Winless for Winston ‒ Week 11

The race for the #1 overall pick in 2015’s NFL Draft is underway. The Oakland Raiders hold the top spot but don’t count out the QB-desperate New York Jets

For some NFL fans, it’s time to dream about next year. It certainly is for the Oakland Raiders, who were officially eliminated from playoff contention and hold a firm grasp on the race for the #1 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. There is still no clear consensus choice for the top draft-eligible player, many eyes are looking to Tallahassee and Florida State’s talented but troubled quarterback. For the balance of the season, we’ll update the leaderboard in the “Winless for Winston” sweepstakes. Here’s how things stand after Week 11:

Blake Bortles and the Jacksonville Jaguars hold the #2 spot, with a large scrum for #3, including a team still in the hunt for their division title. Yeah, the NFC South really is that abysmal.

Half of the AFC South projects to be drafting in the top ten again this season, as the Jaguars and Tennessee have so far combined to go 3-17. The Titans also seem committed to evaluating Zach Mettenberger as their quarterback of the future, meaning more losses are likely in the offing as they sputter to the finish line.

And then there are the Jets. With Michael Vick eligible for free agency and Geno Smith likely riding the pine, the Jets desperately need a franchise signal caller. In a draft with at least two tantalizing quarterback prospects ‒ Marcus Mariota of Oregon and Jameis Winston of Florida State ‒ the Jets-iest thing is for this team to be right where they are: on track for the third overall pick. They had better hope that the Raiders like Derek Carr enough to pass on Mariota and Winston.

Follow David on Twitter @SoSH_davemc.

David R. McCullough is the Editor-in-Chief of Inside the Pylon. He also writes about the topicsshaping the sport, examines the coaches and players, ruminates on football’s past, and explores the controversial issues facing the game.