Case Keenum

The 5 quarterbacks you need to know for the 2016 NFL Draft

Published Apr. 28, 2016 1:45 p.m. ET

Cameron DaSilva

Quarterbacks drive the NFL. If you don't have one, you need one. If you do have one, you're usually a perennial playoff team. That's exactly why franchises often give up several picks to have the chance to take a signal caller early in the draft.

This class is littered with potential NFL starters at the position, but a handful stand out above the rest. In fact, five could be taken in the first round on Thursday night, which would be one shy of an NFL record.

Here are the five quarterbacks you need to know:

1. Jared Goff, California: While the Los Angeles Rams haven't yet announced who they will take with the first overall pick, all signs point to the selection being Goff -- and with good reason. Many view him as a Matt Ryan-type quarterback with great accuracy but a slight build. He can make all of the throws, from a rocket to his tight end down the seam, to a back-shoulder fade on the sideline. The Rams may not name him the starter over Case Keenum right away, but there's little doubt he'll be the No. 1 guy this season, and for the next decade to come. He's arguably the most NFL-ready quarterback in this class.

2. Carson Wentz, North Dakota State: "With the second pick in the NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles select Carson Wentz, quarterback, North Dakota State." Those are the words expected to come out of Roger Goodell's mouth when the Eagles make their pick after the Rams. Wentz wasn't a highly-touted prospect out of high school, and remained an underdog this season, playing for the Bison in the FCS. His stock skyrocketed at season's end, however, putting on a show at the Senior Bowl and at the combine. He has all the tools to be a star -- athleticism, mobility, a rocket arm, leadership -- but there are questions about the level of competition he played against in college. Nonetheless, the Eagles took a huge gamble by trading up to (probably) take Wentz and make him their franchise quarterback.

3. Paxton Lynch, Memphis: There seems to be a big drop off after Goff and Wentz, with Lynch being the presumed third quarterback taken. Where that will happen, no one really knows. He could go No. 8 to the Browns, or he could fall to 19 or 20 where the Bills and Jets are sitting. Heck, he could fall out of the first round altogether and be scooped up by the Cowboys at 34. Regardless, he's an athletic quarterback who compared himself to Cam Newton, and has the size to be a longtime starter in the league. Adjusting to the NFL could be difficult for Lynch, however. He'll have to learn the nuances and complexities of an NFL system, and there are questions about his mental makeup and maturity. He might be the biggest boom-or-bust prospect in the draft.

4. Connor Cook, Michigan State: Cook was a three-year starter for the Spartans, and while he never completed more than 60 percent of his passes in a single season, he led Michigan State to two Big Ten championships where he was named MVP in both games. Despite being a three-year starter, he was never named a captain, which is unusual for a starting quarterback. It's led to questions about his leadership ability, which were heightened when he seemingly snubbed Archie Griffin after the Big Ten Championship Game. He's a potential first-round pick and could be taken late on Thursday, but the more likely scenario is that he's selected in the second round. However, a team looking for a developmental quarterback like the Cowboys could trade back into the first round from No. 34 to snatch up Cook and make him Tony Romo's heir.

5. Christian Hackenberg, Penn State: And then comes the biggest wildcard among all the quarterbacks, and maybe in the entire class. Hackenberg was once viewed as a potential No. 1 overall pick after putting on a show in his first year as a starter in 2013. Horrendous offensive line play and an offense that doomed him led to Hackenberg throwing under pressure constantly, which hurt his development. He's a great arm talent that needs some polishing, but there's no doubt he looks the part. It's unlikely any team will take Hackenberg and expect him to start right away -- at least they shouldn't -- but a team like the Cardinals could use a young quarterback to sit behind Carson Palmer for a year or two. Hackenberg can be that guy. He could go anywhere from late in Round 1 to early in Round 3, but regardless of where he ends up, he'll need some work.