If there is one more seat on the bus of quarterback prospects projected as potential second-day picks in the NFL draft, save it for Tajh Boyd.
He'll be expecting it.
The Clemson star quarterback is often forgotten among AJ McCarron, Zach Mettenberger, Jimmy Garoppolo, Tom Savage, and any other quarterbacks who could hear NFL commissioner Roger Goodell call their names next Friday, when the second and third rounds of the draft will be held. But according to Boyd, don't be surprised if he finds his way into the same mix.
"Everything I'm hearing is pretty good right now. I'm hearing no later than the third (round), so hopefully it plays out that way," Boyd told SiriusMX NFL Radio.
That would certainly be a surprise to most who have marked Boyd as much more likely to be a third-day pick, when the draft closes with Rounds 4-7. Perhaps the voice in Boyd's ear is the same one that has raised McCarron's draft-day hopes, as well.
Boyd said his performance at the Reese's Senior Bowl drew some negative reviews, but believes his pro-day performance helped answer some of the questions NFL scouts had about him. Among the clubs Boyd said he has since visited: The Carolina Panthers, New England Patriots, St. Louis Rams and Chicago Bears.
All four have entrenched veteran starters, but the Patriots are reportedly looking most closely at the quarterback prospects. In fact, boston.com has compiled a dozen of them, not even counting Boyd, who would make at least 13 on the club's radar. Developing the Patriots' eventual successor to Tom Brady seems to be something of a priority for Bill Belichick's team.
But for Boyd, it would pay a lot better if the call came on Friday.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread.*
