Carson Wentz vs. Jared Goff Is The Most Boring QB Debate in The Last 20 Years

Carson Wentz and Jared Goff are widely considered the top two quarterbacks in the 2016 NFL Draft class. Both signal-callers are likely to be off the board within the top 10 picks of this year’s draft. While that is typical of most draft classes, what has been surprising is the lack of hype or anything resembling contention when it comes to discussing this year’s top quarterbacks. I don’t feel like I’m going out on a limb by declaring this the most boring quarterback debate in 20 years.

We’re three weeks from the start of the draft and no one is raising hell about who should definitely be the first quarterback taken. There are no arguments, no fights, no social media debates. It has been radio silence. Some people prefer Goff, while others like Wentz, but no one seems to be passionate in their appraisals of either. They are quarterbacks who will be off the board quickly, but the general consensus on both seems to be a solid “meh.”

Apparently all the NFL draftniks out there have slowly turned into the Neutrals from Futurama.

This also probably has something to do with the quarterbacks and their lack of “brand name” recognition. Goff played at California, where he finally reached the prestigious Armed Forces Bowl this year. He wasn’t regularly featured in prime time national broadcasts, but he had more exposure than Wentz. Wentz played at FCS North Dakota State, and also missed 8 games this last season with a broken wrist. It also doesn’t help that neither guy has what could be termed as an “electric” personality. The two guys are about as interesting as a three-hour lecture on credit default swaps.

When looking at past NFL draft quarterback competitions, the only two in the past two decades come close to engendering the level of apathy this year’s has were 1997 and 2013.

In 1997, Virginia Tech’s Jim Druckenmiller was the only signal-caller selected in the first round (26th, San Francisco 49ers), while Arizona State’s Jake Plummer went in the second round (42nd, Arizona Cardinals). That year, the debate didn’t gain much steam because the consensus was the draft didn’t have any first-round talents at quarterback. What makes this year different is that there are at least two and maybe three if you add Memphis’ Paxton Lynch to the mix.

In 2013, USC’s Matt Barkley, West Virginia’s Geno Smith and Florida State’s EJ Manuel were perceived as the top three quarterbacks for months leading up to the pre-draft process. After that process shook out, only Manuel was taken in the first round (16th, Buffalo Bills), while Smith fell to the second (39th, New York Jets) and Barkley plummeted to the fourth (98th, Philadelphia Eagles). Meanwhile N.C. State’s Mike Glennon snuck into the mix (73rd, Tampa Bay Buccaneers).

While the quarterbacks in 2013 were unimpressive, there actually was quite a bit of debate about where Barkley and Smith should land. Smith in particular had many vocal defenders and detractors. That hasn’t happened this year for any of the top prospects at the position.

Todd McShay’s Scouts Inc. grades for Wentz and Goff are identical 91 for Pete’s sake! Shouldn’t there be more debate about who might be better? Shouldn’t he and Mel Kiper be going after each other on ESPN picking one or the other? Why isn’t there more yelling, more passionate defense going on? More headlines have been written about the mental fitness of Michigan State’s Connor Cook and Penn State’s Christian Hackenberg than Goff and Wentz combined. I mean look, I’m not complaining, I’m fine with it, it makes my afternoons quieter, it just doesn’t make a lick of sense.

Wentz and Goff’s pro days? Solid. Their performances at the combine? Decent. Their interviews with teams? Adequate. Seriously, one of you please show up late to a meeting or get caught doing cocaine in a Vegas bathroom. Something!

I’m calling for a beige alert on both of these dudes.

There doesn’t seem to be much difference between Wentz and Goff. Both have the height, arm strength, experience, college success and intangibles to make scouts drool. But no one seems to be publicly wiping their lips.

So will we finally get some heated discussion of the relative strengths and weaknesses of these guys as we get closer to draft day. I’ll let the following video sum up my feelings: