2014 QB Class Compared To 2011 Minus Cam Newton

Jason Cole of the National Football Post spoke with “three general managers who have a serious interest in what happens with the quarterbacks” who believe the talk of multiple quarterbacks being drafted in the top-ten is a little overblown.

“This group is reminding me a lot of the first round in 2011, except there’s no Cam Newton,” one GM said.

Of the four teams that drafted quarterbacks in the first 12 picks that year, three of them are arguably still in need of a quarterback.

“A couple of things happened with that class that I think will make some teams hesitant this year,” one of the GMs said. “First, the desperation to get somebody forced those guys up the board a lot higher. Second, the desperation also forced those team to play those guys before they were ready and before they had talent around them to make it easier.”

The consensus belief is that Teddy Bridgewater, Blake Bortles, Johnny Manziel and Derek Carr could all end up being drafted in the first round, but at least one GM believes the gap between this group and guys like A.J. McCarron, Zach Mettenberger, David Fales and James Garoppolo has been overstated.

“I’m telling you right now, don’t be surprised if those guys start to fall,” one GM said. “It’s just like last year at this time when we all thought Geno Smith was going No. 1 overall and then he dropped. I think there’s a real chance to see that.”