Apr 21, 2015 4 min read

The focus on the NFL Draft, as usual, centers on the quarterback position.

Because of the importance of the position on any football team, the quarterbacks in a draft class draw perhaps more scrutiny than any other position.

While Jameis Winston of Florida State and Marcus Mariota of Oregon have become household names over the past few months as the top two quarterbacks in this draft, some of the others at the position have flown under the radar.

Tom Brady proved that in 2000, when he wasn’t selected until the sixth round and was the sixth quarterback taken after such luminaries as Giovanni Carmazzi, Chris Redman, Tee Martin and Spurgeon Winn.

Colorado State’s Garrett Grayson probably won’t have to wait six rounds, but, like Brady, he won’t be the top quarterback selected in this draft. But he hopes to earn other comparisons to Brady.

“We obviously know (that) one or two guys are kind of at the top of this class, but as a competitor, you’re always trying to be that No. 1 guy,” Grayson said. “None of us are working to be the third guy. We’re all working for that No. 1 spot.”

The Steelers have their No. 1 spot locked up after signing Ben Roethlisberger to a contract extension that will allow him to finish his career in Pittsburgh. But backup Bruce Gradkowski will be an unrestricted free agent following this season and third-string Landry Jones hasn’t yet developed. Former Clemson star Tajh Boyd was signed as competition for Jones, but the Steelers could look to bring in another young quarterback in this draft.

Pittsburgh has eight picks in the seven-round, three-day draft that begins Thursday, April 28 .

There’s a lot to like about Grayson’s game.

Though he played at a lower level in the Mountain West Conference, Grayson established himself as a star the past two seasons when he threw 55 touchdowns against 18 interceptions. In 2014, he completed 64 percent of his passes for 4,006 yards and 32 touchdowns and just seven interceptions as he led the Rams to a 10-3 record and a spot in the Las Vegas Bowl.

He went on to play well at the Senior Bowl, completing 8 of 15 passes for 118 yards after a solid week of practice.

“I’ve had this dream since I was 5 years old,” said Grayson, the nephew of Danny Grayson, a seventh-round draft pick of the Steelers in 1990.

“I remember telling my mom, most kids when they’re little, they want to be policemen or firemen, something like that. I remember telling my mom that I wanted to be an NFL player, (and) that I wanted to be an NFL quarterback.”

Grayson and Winston might be two of the easier projections for NFL teams. Many college programs now use a spread offense that never has the quarterback under center, and some, such as Mariota at Oregon, never have to call a play in the huddle. The plays are signaled in on sign boards from the sidelines to the offense.

That can make the process of evaluating a quarterback difficult. The Steelers found that out in 2006 and 2008, when they selected Omar Jacobs and Dennis Dixon.

“We had to teach those guys how to call a play in a huddle,” said Bruce Arians, who was the Steelers offensive coordinator then and is now the Arizona Cardinals head coach. “I remember telling Dennis to stand in front of a mirror and practice calling the plays like he was in a huddle. He had never done it before.”

Few things command less respect on a football field than a player who doesn’t know what he’s doing. And if that player is the quarterback, who is supposed to be leading the offense, that can lead to a quick downfall.

The opportunity to play in a pro-style offense was what drew Grayson to Colorado State.

“I feel like guys coming from college who play in that system have the most success,” Grayson said. “So it was a huge part of my decision when I decided to go to Colorado State. I think it gives me a leg up in this draft. Seeing the guys that play in the spread, all the verbiage that they’re going to have to learn to get used to, protections and everything, I’m used to it. It’s something that definitely benefits me.”