The NFL draft class for 2016 has a deep list of quarterbacks coming out and players like Carson Wentz, Paxton Lynch, Jared Goff and Connor Cook are expected to be the first ones off the board. Teams like the Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Browns, 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, LA Rams and Houston Texans all could be potential landings spots for quarterbacks this year.
The Tennessee Titans have the number one overall pick in the draft and likely will not be taking a quarterback after picking Marcus Mariota last year. If the Titans do not trade that pick, the Browns will have the first chance at taking a QB in the draft. Reports have new head coach Hue Jackson looking to add a quarterback over Johnny Manziel and the number two pick could be the spot where the team does it.
Goff is coming in as the likely pick in most early mock drafts, but there is still a lot of time to evaluate players heading into the winter. Goff is considered by many to be the top quarterback prospect of the group, but Wentz and Lynch have both been getting attention as well. According to NFL.com, Wentz is starting to generate "buzz" among NFL scouts, as Senior Bowl director Phil Savage said that some "friends of mine" around the league have said that Wentz could be a top 10 pick.
Wentz is participating in the Senior Bowl and that will give the North Dakota State product the chance to impress coaches and scouts from numerous teams. There are a number of teams in the first 15 picks of the draft that could go after quarterbacks, including the Browns, Cowboys, 49ers, Eagles, Dolphins and Rams. The Houston Texans also are in the mix, but they pick at number 22 in the first round. Some scouts have started to build up Wentz, with Rotoworld ranking him as the top quarterback in the draft.
Daniel Jeremiah of the NFL Network has Wentz going at number four to the Dallas cowboys in one of his mock drafts, as he thinks the team will get a good enough look at him when they coach the North team at the Senior Bowl this week. The Cowboys reportedly want to add a backup for Tony Romo and a player they can develop for the future and Wentz could be a target. The Dallas Morning News thinks that Lynch could be a fit, while the Cowboys likely will strongly consider Goff if he slips past Cleveland.
The 49ers have a new head coach in Chip Kelly and while Colin Kaepernick is already in San Francisco, the team may also want to bring in a quarterback to develop behind him. The Eagles may lose Sam Bradford in free agency and if that happens Doug Pederson could consider taking a QB in the first round. Mel Kiper has the Rams taking Lynch in his first mock draft, while Wentz is at number 22 to the Texans. Kiper adds that Wentz has top 10 potential depending on how his Senior Bowl and combine workouts go.