Kiper - A look at the 2016 QB class....

[Risen Star]

A collaborative piece with Mike Sando. Click the link for much more (ESPN Insider)....

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/14166804/the-top-college-prospects-qb-needy-nfl-teams

Teams that could draft a QB

Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys could always go the veteran route for a backup, but drafting a prospect to groom behind Tony Romo would also make sense. Going 0-7 without Romo this season could provide the impetus.


QBs to know for the 2016 NFL draft

I can see the need, but this just isn't a class in which there is a quarterback you want to be starting NFL games in 2016 with the goal of being competitive. But let me put that in perspective. In my opinion it's extremely rare that you want a rookie QB seeing significant time. I didn't like the idea of Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota being forced to start right away, for instance. And while both have been good, at this point I don't think there's a QB in the 2016 class who I'm more excited about than either of those two.

Here are names to know.

Paxton Lynch, Memphis: He has good size, a strong arm and has progressed each year, with improved accuracy all over the field. Faces a huge jump in competition coming out of the AAC (as if the jump to the NFL isn't already massive enough).
Current projection: Top 10

Jared Goff, Cal: A known commodity, the tall, strong-armed talent has been a starter since his freshman season. Uneven play of late is a reminder this isn't a plug-and-play rookie in 2016.
Current projection: Top 10

Carson Wentz, North Dakota State: With great size (6-foot-5, 230 pounds) and an NFL arm, Wentz is an exceptional athlete and a constant threat to take extra yards with his legs. Faces a huge jump in competition coming out of the FCS.
Current projection: Late first round or early Round 2.

Connor Cook, Michigan State: Has ideal size and is a good athlete. Cook can scan the whole field and deliver with velocity even when he's off balance. His accuracy is inconsistent, however.
Current projection: Late first round or early Round 2.

Christian Hackenberg, Penn State: Good size, a strong arm and the ability to zip the ball into tight windows, Hackenberg's problem is that much of his best tape comes from his freshman season. He has struggled over the past two years behind erratic O-line play.
Current projection: Late first round or early Round 2.

Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma: Has made significant strides this year, and makes plays both in rhythm and when the play breaks down. Doesn't have an ideal frame, but the production is there.
Current projection: Day 2.

Dak Prescott, Mississippi State: Has improved a lot as a progression passer after being considered more of a run-pass dual threat. Can drive the ball when his feet are under him.
Current projection: Late Day 2 pick.

Cody Kessler, USC: Can throw to a pro-style route tree, and anticipates well. After being highly productive last season, he's been uneven in 2015 in terms of overall growth. Ceiling is a question.
Current projection: Rounds 3-4

Brandon Doughty, Western Kentucky: Has great ball placement and often looks unfazed by pressure, but doesn't offer big-time arm strength. Competition level is also a concern.
Current projection: Round 4.

Trevone Boykin, TCU: A special athlete, the former wide receiver has impressive instincts for the position given the transition he has made -- and a strong arm. Anticipation and consistent accuracy are problems.
Current projection: Day 3.

Cardale Jones, Ohio State: Incredible arm strength and has some solid tape in big games, but accuracy is a major issue and he just hasn't shown the ability to read the whole field. A project.
Current projection: Day 3, potentially late.

Other names to watch: Nate Sudfeld (Indiana), Brandon Allen (Arkansas),Jacoby Brissett (North Carolina State)

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Wentz is intriguing and I think he and Romo could relate well due to coming from smaller schools.

IMO there is no standout top of the draft Qbs compared to the lucks and the like.

Paxton will go high in the first round this year but might have been a second rounder in some recent drafts.

 

[Bigdog]

Wentz is intriguing and I think he and Romo could relate well due to coming from smaller schools.

IMO there is no standout top of the draft Qbs compared to the lucks and the like.

Paxton will go high in the first round this year but might have been a second rounder in some recent drafts.

Agree about Wentz. He intrigues me but never saw him play and only know what I have read about him.

 

[darthseinfeld]

Wentz reminds me alot of Roethlisberger without all the rapey vibes

 

[Macnalty]

Hard to get excited about these guys, poor year for us to be faltering and needing a QB IMO. TE's look even worse.

 

[KB1122]

When exactly is a good year to start a rookie quarterback and expect to be competitive?

 

[darthseinfeld]

When exactly is a good year to start a rookie quarterback and expect to be competitive?

2012, but that was nuts

3 rookie QB's in the pro bowl

 

[65fastback2plus2]

When exactly is a good year to start a rookie quarterback and expect to be competitive?

if im reading this wrong, lemme know.

but tony and aaron both took 3 years...so id say thats a good indicator.

i also think its why you have a sophmore "slump" and most even top tier qb's dont take off till around year 4

 

[IAmLegend]

So Kiper has 8 QB's potentially going in the first 3 rounds? I seriously doubt it.

Baker Mayfield will almost certainly return for his Senior year too. Hack might also. Dam Prescott is a poor man's Tim Tebow, not a franchise QB imo.

 

[IAmLegend]

Wentz reminds me alot of Roethlisberger without all the rapey vibes

He reminds me far more of Ryan Tannehill. Very similar prospect. Started his career at WR like Tannehill too.

 

[Sydla]

Wentz is the ideal candidate to take in Rd 2 if he's there IMO.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

Wentz is intriguing and I think he and Romo could relate well due to coming from smaller schools.

IMO there is no standout top of the draft Qbs compared to the lucks and the like.

Paxton will go high in the first round this year but might have been a second rounder in some recent drafts.

I think Lynch is the real deal.

But, I believe he needs to sit out a year and then he'll be ready. And I think he has more potential than Luck.

I've seen some things I've liked from Goff. He kinda reminds me of Jay Cutler, but with far better footwork. I haven't seen Wentz.

For the most part, I'm only interested in 1st round talent. Maybe we come across an Andy Dalton that gets drafted in the 2nd round and can play right away, but most of these great QB's are drafted in the first round.









YR

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

I think Lynch is the real deal.

But, I believe he needs to sit out a year and then he'll be ready. And I think he has more potential than Luck.

I've seen some things I've liked from Goff. He kinda reminds me of Jay Cutler, but with far better footwork. I haven't seen Wentz.

For the most part, I'm only interested in 1st round talent. Maybe we come across an Andy Dalton that gets drafted in the 2nd round and can play right away, but most of these great QB's are drafted in the first round.









YR

Before it is all said and done....I can see Wentz sliding up into the top of the second round but possibly moving to the bottom half or slightly higher of the first due to other teams trying to jump up and grab him before a high drafting team in the second can get him.

We have seen it many times before.

I like Lynch...I just don't put him in the same area as a Luck coming out. But there is a very good chance he could go #1 over all.

 

[ThreeandOut]

If Goff isn't viewed as a plug and play QB, that might make him more likely to fall to the Cowboys draft pick. The Cowboys don't need him to be an immediate starter.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

I like Lynch...I just don't put him in the same area as a Luck coming out. But there is a very good chance he could go #1 over all.

I've never been wowed by Luck in the pros. He's not a bad QB by any means, but I don't think he's better than Romo and I don't think he's a top-5 QB in the league. I would probably put him in the Matt Ryan area.

I think Lynch has the potential to kind of build upon something like Roethlisberger and Flacco. Roethlisberger was this enormous QB that uncharacteristically was deadly throwing out of the pocket which you still don't see much from a QB of that size. Flacco was this big and tall QB with a cannon for an arm that has surprising mobility for a QB that tall. He wasn't another Dan McGwire or Drew Bledsoe.

With Lynch, he has their abilities but he's far more mobile than either of them. He has the potential to be that size and move around in the pocket like Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers. He also isn't out of a gimmicky offense either. He takes a lot of snaps from under center, but also does a lot of snap out of the modern spread offenses.

Luck had better coaching and preparation earlier in his life. But the upside of somebody like Lynch, who I don't think is badly prepared either, is far far more enticing to me than Luck's upside when he came out.




YR

 

[IAmLegend]

If Goff isn't viewed as a plug and play QB, that might make him more likely to fall to the Cowboys draft pick. The Cowboys don't need him to be an immediate starter.

I have a feeling Goff will be a Niner come draft day. Rumors are that Jed York and Trent Baalke really like him (their owner & GM). Plus he's the hometown kid so their fans will be calling for him too. Just seems like an inevitable pairing.

 

[KingintheNorth]

I have a feeling Goff will be a Niner come draft day. Rumors are that Jed York and Trent Baalke really like him (their owner & GM). Plus he's the hometown kid so their fans will be calling for him too. Just seems like an inevitable pairing.

They won't pass on the Cal QB again.....

 

[Risen Star]

If Goff isn't viewed as a plug and play QB, that might make him more likely to fall to the Cowboys draft pick. The Cowboys don't need him to be an immediate starter.

Right. You draft and stash. Give him a couple of years with Wade Wilson and then reap the rewards.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

I like what I've heard about Wentz. Ideal size, NFL arm, calls his own plays at the line, pro style offense, intelligence, and likely humble being he wasn't handed everything in life. I like someone like that who can be mentored by Romo. Wentz is basically the opposite of Manziel, who is probably the QB I've despised the most in a long time.

 

[KingintheNorth]

Give him a couple of years with Wade Wilson and then reap the rewards.