By now the major player teams in the quarterback derby for the 2016 NFL draft are set. So who are the sleepers?
Experts now believe that the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles make up the members inside the top 10 who could go that route with the Los Angeles Rams (#15) and New York Jets (#20) both having a big need and the possible desire to move up. However, as everybody who has ever watched the draft knows, there is always at least one team out there who could swoop in from nowhere to get in on the action.
So the NFL Mocks crew was polled on their thoughts, asked the question of whom among the teams not mentioned would be the likeliest to go for a quarterback even if they’re not projected to.
Rodney Stokes:
"The easy answer is the Browns but I’m going to say Buffalo. If they truly don’t love what they have in Tyrod Taylor then they should be working towards one of the top 3 QBs in this draft class. They have talent on offense and they’re young. It’s the perfect time for them to grab their future guy."
Matthew Holowiak:
"The Cardinals fit the bill here. I don’t think they are truly confident in anyone behind Palmer yet and should take a shot on a first round QB since they don’t need much else at the moment. Their draft position isn’t great for a QB but if someone slips they may move up for maybe Paxton Lynch."
Sam Beckenstein:
"Browns could easily take Ramsey, Bosa, or someone else at 2 because there are no playmakers on the roster for a rookie QB to throw or hand off to. Not to mention guys like Hackenberg or Cook available later, if they aren’t sold on a QB worth the 2nd pick no point in wasting it, but they’ll probably end up pulling the trigger anyways."
Eric Robinson:
"I’m going to go with the Rams. The team seems to be committed to Case Keenum but I’m not sure he’s the answer nor better than the top tier guys in this draft. The team is counting on five games worth of duty last season to hand over the keys to Keenum. I’m iffy about that."
Another team that continues to fly under the radar? The Chicago Bears. GM Ryan Pace and his front office have met almost every single quarterback of note in this class including two of the three ones at the top in Carson Wentz and Paxton Lynch. Despite their assurances that Jay Cutler earned the starting job due to his performance last season (highest quarterback rating of his career), the fact is he turns 33-years old this year and has not made it through a full season healthy since 2009.
Pace has still yet to draft his own quarterback, something every general manager has a desire to do at some point. The Bears probably don’t expect to be picking this high again for some time, so wouldn’t it make sense to get one while they can?