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Historic QB trend is about to shape the NFL Draft — and careers of Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels

It used to happen just once every couple decades.

A quarterback drafted first overall, then second and also third.

Jim Plunkett, Archie Manning and Dan Pastorini in 1971.

Tim Couch, Donovan McNabb and Akili Smith in 1999.

Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson and Trey Lance in 2021.

Don’t expect now to wait until the 2040s.

Instead, all arrows (and mock drafts) point to the rare NFL phenomenon bucking its generational occurrence to return this week after three years. Because for the first time since at least 1970, each of the draft’s top three teams traded away their starting quarterback after season’s end.