2019 NFL Draft: 10 potential surprise first round picks

Quarterbacks will be the position most closely monitored between now and April’s draft, with plenty of QB-needy teams doing their due-diligence on a bevy of talented yet flawed prospects.

As of right now, Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins is the only guy I would feel 100% confident selecting in the first round. I’m not sure there’s anything he can do between now and the draft that would affect his standing as a day one selection, likely in the Top 5. I expect teams to be aggressive in looking to move up to nab the Buckeyes’ signal-caller.

Missouri’s Drew Lock probably did enough in Mobile to assure himself a first round spot somewhere. After that, however, it’s anybody’s guess as to which quarterbacks end up hearing their name called by Roger Goodell on the first day.

The consensus is that two or three other quarterbacks will be picked in round one, but who those guys might be could change significantly between now and April. Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray is the most polarizing prospect in the draft, and while many expect he will be picked in the first round, it’s far from a guarantee.

One of the quarterbacks who could work his way into late first round consideration is NC State’s Ryan Finley. Finley had a solid week in Mobile capped off by a solid afternoon on Saturday during the game. He completed 7-of-11 passes for 83 yards, looking sharp on short and intermediate passing routes.

Finley has the size NFL teams covet at 6-foot-4, but there are some legitimate questions about his lack of arm strength. With a guy his size, arm strength would typically be a strength, but Finley struggles with downfield throws, and it causes him to make some risky passes when he tries to move the ball outside-the-numbers.

Finley would represent a significant reach, and there are a bevy of other signal-callers who could find themselves in the first round range with such a mediocre crop of quarterbacks and NFL teams perennially showing a willingness to reach and/or overpay for starting-caliber players at the position.

My guess is that Finley finds himself on day two of the draft, but I wouldn’t be surprised if a team called his name during the first round.