If sheer arm strength will play a big role in determining which quarterback will be the third guy taken at the position, Baylor's Bryce Petty is in good shape.
Former NFL coach/current ESPN NFL analyst Jon Gruden says Petty "might have the best arm talent in this draft."
"Last year Derek Carr came to town and put on an aerial display," Gruden said in a news release touting his "Gruden's Quarterback Camp" show on ESPN. "I would be surprised if Petty isn't that guy this year."
Petty, who measured 6-foot-2 7/8 and 230 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine, threw for 8,055 yards and 61 TDs (against 10 interceptions) in his two seasons as Baylor's starter. Gruden calls him "a great passer."
Petty ran a spread offense at Baylor and there are questions about him transitioning to a pro-style attack, but Gruden doesn't seem to share those concerns. He says Petty has been "stereotyped in the Baylor offense, but he's different."
NFL Media analysts Bucky Brooks and Lance Zierlein have Petty as the No. 4 quarterback available, while fellow analyst Mike Mayock has Petty as his third quarterback.
The other quarterbacks involved in Gruden's "camp" this year are Garrett Grayson, Brett Hundley, Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston. Of Grayson, Gruden said, "There's a lot of parts of Colorado State's system that I recognize, unlike a lot of college football."
Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.
