Christian Ponder should be a first round pick

Christian Ponder should be taken in the first round of the upcoming NFL draft.  A knock on him is his numbers went down from his junior to senior season.  Well, his numbers went down due to being injured and playing through injuries for the majority of that season. Fluke injuries I might add (injured on a tackle attempt his junior season, an awkward landing directly on his elbow resulted in a bursa sac injury that lasted throughout in his senior season). His junior season is a far better view of his ability.  I honestly believe he can be the most successful QB in this draft provided he gets the time to learn the system, like the Packers did with Aaron Rodgers. In fact, his play and measureables remind me a lot of A-Rod. Look at his numbers in his junior season compared to Rodgers season at Cal. 

Completion % - Yards - YPA- TDs - INTs
Rodgers - 66.1% - 2566 - 8.12 - 24 - 7
Ponder - 68.8% - 2717 - 8.23 - 14 - 7 


Rodgers was measured at 6'2'' and 223 and Ponder measured in at 6'2'' and 229 at the NFL Combine.  I don't think size was an issue when Rodgers was winning the Super Bowl and being named it's MVP.  Here are some other combine numbers: 

Combine - 40 - 20 - 10 - Vert - Broad - 3 Cone
Rodgers - 4.71 - 2.75 - 1.65 - 34.5'' - 9'2'' - 7.39
Ponder - 4.63 - 2.62 - 1.57 - 34'' - 9'8'' - 6.85 


Doesn't say much of a QB's ability to throw it, but Ponder was regarded as having one of, if not the best throwing sessions at the combine. 

Ponder is athletic, has enough size (6'3'' 229 lbs.), he's smart (Already has an MBA, is working on a second Master's in Sports Management and scored 35 on NFL's wonderlic where the average for QBs is 25), and accurate (61.6 career completion %). He has shown toughness by playing through injuries in his junior and senior years. His leadership is unquestioned.  He was the MVP of the Senior Bowl. As a Packers fan, if Rodgers was 30 instead of 27, I'd want the Packers to take Ponder at 32.  If he gets the chance to learn the game from the NFL perspective, look out for Christian Ponder as a top 10 QB in the NFL in 3-5 years.