It's been over a month since I unveiled my "too-early" Big Board for the 2016 NFL draft, a ranking that includes 2015 underclassmen. I'll go a little deeper for each position group, so you'll get an idea of over 100 of the top NFL prospects for 2016. It goes without saying that these rankings are preliminary, as I have countless hours of evaluation ahead for the 2016 class.
A couple of important notes about the rankings below:
• I've split them into seniors and underclassmen; it's important to have a baseline number of seniors because those players are certain to be a part of the 2016 NFL draft process (if they choose to).
• I won't go too heavy into actual scouting reports, as those are still a work in progress.
With those parameters in mind, here's an early look at the top QB prospects in the 2016 draft class.
Top 5 senior quarterbacks
1. Connor Cook, Michigan State Spartans: He was wise to return to East Lansing for another season. Cook has good length and athleticism and a strong arm. He plays in a system NFL coaches recognize, and he put together a solid 2014 season, with a 24-8 TD-INT ratio. In coming back, he needs to improve on his accuracy, which can suffer from poor footwork and from throwing off balance.
2. Cody Kessler, USC Trojans: In 2014, he put together one of the most overlooked stellar seasons in recent memory, throwing for 3,826 yards with 39 TDs against just 5 INTs. Perhaps most impressively, he completed a hair under 70 percent of his throws. He has also shown he can succeed when taking snaps from under center, not just out of the shotgun. He lacks elite physical tools, but his anticipation and accuracy are ahead of the pack.
3. Carson Wentz, North Dakota State Bison: Don't know him? You will. Wentz doesn't only offer prototypical pocket-passer size (6-5, 230 pounds) -- he can also really move. Last season he recorded 642 rushing yards and 3,111 passing yards. Competition level is an obvious concern, but the physical tools are impressive.
4. Trevone Boykin, TCU Horned Frogs: After pulling double duty in 2013 at both QB and wide receiver, Boykin transitioned to full-time signal-caller in 2014 and became a Heisman candidate. He's an exceptional athlete with a strong arm, but anticipation is a problem and bad decisions were common. He'll need to make strides to remove the "project" label as a progression passer.
5. Dak Prescott, Mississippi State Bulldogs: A bruising runner who was quietly quite efficient as a passer last season, Prescott's challenge is to show enough growth as a passer to make the Tim Tebow comparisons go away. Because while Tebow was a first-round pick, the comparison won't do much for Prescott's stock.
Top 5 underclassmen quarterbacks
1. Jared Goff, California Golden Bears: Don't scoff at the system Cal employs and assume anybody will put up the 3,973 yards and 35 TD passes (against just 7 INTs) that Goff did in 2014. He has a big-time arm and shows the ability to read defenses and move defenders with his eyes. After another year of development, Goff could be the top contender to be the first 2016 QB off the board.
2. Christian Hackenberg, Penn State Nittany Lions: The pedigree and talent outpace the numbers, which is a good thing because 2014 was a forgettable year for Hackenberg, who had a negative TD-INT ratio and was on his back far too often behind a suspect O-line. A coaching transition was also a clear setback for his development. This will be a big year as Hackenberg will be out to prove 2014 was a confluence of problems he couldn't control.
3. Cardale Jones, Ohio State Buckeyes: It's a small sample size -- but what a remarkable one it is. Jones has just three college starts, but they were a Big Ten championship, a Sugar Bowl win over Alabama, and a national title in the College Football Playoff. Jones has great physical tools, but he won't be in the first-round mix unless he can win a starting job in Columbus.
4. Gunner Kiel, Cincinnati Bearcats: In 2014, the well-traveled Kiel finally put together a season we suspected he was capable of as he showed off a strong, accurate arm. He's also a bit more athletic than people (see: opponents) tend to realize, and he creates chances with his escapability. With another year of growth, after what we saw in 2014, he'll be squarely in the mix as one of the better QB prospects in college football.
5. Patrick Towles, Kentucky Wildcats: The numbers won't jump out at you, but the size (6-5, 241 pounds) and natural ability will. Don't let that size make you think Towles lacks athleticism, either. The former high school high jumper can really move. With new offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson's arrival from West Virginia, there will be high expectations for this offense, and the return of four starters on the O-line will help.