills to even come close. Just like the debacle with Tim Couch in Cleveland, Pat White will have to cross his fingers that he lands on the right team, in the right system and with a coaching staff committed to letting him be Pat White and not changing the way he plays the game. If the stars align and all these things happen, Pat White will not only be the steal of the NFL Draft he will be the #1 quarterback of the 2009 NFL Draft class.

In closing, I would like to reiterate that I think all three quarterbacks will have success in the NFL. My focus for this article was to merely point out that Stafford is not worthy of the #1 overall selection and $30 million in guaranteed money. He could be a serviceable addition to many teams in need a quarterback but with his numerous question marks it would be wise for Detroit to pass on the Georgia signal caller.

On Draft day two teams will be selecting Matt Stafford and Mark Sanchez (as they both sit in attendance) early in Round 1 while Pat White sits at home watching the 2009 NFL Draft on television.  His name will eventually be called, that we all know, but which team will be calling his name? Or more importantly, which position will they draft him to play?

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