Connor Cook won more games than any other quarterback in Michigan State history. Andrew Billings was coming off a dominant season on Baylor’s defensive line.
It did not mean much in the N.F.L. draft.
Cook watched as six quarterbacks were taken off the board before he was selected by Oakland with the second pick of the fourth round on Saturday in Chicago, and Billings went to Cincinnati at No. 122 after it had looked as if he could be a first-round pick.
“Anytime you see another quarterback get drafted in front of you, it hurts,” Cook said.