As opposed to previous speculation reported here, the NFL draft order is now officially set with the conclusion of the Super Bowl last weekend. That means it is a perfect time to examine ESPN NFL Draft Insider Todd McShay's Mock Draft 2.0 and break down some of the bigger moves. By that, I mean where are the top two quarterbacks in the draft going?
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
That's right, famous Jameis is the top overall selection in McShay's most recent projections. We all know about Winston's off-field issues, but apparently the opportunity to grab a potential franchise quarterback is just too much for Tampa Bay to pass up on. Here's what McShay had to say of the pick.
"The Bucs don't currently have a franchise quarterback on their roster, and while both of the top two QB prospects in this year's class carry with them significant risks (along with considerable talent and upside), it could be tough for them to pass on both," McShay wrote. "If you factor in only on-field performance, Winston should be the No. 1 choice. He beats opponents from the pocket with very good accuracy, arm strength and anticipation, and his on-field intangibles and leadership are positives as well. The concerns with Winston obviously have to do with his off-field behavior, and any team that drafts him is going to have to trust him enough from a character and psychological standpoint to make him the face of its franchise. That's a big risk, but NFL teams know that they can't win consistently without any good quarterback play. And the Bucs could decide that Marcus Mariota's need to transition from Oregon's up-tempo spread offense to the NFL represents an even greater risk - albeit in a very different way."
Tampa Bay's new offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter has more experience with traditional pocket quarterbacks. Winston just so happens to come from a pro-style offense in which he demonstrated above average pocket awareness and field vision. If he truly has matured and learned what is expected of him than the fit here makes a lot of sense.
But what about the reigning Heisman Trophy winner?
6. New York Jets: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
Mariota is still considered by some to be the favorite to come off the board first overall. Clearly, McShay does not agree.
"Mariota could slide even further than this on draft day, but I think this pick makes sense for the Jets given their need at QB and the presence of Chan Gailey at offensive coordinator," McShay wrote. "Gailey can adapt his scheme to any QB and has a history with spread-formation offenses, so he's capable of providing Mariota with a smooth transition to the NFL from his up-tempo spread system at Oregon. Mariota has rare athleticism for the QB position (including prototypical size) and outstanding intangibles, but his one area of concern - consistently being able to win from the pocket - is the most important trait you need to succeed at the NFL level. So how a team caters its approach to him and develops him as an accurate passer from the pocket will be critical."
Lucky for Mariota (should the draft play out as McShay projects), the Jets are expected to have upwards of $45 million in salary cap space. Adding some talent around the Oregon star in free agency would help ease his transition to the NFL level. After six combined years of Mark Sanchez and Geno Smith under center, could Mariota be the long lost franchise QB Jets fans have been waiting for?
