If he stays hot, Weeden may be tempted by NFL
Published: 9/27/2010 4:39 PM
Last Modified: 9/27/2010 4:39 PM
If he happens to throw for 400 yards and several touchdowns during Thursday’s ESPN-televised clash with Texas A&M, Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden will be firmly established on the national radar.
In spite of being among national leaders in passing yards and total offense, he remains mostly unknown outside of the Big 12 region.
A big performance on Thursday would completely change Weeden’s national profile – and most definitely capture the attention of the men who make personnel decisions for NFL teams.
As a fourth-year junior, the 26-year-old Weeden would be eligible to enter the 2011 draft. If he stays healthy, if he continues to complete a high percentage of his passes and if he consistently throws an accurate deep ball, he would have a decision to make in January.
During Thursday’s game at Boone Pickens Stadium, scouts representing 13 NFL teams will be watching from the press box. Each of the 13 will chart every aspect of Weeden’s game – his decision-making, release, arm strength and footwork.
I’m not suggesting the 6-foot-4, 220-pound Weeden would be slotted for the first round of the draft, but NFL money is substantial also for the quarterbacks selected in later rounds. As the 48th pick overall this year, Jimmy Clausen got from the Carolina Panthers a four-year contract worth that ultimately could be worth $5.5 million. He is guaranteed a sum of $2.5 million. As the 85th pick, Colt McCoy got from the Cleveland Browns a four-year deal worth $4.96 million, with $751,000 guaranteed.
Weeden may love college life, but he’s an older guy and a married guy. If informed by NFL people that he would be taken within the first three rounds of the 2011 draft, he would at least be tempted. In 2002, he collected a $560,000 signing bonus from the New York Yankees. If he continues to light it up at Oklahoma State, he could get a lot more from an NFL team.
-- Bill Haisten
Written by
Bill Haisten
Sports Writer
