Ideal NFL destinations for B1G QBs

There’s a balance to it.

If you’re a rookie quarterback, you don’t want to go to a dysfunctional franchise like the Cleveland Browns, yet ending up with a team like the Seattle Seahawks could mean holding a clipboard for the entirety of your first contract.

Obviously not every quarterback is ready to start in the NFL right away. In fact, I don’t think any of the B1G quarterbacks will start as rookies.

But here’s where each one of them would have the best chance of long-term success.

Nate Sudfeld (Indiana): San Diego Chargers

I promise this isn’t a column based on the best locations to end up, though it remains to be seen if the Chargers will even play in San Diego next year. With Sudfeld more likely to be selected in the tail end of the draft, the Chargers could take a flier on a guy that led the B1G in passing playing a spread attack. Philip Rivers is 34 and the Chargers don’t have a quarterback of the future. Sudfeld would be able to learn from one of the better signal-callers of the 20th century and potentially get a crack at the starting job when Rivers hangs it up.

Jake Rudock (Michigan): Buffalo Bills

You might argue that Buffalo isn’t an ideal landing spot for anybody, but Rudock can do far worse than the Bills. Why? Buffalo offensive coordinator Greg Roman worked with Jim Harbaugh at Stanford and with the San Francisco 49ers. Harbaugh knows how to bring out the best in Rudock. The Harbaugh connection would be a perfect scenario for a guy like Rudock that might have to start his career on a practice squad. You can bet Harbaugh will be in Roman’s ear about going after the productive graduate transfer.

Cardale Jones (Ohio State): Arizona Cardinals

Contrary to what some thought at this time last year, Jones is not a top-10 NFL draft pick. The physical tools are there, but he has some development to do. That might make him a middle-round selection. What better place could Jones get the type of coaching he needs than Arizona?

He’d get to work behind Comeback Player of the Year Carson Palmer, who just turned 36 by the way. Jones could learn from one of the league’s top veterans and he’d get to work with arguably the NFL’s top offensive guru in Bruce Arians. If Jones puts in the work, he could definitely be the quarterback of the future for a thriving franchise.

Christian Hackenberg (Penn State): Houston Texans

Ok, so it’s the obvious fit that everybody has been talking. A Bill O’Brien-Christian Hackenberg reunion seems inevitable given the way the Texans struggled with Brian Hoyer in the playoffs. But there are a couple contingencies. For starters, the Texans shouldn’t use a first-round pick on him. A guy that has as many concerns as Hackenberg has won’t warrant that type of financial investment.

I also don’t think Hackenberg should start right away. Given Houston’s current quarterback situation, there would be pressure on Hackenberg to be the savior. Let him learn, get his confidence back and mentally prepare himself for the next level. Then, and only then, could we see O’Brien maximize Hackenberg’s potential.

Connor Cook (Michigan State): Chicago Bears

Cook’s draft stock is very much up in the air. He could wind up being a guy that somebody takes a chance on in the first round, or he could slide deep into the second round if he doesn’t impress at his pre-draft workouts. That remains to be seen. Cook, while he can make NFL throws, isn’t ready to be a rookie starter. It would ironic if he backed up the guy some scouts have compared him to for his off-the-field attitude.

Cutler’s days in Chicago could be numbered, especially considering general manager Ryan Pace said that the Bears could take a quarterback in the first round. Cook could step into a situation where he’d have one of the game’s top young receivers in Alshon Jeffrey, and he’d get to reunite with former Michigan State teammate Jeremy Langford. For a franchise that’s had few franchise quarterbacks in the last 30 years, Cook could help break the mold.