CLEVELAND -- Finding the franchise quarterback.
It is the most important job of any general manager tasked with rebuilding a franchise in the National Football League, and several decision-makers are once again clamoring this year for the right to get the player they feel is best to lead their organizations going forward.
Quarterbacks are always popular picks in the first round of the NFL Draft, and the 2018 edition promises to be much the same, with signal-callers coming off of the board, early and often.
Here is a look at the top six quarterbacks in the 2018 NFL Draft:
SAM DARNOLD
In two years as a starter at the University of Southern California, the 6-foot-4, 220-pound Darnold completed 549 of his 846 attempts (64.9 percent) for 7,229 yards and 57 touchdowns against 22 interceptions.
Additionally, Darnold fumbled 21 times in just 27 games as a starter, and lost 14 of those miscues.
In a 24-7 loss to Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl Classic, Darnold fumbled twice, both of which were recovered by the Buckeyes, and threw an interception that was returned by defender Damon Webb 23 yards for a touchdown.
The youngest quarterback prospect in the 2018 NFL Draft, Darnold will not turn 21 until June and figures to need a year behind a veteran signal-caller to learn the game, while at the same time, working on his mechanics to improve his security of the football.
JOSH ROSEN
Despite taking 26 sacks and missing time because of injuries, including a concussion at the end of the regular season, Rosen set career highs with 3,756 passing yards and 26 touchdowns and rushed for two scores in 2017.
In three years at UCLA, the 6-foot-4, 218-pound Rosen threw for 9,341 yards with 59 touchdowns against 26 interceptions.
BAKER MAYFIELD
With Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield, the competitive spirit is what teams would like out of their quarterback, but he has made questionable off-the-field decisions that resulted in an arrest, as well as vulgar actions toward opposing fans.
Despite the off-field concerns, the 6-foot-1, 220-pound Mayfield put together a Heisman Trophy-winning campaign where he completed 285 of his 404 throws (70.5 percent) for 4,627 yards and 43 touchdowns against six interceptions to cap off a four-year career that started at Texas Tech University and featured 131 scoring passes and 14,607 yards on 1,026 completions.
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Heisman Trophy winner @bakermayfield runs a 4.81s 40-yard dash 👀#NFLCombine pic.twitter.com/Nhs6sRib0t
JOSH ALLEN
In three years at Wyoming, the 6-foot-5, 233-pound Allen completed only 335 of his 649 attempts (51.67 percent) for 5,066 yards and 44 touchdowns against 21 interceptions, and his touchdown-to-interception ratio was more than two-to-one.
Considered a raw prospect with the biggest arm in the draft, Allen shined at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine, where, among the quarterbacks, he posted the third-fastest time in the 40-yard dash (4.75 seconds), along with the best vertical (33.5 inches) and broad jumps (119.0 inches).
Josh Allen let it fly at his pro day today in Wyoming. pic.twitter.com/U0AyMiNRlv
LAMAR JACKSON
Reportedly, Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson was asked to work out as a wide receiver, and while he denied those rumors, the 2016 Heisman Trophy winner did not participate in any of the drills involving running or speed tracking at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine.
After throwing for 9,043 yards and 69 touchdowns against 27 interceptions in three years at the helm of the Cardinals’ offense, Jackson has one goal in mind, and that is to play quarterback at the professional level.
“I’m strictly a quarterback,” the 6-foot-3, 211-pound Jackson said during his combine press conference. “I’m not going to be a wide receiver. I play the quarterback position
“I love playing with a chip on my shoulder. It just motivates me to go out there and show my abilities.”
WE know Lamar Jackson (@Lj_era8) can make all the throws. #NFLDraft #L1C4 pic.twitter.com/LUp4Anr27n
MASON RUDOLPH
At 6-foot-5, and 230 pounds, Rudolph has the prototypical size to play the quarterback position and has plenty of gaudy statistics after completing 915 of his 1,447 attempts for 13,618 yards and 92 touchdowns against 26 interceptions.
However, questions exist about Rudolph’s ability to read a defense because of the lack of traditional offensive and defensive schemes in the Big 12 Conference.
