NFL Draft preview: Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders? How about neither (plus five bruisers with upside value)

The Pac- produced several decent quarterback play while on its deathbed at least that s the view of NFL general managers and presidents of football operations In the final two seasons of its previous existence - the conference produced seven quarterbacks destined for the NFL Draft Dorian Thompson-Robinson UCLA and Tanner McKee Stanford were selected in the draft Caleb Williams USC Michael Penix Jr Washington and Bo Nix Oregon were picked in the draft The final two quarterbacks Cam Ward who played for Washington State in and Colorado s Shedeur Sanders are members of the draft class Both are expected to be selected in the first round Thursday in Green Bay Ward who finished his career at Miami likely will be the No overall pick while Sanders should be off the board soon after Which means the Pac- s final season with the legacy schools the captivating fall of likely included five quarterbacks who became top- draft picks That noted the trio selected in the first round last spring was more accomplished than the duo slotted for the first round this week This is a tough class for me declared Brock Huard the former Washington quarterback and Fox Sports analyst who spent six years in the NFL Cam is obviously the the greater part sustainable Incarnate Word to Pullman Wash to Coral Gables there has been a lot of substance-building I like his size I like his structure I like his substance I like that grit that has been built in him Huard s assessment of the former Pac- quarterbacks came during a wide-ranging conversation on Canzano and Wilner The Podcast He was more critical of Sanders and connected the -year-old s future to Colorado s controversial decision to retire his number last weekend Shedeur s fascinating Huard announced The fact they are retiring his jersey before CU great Kordell Stewart that is for the sportsman that s not healthy It s not right What are we doing It s not a healthy way to build On the flip side the dude is tough as nails I had him four times last year and I love the toughness He is old school There s a grown-man nature to him Right place right fit right time right civilization there s specific good stuff there While specific draft analysts wonder about Sanders mobility and arm strength Ward s physical tools are worthy of the No overall pick His weaknesses A knack for poor decisions which was on display throughout his two seasons at WSU and lack of urgency The smart move in the draft Don t take either quarterback early All over this draft first second and third round I d take big people Huard reported This is a meat-and-potatoes big-people draft I m tired of We can get a guard later No get a tackle and make him a guard Make your line the best it can be with the the bulk talented athletes There s a bunch of grown men in this draft The same Pac- legacy schools that produced so a great number of elite quarterbacks in - have their fair share of grown men available this week Oregon offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr and defensive tackle Derrick Harmon are projected for the first round or the top half of the second round Same with UCLA edge rusher Oluwafemi Oladejo Beyond that trio there s value Keep an eye on these five Related Articles Big Ten QB rankings Where Iamaleava fits among Allar Sayin Moore others News recap The Sanders argument portal madness faking injuries Mailbag On UW s non-conference schedule House impact P media rights Recruiting The Iamaleava impact Washington State s roster remake and Cal s rough week How Deion Sanders proposal helps solve one of college football s biggest problems Oregon edge rusher Jordan Burch A leg injury forced Burch to miss several games in the middle of the season and limited his overall effectiveness But when he s right physically and locked in mentally the -pound edge rusher has game-changing ability Selected projections peg Burch for the third round Don t be surprised if he s off the board in the second Oregon State guard Joshua Gray One of the best linemen of the decade in the Pac- partly because Gray has played the entire decade He started for the Beavers as a freshman in and remained a stalwart for over five seasons The first four were spent at tackle the fifth at guard Gray s run-blocking skills are elite His durability is off the charts Arizona guard Jonah Savaiinaea A year ago offensive tackle Jordan Morgan became the first Arizona competitor in years to be selected in the first round Savaiinaea maybe won t make it two in a row for the Wildcats but he s a good bet for Day Projected for the interior his experience playing tackle for the Wildcats should generate additional value Utah defensive tackle Junior Tafuna The former all-Pac- honoree wasn t as productive in his final season and lacks the requisite athleticism for high-round selection He s a likely Day pick who offers solid value but must get stronger in order to hold his own against NFL guards and centers And lastly Arizona State tailback Cam Skattebo He s not a lineman so forgive the editorial license But Skattebo plays with the physicality of a pulling guard and the relentlessness of an edge rusher He seeks out contact bounces off tacklers and has deceptive speed once into the second level Also Skattebo s receiving skills provide versatility as a third-down back As a middle-round pick he s a steal Will someone be smart enough to snatch him in the second or third Send suggestions comments and tips confidentiality guaranteed to wilnerhotline bayareanewsgroup com or call - 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