The quarterback pool for the upcoming NFL Draft continues to get deeper and deeper. Not only are top seniors like AJ McCarron, Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger available, but some of college football's most talented juniors are declaring. University of Central Florida's Blake Bortles is latest to forego his NCAA eligibility so where do the quarterbacks rank amongst each other?
Bortles is considered one of the hidden gems in this year's draft class. According to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, Bortles could be the first quarterback taken off the board after he put up 394 yards and four touchdowns in the Knicks win over Baylor in the 2014 Fiesta Bowl. In his three seasons at UCF, he also rushed for 15 touchdowns proving he is every bit athletic as he is accurate passer.
ESPN's Todd McShay has Bortles going at No. 3 to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Financially speaking, Blaine Gabbert will stick around, but the quarterback is nowhere near the long-term option for the team. General manager Dave Caldwell is not committing to anyone's future in 2014 while all signs point to the team taking a quarterback with their first pick.
The Houston Texans have the No. 1 overall draft pick and with Bill O'Brien now in at head coach, anything is possible for the team in regards to the draft. Owner Bob McNair told reporters (via CBSSports.com) that the team is open to trading their top draft pick. If they chose to hold on to it, Teddy Bridgewater is the favorite to go first. The Louisville standout declared for the NFL after missing out on both the Heisman and a BCS bowl game this season.
Johnny Manziel is the interesting case. The former Heisman winner has yet to declare for the NFL. Most assume he has played his final game in a Texas A&M uniform, but so far there has been no word of a decision. Manziel did tell media during a session before the Chick-fil-A Bowl that he would love to play for the New York Jets if possible.
The Jets have said they will be considering taking a quarterback in the this year's draft just one year after grabbing Geno Smith in the second round. It is unlikely that Manziel would be available when the Jets pick in the first round. New York will possibly target someone like Murray or McCarron in a later round to help create quarterback competition.
Marcus Mariota, Braxton Miller and Brett Hundley have all announced they are returning for their senior seasons, helping the stock of some of the graduating seniors. Everyone from the Oakland Raiders to the Cincinnati Bengals could be in the market for another quarterback this season making the upcoming draft very interesting.
