This class of quarterbacks in the upcoming NFL Draft has drawn scrutiny from many analysts, myself included. The top two — Brady Quinn and JaMarcus Russell — seem to be locks in the upper first round. After them, who's left among first day possibilities?

There's a steep drop in talent. UPDATE! decided to break down the top players according to the most important characteristics of the position. How better to quantify their differences than to put numbers to various traits.

Each player is ranked based on mathematical averages of each characteristic, from one-to-10. Some categories are weighted more heavily than others. With that said, here are the top prospects:

Notre Dame
Comment: Quinn offers excellent arm strength and throwing accuracy, and has developed sound mechanics under the tutelage of Charlie Weiss. He has adequate speed, both in terms of short area quickness and straight line sprinting speed. He was among the most productive quarterbacks in all of Division I football through his junior and senior seasons. The only major question many have with Quinn is his ability to play at his best under pressure, but there's little doubt he's capable. Weighted Average: 7.67

LSU
Comment: Russell's incredible arm strength is well documented, and that alone will make him attractive to NFL scouts. He's also much bigger than most quarterbacks with first round projections, and has the ability to move in the pocket effectively to boot. He will need to be well coached to develop his ability to read defenses and make good decisions, and if he is so fortunate, Russell may end up the best quarterback drafted since Carson Palmer. Weighted Average: 7.33

Michigan State
Comment: Stanton was an enigma to many, myself included. He possesses adequate passing measureables, and at times commanded the Spartans offense to perfection. He was very inconsistent, however, along with the rest of the Michigan State squad. He will need to learn to control his emotions better on the field to improve upon his consistency. Weighted Average: 6.83

Ohio State
Comment: Were it not for his size, Troy Smith may still be the first round-prospect he seemed to be throughout the 2006 season. His arm is strong enough to make the toughest throws in the NFL, and he is arguably the most mobile quarterback in this discussion. He'll struggle to find passing lanes with his height, however, and that alone will hold him out of the first two rounds. Weighted Average: 6.67

UTEP
Comment: The brother of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer, Jordan is nearly the opposite of the aforementioned Troy Smith. Palmer's arm may be the only one in this draft that can rival Russell's, and he is a very big player too. He is terribly slow, though, both in the pocket and in a straight-line sprint. He was very mistake-proned as well at UTEP. If a team with a solid pass-protecting line drafts Palmer, he could eventually develop into a backup for them. Weighted Average: 6.61

Stanford
Comment: Edwards can be found just about anywhere on various draft boards. Some project him as the third or fourth quarterback taken, and others don't include him in the Top 10 at all. His measureables are comparable to the other quarterbacks projected in the third or fourth round, but with a history of injury and a poor career touchdown / interception ratio, some teams may be hesitant to pull the trigger. Weighted Average: 6.44

Brigham Young
Comment: Over the last two seasons, Beck's statistical production has been as impressive as nearly any quarterback in division one. He is one of the more accurate passers available in this draft, and displayed a knack for making big throws in the clutch while at BYU. Some concerns about Beck are is ability to throw the deep ball with consistent accuracy, questionable mechanics, and the probability that his statistics were inflated in the Cougars' spread offense. Weighted Average: 6.44

Houston
Comment: Kolb was also very productive in college, posting a very impressive 85 / 31 touchdown / interception ratio during his career at Houston. Kolb's passing measureables appear to be well balanced, a sign that he has been well-coached and has adequate talent in his arm. He is somewhat small among the others in this group. And like Beck, his statistics may have been blown up by the Houston offensive scheme. Weighted Average: 6.33

Pittsburgh
Comment: More so than most of the others listed here, Palko possesses very impressive intangibles. He is an excellent leader on the field, and performs very well in the clutch. His arm strength is adequate, but not great. He's a bit inconsistent with his accuracy, and some question his mobility. His mechanics and decision-making will need to be refined at the NFL level as well. Weighted Average: 6.17