In 2011, Jake Locker, Blaine Gabbert and Christian Ponder were made top-15 draft picks by teams desperate to find an answer under center. Will quarterback-needy clubs take a different strategy this time around?
Peter King of TheMMQB.com was told that "at least four" squads with questions under center -- the Texans, Jaguars, Browns and Raiders -- are "strongly considering" passing on a signal-caller in the first round of May's draft.
All possess top-five picks, but King has heard the foursome might wait until their second or third selections to add a quarterback, mainly because they haven't fallen in love with anyone.
The Raiders just paid big money to land the agingMatt Schaub, while the Jaguars are ready to roll with Chad Henne for another year if the rookie of their choice isn't available. In Cleveland, new coach Mike Pettine suggested the team might draft a duo of young passers, while Houston's Bill O'Brien has treated the process with Belichick-level secrecy.
In their latest mock drafts, NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks both expect the Texans to dial up pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney with the first overall pick.
Jeremiah then has the Jaguars taking Johnny Manziel with the No. 3 selection before the Vikings land Blake Bortles at No. 8. He then sees Derek Carr going to the Cardinals at No. 20, with Teddy Bridgewater falling to the Browns at No. 26. Brooks, meanwhile, drew up a first round that saw no quarterbacks come off the board.
Welcome to the heart of silly season.
In the latest edition of the "Around The League Podcast", the guys discuss "Draft Day," then break down who got better (and who got worse) in the AFC East.