2015 NFL Draft: Top Quarterback Prospects Winston, Mariota Plan to Skip the Draft

The two top quarterback prospects, Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota will reportedly not attend the 2015 NFL Draft in Chicago on April 30.

ESPN.com's Adam Schefter tweeted that both players will remain at home.

Winston, who is slated as the first overall pick in several mock drafts, confirmed his decision. He told the NFL Network at his Pro Day in Tallahassee, reported by CBSSports.com, "My grandmother, she can't travel, she has Type-2 diabetes and has multiple surgeries and I want her to be there. I want the people who I've been with Day 1 to be around me and enjoy this moment. It's a celebration to me and it's a once-in-a lifetime opportunity."

Mariota, arguably the second best quarterback in the draft, stated that "it is important to him, personally and culturally, to be in Hawaii to celebrate next step in life," according to Schefter. Mariota has reportedly invited ESPN and NFL Network to broadcast his draft-day experience, ESPN.com stated.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in March that he was not concerned with top prospects choosing to stay home over attending the draft.

"I think that it's something we respect when a player says, 'I'd like to be with my family on that day.' It's an important day for them also," he said.

Boomer & Carton, however, were not impressed. They said on their podcast, "The new era athlete - the new age athlete - doesn't understand exactly what a privilege it is to play professional sports. For Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston to both say 'we ain't going to the draft,' fine them both, unacceptable...how do you not go to the draft?"

If both players do end up skipping the draft, it will be the first time since 1994 - when Dan "Big Daddy" Wilkinson did it - that a first overall pick did not attend.

The draft will run between April 30 and May 2. This will be the first time since 1965 that the draft is taking place outside of New York.