SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Top two overall draft picks Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson are set to step right in and become starting NFL quarterbacks in Week 1 of their rookie season.
The timeline for the three other first-round quarterbacks in this year’s draft is a bit murkier. But if recent history is any guide, Trey Lance, Justin Fields and Mac Jones don’t figure to wait too long to get their chance as starters.
The days of Aaron Rodgers spending three years on the bench as Brett Favre’s apprentice or Carson Palmer sitting out his entire rookie season behind Jon Kitna in Cincinnati are mostly in the past.