The 2016 NFL Draft is full of very interesting quarterback prospects. From former potential No. 1 pick Christian Hackenberg to the man shooting up draft boards in Paxton Lynch, there is no sure thing in this year's draft. All of the prospects do have current quarterbacks who compare to them, based on their strengths and college careers. The top five QB prsopects are coming from CBS Sports. According to both CBS and DraftSite, all five of these prospects should be gone within the first 100 picks of the draft, but are the strengths and weakneesses worth the risk? Looking at the careers of guys they compare to, some maybe more valuable than others.
1. Paxton Lynch, Memphis: Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars
Lynch might as well be Blake Bortles, they are basically the same exact prospect. A tall QB from a non-Power 5 school, who leads an explosive offense and rocketed up Draft Boards due to strong play in their final seasons at school. Bortles has plenty of issues with interceptions at the pro level, despite not dealing with those issues in college. Lynch only has three interceptions this season, which is three more than he had in his first 25 starts for Memphis. He has dominated the competition, albeit in the AAC, and I think he could trend more toward Ben Roethlisberger in his NFL career than Bortles. Before I see him in an NFL game, however, Bortles seems like a more comparable prospect.
2. Jared Goff, California: Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens
Comparing a college quarterback to a Super Bowl MVP seems like a stretch, but these two guys are very similar. Both Goff and Flacco have a lot of power on their throws and are confident enough to throw a deep ball nearly every play. Goff's good at putting touch on passes over the middle, which Flacco has done well, making nearly every tight end on his team a star. From Dennis Pitta to Crockett Gillmore, Flacco has shown that touch. Goff's arm is very strong and he has shown the ability to get the ball from sideline to sideline with zip. Both players played in a college offense that asked them to throw a lot, and both succeeded. I think Goff can be a difference maker for a good team that needs help at the QB position in the middle of the first round. If he went to a team like the Rams or Chiefs, he could start and succeed right away.
3. Connor Cook, Michigan State: Eli Manning, New York Giants
If comparing a rookie to a Super Bowl MVP is crazy, what do you call a comparison to a two-time Super Bowl MVP? Cook is a veteran who has shown the ability to lead his team in big games and big moments. He throws to every level well and is very aware of where his receivers are. The issues with Cook mirror that of Manning. Not good on the run, too panicky under pressure, risks too many passes. Although Cook has not had interception problems in his career, he risks a lot of passes and to think NFL cornerbacks won't intercept passes that guys from Rutgers didn't would be foolish. Cook is very high risk-high reward, I could see him leading a team in the future, even if he needs a defense to help him like Manning did.
4. Christian Hackenberg, Penn State: Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions
What a fall from grace. Hackenberg was a legitimate threat to earn the top overall pick in the draft, but instead faltered in nearly every game. Yes he dominated Maryland and Illinois, but against teams with an actual defense, such as Michigan, Northwestern and Temple, he was brutal. Hackenberg doesn't throw many interceptions, but has games in which he is extremely inaccurate, with three games this season in which he completed less than 50% of his passes. So what does Hacknberg possess that keeps him in the conversation for a Top 50 pick? Elite arm strength and velocity on throws. He makes some questionable decisions and stands in the pocket too long sometimes, just like Stafford, but he also possesses arm strength that no one else in this draft has. Stafford can light up a socreboard or make you shake your head and wonder how he was taken No. 1 overall. Hackenberg should be just as inconsistent and mind-boggling through his career.
5. Carson Wentz, North Dakota State: Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears
Who? Carson Wentz is the top FCS quarterback in this year's draft and is projected by CBS as the only one that is a sure thing to be drafted. Wentz differs from Cutler in that he has been a huge winner in college, being a part of a national championship team in each of his first three seasons in school. (Cutler, went to Vanderbilt.) But Wentz's scouting reports read like a Cutler report. Good size, good power on his throws, not the fastest quarterback, but athletic enough to run if need be. He also has nearly similar weaknesses. Wentz does not look off defenders and decides to throw to his intended target regardless of the defense. Cutler always seems to look at his intended target for way too long, and always seems too content throwing to his intended target, even if the defense differs from what he expects. Wentz can be an elite talent, but his lack of competition and inability to control opposing defenses leave him as a possible bust.
Though there are plenty of other quarterbacks that match the descriptions of these prospects, these are who seem most comparable. They could be more successful or nowhere near as successful as these comparable quarterbacks, but they should remind you of them when they enter the league.
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