Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor decided not to return to Ohio State amid a scandal that led coach Jim Tressel to resign. Facing a five-game suspension to start the 2011 season for trading memorabilia, Pryor opted to apply for the NFL supplemental draft.
Taking into account Pryor's talents and his off-field issues, what team do you think will take a chance on him in the supplemental draft?
The Oakland Raiders have no commitment to Jason Campbell beyond this season and have hardly sent signals that he is definitely the guy there long-term. And we know how Al Davis can fall for athletes and there is enough talent to intrigue. Pryor is going to go late in the supplemental draft and will come cheap. The Raiders are in need of a developmental quarterback.
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</table> I know Pryor wants to be a QB, but the Raiders also could use receivers and some scouts see a future for this kid more as someone catching passes rather than throwing them. He's already got a bit of a reputation and is leaving Columbus under a cloud -- the Raiders have been collecting guys like that for as long as we can remember.
After blowing it on a quarterback with the first overall pick, the Raiders might as well take a shot on one with a late-round supplemental pick.
Why wouldn't the Buffalo Bills take a flyer on Pryor? If it costs them a third- or fourth-round pick next season, that's fine because those are 50-50 picks as it is. It's also where they might have made a play for Pryor in next year's draft anyway.
The Bills seem set to roll with Ryan Fitzpatrick as the starter in 2011, but the backup situation isn't totally settled. Adding Pryor to the mix would only pose a threat to whomever the No. 3 quarterback would be this season. Coach Chan Gailey is good at developing quarterbacks -- especially mobile ones -- and bringing in a versatile player like Pryor would allow the Bills to gauge Pryor's strengths and for the kid to learn the system in Buffalo.
Next offseason is where the majority of schooling could come and, by then, Pryor might be up-to-speed enough to contend for the No. 2 spot, if not the starting job.
The team that puts in the highest bid in the supplemental draft for Pryor should be one with an older starting quarterback. Not necessarily an old QB, but a guy who might not be right for the job in two years. It would be best if Pryor goes to a team that doesn't need to put him on the field until at least 2012.
I have already had one general manager change his mind on Pryor. After suggesting a fourth- or fifth-round pick would land Pryor, the GM now feels a third- or fourth-rounder might be the target area. Three teams that should give legitimate thought to Pryor include the Raiders, Miami Dolphins and Washington Redskins.
I'm not saying they will take him, but if I were the Cincinnati Bengals, I'd give it some thought. Here's their quarterback situation: They already have one rookie in Andy Dalton who might have to start. Carson Palmer isn't going to play for the black-and-orange. Dan LeFevour is a project without the biggest arm. Jordan Palmer isn't the answer, but at least he's a veteran presence who is very familiar with the talents and limitations of Jordan Shipley, Jermaine Gresham, Cedric Benson, etc.
Pryor could be a Brad Smith-type for this club, a guy who gives the team depth at quarterback and a playmaker in certain Wildcat packages. Pryor's not a threat to Dalton as the franchise quarterback for two reasons: Dalton was drafted as an insurance policy if Carson Palmer departs and Pryor might not even play much as a classic quarterback anyway. The job was no one's to lose in the first place, and Pryor would be just one more name in the mix, while contributing in other forms.
Oh, by the way, former Bengals quarterback and 1981 league MVP Ken Anderson has been working with Pryor. Just sayin'.
