Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota and Florida State's Jameis Winston are getting the 1-2 treatment in the earliest 2015 NFL Draft projections as the top quarterbacks available.
But Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty isn't buying it.
"I feel like I'm No. 1. I really do," Petty told newsday.com from Mobile, Ala., where he is preparing to play in Saturday's Reese's Senior Bowl. "That's not a cocky thing, it's not an arrogant thing. It's just me being confident in what I do and understanding that I have a learning curve [to adjust to]."
NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah's initial mock draft projects Winston as the top pick of the draft to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Mariota to follow at No. 6 to the New York Jets. Analyst Bucky Brooks also sees Winston and Mariota as the top quarterbacks available. While Petty had a stellar run as a two-year starter for the Bears, questions about his NFL potential center around his ability to transition to a pro-style offense from Baylor's shotgun spread attack.
Petty doesn't refute the notion that he has an adjustment to make, but isn't about to sell himself short on making it.
"Those (scouts) are good at what they do, but I'm good at what I do," he said. "And I understand that my capabilities and potential for learning an NFL offense are sky-high."
Petty looked the sharpest of the Senior Bowl quarterbacks for most of the practice week from a pure passing standpoint, although his efficiency in running the offense in the game Saturday will be a challenge of its own. But if he is to convince any NFL clubs that he is the top quarterback in the draft, the process only begins in Mobile. The NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis approaches in less than a month, and Baylor's pro day event will follow.
But for now, Petty already has the confidence in place.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread*.
