Foles is a hotly debated subject back and forward between many draft fans. The thing is, Foles could easily go in the 3rd round in the 2012 draft. However if Barkley, Griffin III, and Jones all stay in school then Foles could also easily go in the middle of the first round. Yes, the opinions on Foles range that far and wide.

What are my thoughts on this?

I believe that Foles will go somewhere in the top 55 picks. That puts him around the 18-20 spot in the second round. As a Broncos fan it does concern me that some believe that Foles could go in the middle of the first round because for some strange reason I believe John Elway is dying to draft Nick Foles. From eveything that I’ve read the Broncos seem really interested in Foles. Then again, they were also really interested in Cam Newton and you see how that panned out.

What is Foles’ value as a pro?

As you may know I do not like “scouting reports” because for the most part they are wrong. I will just tell you my opinion on Foles from the limited action I got to see of him.

To me he is a classic drop back passer. He isn’t going to run around the field like the “new wave” of QB’s. Foles is going to sit back comfortable in the pocket. Sometimes maybe a little too comfortable if you ask me. At 6’4 he is a huge target for defenders and he has a tendency to lock on to his primary target and wait for him to get open.

I am not sure if that is a product of Arizona’s scheme, or if Foles simply doesn’t like to look for his second and third options. Either way that is a very correctable problem. Mechanically he is very sound, and a near 70% passer. Though it was in the Pac 12, that accuracy is nothing to sneeze at. That may be the main reason the Broncos are so interested.

So where will Foles go in the draft?

All in all, I believe he goes in the top half of the second round. I think a team like Seattle or Kansas City that may not necessarily want to spend a top 10 pick on a QB will take him in the second round and develop him behind a veteran.

Rob Schumacher/The Arizona Republic

You remember Rich Rodriguez right?  The head coach of the famed West Virginia team that featured Pat White and Steve Slaton who then flipped that season into getting the Michigan job only to be fired shortly after.  His wide open option system did wonders with Pat White at the helm but with Denard Robinson and Tate Forcier it looked a little less than magical.

Well now Rich Rod is taking his talents to the University of Arizona and is kind of, sort of guaranteeing a National Title as well.

On Tuesday, Rodriguez was back in charge of a football program. He said his choice to take the Arizona job boiled down to a few things — that the school is located in a college community, that Arizona has good academics and a good athletics program, and that the football team can be nationally competitive.

“When this opportunity came up, there were maybe some other opportunities that came up and they were really neat,” Rodriguez said. “For me, and making this hopefully my last stop, you have to go where you can win a national championship. I don’t mind saying it. That’s hard to do. That’s really hard to do…but you can win one here.”

Quick, no one remind Rich Rod that Arizona has not had double digit wins since 1998.

Now keep in mind that there is a lot of football left to be played. A lot of these guys could end up completely shattering expectations, or fizzing out the rest of the way. But for right now, here is where I have them.

1. Ryan Mallett – QB Arkansas

Even though he had that bad second half vs. Alabama I still have to rank him #1.  At 6’7 and over 240 lbs. he is the biggest QB prospect since Jamarcus Russell.  I know, not exactly a compliment but Mallett has an NFL arm and is making tough throws right now.  He plays in a pass happy offense so he also throws a lot more picks than you’d like to see but all in all no one in the nation is outplaying Mallett right now.

Yoo! Im going to the 49ers!

2. Andrew Luck- QB Stanford

Andrew Luck was a very interesting prospect going into the season.  I personally wanted to see what he could do without Toby Gerhart behind him.  Well all he did was throw for 1200 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions so far this year with a 62% completion rate.  He struggled in the second half against Oregon and threw two picks during that game, but all in all he has the accuracy and poise you look for in any prospect.

3. (Tie) Christian Ponder- QB Florida State, Jake Locker- QB Washington

I almost don’t want to rank him here because of how slow he started the season.  Needless to say, CP7ForHeisman.com became pretty obselete quickly as Ponder threw for 117 yards and 2 interceptions vs. Oklahoma.  On top of that he had a 39% completion rate in the game. Ouch.  Ponder bounced back with over a 64% completion rate in the next two games.  His stock is still relatively hot because Ponder has all the talent in the world and the mobility to make any NFL team interested.

Then there is Locker, who has all the physical talent in the world but no signature moments or big games to display it so far.  Yes, he beat USC once (this seasons game with USC Washington won as well but Locker was injured) but that has been about it.  He really has not put it all together in a big time passing display.

You also have to go back to the 4/20 completion rate against Nebraska and wonder if Locker is really on the same level passing the ball as the other top prospects.  To this Broncos fan, Jake Locker reminds me all too well of one Jay Cutler.

Nick Foles has a 74% completion rate this season

4. Nick Foles – QB Arizona

Foles is a junior and should stay in school to cement his selection as the first QB taken in 2012.  But if he takes a page from Jevan Snead’s playbook and comes out early, he will find a suitor on day one in the draft.  Foles has thrown for an amazing 74% completion rate so far.  The 6 touchdown to 4 interception rate has to get better though.