Question of the day: Is drafting Tim Tebow a gamble and what kind of NFL player will he be?

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Reporters from around the Tribune family tackle the question of the day, then you get a chance to chime in and tell them why they are wrong.

Andre D. Williams, The Morning Call

Can’t imagine any NFL coach looking at his roster and not being pleased having Tim Tebow on it. He was a prolific winner in high school and at Florida, and he has the physical tools, smarts and apparent determination to be a successful NFL quarterback.

The Heisman Trophy winner, two-time first-team All-American and leader of Florida’s 2009 national championship team has a resume that exceeds that of Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford and Notre Dame’s Jimmy Clausen. And Tebow’s amicable personality is an easy sell to teammates and the public.

What’s not to like about a guy who crafts Bible verses on his face? Tebow is spiritual, yes, but he’s also tough, talented and does not get shaken by adversity. Tough to pass on Tebow, who’ll eventually make his mark in the NFL the same way he did at Florida.

Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel

Of course Tim Tebow is a gamble. Every college quarterback is. Look at sure things Matt Leinart and Alex Smith. How are they working out?

The question is at what cost is Tebow a good gamble. And if you’re a New England team with three second-round picks and Tom Brady, he’s a great gamble. If you’re a team looking for a future possibility like Indianapolis, he’s an intriguing gamble.

Tebow’s intangibles are off the charts. If he didn’t show that at Florida, he’s shown in the last couple of months of changing his delivery that he’s coachable. He can learn. He’s willing to listen. And if he doesn’t work out at quarterback, he can play other positions. A gamble? Yep. And at the right cost a great one.

Updated at 1:08 p.m.:

Andrea Adelson, Orlando Sentinel

We all know what Tim Tebow did on a college football field, but we have no idea what he will do on an NFL field. For that reason, picking Tim Tebow could be the biggest gamble in the entire draft. He is simply an unknown NFL commodity.

Will the changes he made to his delivery be permanent, or will he revert back to his old form in the face of an eight-man rush? How will he learn to read defenses? Will he feel comfortable taking snaps under center? Will his strength and size allow him to bulldoze over defenders the way he did in college? Will he be willing to switch to another position if a team asks?

For Tebow to become a starting quarterback and not merely a gimmick player, he is going to need a team to invest a lot of time and coaching in him. With the high rate of turnover among coaches, and the pressure a team might feel to get Tebow ready immediately, there is no telling whether he will get the help he needs. There is no question Tebow is a hard worker. But he will need more than that to be a success in the NFL.