The NFL is in the full blush of draft season and it’s clear that this year’s group does not have the star power in its quarterback class that last year’s did with Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, Michael Penix, J.J. McCarthy and Bo Nix.
Cam Ward of Miami and Shedeur Sanders of Colorado are the two quarterbacks likely to go at or near the top of the draft, and neither one may be as Nix, who was the sixth quarterback selected last year.
Neither of these quarterbacks are going to be immediate game changers. Williams was supposed to be when he was selected by the Bears with the No. 1 pick and that’s exactly what Daniels turned out to be with the Commanders.
The Tennessee Titans are very likely to choose Ward with the No. 1 pick, and their approach should be patient. He has a chance to develop into a productive and winning quarterback, but he is not flawless at this point.
Ward has been compared stylistically to Patrick Mahomes because he is creative and often appears to be one step or more ahead of the defense. That is not to say he has the same kind of ability as the Chiefs’ quarterback, but he is very aggressive and he is not scared when the game is on the line – just like Mahomes.
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Sanders may have the genetic background for brilliance in the NFL, but he does not have his father’s superior athleticism. The younger Sanders’ greatest asset is his arm talent, as he displays more than adequate arm strength and remarkable touch with his passes.
However, he takes too long to make decisions and holds on to the ball for an extra second or more, leading to multiple sacks. This is going to cause huge problems for the New York Giants if they select Sanders with the No. 3 pick.
Milroe and Gabriel will both find long-term success
Jalen Milroe may need time to develop, but his NFL future looks promising. (Photo by Kevin C. ... [+] Cox/Getty Images)Getty Images
Jalen Milroe of Alabama and Dillon Gabriel of Oregon may have more success over the long haul of their careers than Ward or Sanders have in theirs. Milroe is a brilliant athlete with speed and strength, and he compares with Jalen Hurts when he was drafted into the NFL. His accuracy and delivery have improved, but he is not quite there yet.
Gabriel faces the usual question marks any quarterback under 6-0 always faces. How is he going to get the ball over the top of the defensive line when they come at him with their arms extended? The 5-11 Gabriel has faced that issue throughout his college career with the Ducks and he answered in consistent fashion.
He throws the most catchable ball in the draft and he leads his receivers into open spaces and not into traffic. He is also very instinctive when it comes time to take off from the pocket and run. His deep arm has been questioned but his accuracy on short- and medium-range passes is elite.
These four quarterbacks all have a chance for success in the NFL, but they are not immediate game changers.
As the NCAA Tournament gets underway, college basketball has an immediate game changer in Cooper Flagg of Duke, and the team that drafts him will be able to build a team around him and have a chance to become a strong playoff team within one or two seasons.
The belief here is that Flagg will cement his status during the tournament and that his Blue Devils will be playing in the championship game April 7 at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
While there are no immediate game changers at quarterback in the NFL Draft, edge rusher Abdul Carter of Penn State, defensive tackle Mason Graham of Michigan and edge rusher Jalon Walker of Georgia all have a chance to make the teams that select them immediately better – and perhaps turn them into top-10 defensive teams.
While the quarterbacks get the biggest money and the headlines, Carter, Graham and Walker are the players that have a chance to have the most immediate impact.