Four Quarterbacks, Three Of Them Homework

Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Joe Burrow is an excellent two-round start, and Omarion Hampton, Quinshon Judkins and Cam Skattebo behind them build a young, physical backfield with actual volume. Kyler Murray is a real second starter. Tucker Kraft is a sensible tight end. The bones here are good, and the running back room in particular could be the surprise of the season.

Then the quarterback accumulation. Cam Ward in the ninth is the third arm, a rookie taken first overall by a rebuilding team. Drew Allar in the fifteenth is the fourth, and Allar is a college quarterback. That is the roster maximum at the position, two of them unable to help this season in any meaningful way, on a bench that holds five. Burrow's own recent history is a season cut short by injury, so wanting depth is understandable. Wanting four is a collection.

The receiver room paid for it. Behind Smith-Njigba there is Luther Burden III, Carnell Tate and De'Zhaun Stribling, rookies and deep-roster names all hoping a depth chart opens up. Two starting receiver spots plus a flex, and only one of them has a name anybody would want to start in week one. Kenny Gainwell adds a fourth running back. Cam Little and the Patriots defense land in exactly the right rounds, which is the cleanest thing on the sheet. Evan built a strong backfield, a top receiver, and then spent the endgame drafting quarterbacks he will spend the season reading about instead of starting.