NFL Draft 2017 News: Five Quarterbacks Could Be Selected In First Round

The 2017 NFL Draft has been described as weak by many experts in terms of quarterbacks, though teams around the league might not agree with that assessment. As many as five signal callers could be taken in the first round on April 27.

Since the NFL season ended with Super Bowl XLI, a few of the top college quarterbacks from last year have been featured in mock drafts. Deshaun Watson cemented his spot as a likely first-round pick when he led Clemson to a win over Alabama in the national championship game, and North Carolina’s Mitchell Trubisky has a chance to be drafted even higher. Texas Tech’s Patrick Mahomes and Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer are also potential first-round draftees.

Most mock drafts have no more than four quarterbacks going within the top 32 picks, but a fifth name has emerged as a possible first-round pick. Davis Webb of California is getting some buzz with the draft quickly approaching.

Webb has met with a couple of NFL teams, participating in a private workout for the San Francisco 49ers, and even meeting with the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle certainly doesn’t have a need at quarterback with Russell Wilson under contract, but San Francisco is in desperate need of a signal caller.

A California quarterback was taken first overall last year when the Los Angeles Rams selected Jared Goff. Webb won’t go No.1 this year, and his most likely draft position might be in the early part of the second round.

Just because a bunch of quarterbacks will be taken in the first round, that doesn’t necessarily mean any will go near the very top of the draft. Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett is likely to go first overall to the Cleveland Browns, and Stanford defensive end Solomon Thomas is being pegged by most experts to go to San Francisco at No.2. The Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans are expected to pass up on quarterbacks with the next three picks.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that a quarterback is still in play for Cleveland’s first pick.

The New York Jets will consider either Watson or Trubisky at No.6, though they could go in a different direction. If they pass on taking a quarterback, a signal caller likely won’t go off the board—unless there is a trade—until No.12 when the Browns make their second pick.

With the Arizona Cardinals looking for Carson Palmer’s eventual replacement, they could be eyeing a quarterback at No.13. Other teams looking to draft a quarterback could include the Houston Texans at No.25 and the Kansas City Chiefs at No.27.