DeShone Kizer could have a new team when the first round of the NFL Draft concludes tonight.
Or he might have to wait until Friday.
The former Notre Dame quarterback is one of the more polarizing players in this year's draft, which begins with tonight's first round (8 p.m., ESPN/NFL Network).
"Kizer still has the biggest ceiling of any quarterback in this draft," NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock said last week. "He’s the prototypical NFL franchise quarterback. But he’s not ready to play. He’s a year or two away from stepping on an NFL field.”
NFL mock drafts around the web have Kizer being selected in a wide range. Several mock drafts have Kizer near the middle of the first round, while others — including ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. — have Kizer falling into the third round.
North Carolina's Mitch Trubisky, Clemson's Deshaun Watson, Texas Tech's Patrick Mahomes and Cal's Davis Webb are also expected to be early round picks.
On the Dan Patrick radio show Thursday morning, Fox Sports' Jay Glazer discussed how split NFL teams are with the quarterbacks.
"The other day I talked to a coach who absolutely couldn't stand Kizer," Glazer said. "Couldn't stand him at the owner's meeting. Then I talked to him the other day, and this guy had Mahomes ahead of everybody, and I said, 'You still have the same?' He said, 'No, I love Kizer now.'
"'I said a month ago you couldn't stand him.' He said, 'That's before I worked on four things with his footwork and I talked to him two weeks later and he'd picked it up."
Kizer himself is not a fan of mock drafts.
"Mock drafts come from a bunch of guys sitting around and guessing," Kizer told AL.com Wednesday in Philadelphia, where he'll attend the first round. "Once again, I'm a guy who likes to get facts. I like to get knowledge. That knowledge is only stuff that is going to cloud you up."
Notre Dame have several other players that might be selected in the seven-round draft this weekend.
Here's a rundown of mock drafts and where Kizer appears:
CBS Sports' Ryan Wilson: Round 1, No. 13 (Arizona Cardinals)
"The Cardinals could address life in a post-Carson Palmer world a year or two before it actually happens. Interestingly, coach Bruce Arians said recently that he's "bugged" by Trubisky playing just one season and thinks only one quarterback is ready to play right away. Reportedly, Kizer is that guy."
Bleacher Report's Adam Wells: Round 1, No. 13 (Arizona Cardinals)
Bleacher Report's Chris Roling: Round 1, No. 13 (Arizona Cardinals)
Chicago Tribune's Brad Biggs: Round 1, No. 25 (Houston Texans)
"Texans appear to be moving forward with Tom Savage as the starting quarterback but he's not a long-term solution."
SEC Country: Round 1, No. 25 (Houston Texans)
Denver Post: Round 1, No. 26 (Chicago Bears from trade with Seattle Seahawks)
"The Bears got the dominant Allen early and trade back into round one hoping to find a franchise QB in the polarizing Kizer."
NFL.com's Bucky Brooks: Round 1, No. 30 (Pittsburgh Steelers)
"Big Ben announced his return for a 14th season but the Steelers could start preparing for his eventual departure by drafting a QB1 of the future at this spot."
Walter Football's Charlie Campbell: Round 1, No. 30 (Pittsburgh Steelers)
"Of the quarterback prospects for the 2017 NFL Draft, Kizer has the best skill set and the most upside. The 6-foot-4, 233-pounder has a strong arm that can make all the throws for the NFL. He has also flashed superb accuracy and an ability to make accurate touch passes downfield to beat good coverage in tight windows. Kizer can also make beautiful passes in the face of a pass rush.
"Additionally, he has the mobility to buy time for his receivers, bail out his offensive line, and pick up yards with his feet. The big problem for Kizer is consistency as he is a streaky passer and player. He also had issues late in games with critical mistakes in crunch time, so his decision-making needs to improve."
CBS Sports' Dane Brugler: Round 1, No. 32 (New Orleans Saints)
"At 38 years old, Drew Brees, who is entering a contact year, is still playing at a Pro Bowl level, but how long will that last? And do the Saints wish to find out? Kizer needs time to sit and learn, but he has the highest ceiling of any of this year's quarterback prospects."
Fox Sports' Peter Schrager: Round 2, No. 34 (San Francisco 49ers)
CSN Mid-Atlantic's Ben Standig: Round 2, No. 34 (San Francisco 49ers)
Fox Sports' Dieter Kurtenbach: Round 2, No. 36 (Chicago Bears)
CBS Sports' R.J. Wilson: Round 2, No. 36 (Chicago Bears)
"The Bears could try and trade back into the first round to grab a quarterback, but with six quality option at the position, they instead stay put and land Kizer, a divisive talent who needs at least a year of development behind Mike Glennon before taking over as the starter."
Land of 10: Round 2, No. 36 (Chicago Bears)
Draft Site: Round 2, No. 45 (Arizona Cardinals)
SB Nation's Adam Stites: Round 2, No. 45 (Arizona Cardinals)
"Kizer gives Bruce Arians a young prospect to try to mold into the next face of the franchise for the Cardinals."
Bleacher Report's Matt Miller: Round 2, No. 55 (New York Giants)
San Diego Union Tribune: Round 2, No. 59 (Kansas City Chiefs)
ESPN's Todd McShay: Round 2, No. 62 (Pittsburgh Steelers)
"No, I'm not crazy. Big Ben took time to "evaluate his options" this offseason before deciding to return. He won't play forever, and Kizer is just the type of high-upside developmental project Pittsburgh needs to think about drafting."
NFL.com's Chad Reuter: Round 3, No. 76 (New Orleans Saints)
ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.: Round 3, No. 104 (Kansas City Chiefs)
"I thought Kizer, my No. 6-ranked quarterback, should have stayed in school for another year. He isn't ready to play, and he'll have to sit behind a veteran and develop. Alex Smith's contract is up in 2018, which gives Kizer two years to absorb Andy Reid's offense."
----
• Talk about it inside Rockne’s Roundtable
• Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes
• Learn more about our print and digital publication, Blue & Gold Illustrated.
• Follow us on Twitter: @BGINews, @BGI_LouSomogyi, @BGI_CoachD,
@BGI_MattJones, @BGI_DMcKinney and @BGI_CoreyBodden.
• Like us on Facebook.
