The NFL Draft is a time of hope and optimism for every team. It doesn't matter if your favorite team is a Super Bowl winner or cellar dweller; the draft offers a chance at a bright future.
No pick in the draft instills more of a positive outlook in fans than the top overall selection. The big question surrounding the 2015 NFL draft is if one of the two top quarterback prospects will go No. 1 overall?
"Oregon QB Marcus Mariota and Florida State QB Jameis Winston are the two most likely No. 1 choices," wrote ESPN's draft expert Todd McShay. "Part of that is due to the importance of the quarterback position, but it's also due to the fact that both players are top-tier talents. Mariota needs to continue to improve his accuracy and consistency as a thrower, as he has done so far this season, but he grades out well in terms of his mental makeup and intangibles and he is a dynamic athlete whose dual-threat ability puts major stress on defenses. He has a quick release, strong arm and rare straight-line speed."
"Winston's off-field issues have been well documented, and NFL teams will put him under the microscope if he does enter the 2015 draft. It wouldn't be a surprise if concerns related to his off-field behavior scared some teams off. But given how desperate NFL teams are to land a franchise QB, I think it's naïve to write off the possibility that he could go No. 1 overall -- at least based on what we know now. As a player, he possesses a very good release and arm strength, good pocket mobility, and he appears to be a very good on-field leader."
Oregon and Florida State rank second and third, respectively, in the college football playoff rankings. Both quarterbacks have led their teams to stellar seasons while putting up impressive numbers. Mariota has lived up to his dual-threat abilities by combining for 4,106 yards and 47 touchdowns. While Winston's turnover rate has increased this season (17 interceptions), FSU remains the only unbeaten team in the AP Top 25, and the reigning Heisman Trophy winner has led several remarkable comebacks.
If the draft were held tomorrow, the Oakland Raiders would have the first overall selection. Oakland likes what it has seen from rookie Derek Carr at quarterback and could be open to a trade for a QB-needy team.
The 2015 NFL Draft is scheduled for April 30-May 2, and for the first time, it will be held in Chicago instead of New York City.
