NFL Draft news roundup: Greg Cosell breaks down quarterbacks

One of the most respected analysts in football doesn't see any of the top QBs in the 2014 NFL Draft as being top 10 picks, even though they will be.

By Dan Kadar Feb 14, 2014, 9:44am EST

When Greg Cosell talks, the best of the best NFL analysts listen. Cosell is the senior producer at NFL Films and intelligently breaks down more film than just about anyone.

Cosell is starting to make the rounds leading up to the NFL Draft and has had some interesting things to say on a couple of outlets.

His work has begun first by breaking down quarterbacks and wide receivers. Most consider the top quarterbacks Teddy Bridgewater, Blake Bortles and Johnny Manziel. Cosell is not a fan.

Mock Draft

Johnny Manziel on the rise

Matthew Fairburn •SBNation.com

Johnny Manziel has been climbing the draft boards, but Blake Bortles and Teddy Bridgewater could still go in the top 5 -- especially if the Rams decide the Sam Bradford era is over.

Mock Draft

Johnny Manziel on the rise

"I don't believe any of the three is a guy you look at as a surefire top 10 pick in the draft, which means nothing in this year's draft because these are the guys who are available," Cosell told WGFX (104.5-FM) in Nashville.

Of Manziel, Cosell said he's almost undraftable based on his last two games of the regular season. Because of the variation in his game, Cosell said Manziel has consistency issues and isn't a timing thrower.

"I would say overall, he's a small quarterback with outstanding movement and improvisation," Cosell said. "At times, he showed very strong flashes of structured pocket play that clearly project to the NFL, so I think it'll come down to how you balance these issues."

Of the top three quarterbacks, Cosell prefers Blake Bortles of Central Florida. Cosell noted that Bortles is largely a pocket passer who can throw on boot action and has some anticipation.

"On Bortles, the more I watched the more I thought there were some positives," Cosell told KBME (790-AM) in Houston. "He's not a great thrower. You don't come away thinking 'Wow, he's a terrific thrower.' I would say he doesn't really drive the ball. He's got a little bit of a quirky delivery, which means that he's got a tendency to push the ball as opposed to really drive it."

Finally, on Bridgewater, Cosell he'll remind some of Russell Wilson. Like many have said, Cosell seems to think Bridgewater is good in many areas, but maybe not a star in any.

"You would say he's got the arm strength to make all the necessary throws, but he doesn't have a gun," Cosell said. "He's not an extreme talent where you go 'Wow, look at this kid throw the football.' But I think overall he's got very light feet, he sets up quickly."

Other notes on Cosell's interviews:

- He likes Kelvin Benjamin more than Mike Evans because of his athleticism.

- He's not a big fan of wide receiver Jordan Matthews.

- He thinks Jimmy Garoppolo may have a better arm than Eastern Illinois' offense let him show.

- AJ McCarron may need to get on a team that bases its offense on running the ball.

Jordan Lynch prepping for combine as a QB

Other than Jordan Lynch, there aren't a lot of people who think Jordan Lynch is a quarterback in the NFL. Heck, his own coach even compared him to Tim Tebow. Nonetheless, Lynch is charging forward with his goal of being a professional quarterback. There's something admirable about that, especially after he struggled during the East-West Shrine Game. Lynch is scheduled to be on Jon Gruden's Quarterback Camp on ESPN, where he'll be called "this guy" and "a great guy" and told "you're athletic, man." But leading up to the NFL Combine next week, Lynch has been working on his play from under center after taking almost every snap from the shotgun at Northern Illinois.

He did say, though, he's open to a position change because he "will do whatever it takes to get that check."

Clowney, the graphical

Three years ago today, Jadeveon Clowney signed a National Letter of Intent with South Carolina. To celebrate his career, Jorge De Los Gallos over at Garnet and Black Attack put together a really nice timeline graphical, featuring very important dreadlock status updates. (Tip: When you're looking at the graphic, right click and view image)

The combine's unlikely star

Looking for an under-the-radar combine superstar? Meet South Dakota linebacker Tyler Starr who could break records in the three-cone drill. Starr has reportedly run the three-cone in 6.29 seconds, and the record is 6.42. But what is the importance of the three-cone? Out of all the combine drills, that one shows the most athletic explosion. For a 6-foot-4 linebacker to run that kind of time would be unbelievable.