9. Marcus Mariota (2015)
Something of a quiet assassin who carved up Pac-12 defenses in Chip Kelly’s high-octane offensive schemes, Marcus Mariota became the first player from the University of Oregon to win the Heisman Trophy, and the first player born on the island state of Hawaii to win the award as well. In three years in Eugene, Mariota threw for 105 touchdown passes and just under 11,000 yards, helping lead the Ducks to the 2014-2015 National Championship.
Mariota’s overall production in college, ability to both run with and throw the football, and general coach ability (everyone raved about his humble demeanor and outstanding work ethic) made him a very valued quarterback prospect.
8. Sam Darnold (2018)
Sam Darnold went from unheralded backup to quarterback of one of the most prestigious college football programs in the nation in USC, and his combination of elusiveness in the pocket and ability to make big plays amidst chaos was reminiscent of a bigger Tony Romo. Despite sitting behind more heralded recruits, Darnold eventually won the starting job for the Trojans, and threw for 31 touchdowns in his first season of starting.
Darnold declared after his junior season, and for much of the pre-draft process in the spring of 2018, everyone assumed Darnold being picked by the Cleveland Browns, with the #1 overall pick, was a foregone conclusion, and there were many who thought the New York Jets — who selected Darnold with the 3rd overall pick — got the best quarterback in that draft.
7. Jared Goff (2016)
Playing the position with the “California cool” that you’d expect from someone with his blond hair, blue-eyed beach bum look, Jared Goff was the son of a professional baseball player, and seemingly had the genes to be a professional athlete himself.
He put up very impressive statistics at the University of California-Berkley, but those were obviously inflated by the “Air Raid” variant of offense he ran under head coach Sonny Dykes. But his overall arm talent, football instincts, and demeanor made him someone that NFL teams really vouched for, enough to make him the #1 overall pick in his draft class.
6. Carson Wentz (2016)
A big, strapping quarterback who played in a “pro-style” system for four years, with the intangibles and aw-shucks humility so many teams covet from the position, Carson Wentz was seen as the prototype quarterback, despite coming from North Dakota State University.
Wentz’ stock rose steadily throughout the pre-draft process, starting with blowing away teams at the Senior Bowl and scouting combine. The more teams got to see him and know him, the more they were impressed. Clearly, the Philadelphia Eagles thought enough of him that they traded up with the Cleveland Browns to make him the #2 overall pick.