Predicting Landing Spots for Draft's Top Quarterbacks

The 2015 NFL draft is (finally!) less than a week away, and as always, the sexiest and most intriguing position is quarterback—and the most fun exercise is trying to project where the top passers will end up.

In this column, we'll try to connect the dots and determine which teams will draft which signal-callers come next weekend. The projections are based on team needs, the club's current quarterback situation, scheme fits and plain ol' common sense.

It's time to predict the landing spots for the draft's top quarterbacks.

Florida State's Jameis Winston: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Mark Wallheiser/Associated Press

Since the conclusion of the 2014 regular season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been on the clock with the first pick of the 2015 NFL draft. 

And throughout the entire process, only one name has truly made sense for that selection. That name, of course, belongs to the best quarterback prospect in the draft: Jameis Winston of Florida State.

There's now less than a week until the Bucs make their choice, and the smart money is on Winston being the guy—and he's absolutely the right choice.

Winston is the most pro-ready quarterback in the draft and has the arm strength to make every NFL throw. The offense he played in at Florida State was of the pro-style variety, which makes him more attractive to league executives, and he often saves his best for when it matters the most—the hallmark of a truly great passer. He's only 21 years old.

Are there immaturity issues with Winston? Certainly. However, when it comes to on-field potential, no signal-caller in the draft can match Winston, who is the No. 1-rated quarterback on Bleacher Report NFL Draft Analyst Matt Miller's big board.

The Bucs shouldn't—and won't—overthink it. They'll do the right thing.

They'll draft Winston.

Oregon's Marcus Mariota: Tennessee Titans

Eric Gay/Associated Press

The Tennessee Titans currently hold the (unfortunate) moniker of the NFL's most nondescript team. However, they have an opportunity to flip perception and generate some buzz if they make the right selection with the No. 2 overall pick of next Thursday's draft.

That pick should be Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota, the consensus (and the selection of Bleacher Report's Matt Miller) No. 2 passer in the draft.

There are two types of teams in the NFL: Those that have a quarterback, and those that don't. Yes, the Titans have Zach Mettenberger (last year's sixth-round pick) on the roster, but is he truly a franchise quarterback? If the Titans are even slightly concerned that he's not, the only option is to draft a worthy passer with the second overall pick.

Enter Mariota, who dazzled scouts and fans during a sparkling career in Eugene. He's a dual-threat passer who can get the job done with either his arm or legs, and Mariota appears to be a model citizen off the field. 

Back at the owner's meetings in March, Titans head coach Ken Whisenhunt told Jim Corbett of USA Today that, "If (Mariota) comes to us at No. 2, he's definitely going to be the day 1 starter..I'm very impressed by Marcus." While there's certainly a possibility that Whisenhunt was posturing, it's also within the realm of possibilty that he meant it.

Without a true franchise quarterback on their roster, the Titans cannot pass up Mariota. The 2014 Heisman Trophy winner will be a one-way flight from Hawaii to the Music City after next Thursday night.

Baylor's Bryce Petty: Dallas Cowboys

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Dallas Cowboys starting quarterback Tony Romo recently turned 35, and while he can still play at a high level, it's clear that he's in the twilight of his career.

Romo's top backup is Brandon Weeden, who owns a career completion percentage of 56 and a starting record of 5-16. Yes, that is atrocious.

Following a 12-win season, it stands to reason that the Cowboys could make a Super Bowl run this year. They absolutely must have an insurance plan in the event that Romo gets hurt, as he did last year when he missed one game (and most of another) with a back injury.

Dallas should be the landing spot for Baylor's Bryce Petty (in Round 2), who is considered to be the third-best quarterback in the draft by Bleacher Report's Matt Miller.

Nick Eatman of DallasCowboys.com recently opined about the potential fit between the Cowboys and Petty, and it would make sense for the team to keep Petty in the state of Texas. The 6'3", 230-pound Petty threw 62 touchdowns in just over two full seasons as the starter for Art Briles at Baylor, and he has tremendous arm strength and a breathtaking deep ball in his arsenal.

Petty met with the Cowboys during the predraft process, so there is a familiarity there, and he could learn under Romo until the veteran is ready to hang up his cleats. He'd also provide valuable insurance if Romo goes down, as turning to Weeden is not a comforting option for Cowboys fans.

UCLA's Brett Hundley: St. Louis Rams

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

Earlier this offseason, the St. Louis Rams sent shock waves throughout the NFL when they acquired Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles in exchange for quarterback Sam Bradford.

While Foles is expected to be the team's starter this season, it won't take the Rams out of the running for a quarterback, as head coach Jeff Fisher told ESPN (via Tim Godfrey of Fox 2 in St. Louis) that “the Nick (Foles) trade will have no bearing on what we do in the draft.”

With Fisher and general manager Les Snead needing to add a talented young rookie to the roster, UCLA's Brett Hundley looms as an intriguing fit. Per Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Rams held a private workout with Hundley during the predraft process.

Hundley is an outstanding dual-threat option who can beat defenses with his arm and legs. He has excellent pocket presence and would be a dynamo on the turf of the Edward Jones Dome.

While Hundley didn't author his finest season in 2014, the potential still remains. Bleacher Report's Matt Miller wrote that Hundley's best bet is to sit behind an established quarterback and learn during his first year as a pro, and he could do just that behind Foles.

Colorado State's Garrett Grayson: Buffalo Bills

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

Despite a wonderful offseason that has fans and media alike buzzing, the depth chart at quarterback for the Buffalo Bills provides reason for concern, as Matt Cassel, EJ Manuel, Tyrod Taylor and Jeff Tuel will do little to inspire fear into the hearts of opposing defensive coordinators.

So, with that said, it's imperative that the Bills exit the 2015 draft with a young signal-caller who could one day be "the guy." Colorado State's Garrett Grayson fits that bill (pun intended).

By virtue of last year's trade for receiver Sammy Watkins, Buffalo's first pick—50th overall—doesn't come until the second round. Sal Maiorana of the Democrat & Chronicle recently wrote that a player like Grayson could be a value pick in that spot.

Plus, Bills general manager Doug Whaley told Howard Simon of WGR Radio (via Albert Breer of NFL Media) that he sees a second tier of passers in the draft behind Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota, and Grayson is included on that list.

Grayson has the foot speed needed to succeed in coordinator Greg Roman's offense, and while he doesn't possess the draft's strongest arm, he can get the job done in potential inclement conditions in lovely Western New York.

Oregon State's Sean Mannion: Cleveland Browns

Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

The Cleveland Browns' depth chart at quarterback is nothing short of an unmitigated disaster. Calling it a dumpster fire would be an insult to dumpster fires nationwide.

Josh McCown was signed as a free agent, and he's coming off a season in Tampa Bay in which he went 1-10 as the starter and threw 11 touchdown passes against 14 interceptions. The team selected Johnny Manziel with the 22nd overall pick of last year's draft, but he was atrocious in 2014 and just completed a voluntary stint in a rehab clinic.

There's no question that the Browns need to exit the draft with a young signal-caller on their roster, and Oregon State's Sean Mannion profiles as the perfect fit.

Earlier this offseason, ESPN's Chris Mortensen told SiriusXM Mad Dog Sports Radio host Adam Schein that he could see the Browns trading for Bucs quarterback Mike Glennon—but why trade for Glennon when you could draft a younger version of him? Bleacher Report's Matt Miller recently made a comparison of Mannion and Glennon.

While Mannion isn't a favorite of draftniks (he threw 83 touchdowns against 54 interceptions at the collegiate level), he has experience (started all four years at Oregon State) and the ability to read defenses. His arm is good (but not great), and his pocket presence needs to improve.

Mannion isn't an elite prospect, but the Browns can take a shot on him in the early-to-mid-rounds and develop him.