The Raiders.com Draft Prospects series is back for 2015. You can find information on each prospect invited to the NFL's Annual Scouting Combine by position. As always, we begin with a look at the QUARTERBACKS invited to participate in the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. *Photos courtesy of the respective player's university or college.
Bryan Bennett | 6-3 | 215 | Southeastern Louisiana
 |
 | In 2014, he completed 143-of-289 passes for 2,357 yards and 18 TDs. He also rushed 137 times for 669 yards and 15 TDs. |
Anthony Boone | 6-0 | 225 | Duke
 |
| Completed 525-of-892 passes for 5,596 yards and 36 touchdowns and 23 interceptions. Rushed 224 yards for 771 yards and 16 touchdowns. |
NFL.com Strengths Analysis: Heady quarterback. Makes sound decisions when asked to zone-read and when diagnosing pre-snap. Good play strength with an ability to escape rush, break tackles as a runner and get positive yards. Willing to stand tall in pocket when pocket gets dicey. Evaluators like his mental toughness and leadership traits.
Brandon Bridge | 6-5 | 235 | South Alabama
 |
| In two seasons, Bridge completed 189-of-373 passes for 2,325 yards and 16 TDs. In 2014, he threw 307 passes with 160 completions for 1,927 yards and 16 TDs. |
NFL.com Strengths Analysis: Tall, thin frame with room for more thickness. Three-quarter thrower with elite arm strength and instant release. Has enough arm to make off-balance intermediate and deep throws that few (if any) in this draft can make. Can drop deep ball into a bucket with accuracy and had a completion of 42 yards or more in eight of his 11 games in 2014. Showed some ability to work through progressions and uses his eyes to freeze the safety before taking vertical shots down the sideline. Able to make big plays with his feet. Had runs of 65 and 54 yards in 2014. Isn't just a pull-and-go runner from pocket. Will buy himself time and continue to scan the field for open targets.
Shane Carden | 6-2 | 221 | East Carolina
 |
| In three seasons, Carden completed 1,052 passes on 1,579 attempts for 11,991 yards, 86 TDs and 30 INTs. In 2014, he totaled 392 completions for 4,736 yards, 30 TDs and 10 INTs and was named First-Team All-American Conference. |
NFL.com Strengths Analysis: Three-year starter. Has a high football IQ and processes quickly as he scans the field. Comes from an athletic family. Has work ethic and toughness that NFL teams covet in a quarterback prospect. Leader who has shouldered a high percentage of the East Carolina offense. Works to extend plays and keeps eyes down the field.
Cody Fajardo | 6-2 | 215 | Nevada
 |
| In four seasons, Fajardo completed 863-of-1,318 passes for 9,500 yards and 57 touchdowns and 29 interceptions. He also rushed 624 times for 3,438 yards and 44 touchdowns. |
NFL.com Strengths Analysis: Dangerous with his legs. Effective zone-scheme runner and scrambler. Good pre-snap recognition of blitz and finds hot read. Shows some pocket awareness and will slide to create space. Uses his eyes to move safety. Will take shots over the top against press-man, single-high safety coverage. Accurate, confident thrower on the move. Adequate accuracy to boundary and utilizes back-shoulder throws when necessary. Looked to slide to finish runs rather than allow contact in 2014 after playing hurt in 2013. Two-time team captain. One of only two players in FBS history (Colin Kaepernick) to throw for 9,000 yards and rush for 3,000 yards during career. Wants to be better as a passer. Attended Manning Passing Academy three years in a row.
Garrett Grayson | 6-2 | 220 | Colorado St
 |
| Grayson completed 688 of 1,113 passes for 9,190 yards, 64 TDs and 27 INTs. In 2014, he completed 64.3 percent of his passes for 4,006 yards, 32 TDs and 7 INTs and was named the 2014 Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year. |
NFL.com Strengths Analysis: Tremendous deep-ball touch and accuracy this season. Puts air under the ball and feathers throw into consistently catchable spots for receivers. Gets feet set and uses lower body and proper weight transfer to drive the ball to his target with zip. Works to square shoulders to throw when outside of the pocket. Scouts love his toughness and improved poise in the pocket. Willing to face down oncoming rusher and take hit in order to deliver the pass. Shows confidence to challenge safeties and will attack press-man cornerbacks over the top. Production improved each season as starter. Has worked under center, in pistol and out of shotgun.
Connor Halliday | 6-4 | 201 | Washington St
 |
| Halliday completed 1,014-of-1,634 passes for 11,308 yards, 90 TDs and 50 INTs. In 2014, he threw for 3,873 yards and 32 TDs with a 67.3 completion rate. |
NFL.com Strengths Analysis: Obviously had great production in Washington State's pass-happy offense, but showed real improvement as decision maker as well. Showed improved accuracy to all areas of the field. Has a pre-snap plan and proved he was able to come off of his primary read and find another option. Gets from target to target quickly. Has good feel for timing routes and when to cut it loose. Throws a catchable ball with adequate ball placement. Was willing and able to make tough throws in the bucket over linebackers and just underneath safeties. Doesn't have a big arm by any stretch but was able to throw deep comeback to side with some success. Drive accuracy between hashes was good enough.
Brett Hundley | 6-3 | 226 | UCLA
 |
| In three seasons at UCLA, Hundley completed 837-of-1,241 passes for 9,966 yards, 75 TDs and 25 INTs. In 2014, he completed 271-of-392 passes for 3,155 yards and 22 TDs. |
NFL.com Strengths Analysis: Well-built with frame sturdy enough to handle rigors of the position. Asked to get through progressions and make decisions. Willing to stand in and take the hit when he zeroes in on his target. Willing to get take downfield shot and give his receiver a chance to make the play. Has the ability to maneuver inside of pocket to buy time. Poised enough from pocket. Has adequate release and enough arm when he sits down on his throws. Above-average foot quickness to escape pocket. Hit 57-yard playaction touchdown from under center against Washington in 2014 (just seven attempts under center all year). Good sense of pocket pressure and is decisive when he decides to bolt. Dangerous as a runner with enough speed to hit a big play on the ground. Dual-threat ability increases his effectiveness in red zone. Displays his toughness almost every time out.
Jerry Lovelocke | 6-5 | 200 | Pairie View A&M
 |
| Completed 676-of-1,107 passes for 7,359 yards and 54 TDs. He also rushed 234 times for 885 yards and 24 TDs. In 2014, he threw for 2,473 yards and 16 TDs and rushed for another 10 TDs. |
Sean Mannion | 6-5 | 227 |Oregon St
 |
| Mannion completed 1,187-of-1,838 passes for 13,600 yards, 83 TDs and 54 INTs. In 2014, he completed 282-of-453 passes for 3,164 yards and 15 TDs. |
NFL.com Strengths Analysis: Four-year starter who owns 18 passing records at Oregon State. Tall quarterback who sees over the offensive line. Throws with high release point. Plays with desired footwork. Can sit down and shift weight properly to drive the intermediate throws. Played in pro-style offense and is comfortable with 3-, 5- and 7-step drops from under center. When protected, shows confidence to stand and deliver with accuracy to all areas of the field. Trusted by head coach Mike Riley to make pre-snap reads and audible. Played in multiple-read offense and shows patience in allowing routes to develop. Good feel for pro-style play-action passing attack and can throw with above-average accuracy and ball placement.
Marcus Mariota | 6-4 | 219 | Oregon
 |
| In three seasons at Oregon, Mariota totaled 779 completions for 10,796 yards and 105 TDs with only 14 INTs, while also rushing for 2,237 yards and 29 TDs. In 2014, he completed 304-of-445 passes for 4,454 yards and 42 TDs. He was named the 2014 Heisman Trophy winner. |
NFL.com Strengths Analysis: Quick-twitch quarterback. Rare straight-line speed for the position. Defenses must account for ability outside the pocket. Asked to handle more each season by Ducks coaches and delivered consistent production. Stands tall in pocket with three-quarter delivery and quiet release. Keen sense of where trouble lurks and almost never gets baited into a dangerous throw. Threw multiple interceptions in a game just three times over 41 career starts. Adequate accuracy and ball placement from the pocket. Able to make off-balance, difficult throws. Can uncork throws quickly and without resetting feet when necessary. Can climb the pocket and deliver strikes when he trusts the edges of his protection. Silky smooth when asked to roll out and delivers on time with sound mechanics. Has balance and feet to escape collapsing pocket and will look to strike through the air rather than just bolting as a runner. Size, speed and enough skill to eat in the red zone. Considered extremely coachable by scouts, who also love his willingness to play hurt. Very humble and leads by example. Family and heritage are extremely important to him.
Nick Marshall | 6-1 | 205 | Auburn
 |
| In two seasons at Auburn, Marshall completed 320-of-532 passes for 4,508 yards, 34 TDs and 13 INTs. He also rushed 325 times for 1,866 yards and 23 TDS. In 2014, he completed 178 passes for 2,532 yards, 20 TDs and 7 INTs. Switched to cornerback during the Senior Bowl. |
NFL.com Strengths Analysis: Has desired size and frame for cornerback position. Played cornerback at Georgia and appeared in 13 games there in 2011. Has quick feet and is able to change direction quickly. Shows ability to plant and drive forward out of backpedal. Not a banger, but showed a willingness to hit and finish in Senior Bowl. Background as quarterback could benefit his defensive awareness and football intelligence. Strong competitive drive and showed confidence in his abilities in big games.
Bryce Petty | 6-3 | 230 | Baylor
 |
| Petty completed 530 of 845 passes for 8,195 yards, 62 TDs and 10 INTs. In 2014, he was 270-of-428 for 3,855 yards, 29 TDs and 7 INTs and earned the Bobby Bowden Award. |
NFL.com Strengths Analysis: Possesses NFL size. Not a burner, but has enough functional movement outside of the pocket. Scouts label him ultra-competitive, tough and smart. Strong leader. Engineered 21-point fourth-quarter comeback win over TCU in 2014. Played through a back injury for most of his senior season. Doesn't have a cannon, but arm strength is NFL-starter quality. Deep-ball accuracy improved from 2013 to 2014. Understands when to throw the fastball and when to use touch. Gets feet set with good balance on delivery. Keeps ball at proper height on setup and has quick release. Rarely underthrows deep passes, preferring to give only his wide receiver a chance to catch the ball.
Blake Sims | 6-0 | 208 | Alabama
 |
| Sims completed 275-of-430 passes for 3,731 yards, 30 TDs and 10 INTs. He added 150 rushes for 705 yards and 9 TDs. In 2014, he saw most of his playing time as QB, completing 252 passes for 3,487 yards, 28 TDs and 10 INTs and rushing for 350 yards and 7 TDs. |
NFL.com Strengths Analysis: Able to take snaps in pro-style passing attack. Showed adequate timing and anticipation for throwing windows. Extremely quick feet. Able to escape trouble and convert third downs with his feet. Showed discipline to stay in pocket and trust protection. Hard to sack. Nifty side-stepper who can elude, regroup and make the throw. Has enough zip on passes to make NFL throws. Can process quickly and adjust his game plan when on the move.
Jameis Winston | 6-4 | 230 | Florida St
 |
| In two seasons at Florida State, Winston completed 562-of-851 passes for 7,964 yards, 65 TDs and 28 INTs. In 2014, he completed 305-of-467 passes for 3,907 yards, 25 TDs and 18 INTs. In 2013, he was named the Heisman Trophy winner as well as the ACC Offensive Player of the Year. |
NFL.com Strengths Analysis: Considered by scouting community to be advanced in ability to scan field and get through progressions. Has natural feel for throwing windows and anticipates openings that other college quarterbacks don't see. Has height to see over offensive line and thickness of build to withstand NFL hits. Big arm by NFL standards. Gets full extension and follow through into throws with ability to drive ball into the seam in front of safeties. Can make all of the field-side throws teams need. Most teammates very trusting and protective of him, according to regional scouts. Aware in pocket, but not overly jittery. Good feel for edge pressure and steps up into pocket while continuing his scan. When pressure mounts, so does his focus. Shows faith in his wide receivers and willing to go right back to them after a drop. Strong lower body and able to shake free of some would-be sacks and get rid of the ball. Fierce competitor and unafraid of mistakes. Shows above-average football character. Will make throws and take chances others won't, which can be a special trait if properly harnessed.
