Lot of buzz surrounding TCU quarterback Aaron Wilson
Texas Christian quarterback Andy Dalton could be in play tonight in the first round of the NFL draft, according to league sources with knowledge of the situation.
The Cincinnati Bengals are one possibility for Dalton if they trade back out of the fourth overall pick.
Several NFL teams have projected Dalton as a first-round draft pick. Several general managers have privately compared Dalton to New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and are of the belief that his arm strength will continue to improve once he's in the NFL.
ICONWill Dalton hear his name called on Day 1?
The Minnesota Vikings are another quarterback-needy team that has shown a lot of interest in Dalton, who visited the NFC North club. Dalton also visited the Saints, Washington Redskins, Bengals, San Francisco 49ers and the Tennessee Titans.
He had 11 private workouts, including the New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts.
"He had an unbelievable Pro Day, he played well in the all-star game and he did very well at the scouting combine," veteran former NFL assistant Jerry Rhome, Dalton's quarterback coach, told the National Football Post. "I know Andy can play. Andy is one of the sharpest quarterbacks I've been around and I coached Joe Theismann, Doug Williams and Troy Aikman. He's a very accurate passer.
"The knock on him is he's not the greatest athlete in the world. This kid ran a 4.8 and is 6-2, 215 pounds. He's really smart and he knows where to put the ball. He can move in the pocket, see down the field and put it where it has to go. There's a lot more to this game than just being big and strong. Andy is a winner."
Dalton completed 66.1 percent of his throws last season and passed for 27 touchdowns, leading TCU to a Rose Bowl win over Wisconsin for his third bowl game Most Valuable Player.
He owns every big passing record in school history.
Dalton went 42-7 as a starter.
He rushed for 1,611 career yards and 22 touchdowns.
A two-time Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Year, Dalton finished ninth in the Heisman Trophy balloting last season.
He passed for 11,678 career yards.
"People say you don't have a strong arm or can't do something, it's just motivation to go out there and prove them wrong," Dalton said at the NFL scouting combine. "I understand the game really well. I think it's the way the offense was for me and TCU put a lot on me.
"I knew a lot, which allowed them to put a lot on me. Hopefully, they'll see that I'm a winner, I didn't lose very many ballgames. I can't stand to lose. All my hard work is to win ball games."
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