NEWSLETTER
If the latest NFL Draft prospect rankings are any indication of what we’ll see in three weeks, there might actually be more value in drafting a quarterback in the later rounds, than, say, with a top-5 pick.
NFL.com analyst Daniel Jeremiah recently shared an updated list of his 50 best draft prospects – to go along with the fourth edition of his mock draft, which you can check out here – and not a single QB made it into the top 25.
You can check out Jeremiah’s previous top prospect rankings from January, February, and March by following those links.
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Clemson’s Deshaun Watson winds up ranking out as Jeremiah’s top-rated quarterback, but finishes just 28th overall. NFL Network teammate Mike Mayock has Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer as his top quarterback (and has had him there for awhile), but he ranks out at just 33rd overall. And finally, North Carolina’s Mitchell Trubisky is sandwiched between Watson and Kizer as Jeremiah’s second-rated quarterback and 32nd overall Draft prospect. Clearly, the idea of drafting a QB in the first round – let alone with the third overall pick – has all but evaporated.
That only one quarterback rated among the draft’s top 30 prospects is indicative of how difficult it is to find a college quarterback who can positively impact the pro-game right out of the gate. However, this means teams in search of QBs could find value by being patient and waiting for the second round – or even by being selectively aggressive in trading to get into the back end of the first round.
All indications are that the Bears are out of the quarterback market, at least with the third overall pick. But if one of the draft’s top quarterbacks slides to them in a later spot, there could definitely be some value in drafting the position late.
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