NFL Draft Buzz

The desperate hunger for quarterbacks in the NFL can only be fueled by the announcements Wednesday that UCLA’s Josh Rosen and Southern California’s Sam Darnold will enter the April draft.

First, it gives the Cleveland Browns another chance to miss on a prospect (kidding). Second, it adds intrigue as these two prospects (and that’s all they are right now) get a thorough going-over in the scouting process.

Rosen gives up his senior season and leaves UCLA on a down note. He was close to fired coach Jim Mora and a concussion kept him from playing in the Cactus Bowl.

Darnold had two years of eligibility remaining.

ESPN draft analysts Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay list Rosen as the top-rated draft-eligible quarterback. Before this is all over, Darnold could be second.

The Browns have the No. 1 pick and also the fourth overall; Rosen has let it be known he’d prefer not to play there. The New York Giants hold the second pick. Eli Manning, who had told the San Diego Chargers the same thing but was picked by them nonetheless in 2004 and then traded to the Giants, may be educating his successor, if the Giants keep him around.

The Denver Broncos, picking fifth, need quarterback help but already have a No. 1 pick in Paxton Lynch learning (slowly). The New York Jets, at No. 6, need a quarterback. With Carson Palmer retiring and a new coach coming in, the Arizona Cardinals, selecting 15th, also need a QB.

The playoffs have yet to begin, but the future is here for some teams. Considering the boom and bust pattern of quarterbacks, we can only hope they choose wisely.

 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman