Why the hess doesn't Randy Lerner even want to talk to Sundquist? Although the Broncos have faded of late, for the bulk of his service in denver, that team was a perennieal contender; one he built.
Because of this, they of course drafted low for quite awhile as well.
This is the guy who used the Browns cast-off defensive linemen. And before you say "Duh, well, that sure worked out for 'em, dind id?" check their record that season, then shut up.
And he doesn't MIND Mangini already here! For cryin out loud, Randy!
And THIS guy is famous for trigger-pulling on draft day. One year, I vaguely remember...He made like trades and wound up with 6 first-day picks or something. Randy? RANDY!!!!
I like Chris Steuber. Whenever I wonder who the hell a player is and what he can do, I cross my fingers and hope Steuber has profiled him, because I just don't trust anybody else...except Gil Brandt. And Mike Moyak (sp?--ex-cornerback--said Cutler was better than the other guys, and Edwards too).
He's just updated his draft-board with juniors. NOW, there are two quarterbacks in his (fairly reliable) top seven players. This makes the Browns 5th overall pick a lot more valuable, and renders a trade-down more likely.
This draft is tricky. One guy on NFL Radio predicted a "run" on tackles in the first round. Because? Because there are a bunch of them. Which doesn't make sense.
Steuber's top two players are offensive tackles. Then #13 and #15 also play that position. Other boards I've seen list three more in the top 30 players. All of these guys could be day one starters. Although the top two are a cut above, the next two aren't far behind, and the rest of the crop is nothing to sneeze at.
So if you're a GM and want a tackle, why would you use your top pick on one if you think you can get one later--if you have other needs, and the guts to take a risk?
On the other hand, left tackles are hard to get. If a team has one, they don't let them go--you don't get them as free agents. You have to draft them. And very few projects work out.
With few exceptions, a left tackle is a safe pick. You can see a lot more of their potential in college, and more reliably predict their performance. There are some exceptions, but these are few.
So I suppose that this could make the top two guys go early. Maybe one in the top five, and possibly both.
But the QB's? Both probably gone. (Famous last words: Brady Quinn. We'll see--for now let me be optimistic).
Now, I bet Sundquist would come here and see if he could get Detroit to deal for DA. If you think this means the first overall pick, you are delusional. If you think he has no value, you are worse.
DA is a two-year starter still early in his carreer, and still developing. He has won a lot of games, and set records. He has one of the three or four strongest arms in the NFL, and you can't teach that.
As a veteran, he's ready to start immediately. Every head coach thinks he can slap some polish on a guy ,like this and turn him into Dan Marino.
If you are Detroit's GM, you can use that top pick on a QB, go broke paying him, and then either watch him get killed or bench him for at least half a season...and cross your fingers he's not another Alex Smith, and doesn't get you fired.
OR, you can trade your second and fourth-round picks for DA, and trade that top pick to get that and more back. At worst, maybe you use it on a decade's worth of pass-protection.
For the Browns, doing this would take Detroit out of the quarterback derby. Somebody else might trade up with them and grab one, but the fact that there are two of them, and the third-ranked QB has a first-round grade on him as well, makes it a little less likely.
There are two QB's, and one could slide to the fifth overall pick.
If both are gone, forget it. No trade-down. But if one is still there, somebody might make a move.
Yeah, and I'd be there for them! Move down say three or four slots, and get maybe a second this season and a third next season out of it.
Then the Browns could still snag one of the top two cornerbacks, or maybe one of the undersized DE's if they project well to 3-4 OLB, or even either of the top 2 running backs.
I still love Harrison and bet the new coach will let him play. I also think Jamal Lewis can be okay for another season...maybe...but you can't have enough, really.
On that subject, Mareno is actually another Harrison. In reality, Harrison is a little shorter, but as big or bigger weight-wise, and a similar type of home-run hitter.
Wells, on the other hand, is a tackle-breaking hammer who some compare to a young Jamal Lewis. (Remember: Early on, Lewis broke loose for a lot of big, long runs--that's what they mean).
But there are four running backs with five stars on them, and it might be tough to justify taking one in the top ten, especially with the Browns' other needs.
I mean, either of the top cornerbacks could step right in and push McDonald to the nickel slot, rendering the secondary solid (with the addition of a quality free agent). They both have the size to cover the bigger recievers which have punished the Browns, and tackle like safeties.
IF IF IF one of the top two DE's could trasition to linebacker and at least start out their rookie seasons as situational passrushers, this would really put heat on Hall and Wimbley, and from among the three of them, maybe the Browns could finally have a 2-way edge-rush so the 3-4 could work like it's designed to.
The forgotten draft pick from last year, Bell, might well start next to Jackson inside this coming season and do great, but the top two ILB's in this draft are tempting too.
Pat Ryan on NFL Radio is skeptical about Laurenitis. He lists at 6'3", 240, but to Ryan he still looks "too small". I have to take this former college DE and Bears DT/NT seriously--but then Steuber doesn't seem worried about that.
And at 6'3", he mght appear wiry at the moment, but he'll get bigger in the NFL weight room, and this is not a 4-3.
NOTE: In a 4-3, the inside linebackers do NOT have to be big huge monsters who throw 325-lb. guards around like rag dolls...please stop it stop it stop it!!! They need to be fast, aggressive, and able to cover DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
While another ILB might not (on this planet) be an urgent need, it sure would be nice to have three.
Earlier, I thought about another offensive tackle...but with the salary cap being what it is, you probably shouldn't draft a left tackle high, pay him all that money, and then play him at right tackle...even if he's the best right tackle in the NFL.
...but you could sure get a bargain on your new right tackle/backup left tackle in the second round in this draft!!!
I dunno...probably the cornerback, I think. I mean, these are rare players. Hall might well come out gangbusters, ryan might have the brains to at least try Williams outside sometimes, Wimbley might bloom late, Bell probably WILL kick butt--cornerback is one area that would make a big difference.
...and these guys are like extra safeties. You don't think that matters as much as it does, but you see it when they meet a 220+-lb. running back on the edge, or pull a tight end to the turf without help, or knock a ball loose.
But Wells...damn I like him! Top level competition, big plays, big games in big games, BIG. 6'1" means he can reach for passes. He can block.
Man, what would an intelligent coach do with this? You got this rookie monster, Jamal Lewis fading, and the Ghost to play with. You could take some carries off Lewis to preserve him, and spare the kid that rookie "wall". With Harrison, thunder-and-lightening in a 2-back, or just changing the pace as the single guy.
Got to think about that. A running game is a QB's second-best friend.
And Lewis...I do think that all those carries are catching up with him. I mean, was it all the offensive line's fault that they couldn't run? How many times when he broke into the open field did he do anything with it? Wells--as of next season, he might be better than Lewis out of the gate, and an upgrade is an upgrade.
Even if Lewis is still solid for the duration of next season, what about after that? Are we looking for a running back again?
Even if Harrison is, as I insist, capable of starting (if not stoning 250-lb. blitzing linebackers), you STILL need more than one running back, and ideally three.
And Wells stands out from the other guys. He's got 30 lbs. on most of them. You KNOW he can run inside in the NFL, and block linebackers.
I dunno...gotta think about it...
My DA trade would leave the Browns with two top second-round picks. That could be an offensive tackle or the best center or the best guard.
Ah, well...just spitballin go back to your "cheep"-in.
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