CHICAGO — Connor Cook is the winningest quarterback in Michigan State history. Andrew Billings is coming off a dominant season on Baylor’s defensive line.
It didn’t mean much in the NFL draft.
Cook watched as six quarterbacks came off the board before he was selected by Oakland with the second pick of the fourth round Saturday, and Billings tumbled to Cincinnati at No. 122 after it looked as if he could be a first-round pick.
“Anytime you see another quarterback get drafted in front of you, it hurts,” Cook said. “I’m a competitor. Obviously I think I’m one of the best quarterbacks in this draft class, but nothing is ever easy and ever perfect.”
Oakland has Derek Carr, who threw for 32 touchdowns last season, but traded up to take Cook in front of Dallas out of fear the Cowboys might be looking for a potential successor to Tony Romo. Dallas then grabbed a quarterback later in the round when it took Dak Prescott of Mississippi State at No. 135.
Cook set school records with 9,194 yards passing and 71 touchdown passes. But questions about his 57.5 completion percentage and leadership skills pushed him down the board.
“I don’t think you can win that many games and be that successful at a program without being a leader,” Cook said. “I think all that stuff was so far from the truth. Everything will work out.”
Billings was another top name on the board coming into the day. He was a first-team AP All-American in his last season with the Bears, leading the team with 15 tackles for loss.
Minnesota grabbed one of the draft’s biggest wild cards when it took wide receiver Moritz Boehringer in the sixth round. Boehringer, who wowed teams with an impressive pro day, played in the German Football League last season.
According to the NFL, Boehringer is the first player from Europe to go in the draft without playing in college.
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