This is not a very interesting draft year when it comes to quarterbacks, Matthew Stafford is the clear leader, but he’s far from a lock, and he probably would only have been third or fourth to go last year. Mark Sanchez has his backers, and he has obvious skills, but just one year of real experience raises questions for him. Josh Freeman has risen up to become the clear third choice, and he’s physically impressive, but Kansas State was far from a powerhouse under his watch, and questions about his leadership and intelligence are right below the surface. Any one of those three guys could turn into a very good NFL quarterback, but it’s not too hard to imagine any of them as disappointing flops, either. Things don’t get that much more positive further down the list of quarterbacks, either. Still, we all know the stories of guys who are drafted late and with few expectations and turn into serviceable players. Or better in the obvious case of Tom Brady. With that in mind, here’s a look at three quarterbacks who could be the next big bargain:

Drew Willy, Buffalo – The Bulls overachieved this season, and Willy was the main catalyst for making that happen. He’s not particularly exceptional in any category, though he does have good size, speed and skills. What Willy does do exceptionally well, though, is manage a game. He is very good at assessing what a defense is going to throw at him on a given play, and what a good response is going to be. He’s a four year starter who has shown progress as he has developed, and he has been very well coached both overall and at his position. He’s one of those guys who manages to produce at a higher level than you’d expect him to do.

Brian Hoyer, Michigan State – In terms of production, Hoyer is nothing special. There are a couple of reasons to believe that he could make the jump to the next level, though. First, he is an extraordinary leader – one of those guys who can lift his team to do more than they should be able to. He also has a very good throwing motion – a strong release and clean mechanics. That allows him to be accurate and effective despite not having a particularly strong arm. He reminds me a bit of Trent Dilfer, and unlike some people I don’t see that as an insult.

Hunter Cantwell, Louisville – USC, the current in-vogue quarterback factory, has had four quarterbacks drafted this decade. So has Louisville. None of those quarterbacks has yet been turned into a serious star, or even anything close, but they have still been good enough to get picked. Cantwell will be the next to join that group. He had a rough year on the field – a victim of coaching difficulties and such. He’s elevated his stock dramatically since then, though, with a solid Combine showing, and an exceptional pro day. He has a rocket arm, and has shown that he can hit pretty much any pro pass. He’s not mobile at all, but in the right system he could be a very useful player.