Adam Schefter predicts at least five quarterbacks to be taken in first round of NFL Draft

Much has been made of the quarterback class in this year’s NFL Draft, and Adam Schefter is all in on the hype. The ESPN insider predicted Monday evening on a three-round mock draft special with Mel Kiper Jr. and Field Yates that five QBs would go within the first round.

The pair had four quarterbacks — Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and JJ McCarthy — going within the first five picks but none after that until round two. Schefter questioned this at the end up the mock, even going as far as to say he could potentially see six QBs taken within the first 32 picks.

“I think there’ll be at least five quarterbacks that wind up going in round one,” he said. “Possibly all six depending on how these teams view these quarterbacks at the back end of the draft. Keep in mind we always see teams that try to make a move, get the quarterback and get the extra fifth-year option they have on that quarterback. That’s always is a source of activity for teams at the back end of the draft. To me, we’re gonna get five quarterbacks in the first round and possibility six depending on how this goes.”

Kiper and Yates ended their NFL mock draft with a total of seven quarterbacks taken in the first three rounds. They had Michael Penix Jr. as the fifth QB off the board at No. 33 overall to the LA Rams and the New York Giants trading up to grab Bo Nix five picks later at No. 38.

Spencer Rattler was the last quarterback taken in the mock, going in the third round to Denver.

Continuing with his point, Schefter explained that there are plenty of teams in the market for a quarterback this draft outside of the ones with top picks. Some of them, such as the Rams and Broncos, Kiper already had taking QBs.

However, Schefter believes teams like the Raiders (No. 13), Cowboys (No. 24) and Falcons (No. 8) could also potentially have interest in a quarterback.

“You have the Rams there. Matthew Stafford has no guaranteed money on his contract next season,” he said. “So that introduces the idea that somewhere here they could take a quarterback and we mentioned some of these team in the quarterback market that aren’t talked about as much. We know Minnesota, Denver, the Raiders at 11, 12 and 13.

“…What about the Dallas Cowboys who have Dak Prescott going into the last year of his contract? What about the Atlanta Falcons who still want to come up with more quarterback insurance behind Kirk Cousins? There are other teams interested in addressing the quarterback situation and that’s going to make this draft even more interesting as it approaches.”

The NFL Draft is set to begin April 25 in Detroit.