What makes a great quarterback? This is the question Al Davis and other NFL decision-makers should be asking themselves in the coming weeks if they are considering taking a quarterback with their first round draft pick. While athleticism, arm strength, height, and mobility may all play a factor in sizing up a quarterback prospect on draft day, do these qualities really translate into NFL success?

The answer is no, as Michael Vick and Daunte Culpepper are far from being the top two quarterbacks in the NFL. Those monikers belong to Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. While Manning and Brady are far from the NFL's top athletes at the quarterback position, they are the best because of three qualities that they possess: accuracy, the ability to see the whole field, and the ability to stay cool under pressure. Any Joe College can look great when they are surrounded with a good offense against a bad team, but what happens when they come up against a great defense? These qualities are what separates the Bledsoe's and Testaverde's from the Brady's and Manning's. If Al Davis is considering taking a quarterback with the number one overall pick, he should be expecting to get a guy who can carry an offense on the strength of his arm alone. These are the qualities teams should be looking for on draft day if they are considering drafting a quarterback that they expect to eventually lead them to a Super Bowl.

In all likelihood, one of either JaMarcus Russell or Brady Quinn will be chosen with the number one selection in this year's draft, mostly due to the disaster that Oakland currently calls its quarterback situation (i.e. Andrew Walter).

Notre Dame's Brady Quinn is entering the draft as a senior, starting four years for the Fighting Irish. The best thing Quinn has got going for him coming into the draft is the extremely high praise of his coach, the highly-respected Charlie Weis. Weis was previously employed as the former offensive coordinator for Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, and has predicted that Quinn will emerge as the third best quarterback in the NFL, behind only Manning and Brady.

Quinn also has the edge over Russell when it comes to experience, having played 13 more college games than him. He has been able to succeed, despite the pressure of playing for one of the top college football schools in the nation, and has played the majority of his games on national television. He is considered to be a smart kid, who prepares himself well for each game, and gives his best effort on a daily basis. There is no question that he wants to succeed and will fight to prove himself in the NFL. Quinn has been the favorite to be selected number one since before his senior year began, but this recently changed. While some critics have asserted that Quinn is slightly undersized, Russell's size has never been questioned.

At over 6'5" and 265 pounds, JaMarcus Russell will be one of the largest quarterbacks to ever come into the NFL. He is physically gifted in every possible way as a quarterback, and can throw the ball extremely hard, very far, and with good accuracy. He can throw the ball over 80 yards without a great deal of effort, and does not have a long wind-up like most other larger quarterbacks. In his last college season, as a junior, Russell bumped his completion percentage up to .678 and destroyed Notre Dame and Brady Quinn in the Sugar Bowl, winning the game's MVP award, while Quinn struggled to put it kindly. The game comes naturally to Russell and his play has improved each year for the Tigers.

While both quarterbacks have their strengths, there are a ton of critics looking to knock these two golden boys off of their respective pedestals. Quinn has had problems with accuracy, and it was not unusual to see him throw a pass or two each game that would make Notre Dame's fans cringe. He had trouble winning big games during his college career, struggling in his final season against top teams like USC and LSU. In the Sugar Bowl, he looked uncomfortable and did not step-up whatsoever for the Irish, as they were routed 41-14 by Russell and the Tigers.

So do these two sure-fire top 10 picks have what it takes to be future hall-of-famers? Quinn had a great college career but he obviously does not see the field like a Tom Brady. He has trouble when faced with pressure, and does not have the degree of accuracy needed to become a great NFL quarterback. He could experience some success in the NFL if put on a good team with a good offensive line, and lots of weapons, but it is doubtful he will ever be the reason for a team's success. If he goes to a bad team, look for him to struggle greatly. At best, Quinn should be projected as a middle of the pack NFL starter.

While Quinn's upside is limited, Russell's seems endless. However, showing up to the combine at a somewhat pudgy 265 pounds does not say much for his work ethic, and perhaps this is a sign of things to come. Russell has shown inconsistency at times and played poorly against a good Florida team. He has been criticized for holding onto the ball too long, which could translate into a lot of sacks and fumbles in the NFL, especially if he is drafted by a team like the Raiders with their terrible offensive line. Russell's superior accuracy and his spectacular arm should instantly and easily give him the edge over Quinn on the draft board. Whether he has what it takes to be a special quarterback in the NFL remains to be seen. He has still not proven whether or not he sees the field like one of the greats, or whether he can thrive against tough defenses or not. Being on a great LSU team, Russell had a plethora of weapons on offense and most of the Tigers' bigger wins during his career were won as a team. Whether or not Russell can lead a team to victory on the strength of his big right arm alone remains to be seen. While it is possible that he could end up being an NFL star, he is still a big question mark and none of his college performances really screamed "greatness," which may be the reason he was never seriously considered as a legitimate Heisman candidate. It is more likely that Russell will end up being comparable to a Daunte Culpepper type of player, rather then the heir apparent to Peyton Manning.

Neither of these two quarterbacks have what it takes to merit the number one pick, especially when it comes along with a $30 million price tag. As a duo, they should fall well short of Vince Young and Matt Leinart, last year's top two picks at the position, when their NFL careers are all said and done. While teams lacking at the quarterback position may be tempted to grab one of these two prospects early, they would be wiser to look at other positions and pick a quarterback later in the draft. After all, historically, there's been very few Peyton Manning's and most quarterbacks can only thrive if put in a good offensive situation.