Silverman: Wentz, Goff, Cook Lead This Year's QB Class In NFL Draft

By Steve Silverman
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This is not the year of the quarterback in the NFL draft.

Unlike last year, when Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota not only went 1-2 but were also the stars leading up to the time that Roger Goodell read their names on a Chicago stage, the top quarterbacks in this year's draft all have question marks.

That does not mean that Carson Wentz, Jared Goff or Connor Cook won't rise up and become winning NFL quarterbacks. There's even a chance that Paxton Lynch or Christian Hackenberg could join them as the top quarterbacks in the draft class.

But all the quarterbacks in this year's class have the kind of issues that top quarterback coaches are going to have to help them overcome once they get to training camp and start working every day to become high-level professionals.

Here's our look at the top five quarterbacks in this year's class and what they need to work on to become high-level contributors:

Carson Wentz, North Dakota State – Wentz has already won an important part of the battle because he has overcome his small-school background and been recognized as having high-level pro potential because of his size, athletic ability, arm strength and accuracy.

He certainly looks the part at 6-foot-5 and 233 pounds, and his game appears to complement his size. He is a very athletic player who can buy time with his feet, run away from the pass rush and get the ball to his open receivers. He can also pick up yards when he makes the decision to run because of his speed, agility and excellent running instincts.

Wentz has the kind of release that scouts love because the ball leaves his hand in a tight spiral and he has both the accuracy and velocity to be successful.

The most obvious thing he has to work on is his tendency to lock on to his primary target and stay with him. This can be fatal in the NFL because opposing defenses will punish quarterbacks who don't read the coverage quickly and thoroughly. Wentz is smart enough to realize this, but this kind of habit can be tough to break, especially when the step up in competition is so huge.

Jared Goff, California – Another quarterback with impressive size at 6-4 and 210 pounds, Goff's best attributes are his ability to get rid of the ball quickly and accurately. The Bears' up-tempo offense leads to huge numbers from the triggerman, but Goff's accuracy is not system-based. He is a quick decision maker, and once he determines that his receiver is going to get open, he excels at putting the ball in a tight window.

Goff has an excellent delivery, but once he is forced out of the pocket, his accuracy starts to dip. He has taken some big hits in college and he has found a way to bounce up quickly. But he has a relatively skinny frame, and you wonder if he can handle the big hits at the next level.

Connor Cook, Michigan State – Head coach Mark Dantonio has built one of the best college football programs in the country at Michigan State, and the play of Cook has been instrumental in the Spartans' climb up the ladder.

Cook's ability to come up with winning plays at key moments in the biggest games is a factor that all pro scouts want to see. Cook clearly has that ability. Unlike Wentz and Goff, Cook already has shown that he knows how to scan the field in a professional manner and find the open receiver. He excels on the touch throws, and he is also accurate and has the proper timing when he throws the deep pass.

Cook was troubled by a shoulder injury at the end of the season, but he claims to be 100 percent at this point. Obviously, that's not good enough for NFL teams, who will check him out thoroughly between now and Draft Day in late April.

Cook's leadership ability has been questioned because he was not voted one of the team's co-captains. That's neither an accusation or an indictment, but it is a question that should be explored thoroughly for any team considering him as its future starting quarterback.

Christian Hackenberg, Penn State – When Hackenberg arrived at Penn State, he appeared to have ideal potential to run a high-powered college offense because of his physical skills. He has wonderful size at 6-4 and 236 pounds, a strong arm and the toughness to take the hit and bounce back.

Hackenberg was somewhat disappointing throughout his career because he would flash his talent, but he simply did not play with the consistency that was expected.

As he moves on to the pro game, Hackenberg still has all the measurables to become a star. What he doesn't have is the awareness in the pocket that offensive coordinators are looking for. There are times when he simply doesn't feel the pressure of the pass rush and he doesn't do a thing to protect the ball.

If that doesn't change quickly, Hackenberg will have no chance to succeed. However, if he learns how to feel the pressure, that could allow him to buy time and make the big plays that lead to victories at the NFL level.

Paxton Lynch, Memphis – Lynch had a wonderful 2015 season in which he was able to upgrade his stock from a mid- to late-round quarterback to a possible first-rounder.

Lynch has excellent size at 6-6 and 230 pounds, and he has shown that he will play with poise under pressure and deliver the ball with accuracy and velocity. He also can run away from pressure and make winning plays on the move.

What he does not always show is the ideal passing form that quarterback coaches are looking for. He needs quite a bit of work on staying consistent in his delivery.

He has been an excellent student of the game and the progress that he made this year with the Tigers is indicative of the ability to continue to improve throughout his pro career.

Follow Steve on Twitter at @ProFootballBoy