Josh Cribbs, Brian Mitchell, Antwaan Randle El and Denard Robinson – just four of the numerous former college quarterbacks who switched to a different position in the NFL.
Terrelle Pryor is attempting to do the same. Difference is, he's attempting the transition after four seasons playing QB exclusively.
The only similar comparison is Brad Smith, who played quarterback at Missouri and was listed as a running back, wide receiver and QB when the New York Jets drafted him in 2006. During the 2007 preseason, Smith played quarterback and head coach Eric Mangini put him on the depth chart at that position.
It was a short-lived era when the NFL heavily experimented with "Wildcat" formations and Smith fit that role, taking snaps from center and running afterwards. Smith never really played QB in the regular season and only attempted 10 passes in his eight-year career.
That is what makes Pryor's switch even more difficult to project. Not only is there no real historical precedence for what he's attempting, he has also never played wide receiver at a high level. His only tangible experience at the position is this, from the 2009 Fiesta Bowl:
In his youth, in high school and through his early struggles at Ohio State, Pryor could never convince everyone he was a legit quarterback. Even after a strong junior season in which he completed 65 percent of his passes and threw 27 touchdowns, he wasn't a highly rated pro prospect.
The Raiders still decided to take a chance on him as a QB and selected him in the third round of the 2011 supplemental draft. In spite of what others thought his career outlook should be, Pryor stayed at his natural position. It's easy for someone to tell him to switch; not so easy for him to actually go through with it, considering he's played quarterback his entire life.
He wasn't particularly good in Oakland, but Pryor did start 10 games for them. Pro Football Focus graded him higher than incumbent starter Derek Carr. Overall, Pryor threw nine touchdowns to 12 interceptions and completed 56 percent of his passes.
Pryor bounced from the Raiders to the practice squad of the Seahawks to the offseason rosters of the Chiefs and Bengals. Once he realized no NFL squad would sign him as a QB, he finally agreed to make the long-awaited switch to wideout with the Browns.
Believe it or not, Cleveland actually upgraded its receiving corps by signing Dwayne Bowe and former Buckeye Brian Hartline. Even with those additions and drafting Washington State's Vince Mayle, the Browns still have one of the least imposing group of receivers in the league. Pryor's chances of making an NFL roster at wideout may not be better elsewhere.
Still, his learning curve will be steep and not particularly forgiving. He believes his experience at QB will be vital.
"The thing that helps me is that I played quarterback, and I know what the quarterback wants," Pryor told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "What I've got to work on is the specifics, cutting in and out of the breaks. Athletically, I believe I can do anything on the field."
