NFL Player News

The Steelers selected Dobbs in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft, 135th overall.

Dobbs (6-foot-3, 216 pounds) is a great athlete and verified genius with lots of starting experience, and he has the tools to make for an interesting developmental project behind Ben Roethlisberger. While his downfield accuracy was quite strong by the end of his Tennessee career, Dobbs never showed the natural ability to read defenses that you'd like to see in a quarterback. If his experiment at quarterback doesn't go well, Dobbs has the athleticism to transition to receiver.

The 49ers selected Beathard in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft, 104th overall.

There's a good chance that this winds up one of the strangest picks of this draft. Beathard (6-foot-2, 219 pounds) has some arm and some athleticism to him, and he's certainly tough for playing hurt much of the last two years, but the production all but rules him out as a viable starting quarterback prospect. He completed just 56.5 percent of his passes and averaged just 6.4 yards per attempt in 2016. It's hard to imagine a good argument for drafting Beathard over the likes of Jerod Evans, Nathan Peterman or Joshua Dobbs.

Savage is Houston's starting quarterback according to head coach Bill O'Brien, who made that clear following the team's first-round selection of Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson, John McClain of the Houston Chronicle reports. "Tom is our starter," O'Brien said.

O'Brien said Watson will have to sit and learn behind Savage and Brandon Weeden, though it's clear the long-range plan is for Watson to be Houston's franchise quarterback. Savage, by dint of his experience in the offense, is the likely starter Week 1.

The Texans selected Watson in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft, 12th overall.

They traded up from the 25th pick to make the selection, giving up their 2018 first-round pick in the process. Bill O'Brien is generally known as a coach who prefers, tall, heavy quarterbacks with strong arms, but Watson decisively cuts against that mold. He also cuts against the mold of the likes of Brock Osweiler and Tom Savage in the sense that he can actually throw a football at the NFL level. Watson might initially struggle as he adjusts to the speed of NFL defenses, but his unparalleled success at Clemson (97 total touchdowns in his last 30 games) and consecutive National Championship appearances imply that he's capable of adapting. It doesn't hurt that he'll have a very good group of pass catchers waiting for him in Houston. If Tom Savage is the only competition the Texans can muster, it's hard to imagine Watson anywhere but the starting lineup in Week 1. As a talented runner with plenty of surrounding help, Watson could make a surprisingly big fantasy impact as a rookie with a little luck.

The Chiefs selected Mahomes in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft, 10th overall.

They traded up all the way from 27th pick, trading an extra first- and third-round pick to make the deal. Alex Smith might begin the year as starter, but if the playoffs should look out of reach at any point or if he should miss any time with injury, that might be the end of him as a Chiefs starter. Mahomes (6-foot-2, 225 pounds) has the best throwing velocity in the class, and is extremely accomplished after playing at Texas Tech. He threw for 11,252 yards (8.3 YPA), 93 touchdowns and 29 interceptions in 32 career games, and also has excellent athleticism for a quarterback (22 career rushing touchdowns). His dual-threat skills and a plausible starting role in an Andy Reid offense no later than 2018 make Mahomes an enticing dynasty asset, and one to keep an eye on if he should see the field in 2017.

The Bears selected Trubisky in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft, second overall.

The Bears traded up from the third pick, paying to switch picks with the 49ers. It's arguably a strange move generally, but particularly difficult to rationalize after signing Mike Glennon for $15 million per year over three years, all but naming Glennon the starter in the process. Trubisky (6-foot-2, 222 pounds) was a one-year starter in a system that didn't ask him to make NFL-type reads, but he is a superb athlete with a good arm who has the raw tools to develop into a standout starter in the NFL. After throwing for 3,748 yards (8.4 YPA), 30 touchdowns and six interceptions in 2016, Trubisky will evidently sit for a while before the Bears hand him the keys to their starting role. When he does see the field, Trubisky's standout rushing skills could give him a decent floor even as he develops as a passer.

The Vikings aren't expected to exercise Bridgewater's (knee) fifth-year option before the May 2 deadline, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.

With Bridgewater still working his way back from a torn ACL and dislocated left knee that sidelined him for all of 2016, the Vikings aren't willing to guarantee his $11 million-plus deal for 2018. The former first-round pick remains without a timetable to return to full activities. Meanwhile, Sam Bradford is set to enter training camp as the team's starting QB, with Case Keenum on hand to serve as his top backup.

According to head coach Mike Mularkey, Mariota (lower leg) remains on track for recovery and could begin running next week, Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com reports.

Mariota has been present for the Titans' voluntary offseason program and is recovering ahead of schedule. He is currently able to jog lightly, but running at full speed is a whole different beast the 23-year-old will have to tackle. Look for more updates to come sporadically throughout OTAs and rest of the offseason as Mariota returns to full strength.

Bridgewater (knee) is making progress in the first week of offseason workouts but is still without a timetable, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

It's good news for the 24-year-old, who is making his way back from a gruesome left knee injury suffered Aug. 30. General manager Rick Spielman said Bridgewater's recovery has been "incredible," but it appears as if the former first-round pick is still a ways away from taking the field in any sort of capacity. Look for more updates to come throughout the offseason as Sam Bradford prepares for his second season as the Vikings' starting quarterback.

While the Browns and/or Texans might make a late push to trade for Garoppolo, it's still unlikely the Patriots will part ways with their backup quarterback this offseason, The Boston Herald's Karen Guregian reports.

The Patriots clearly want a lot in return for Garoppolo, who is preparing for the final year of his rookie contract after thriving in his two starts last season. Cleveland has been the most frequently mentioned destination, but Houston might actually be a better fit, with the Texans boasting a playoff-caliber roster that doesn't have many weaknesses besides quarterback. Both teams are expected to select signal-callers in the early rounds of the draft, but one (or both) could make a late push for Garoppolo instead. The Browns have plenty of time to develop a young quarterback, whereas the Texans may be worried about wasting a talented roster because of poor play from Tom Savage and a rookie. While such a concern makes a lot of sense, it probably won't be enough to motivate Houston to meet the Patriots' lofty asking price.