The 2018 NFL Draft was the first draft since 1999 that had five quarterbacks selected in the first round. I believe that each of these QBs has the potential to become a regular starter on Sundays, and I think they’ll all start at some point this season. They may not be the clear-cut starter for Week 1, but they’ll get their opportunity soon.

Baker Mayfield – Cleveland Browns

Mayfield was selected with the first pick in April’s draft and would probably start early on for most teams in the league. Being on the Browns is going to prevent that from happening.

For starters, out of all five rookies, he has the most consistent QB in front of him in Tyrod Taylor. Browns HC Hue Jackson has said several times that Taylor is his starter, and unfortunately, I don’t see a way Mayfield changes that until later in the season. The Browns have played the rookie QB game way too many times and are ready for something different. They’ll want to make sure they don’t put Baker out there until they’re 100% positive that he can produce like a starter, which won’t happen until past the midway point of the season.

Prediction: Week 12 @ Cincinnati.

After a potential three-game skid against the Steelers, Chiefs, and Falcons. Cleveland has a Week 11 bye to give Mayfield extra preparation.

Sam Darnold – New York Jets

Darnold was the third pick in the draft largely based on his toughness and ability to step in immediately for the Jets. He proved at USC that he could make plays to win on the biggest stage. However, to many Jets fans displeasure, Darnold has to beat out 2017 starter Josh McCown and free agent signing Teddy Bridgewater before becoming the starter himself. While I do give Darnold a chance to win this battle in the preseason, it seems unlikely at this point that he would beat out both guys. In my opinion, Darnold will start the season as the backup but won’t have to wait very long to become the guy.

Prediction: Week 6 vs Indianapolis.

I think he’d start earlier, but I don’t believe the Jets coaches want to set Darnold up for failure against tough defenses in Jacksonville (Week 4) or Denver (Week 5). A game against Indy is a much softer matchup for a rookie.

Josh Allen – Buffalo Bills

Allen, the seventh pick in the draft, is definitely the rawest passer out of every first round quarterback heading into the season. That being said, current Bills first and second strings A.J. McCarron and Nathan Peterman make up the worst set of QBs that any of the rookies have to compete with. This will give the undeveloped Allen a chance to win this job in the preseason.

While he has the best odds of the rookies, I don’t think he’ll produce enough in the preseason to garner enough steam on the “Josh Allen is Carson Wentz 2.0” hype train. I see it taking a few weeks before Sean McDermott, the guy who benched 5-4 Tyrod Taylor for Nathan Peterman, gets a little antsy and pulls the trigger on the former Wyoming QB.

Prediction: Week 5 vs Tennessee.

Josh Rosen – Arizona Cardinals

My #1 ranked QB coming into the draft, Josh Rosen, was taken 10th by the Cardinals. Rosen is set to open the season as the backup behind Sam Bradford, and like Mayfield, I don’t see that changing quite so soon. Bradford has received support from several teammates, most notably defensive captain Patrick Peterson who said that Bradford is “a top-10 quarterback.”

Despite Rosen being the most NFL ready of all five rookie passers, his debut won’t happen until past the halfway point in the season, assuming that Bradford remains healthy. Bradford’s health is the biggest question mark that any rookie passer is facing, as Rosen could be thrown into battle at a moment’s notice. The first pick in 2010, Bradford, has a history of getting injured, having only started all 16 games twice in his eight-year career. However, I’m not going to speculate about injuries, so my prediction won’t include it.

Prediction: Week 11 vs Oakland.

The Cardinals could potentially slip too far below .500 to recover in Week 10 against the the Chiefs. This could lead to Rosen getting the keys to the offense.

Lamar Jackson – Baltimore Ravens

Jackson was the final pick of this year’s first round and is the most talked about rookie since Johnny Manziel. He thrived at Louisville, as he was the best athlete on the field at all times, using his ability to scramble (not throwing the ball from the pocket) to make big plays and win big games. That’s going to have to change, however, if Lamar wants to not only stay healthy (unlike other NFL scramblers) but also stick in the NFL.

Luckily for Jackson, he’s behind veteran Joe Flacco who can start until John Harbaugh feels Jackson is ready to go. Even though I don’t think Jackson will be ready this year, he’s going to get a chance to show what he can do at some point this season.

Prediction: Week 15 vs Tampa Bay.

Harbaugh will give Jackson a three-game tryout after being eliminated from the playoffs in a last ditch effort to try and save his job.

Disagree or care to argue? Hit me up on twitter @MS_Persources