2012?s draft could be quarterback nirvana

This lingering lockout makes it silly to think about the 2012 NFL season before we even know we'll have a 2011 NFL season. But at the same time, it also gives us all the time in the world to think about hypothetical things, like the 2012 season, so let's do that.

There are three college quarterbacks out there who have people pretty stoked for the 2012 draft, and if you buy into this fine Rob Rang column from CBS, you could argue that they all project to be as good or better than this year's No. 1 pick, Cam Newton.

Newton's unholy physical skills give him a really high ceiling, no question, but there are also a lot of questions with him (just one season against top competition, his ability to read NFL defenses and schemes, and his stated, now recanted, desire to be an entertainer and an icon).

Andrew Luck, Matt Barkley and Landry Jones aren't perfect, either -- well, except for Luck -- but it seems like their question marks aren't as big.

Also, keep in mind that none of these three are going to be seniors, either, might not want to be in the 2012 draft, and have yet to take a snap in their junior seasons. You have to be willing to accept some ridiculousness for the purposes of this post. Just play along, OK?

On to the snippets of little scouting reports. First, Luck:

The 6-4, 235-pound Luck boasts the strong arm, Pro Bowl-caliber accuracy and leadership -- he's a virtual coach on the field -- to be a cinch as the first player drafted whenever he ultimately opts to leave Stanford.

He has the mental aptitude to rival Peyton Manning, evident in his pre-snap reads and audibles to plays more likely to gash an opponent. And unlike Manning, whose lack of mobility outside of the pocket is an obvious shortcoming, Luck is quite athletic and can hurt defenses with his feet.

So, Peyton Manning with wheels, then? That sounds pretty good.

I've no quibbles with Luck's ability or any assessments of it, but I would say that it's sometimes easy to forget just how special Peyton Manning is. His work ethic for studying and ability to absorb and process information is legendary; maybe the best ever. Even if things go as well as they possibly could for Luck in the NFL, it'd still take years to get to Peyton's mental level.

More from Rang, this time on Matt Barkley:

"First off, you have to love the intangibles with [Barkley]," one general manager told me on the condition of anonymity. "The first guy to ever start [at quarterback] at USC as a true freshman? The first sophomore there at any position to be named a team captain? Are you kidding me? He's a winner. He's Andy Dalton, but with significantly more natural talent. I've heard the comparison to Troy Aikman and I think it is valid."

So the second-best quarterback in the 2012 draft could be a Troy Aikman clone? That, too, is pretty good. And lastly, on Landry Jones:

As impressive as he was in 2009, Jones' production ballooned last season, which he entered as the unquestioned starter for the first time. Like Luck and Barkley, Jones' completion percentage (65.6 percent), passing yardage (4,718) and passing touchdowns (38) all rose in his second season as a starter while his interceptions dropped (12).

Clearly, Jones' statistical output warrants a close look from scouts. And, if Bradford can make the adjustment from a spread offense to a more traditional drop-back system in the NFL, why can't Jones?

And depending on how things shake out with this rookie wage scale, they might not require a ginormous financial investment, either.

If nothing else, at least we'll start to get a good look at 2012 prospects soon. I'll take anything at this point.

Cristina Dumitru Cat Power January Jones Christina DaRe Malin Akerman