Sports Illustrated: Davis Webb a potential NFL Draft first round quarterback?

Could Cal have two first round draft quarterback picks in two straight NFL Drafts?

Jared Goff was the first overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. It’s starting to sound like Davis Webb will at least be seriously considered as a potential first rounder as well. The buzz coming out of the NFL Combine and the Senior Bowl has generally been positive on the big-armed Webb, and it could translate into high draft stock.

This is not a particularly deep quarterback class, so Webb clearly saw an opportunity to shine once he had opportunities to perform at a high level come winter. Webb had an excellent combine with good performances in a bunch of categories.

Emily Kaplan of Sports Illustrated profiled Webb, and it was quite complimentary.

Webb completed his goal at the combine: He wanted to finish top-five in every category.

He had a terrific throwing session, highlighting his arm strength on vertical routes while shrinking the gap between himself and the presumed top four—DeShone Kizer, Mahomes, Deshaun Watson and Mitchell Trubisky. “But the interviews were my best part,” Webb said in a phone interview last week.

More from Cal offensive coordinator Jake Spavital, who was highly complimentary of Webb.

“Sometimes you hear all of this and say, Alright, you’re probably full of s---. Sure, he’s always up at the offices, and always working and all of that. But when you do the research, and a lot of NFL teams are, you start seeing it. And you say: Damn, this kid is the real deal.”

Webb is one of those quarterbacks it’s easy to watch and see upside. He plays hard, he has great arm strength, he is adaptable to a good offense, and before his injury mid-season was definitely among the best passers in all of college football. It’ll be interesting to see how he adapts to the next level, but there’s a lot of potential for him to be very effective in the right situation.