Quarterbacks took center stage Saturday on the third and final day of the 2019 NFL Draft, with three teams focusing on prospects that one day perhaps could replace franchise quarterbacks and three others looking for some insurance.
Jan 26, 2019; Mobile, AL, United States; North quarterback Ryan Finley of North Carolina State (15) passing against the South during the second half at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
In Cincinnati, the Bengals traded three picks to move up six spots in the fourth round, selecting former North Carolina State quarterback Ryan Finley with the 104th overall pick. Team owner Mike Brown has said veteran quarterback Andy Dalton, whose contract runs through 2020, won’t be a candidate for a contract extension until Brown sees how Dalton fits into the system of new coach Zac Taylor.
He was the first of two quarterbacks taken in the fourth round, with New England selecting Jarrett Stidham of Auburn with pick No. 133, perhaps looking at him as the eventual successor to Tom Brady, who will turn 42 before the start of the 2019 season.
Brady, himself, was famously a sixth-round selection in 2000 NFL Draft.
Two more quarterbacks went off the board late in the fifth round, with the Los Angeles Chargers selecting Easton Stick of FCS champion North Dakota State with pick No. 166 overall. Stick replaced Philadelphia quarterback Carson Wentz and won two national championships in his three seasons as the starter.
In Los Angeles, Philip Rivers — the No. 4 overall selection in the 2004 — is entering his 16th season.
One pick later, the Eagles took Northwestern quarterback Clayton Thorson as a backup to Wentz.
In the sixth round, the Jacksonville Jaguars rolled the dice on Gardner Minshew of Washington State with the No. 178 overall pick. The Jaguars released veteran Blake Bortles in the offseason and signed Nick Foles as the starter.
The Baltimore Ravens selected Trace McSorley of Penn State later in the sixth round with pick No. 197. The Ravens traded Joe Flacco to the Denver Broncos and have second-year pro Lamar Jackson leading the offense.
Other notable picks on Day 3:
—Defensive end Anthony Nelson (No. 107 overall to Tampa Bay), joined by safety Amani Hooker (No. 116 to Tennessee) to give Iowa two players selected in the round.
—Punter Mitch Wishnowsky (Utah), a 27-year-old Australian, to San Francisco (No. 110).
—Cornerback Kendall Sheffield (Ohio State) to Atlanta (No. 111).
—Running back Bryce Love (Stanford) to Washington (No. 112).
—RB Justice Hill (Oklahoma State) to Baltimore (No. 113).
—RB Benny Snell (Kentucky) to Pittsburgh (No. 122).
—Wide receiver Riley Ridley (Georgia) to Chicago (No. 126).
—Field Level Media
