Updated the original post as the market continues to unfold...
Right now I see nine teams that seem like plausible contenders to draft a first round QB:
1-1: Jacksonville
1-2: Jets (though riding Darnold is not an unreasonable alternative)
1-4: Falcons (though waiting a year to get a Ryan replacement is at least as likely)
1-8: Panthers (everyone seems to think they've already moved past Bridgewater)
1-9: Broncos
1-14: 49ers (keeping Jimmy G. another year also not implausible)
1-15: Patriots
1-28: Saints
3-67: Texans
Seems reasonable to assume that Watson and Jimmy G. fill two of the nine spots, either on their current team or somewhere else, leaving seven empty chairs. Three more assumptions:
1. Lawrence to Jacksonville is a done deal
2. I wouldn't expect the Falcons would draft a top-tier QB to sit behind Ryan for a year, though that's certainly been speculated.
3. Current draft wisdom (yeah, I know) suggests the Saints will be content to lay back for Mac Jones.
That would leave 4 teams in the hunt for three elite QB prospects: Jets, Panthers, Broncos and Pats assuming Jimmy G. and Watson stay put. That wouldn't be too daunting, but the Pats currently sit last among those four.
Right now I see nine teams that seem like plausible contenders to draft a first round QB:
1-1: Jacksonville
1-2: Jets (though riding Darnold is not an unreasonable alternative)
1-4: Falcons (though waiting a year to get a Ryan replacement is at least as likely)
1-8: Panthers (everyone seems to think they've already moved past Bridgewater)
1-9: Broncos
1-14: 49ers (keeping Jimmy G. another year also not implausible)
1-15: Patriots
1-28: Saints
3-67: Texans
Seems reasonable to assume that Watson and Jimmy G. fill two of the nine spots, either on their current team or somewhere else, leaving seven empty chairs. Three more assumptions:
1. Lawrence to Jacksonville is a done deal
2. I wouldn't expect the Falcons would draft a top-tier QB to sit behind Ryan for a year, though that's certainly been speculated.
3. Current draft wisdom (yeah, I know) suggests the Saints will be content to lay back for Mac Jones.
That would leave 4 teams in the hunt for three elite QB prospects: Jets, Panthers, Broncos and Pats assuming Jimmy G. and Watson stay put. That wouldn't be too daunting, but the Pats currently sit last among those four.