1. Where do the quarterbacks go?
This is going to be among the most drama-filled NFL Drafts in terms of quarterbacks that we have seen in some time. In reality, each of the first four teams selecting on Thursday night could look at add a franchise signal caller. There’s also a scenario in play here that suggests multiple quarterback-needy teams will pass up on that position in what is considered a weak class.
It starts with the Cleveland Browns at No. 1 overall. Will the team pass up on a generational talent in Myles Garrett in an attempt to fix a 20-year problem at quarterback? If you have been reading the reports in recent weeks, that surely is a possibility (more on that here).
We then have the San Francisco 49ers picking at two. They are seen as the biggest wildcard of the draft (more on that below). It’s long been believed that San Francisco would pass up on a quarterback while going with Brian Hoyer as a stop-gap option under first-year head coach Kyle Shanahan. San Francisco is also said to be looking to move down from this spot.
Heck, recent reports suggest that it’s a real possibility the 49ers could draft North Carolina signal caller Mitch Trubisky at two. Though, that seems to be more of a smoke screen than anything. In reality, we have absolutely no idea what the 49ers are going to do. That sets up a tremendously interesting situation atop the draft.
Then, there’s some reason to believe that San Francisco and Cleveland could potentially work out a trade. Said deal would include the Browns moving up to two as a way to guarantee themselves both Garrett and Trubisky — the two players Cleveland’s front office most covets.
Throwing a wrench into this entire situation is the fact that the Chicago Bears are also said to be looking quarterback at three. Initial suggestions were that they might favor Clemson’s Deshaun Watson over Trubisky. That was somewhat thrown out the window over the weekend with a report linking the team to Trubisky.
One thing we do know here. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Browns hoodwinked into yielding a huge bounty to secure the services of both Garrett and Trubisky. This would give the 49ers and first-year general manager John Lynch a tremendous base upon which to rebuild one of the most talent-stricken rosters in the NFL.
A bit further down on the totem pole, DeShone Kizer, Pat Mahomes and Davis Webb have also been bandied about as potential first-round picks. Depending on how the top of the draft plays out Thursday night, that could become a reality. The interesting dynamic here is just how those teams in the top five will address their quarterback issues.
Maybe one or two of them look go move up from the top of the second to the end of the first in order to secure one of the three second-tier options. Either way, the quarterback situation promises to be the most compelling aspect of Thursday’s first round.