The promise for bad NFL teams slogging through an ugly December is that a franchise-altering quarterback could be available in next April's draft. At least four teams projected to have a top-10 pick in 2020 could be looking for one, and the Miami Dolphins have three first-round selections to make it happen.
But the 2020 quarterback class has enough questions that finding a once-in-a-decade quarterback is hardly a guarantee, which helps Ohio State edge rusher Chase Young's case as the top selection.
While Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa continues to struggle with injuries and Oregon's Justin Herbert has been underwhelming at times as a passer, LSU's Joe Burrow has capitalized with near-flawless play in 2019.
That doesn't change this reality for one longtime AFC scout. "Most defensive coordinators will say, 'Who scares me the most?'" the scout said. "And Tua [Tagovailoa] and [Justin] Herbert will scare teams more than Joe Burrow."
With insight from several NFL personnel evaluators, here's a look at which player might go No. 1 and how the pieces fit in a draft with at least five losing teams potentially seeking a quarterback at the top of the draft.