Mocking the Mock Drafts

Before I mock the mock drafts, I need to mock the Jay Cutler-to-Cleveland stuff.  Cutler is a very good aging quarterback who will cost a lot of money.

In Wiley's no-spin zone, he's not significantly better than either Hoyer or Campbell.  Despite Campbell's stellar performances when healthy, the younger Hoyer will have first crack at starting next season, and I do hope that Campbell will be retained as insurance.

And give Hoyer a chance.  He could be better than Cutler.

One writer cites three reasons why the Browns must draft Johnny Manziel.  He makes a respectable argument, but there are too many questions about this kid.  

He may have grown out of his off-the-field antics, and it's ignorant to always blame the quarterback for losing every time he faces elite competition, but the questions are valid.

He may have the speed and elusiveness to run through NFL defenses, but will he hold up?

And because Wilson succeeded, does it necessarily follow that 5'10" quarterbacks are okay now?  We forget the ODDS against them.

The Coryall/Turner system operates out of an old-fashioned pocket, which is why bigger, taller quarterbacks with shotgun arms are preferred.  Shorter quarterbacks have to move around to see recievers and get throwing lanes.

Manziel may indeed kick butt in the NFL, but I doubt that Norv Turner and company agree with this writer about this guy in this offense.

Many feel that should the Browns end up at seven, Carr may not be there for them, but I find the notion that they would never trade up for him kind of funny.

But this Blake Bortles guy has come out of nowhere.  No mistake: Carr is more polished, experienced, proven and safer, but this guy has a lot to recommend him.

Seven would be considered a reach, but not if he's Turner's guy.  They'd ignore the angry mobs and take him there--and lock Lombardi in the basement if necessary.  

One reason they might draft Bortles is because with two veterans ahead of him, Turner (and Campbell) can work with him.  For Norv, a less experienced guy is actually better, since he's not as set in his ways, and can be polished up in the pro game, by pro coaches and trainers.

What can't be taught, and what separates a franchise quarterback from a Romo, is performance under pressure.  Bortles comes from behind.

This Bleacher Report mock draft had the Browns drafting Jake Matthews, son of Bruce.

What's with these guys wanting to draft left tackles to play right tackle?  I mean, it would be just awesome to have those bookends with Schwartze inside, and Matthews could also back up big Joe and eventually replace him...

Nah since the new rookie salary scale I can't really knock that too hard, except that he's foregoing the most important position on the team, which is quarterback.

Look, among NFL quarterbacks, almost every elite one was a first round draft pick.  For every Tom Brady, there are at least twenty busts, and that includes the second-rounders.

Contrary to what some are now saying (Tony Grossi), this is a really good quarterback class, and if you hold out for can't-misses you will never, ever find one.  If you think you can just wait til 2015 and see what's there instead, great--because with Hoyer and Campbell healthy, they'll win most of their games and draft low.

No, they've got to look hard at these quarterbacks, and get their eventual franchise guy now, so they can begin developing him in an ideal environment.

Possibly, Matthews is there at seven and they can find somebody willing to trade up for him.  They could still get Bortles (if they want him.)  Possibly Carr makes it to them, and most likely they'd just draft him.

And as I began, if they want Carr--they could make a move to nab him.

Like some obnoxious posters, I let my imagination run away with me about trades and the like, but what if it just stays as-is and they can't trade down:  Say they take Bortles, and damn the torpedoes (Some compare him to big Ben or even Andrew Luck.) 

They might draft a tackle at 23 (or wherever)!  Wouldn't be as good as Matthews, but still a really good player which (with the Schwartze move to guard) would upgrade two fifths of the offensive line.

I believe that upgrade would be the most immediately helpful thing for this team, since it enhances both pass and run.

Those who deem a wide reciever more important don't seem to grasp the fact that Jordan Cameron is already the counterweight to Josh Gordon, and although Little's production has declined, he doesn't suck.

But...well okay if you insist they can get a wide reciever in the second round.  There are three of them with "1-2" round grades who are over 6'2" and would fit in well here.

But there are others who could be had lower, like the huge 6'5", 235 lb. Kelvin Benjamin.  Benjamin's production (50 receptions, 20 YPC) is hurt by the fact that the Seminoles offense is loaded at reciever, and the ball goes all over the place.

He could have a conversion to tight end in his future, but is projected by analysts as a wide reciever.  Despite his gaudy yards-per catch number, he's not very fast or explosive (for a wide reciever), but (now I'm officially guessing) does get separation and is hard to bring down--getting nice yards-after-catch.

This is a number two reciever who could exploit single coverage opposite Gordon, and a huge red zone threat.  Nothing spectacular, but a great fit who could be there in the third round or lower.

Ah well-it's all just speculation right now, as the Browns prepare for da Bearss.  

Sadly, I think the Browns are going to stomp them into the mud and hurt their draft status.

Oh well.