LNBS: Why do people think this is a terrible QB class?

[RealSNR]

Knowmo and FartBob have somehow done a good job of brainwashing this forum into thinking the Chiefs are doomed, and that they picked the worst season in the history of the NFL to finally tank for a franchise QB. I want to put a stop to this nonsense right here and right now.

The correct answer to the question, "Is there potentially a guy in 2013 we can draft who will be just what we need as a franchise to compete at the next level?" is still overwhelmingly yes. That was never even a question.

What gets people so down in the mouth is that scouts come out and say, "Boy, I don't see any Andrew Lucks this year, do you?" I think that gets people cycling through "What if?" scenarios over and over in their heads. Then they conclude that we picked the wrong year to tank like this, which causes them to equate Andrew Luck to the standard for all #1 overall QBs. Now I can agree that if we were to tank for a QB, last year was the year to do it. But that doesn't mean this QB class is absolute feces. Far from it. This is actually a pretty good class.

When I look at Geno Smith, Matt Barkley, and Tyler Wilson, I see three QBs who all have the following necessary characteristics for playing QB in the NFL:

1. Outstanding pocket presence and awareness. Extremely important. This quality is what can separate these guys from a Blaine Gabbert or another QB like that. All three of them demonstrate excellent maneuverability in the pocket and the ability to avoid sacks and extend plays. When under pressure, each guy keeps his eyes downfield. I think Geno Smith and Matt Barkley both have good ability to escape on the run if they need to. Wilson is a tad bit slow here, but within the pocket and rolling out, he's pretty crafty. Additionally, I don't see anything that would make me think any of these QBs would get rattled by pressure.

2. Arms that can make all the necessary throws. This especially applies to Geno Smith and Tyler Wilson, but reports of Matt Barkley's chicken leg armstrength are greatly overblown. They aren't the greatest, but they're above adequate. In this case, "good enough" is good enough.

3. Slingshot-like releases on their throws. Again, Smith and Wilson are at the top of the game here. Both QBs possess "plus" arms. However, Barkley's pedigree and technique on this throws give him a plus in this category as well. None of these QBs are going to have to work with throwing technicians to improve the speed and accuracy on their releases like so many QBs have to do when they enter the pros.

4. "Plus" brains. Each guy can work through his progressions and read defenses. That ability is there. It helps that each QB has worked out of a pro style offense at one point in their college careers (Smith has been running the Air Raid for two seasons, but worked from a pro set his first year as a starter). Additionally, each QB is extremely well-respected by his teammates and coaches. There are no Ryan Leafs or Matt Leinarts in the bunch. Each QB can be depended on to approach his job with 100% effort and heart as soon as he gets drafted.

5. Durability and size. None of them are Brock Osweilers, but they won't draw comparisons to Russell Wilson or Kellen Moore either. They have the necessary size. Each QB has also demonstrated that he can take a beating and still get up. There are no broke dicks like Croyle or Bradford.

And there you have it. The shit that scouts say about them, that all three of them occasionally make bad decisions and force throws can be pretty much ignored as far as the fans are concerned. They possess the skills and qualities that CAN NOT be taught. That's why it's so important for the Chiefs to go to the top of the first round for their next QB. A QB who is missing any one of these is at a huge disadvantage. Occasionally they can make it up (sometimes even with spectacular results) but usually they will end up struggling a lot.

Even if you're not convinced by my evaluations (and the evaluations of a ton of other quality football posters on this forum who agree with me on one or two of these guys), what is the alternative?

Here is where I'd like to show why FartRape and Knowmo are full of shit: We're in a position to get a great QB RIGHT NOW. How often does this happen? Sure, we might be a snake-bitten team for awhile like when we drafted in the top 5 for three straight years. After each year we were told that there were no good QBs available to us when we picked, and that selecting a franchise guy was bad news. We were going to be bad awhile, after all. Why do a rush job on picking the most important position on the field?

That QB never came. Even though we could have traded up with 5 million draft picks in 2008 or taken Sanchez/Freeman in 2009, none of those picks delighted anybody here or the dumb****s in charge. And now look where we're at. We've got some top top quality DT talent, a supposedly once-in-a-lifetime S, and Matt Cassel. Still too risky?

We were in positions to take QBs back then. When you're a team like the Chiefs without ANY legit QB on the roster the truly risky option is NOT to take advantage of your spot. The greedy and truly risky route is to pass on that guy. It's to gamble on not only future drafts and future QBs, but to also gamble that you'll be terrible enough to be in a position to draft those guys. One in the hand is worth two in the bush, folks, and the Chiefs this April will have their pick of one QB to put in their hand.

Choose the safe route. Choose one of these QBs. **** the haters. **** the unnamed scouts with the vague reports that don't say anything about the talent or skills of each guy.

Don't get greedy, and stop coveting Andrew Luck. We're in a great position to draft our first QB in the first round since 1983. It could be much worse. We could be looking at only Sam Bradford or any guy from 2011.