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Dan Orlovsky Weighs in on Super Bowl Contenders Selecting Quarterbacks in First Round

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Toran Flores | Last updated Apr 23, 2025 10:14 AM ET

The 2025 NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday and speculation within the quarterback position in this draft has highlighted scouting reports and mock drafts.

As the talk gets more interesting as the hours tick down, there have been numerous opinions on each quarterback that's available.

With this being said, there's an opportunity for just about any team to select the deep list of prospects that are available in arguably the most important position in football.

Cam Ward, Shedeur Sanders, Jaxson Dart and Jalen Milroe are all possible selections in this first round, but what teams could be seriously considering using their first-round selection on one?

Dan Orlovsky has firm stance for first round quarterback selections

Dan Orlovsky made a controversial take heading into the NFL Draft, saying, "Legit Super Bowl contenders don’t, in the first round, take quarterbacks.”

“Legit Super Bowl contenders don’t, in the first round, take quarterbacks.”@danorlovsky7 on the Rams possibly drafting QB Jaxson Dart at No. 26 pic.twitter.com/AS37CqiC8K
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) April 22, 2025

Dan Orlovsky's recent comments on teams drafting quarterbacks stirred some debate, but historically, he may have a point.

No team that won a playoff game the previous season has selected a quarterback in the first round since the Denver Broncos took Paxton Lynch with the No. 26 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.

That move came under unusual circumstances. The Broncos had just won the Super Bowl, and veteran quarterback Peyton Manning retired shortly after the victory.

Orlovsky's analysis holds up – it rarely happens unless in awkward situations.

In this situation, a first-round quarterback selection by the Los Angeles Rams would likely spark controversy across the NFL.

"You can get a safety like a Malaki Starks. Shoot, you can draft Mason Taylor out of LSU and fill a tight end void and have a little bit more dynamic playmaking," Orlovsky added.

Opting for a player at a position of greater need, rather than drafting for future seasons, could be the route Los Angeles takes. It might also be the missing piece in the Rams' pursuit of a second Super Bowl title in four years.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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