What to Watch For on Day 1 of the NFL Draft
Where Will the Top Quarterbacks Land?
There are five quarterbacks currently ticketed for the first round, and depending on whom you ask, around 12 teams that could be looking to secure a long-term option.
In some order, the first round will feature Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, Josh Rosen, Baker Mayfield, and Lamar Jackson. I'm no economist, but it seems like the demand far outweighs the supply, which could be an issue.
The Cleveland Browns are all but certain to take a passer with the first overall pick, and the New York Jets paid a hefty price to trade to the third pick for the right to take a quarterback as well. After that, it gets tricky.
The Buffalo Bills' failed attempt at tanking in 2017 was designed to net them a top signal caller in this quarterback-heavy draft, but a surprise trip to the playoffs has made that path difficult. They are rumored to have approached the New York Giants with an offer for the second overall pick, but the Giants could be searching for Eli Manning's replacement and haven't budged from their spot. It would be shocking if the Bills didn't leave the first round with a new quarterback.
The Denver Broncos recently whiffed on first-round bust Paxton Lynch, but are they really going to pass on a quarterback at the fifth pick to start Minnesota Vikings cast-off Case Keenum? And what about the Arizona Cardinals, who have the oft-injured Sam Bradford and underwhelming Mike Glennon under contract?
The Miami Dolphins have been doing their homework as well, bringing in Jackson, Mayfield, and Allen in for visits. They seem to have soured on viewing Ryan Tannehill as the long-term solution.
Meanwhile, the New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, and Los Angeles Chargers all have aging or ineffective (read: Flacco, Joe) starters and have been sniffing around at the top prospects.
The cost may be prohibitive, but it wouldn't be surprising to see one of them pull off a move similar to what the Kansas City Chiefs did last year when they moved up to select Patrick Mahomes.
No matter what, several teams will be forced either to overdraft a second-tier prospect such as Mason Rudolph or Kyle Lauletta or kick the can down the road for another season. How this quarterback carousel plays out is perhaps the most intriguing storyline of the first round, and it begins with the first overall selection.