Overall Rankings:
- Patrick Mahomes- Kansas City Chiefs (Texas Tech)
- Mitchell Trubisky- Chicago Bears (North Carolina)
- Deshaun Watson- Houston Texans (Clemson)
- DeShone Kizer- Cleveland Browns (Notre Dame)
- Nathan Peterman- Buffalo Bills (Pittsburgh)
- C.J. Beathard- San Francisco 49ers (Iowa)
- Joshua Dobbs- Pittsburgh Steelers (Tennessee)
- Cooper Rush- Dallas Cowboys (Central Michigan)
- Taysom Hill- Green Bay Packers (BYU)
- Brad Kaaya- Detroit Lions (Miami)
Predictions:
Best Career in the NFL:
Deshaun Watson- Houston Texans (Clemson): Round 1, Pick 10.
Watson tends to shine when the lights are brightest. He is coming off two straight National Championship appearances against Alabama, in which he led the Tigers to win the championship last season. Watson is a proven leader, and winner which should immediately translate to success in the NFL. Houston has been searching for a franchise Quarterback, and it appears they have finally found one with Watson.
Most Overvalued:
NYG QB Davis Webb (Photo by Diamond/Getty Images)
Davis Webb- New York Giants (Cal)- 3rd Round, Pick 87.
With Eli Manning approaching 40 years old, the Giants decided to start looking towards the future by selecting former Cal QB Davis Webb in the third round. The 6’5″ quarterback appears like a replica of Manning, but there’s a ton of questions surrounding Webb’s ability to translate to the NFL. Webb looks a bit robotic in his decision making in the pocket, and has a hard time making throws moving outside the pocket. Webb will need to be a developmental QB under Manning for a couple of years before they could consider him to take the reigns.
Most Undervalued:
DeShone Kizer- Cleveland Browns (Notre Dame): Round 2, Pick 52.
The Browns head coach Hue Jackson has just named Kizer the starter, and they got a steal by snagging him in the late second round. Kizer was projected at one point to as the first overall selection, and was considered the number one quarterback by many people before the draft. While Trubisky, Mahomes, and Watson were all taken in the first twelve picks, but Kizer is the only rookie that’s been named a starter so far.
Highest Potential:
Patrick Mahomes- Kansas City Chiefs (Texas Tech): Round 1, Pick 12.
If you watched Patrick Mahomes play at Texas Tech you most likely noticed right away how much talent he has. Mahomes has that “It Factor” you want in your QB, he possesses confidence and swagger that translates to his play. He has the ability to make all the throws, as well as the pocket mobility to extend plays. The biggest knock on him is his erratic decision making when he is trying to extend plays. If he can become more discipline with his decisions, the sky is the limit for him.
Honorable Mention:
Mitch Trubisky- Chicago Bears (UNC): Round 1, Pick 2.
There is no question whether or not Trubisky has the skill set to succeed in the NFL. Trubisky is a big, tough quarterback that can make all the throws in the pocket, and well as shown he is mobile enough to escape pressure. Trubisky definitely has first-round talent, but choosing a quarterback with just one-year experience as a starter is a bit risky for a second pick especially if they did start Mike Glennon over him . If his skill set is able to translate to the NFL, he could easily have the potential of being one of the top QB’s in the league in the next few years.
Biggest Sleeper:
Nathan Peterman- Buffalo Bills (Pittsburgh): 5th Round, 171 Pick.
The Bills made a great value pick by choosing Peterman from Pittsburgh in the fifth round. Peterman flew under the radar following an excellent senior year which included victories over Clemson, and Penn State (both finished in the top-10). Peterman is a Pro-Style QB, whose shown poise in the pocket, and has the arm ability to make all the throws asked of him. Peterman was projected to go in the 3rd-5th round, meaning the Bills got a great value pick in him. Expect Peterman to compete right away for the backup job behind Tyrod Taylor, as well as possibility being the future QB for Buffalo.
Honorable Mention:
C.J. Beathard- San Francisco 49ers (Iowa): Round 3, Pick 104.
Biggest Disappointment:
Brad Kaaya- Detroit Lions (Miami): Round 6, Pick 215.
Brad Kaaya had a very successful career at Miami, but there are concerns regarding whether or not he will be able to adjust to the NFL. Kaaya has a nice delivery, and is able to read the field well, but he appears to lack the arm talent to throw into tight windows.
Kaaya needs to do a better job at anticipating his throws more, and improve his deep ball accuracy in order to have any chance at ever becoming a starter. He will need to compete against other backup quarterback Jake Ruddock for the number two job, but Ruddock has taken command so far.
Top Undrafted Free Agents:
Cooper Rush- Dallas Cowboys (Central Michigan):
The Cowboys may have found a hidden gem in former Central Michigan QB Cooper Rush. Despite participating at the NFL Combine, and projected to be drafted in the late rounds, he ultimately signed with Dallas as an undrafted free agent.
Rush’s awareness is off the charts, he makes all the pre-snap reads, and delivers outstanding timing and accuracy in his throws. Rush has shown in the preseason his ability to play, and should be able to compete for the backup job in Dallas, or perhaps worst case land on the practice squad.
Taysom Hill- Green Bay Packers (BYU):
Former BYU QB Taysom Hill is quite a story being a 27 year-old rookie who has endured four season-ending injuries throughout his college career. Hill decided to sign with Green Bay after not being drafted despite all odds against him with three other QB’s (Aaron Rodgers, Brett Hundley, Joe Callahan).
Hill so far has shined this preseason, and if you can ignore his injury history and age, you are arguably looking at one of most giftedly talented quarterback in this year’s draft class. Hill has an elite athletic ability for a quarterback despite his injuries, in which he clocked in a 4.44 at his Pro Day. It will be interesting to see if Hill could beat out Callahan for the third spot if Green Bay decides to go with two starters, either way he will end up on somebody’s roster.
Honorable Mentions:
Kyle Sloter– Denver Broncos (Northern Colorado), Phillip Walker Indianapolis Colts (Temple), Bart Houston– Pittsburgh Steelers (Wisconsin).
Off The Gridiron 