Quote:And for the last time (lol yeah right), Bortles wasn't a late riser he was merely a late declarer. He has long been seen as a top 10 draft pick, we just didn't think he would be in this draft. 

I have to humbly disagree.

Going back to pretty much last July, the top 4-5 prospective QBs in this upcoming draft have ALL and ALWAYS been underclassmen, and nobody that I've seen was ever hesitant about talking about any undeclared quarterbacks. I say heed the OP's warning: Beware the Late-Rising QB.

 
I mean heck, the very definition of a late-rising QB should raise red-flags. There are traditionally 2-types in general.

Quote:<div>1)A QB who did not impress on the field(or at least not as much as his QB peers), but inexplicably rises up/above the other QBs on the draftboard thanks to more NFL-standard size, weight, and perceived potential of not what he is, but what he can become.
 
2)A QB who was not formerly thought of as a top tier quarterback, but thanks to a lack or dearth of QBs in the draft, goes higher than he would/should.

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Bortles is a product of both of these IMO. Let me for example, show you at least 3-QBs in particular who Bottles can thank for rising so fast so late.
 
(1)Bryce Petty(prospected first round quarterback in 2014 Draft)
**couldn't post picture(too many in one post), so just imagine a Bryce Petty pic here. 
 
(2)Marcus Mariota(prospected first round quarterback in 2014 Draft)

 
(3)Bret Hundley(prospected first round quarterback in 2014 Draft)

I dare you to try and find any early draftboard/top QB list by any of the major sports outlets before Dec/Jan of this year that had Bottles over fellow undeclared underclassmen Petty, Mariota, Hundley, Bridgewater, or Manziel. I don't think anyone can.
Why? Because it was only after all three of these big QBs decided to not declare at the last second, that Bottles became a household name. If they were in this draft, Bottles would go back to being the 6th or 7th best QB in the draft IMO.
 
Case in point, way, way back in October 2013, ESPN ranked the 6 best possible QBs coming out for the draft. All in the top 6(except for Mettenberger) were underclassmen. None of them had declared yet.

Quote:<div>Quarterbacks
1. *Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville
A potential No. 1 overall pick. Has all the skills, only dinged by questions about a lack of competition so far in 2013.
2. **Marcus Mariota, Oregon
Physically gifted as an athlete, but patient as a progression passer, with a great arm. A clear challenger to Bridgewater.
3. **Brett Hundley, UCLA
Significant physical abilities and no questions about his arm. Shows plenty of toughness and is just scratching the surface.
4. **Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M
Question his arm strength and occasionally his decision-making, but not his preternatural gifts as an instinctive playmaker.
5. Zach Mettenberger, LSU
6.Bryce Petty
 

 

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The idea that people didn't talk about underclassmen/undeclared QBs is just not true. We've been talking about them for months. Even his fans have to admit that Bottles benefited from 3 major QBs not declaring, and the 2-major ones left(Manziel and Bridgewater) coming with supposed size issues at the combine. Ie, the prototypical late-rising QB.

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