Ranking each NFL rookie QB by who is in the best position

The Rest

5. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

Formality became reality with the Bengals took Burrow first overall. But Cincinnati earned the No. 1 pick too. Even with a strong draft haul that followed an atypically aggressive run for some free agents, there’s a lot of work to be done.

Burrow is surrounded by some good skill position talent, and he may put up some good numbers as a rookie. But until the Bengals show real progress in wins and losses, the situation there remains dismal and not that great for a rookie quarterback.

6. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles set aside more urgent need to take Hurts in the second round, in another much-derided quarterback pick. Carson Wentz’s durability concerns were surely a factor, but there appears to be a plan to get Hurts on the field as a rookie regardless of Wentz’s health.

Working with the Eagles coaching staff is a nice situation for Hurts to land in. He has work to do in order to become a more polished NFL passer, but as long as he’s not pigeonholed into being a Taysom Hill-type Philadelphia should help him develop in that area.

7. Jake Fromm, Buffalo Bills

Buffalo stopped Fromm’s fall in the fifth round, and he’ll come in to backup Josh Allen. Without ideal or high-end physical traits, Fromm’s NFL niche looks to be as a backup/fringe starter. He will surely help Allen during weekly preparation right away.

8. James Morgan, New York Jets

The Jets’ struggles when Sam Darnold was out last year pushed the idea of drafting a late-round quarterback, and Morgan is actually three months older than Darnold. In any case, the Jets should easily be in a better spot if Darnold has to miss time.

9. Jake Luton, Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars solidified their commitment to Gardner Minshew by not taking a quarterback earlier than the sixth round. But Luton only has to beat out Josh Dobbs to be No. 2 on the depth chart, and if Jacksonville keeps three quarterbacks he’s in line for a spot on the 53-man roster.

10. Nate Stanley, Minnesota Vikings

Stanley had a nice career at Iowa, and now he’ll battle for a spot behind Kirk Cousins in Minnesota. Sean Mannion and Jake Browning are the primary competition, with Browning perhaps losing the immediate battle with Stanley to be the No. 3 quarterback or land on the practice squad.