Interesting QB Fits

When teams select a quarterback on Day 3 of the draft, the expectations for the signal caller are low and those squads with established quarterbacks in place are usually looking for someone who they can try and develop and eventually trade.

The 2016 NFL Draft featured some quarterbacks that could fit that mold, and some that can be much more.  Here is the breakdown:

4th round, #100 overall, Oakland Raiders- Connor Cook- We documented Cook’s fall, mostly due to a lack of intangibles.  He has great upside and measureables and if he can put together a few really good preseasons the Raiders will be able to flip him for some draft compensation.

4th round, #135 overall, Dallas Cowboys- Dak Prescott- This is a perfect pick for the Cowboys.  Prescott is an athletic, strong armed quarterback from a spread system and he needs time to sit and learn.  Who better to learn from than Tony Romo?  Prescott has a legitimate shot to eventually be the starter in Dallas.

4th round, #139 overall, Buffalo Bills- Cardale Jones- This is the absolute perfect landing spot for Cardale Jones.  He has physical tools that will make any talent evaluator drool, and probably the strongest arm in the NFL.  The former national champion will have a chance to sit back and learn while Tyrod Taylor completes his 2016 audition, and if Taylor falters, Jones could be the next guy in line.

5th round, #162 overall, Kansas City Chiefs- Kevin Hogan- The former Stanford quarterback will have some time to rework his throwing motion while he sits behind Alex Smith.  Hogan will compete with Aaron Murray for the backup job and it’s possible that he could assume a starting role in a few years.

6th round, #187 overall, Washington Redskins- Nate Sudfeld- In a perfect world for Washington, Sudfeld will develop into Kirk Cousins’ long term backup and eventually replace Colt McCoy.  With Cousins playing this season on the franchise tag, there’s no guarantee that he’ll be the ‘Skins starter after 2016 so this could be an even better situation for the strong-armed Sudfeld.

6th round, #191 overall, Detroit Lions- Jake Rudock- This is more of a long term situation as Matt Stafford is the established starter and should be for the foreseeable future.  Rudock has some arm talent, but needs a lot of development before Detroit will be ready to even entertain the thought of him as a backup.

6th round, #201 overall, Jacksonville Jaguars- Brandon Allen- The Jaguars already have an established young starter in Blake Bortles, but they do have a need for a long-term backup and that’s what they’re hoping that the best quarterback in the SEC last year can become.  He won’t compete with Chad Henne for the job this year, but it’s all up for grabs in 2017.

6th round, #207 overall, San Francisco 49ers- Jeff Driskel- Driskel was one of the biggest surprises at the Senior Bowl as he showed legitimate skills to be an NFL quarterback.  Sitting behind Colin Kaepernick and Blaine Gabbert in San Fran, Driskel may get a shot at the starting job sooner rather than later.

7th round, #223 overall, Miami Dolphins- Brandon Doughty- Doughty doesn’t have a particularly strong arm, so his long term prognosis is probably at best a backup.  Since the Dolphins have an established backup in Matt Moore, Doughty will have to play well in preseason and likely get his shot somewhere else.