8 players who will have the biggest impact on the 1st round

The dynamism of the NFL draft is one of its main selling points, with an influx of new players altering the landscape of the league.

For months, fans and prognosticators alike speculated upon where this year's talent would eventually end up. But the opening round of the draft seldom plays out as one expects, and a host of players wield influence over how the event will turn out.

Here are eight players who will have the biggest impact on the first round:

Jared Goff, California

Goff impressed the Los Angeles Rams during a private meeting with the organization, and he'll likely be the first name called Thursday night. Although he isn't a surefire talent in the same vein of Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota, the California product could be the next game-changing quarterback in the NFL. If Goff is selected first overall, it will set off a domino effect across the draft. However ...

Carson Wentz, North Dakota State

... the same could be said of Wentz, who won five consecutive NCAA Division 1 FCS national championships at North Dakota State, and captured two consecutive championship game MVP awards. Boasting an unparalleled track record of winning, Wentz could be the player to stabilize the Rams franchise, but if not, he'll be the next great hope for the Eagles.

Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State

Ezekiel Elliott will likely become the highest-drafted running back since Trent Richardson was selected third overall in 2012. Conventional wisdom dictates that it's better to find a running back in later rounds, especially with multiple backs being used in modern offenses. Elliott is the exceptional to this rule, and after Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon both went in the first round in 2015, the Ohio State standout could help pave the way for running backs to re-emerge at the forefront.

Myles Jack, UCLA

Myles Jack is arguably the best player in the draft, but concerns about his knee may cause the UCLA linebacker to descend through the first round. Jack tore his meniscus in a non-contract drill in September and missed the rest of his junior season, and some people described his knee as a "time bomb." Based on talent alone, Jack is the most promising linebacker since Luke Kuechly, but he could experience a free fall with safer prospects on the board.

Sam Bradford, Philadelphia Eagles

After the Eagles traded up for the second overall pick, incumbent starting quarterback Sam Bradford was fuming about the development. Although Bradford signed a two-year, $36-million extension in March, he demanded a trade, as the Eagles are likely to select Wentz or Goff. There are a host of teams - the Denver Broncos, namely - who'd be interested in a proven, albeit erratic, starting quarterback like Bradford, and the 2010 first overall pick could be on the move Thursday evening.

Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers

Colin Kaepernick's stock plummeted after a horrific 2015 season that culminated in his benching, while Blaine Gabbert took over for the 49ers. At his best, Kaepernick is one of the league's most imposing dual threats, and has a proven track record of postseason success. It's likely that the 49ers want to begin the Chip Kelly era on a clean slate, though, and Kaepernick could be on the move if the team can find a suitor in need of a veteran presence.

Muhammad Wilkerson, New York Jets

Muhammad Wilkerson hasn't signed the franchise tag the Jets offered him earlier this spring, and his days in New York are likely over. Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan said Wilkerson isn't on the trade block, a statement that appears to be posturing at this juncture. Wilkerson is the rare player that can star at either defensive end or tackle, and could warrant a first-round pick in return. The 26-year-old is in his prime, and the prospect of landing a second-team All-Pro defensive lineman will prove to be enticing.

Ryan Fitzpatrick, free agent

Ryan Fitzpatrick is the best free-agent quarterback available, and his offseason will both directly and tangentially impact this year's draft. The Jets are trying to re-sign the 33-year-old, after he threw 31 touchdowns in his lone season with the club. If they can't, they may be forced to select Paxton Lynch or Christian Hackenberg with their first-round pick. More intriguing is the prospect of another team swooping in to sign the Harvard product before Thursday, altering the Jets and other teams' strategies across the board.