Quarterback may not be top priority

Draft class is filled with edge rushers, defensive backs.

I f a n y o n e q u e s t i o n s whether the NFL is a quarterback-driven league, consider that many of the worst teams are looking for one.

That said, this year’s crop of quarterback prospects could have those teams saying pass, pass, pass — at least at the top of this year’s threeday draft, which starts Thursday in Philadelphia.

“As far as the quarterbacks in this year’s class, I’m not banging the table for any of them,” said Mike Mayock, lead draft expert for NFL Network. “I think there’s talent in the class, but I think it’s going to take a year for most of these guys.”

That’s not to suggest this will be a year like 2013, when the underwhelming EJ Manuel was the only quarterback selected in the opening round. In fact, it would be a surprise if Clemson’s Desh au n Wats o n , Nor t h C a r o l i n a’s Mi t c h e l l Tr u - bisky and Texas Tech’s Patrick Mahomes slipped into the second. But it would be something of an upset if the Cleveland Browns, coming off a one-win season, used the top pick on a quarterback, even though a quarterback has been selected No. 1 overall in five of the past seven years.

Conversely, this draft class is unusually flush with players who live to ruin a quarterback’s day.

T h e r e a r e l o t s o f t a l - ented edge rushers and an unusual abundance of defen- sive backs. A pair of safeties — Louisiana State’s Jamal Adams and Ohio State’s Malik Hooker figure to be among the top 10 selections — and projected first-round cornerback prospects include Ohio State teammates Marshon Lattimore and Gareon Conley, LSU’s Tre’Davious White, Washington’s Kevin King and Florida’s Quincy Wilson. UCLA’s Fabian Moreau and USC’s Adoree’ Jackson are widely regarded as early-round picks, too.

“Over the years, with the proliferation of the spread o f f e ns e s a nd t he s pre a d defenses, for lack of a better term, there are a lot of corners and a lot of safeties who have to match up with a number of wide receivers,” said Kevin Colbert , Pittsburgh Steelers general manager.

Just because there are a lot of enticing corners, however, doesn’t mean this draft is loaded with sure-thing prospects at the position.

“When you’ re l ooki ng at corners,” Mayock said, “you have to go to the basics. That’s two things: Can you find a ball in the air with your back to the quarterback? No. 2, are you willing to tackle? They’re the two biggest reasons the big plays occur. Corners can’t do those two things.

“So there are a lot of pretty-looking guys that run fast forward in shorts. And I think we make mistakes sometimes when we fall in love with the guys with hips and great change of pace, and we forget that they either can’t catch the ball or they won’t tackle. So I think that’s where most of the mistakes are made.”

The big men up front, the ones turning up the heat on quarterbacks, are likewise plentiful in this draft. Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett stands a good chance o f b e i ng t he f i r s t pl aye r selected, Stanford defensive end Solomon Thomas could wind up in San Francisco as the second pick, and Tennessee’s Derek Barnett — who broke Reggie White’s school sack record — could wind up in the top 10.

Mayock compares Garrett to Denver’s Von Miller, a spectacular pass rusher capable of taking a sledgehammer to the best of offensive game plans.

“I’ve been on record from Day One saying I think they have to take him at No. 1,” Mayock said of Garrett. “You can continue to try to move down the board all you want and pick up more picks, and I get that, and I respect that.