ESPN's NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper gave a conference call to Redskins reporters, during which he discussed whether a number of the top quarterback prospects - Cam Newton, Blaine Gabbert and Jake Locker among them - would be good fits for the Redskins at No. 10. Kiper currently has the Redskins taking Newton with the 10th pick, and he said he's sticking to it (via Larry Weisman).
Kiper said Newton has "all the upside you want," according to Rich Campbell of the Fredericksburg Free-Lance Star. Newton would have to be "molded," Kiper said, and the important thing is whether his intangibles are sound. If so, he should be a good pick for the Redskins, Kiper said.
As for Locker, Kiper was not impressed. Via Ryan O'Halloran of Comcast SportsNet:
"Sub-par year against college defenses ... And I'm being kind calling it sub-par."
Kiper even downplayed Washington's win over Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl, saying the Cornhuskers "didn't show up." He added that if Locker couldn't get it done against college defenses this year, he probably won't get it done in the pros. Via Campbell, he actually ended up comparing Locker to Kyle Boller, which isn't flattering.
As for Gabbert, via Campbell, Kiper said he was intriguing, but there are concerns that the system at Missouri inflated his numbers.
On the whole, Kiper said he thinks the Redskins need a young quarterback, not merely a stop-gap option.
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