Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, April 14, 2017

The value of a good quarterback can?t be overstated. And the Big Ten has produced some good ones in its recent history, including Michigan?s Tom Brady, Purdue?s Drew Brees and Wisconsin?s Russell Wilson, among others.

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This year, the Big Ten has a few signal-callers who may get drafted.

Iowa?s C.J. Beathard is the best bet for the Big Ten to have a quarterback selected in 2017. But he may be just a sixth- or seventh-rounder. Other Big Ten signal-callers to watch for during the NFL draft from April 27-29 in Philadelphia are Wisconsin?s Bart Houston, Illinois? Wes Lunt and Minnesota?s Mitch Leidner and Michigan State?s Tyler O?Connor. Each looks like a long shot to be drafted but perhaps could sneak into the late rounds.

The school that has gone the longest since having a quarterback picked? Minnesota, as the Gophers? drought reaches to 1972. Maryland has the second longest dry spell, as the Terps last had a signal-caller tabbed in 1991.

Here is a look at the last time each Big Ten school had a quarterback selected in the NFL draft.

Illinois: 2002, Kurt Kittner, 5th round, Falcons
Indiana: 2016, Nate Sudfeld, 6th round, Redskins
Iowa: 2011, Ricky Stanzi, 5th round, Chiefs
Maryland: 1991, Scott Zolak, 4th round, Patriots
Michigan: 2016, Jake Rudock, 6th round, Lions
Michigan State: 2016, Connor Cook, 4th round, Raiders
Minnesota: 1972, Craig Curry, 8th round, Dolphins
Nebraska: 2002, Eric Crouch, 3rd round, Rams*
Northwestern: 2015, Trevor Siemian, 7th round, Broncos

Ohio State: 2016, Cardale Jones, 4th round, Bills


Penn State: 2016, Christian Hackenberg, 2nd round, Jets
Purdue: 2009, Curtis Painter, 6th round, Colts
Rutgers: 2009, Mike Teel, 6th round, Seahawks
Wisconsin: 2012, Russell Wilson, 3rd round, Seahawks

*Nebraska has had a number of quarterbacks selected in the draft but not to play the position in the NFL. Often, Husker QBs moved to positions like WR or DB in the pros. A few went to Canada to play QB.

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