NFL Draft Early Entries: Quarterbacks

2016 NFL Draft Early Entries: Are the quarterbacks making the right or wrong moves by leaving early? Where are they likely to be drafted?

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NFL Draft Early Entries: Quarterbacks

Jared Goff, California

6-4, 210
Right Move? He couldn’t be coming in off a more dominant performance after throwing for over 1,000 yards with 11 touchdowns in his last two games. Now it’s all about convincing the pro scouts that he can hold up and maybe get a little bigger and stronger. He has the arm, he has the command of a passing offense, and he has the upside. He also has the juice again after an outstanding second half of the season – the five-pick meltdown against Utah now looks like a major fluke.
Projection: First Round

Christian Hackenberg, Penn State

6-4, 240
Right Move? Considering he was seen as a No. 1 overall pick after his freshman season, now he’ll be lucky to go in the top 100. After getting beaten up behind a porous offensive line, he might as well get into the NFL and start learning on the fly. However, he’s just not that good – or, at least he hasn’t been anything special since his first year when Bill O’Brien was his head coach. He’s got the arm, and he looks the part, but he needs a ton of work. As long as someone is willing to spend the next year or two grooming him, he could be great, but there’s a problem if he has to be a franchise player right out of the gate.
Projection: Third Round

Cardale Jones, Ohio State

6-5, 250
Right Move? This could turn into the biggest boom-or-bust call in the draft. His stock dropped after a rough season with the offense not quite working right, but he has rare tools with the upside and potential to be the best quarterback in the draft – as long as he’s given a long time to develop. He might have been a first-rounder last season and the third quarterback taken after Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota, and now he has to show the maturity and the polish to be seen as a potential superstar. Get ready to see some wild projections – he could go anywhere from the late first round to the fourth depending on the process.
Projection: Second Round

Paxton Lynch, Memphis

6-7, 245
Right Move? Not really on the radar last year at this time, now the big bomber is red hot after throwing for almost 3,800 yards and 28 touchdowns with four picks. He has decent mobility for his size, a massive frame, and a great arm with the ability to make all the throws. His massive 384-yard, three score day against Ole Miss pushed his stock through the roof, but his production started to tail off over the second half of the season. There’s a tremendous upside, but he’s not a finished product by any means – it’s going to take a great quarterback coach to make him worth a top ten pick.
Projection: First Round