In this Factory of Sadness article, Bucky Brooks' mock draft is graded a D+. I agree.
Think about this: The Browns draft Myles Garrett first overall, and the 49ers pick Mitch Trubisky with the very next pick. These mock drafters are all disclaiming that no quarterback is worthy of top ten consideration, and yet coloring all three gone by pick six.
Like Bucky Brooks, most of them have decided that the Cleveland Browns are the only quarterback-hungry team that will leave the first round without a quarterback.
If the 49ers were drafting first, and the Browns second, would the 49ers draft Garrett instead, do you think?
All this over one ladder rung? It would be dumb to draft the quarterback first overall, but not second overall?
Well, if the Browns don't want to do that, maybe Hue has discovered somebody in Mobile at the Senior Bowl that he can draft later.
First, Haasan Reynolds is a defensive end from Toledo. He annihilated all the offensive tackles all week, and then in the game. He played for Toledo, where he racked up ungodly sack stats. He was expected to get knocked down a peg by the stiffer competition here, but he didn't miss a beat.
He's 6'5", 250 lbs., but is a fit at DE in a 4-3.
But the quarterbacks were Nathan Peterman and Davis Webb. Both kicked butt in the game, and Peterman had in practice all week.
Webb was the South guy that Hue coached. Both were impressive in the game.
Peterman appears more pro-ready, although both are considered project types due to the systems they played in. They weren't required to make line calls, check off, etc; the mental stuff that some guys never do master.
Going to the Senior Bowl was very smart for both of them, as they had several days to prove their ability to process information to NFL coaches, and to learn the NFL basics from them.
Peterman was compared to Kirk Cousins. I didn't hear any comparisons on Webb, but he's got NFL size and a bigger arm (despite his horizontal passing system, nobody questions his arm). Peterman is closer to 6'2", but sturdy. Both can move around, but niether is a real dual threat.
Past Senior Bowl quarterbacks who were drafted lower down include Derrick Carr, Russell Wilson, Jimmy Garopollo, and Dak Prescott. Prior to the Senior Bowl, Peterman was projected to go in the fourth round, and Webb (one rank lower) in the fourth or fifth.
Each has now probably moved themselves up a round with their week-long performances.
What are (smart) people saying about them? Well, some think Peterman might have small hands, and don't think he can drive it deep as well as he should. They knock Webb's inconsistent accuracy (but say he IS accurate; remember I told you: "Innacurate while being hit, throwing it away, getting poked in the eye" etc. I no longer pay much attention to this particular criticism).
Webb is a coach's son, and is reputed to have a high football IQ. Both have good experience. Peterman is more a West Coast guy, while Webb might be good in any system. Peterman was the more impressive during the practice week.
Webb was the South team's MVP.
I have to mention safety Lorenzo Jerome here: This guy got two interceptions at the NFLPA College Bowl, then came to Mobile and got two more. Wow.
He is only 5'10", 203 and played for a tiny college. He WAS projected to go in the fifth or sixth round. He isn't even listed on most draft sites (nice job Phil Savage!).
And linebacker Haasan Reddick probably got into the first round. That guy is just a BEAST. He did pile up a ton of sacks, but he's a real linebacker who can mirror, cover, shed, etc as well.
Anyway I got good vibes off the Peterson/Webb analyses, notably by Jim Miller. These are guys with great upsides who are just not ready for primetime yet. They proved at the Senior Bowl that they have the mental hardware to learn and execute pro concepts.
Since, as I've already explained, Cody Kessler is probably going to beat RG3 and start next season, and whichever quarterback the Browns draft is not meant to start in 2017, a guy like this might do just fine.
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