Josh Allen? Really?

Scanning articles on the Browns, I've found some good ones this time.

Bud Shaw has seen Mel Kiper project Josh Allen to the Browns, and wonders if accuracy matters.  He quotes Kiper as acknowleging Allen's sub-54% completion percentage, but saying statistics are overrated.

Kiper says that Allen finished his college carreer stronger than any of the other prospects.  He apparently feels that Allen has taken a step forward in his development.

But Shaw makes a good point in re accuracy.  And I have to restate here that 95% of what they're saying about Allen this offseason is identical to what they said about DeShone Kizer last season.

It's different this time, as Allen will play in the Senior Bowl, and get a chance to prove Kiper right or wrong.

My money remains on Shorty Mayfield and Mason Rudolph, who are vastly more accurate at 67-plus and 70-plus percent.

In re Rudolph, I was stunned by NFL pros saying his terrific receivers made him look better than he is with "circus catches".

Disclaimer: All I saw were two highlight films, which of course were all his best plays.

However, I saw a whole bunch of plays, even here, where somebody with his mind made up in advance could give the receiver all the credit and the quarterback none...if that is what he had decided to see in advance.

Rudolph's highlights were loaded with short and intermediate passes that his receivers took 20-plus yards for huge YAC yardage, and contested catches which his receivers "won".  (I have to concede here that there were only a couple long bombs).

But in reality, all the passes I saw were deadly accurate.  He caught all those YAC guys in stride and placed all those contested balls precisely where his receiver could get it and the defender could not.

There's a lot of prejudice against Big Twelve quarterbacks (like Mayfield and Rudolph) for a good reason: Almost all of them have failed in the NFL, and NONE of them have been elite.

We need to keep the jury out on Ryan Tannehill, but that's about it.  If Rudolph had declared for the draft last season, he would have been a first round pick.  

His big problem this season is how strong this draft class is percieved to be vs last season's.  While Rudolph is clearly better, by every measure, than he was last season, it is now convenient for scouts to remember his air-raid offense and conference.

This is subjective thinking.  I'm not a quarterback expert, but I can spot rationalization a mile away.  Last year, Rudolph was possibly the best quarterback in the draft (had he declared), and now he's a bumb?

That's why analytics really matter, you see?  Your "hard core football guys" are saying Josh Allen is a first overall pick, the potential first overall from last season is a bumb this season, accuracy doesn't matter...

Not that I like Rudolph better than Mayfield, or anything!  He could fall on his face in the NFL, like almost every other Big 12 quarterback drafted in the last 8 years.  My point is the fact that most of the same experts who loved Rudolph last season call him a bumb now, despite the fact that he has improved!

I personally like Mayfield most, period.  His mentality, personality, and attitude.

70-plus % completion percentage is impressive by itself, but (sorry to go all "moneyball" on you here), but that combined with an almost 10 yard yards per-attempt is...I'm not sure, but it's possibly unprecedented, and certainly ELITE!

Baker Mayfield is GREEDY.  He looks deep all the time.  Screw the "air raid offense/big twelve" stuff!  This guy (ask PFF dammit) prefers vertical to crossing routes, and the deeper the better! 

MARK MY WORDS: BAKER MAYFIELD IS THE BEST QUARTERBACK IN THE 2018 DRAFT.  He might be the next Aaron Rodgers, even if Aaron has a half inch on him!  Screw that let's go Drew Brees he's a skycsraper compared to him! 

Can I bring up Kurt Warner here?  Is Warner a fraction of an inch taller or shorter? Not sure.  Just know it's critical.

I kid: It's irrelevant!  Baker Mayfield is a fiery team leader with a chip on his shoulder and a sload of confidence.  He has the brains.  He excels under pressure.  Improvises; finds ways to win.

No other quarterback in this draft class compares to him statistically.  He was more successful than all of them, and if you if you can manage to blame him for losing to the Georgia Bulldogs you need a brain transplant.

Baker Mayfield will outperform every other quarterback at the Senior Bowl.

Fortunately for John Dorsey, it won't matter.  Mayfield will still be shorter than everybody else, and everybody else will be taller so...

No you still don't get it: The best quarterback is the best quarterback, period, and what makes them the best is between their ears. Not between their heels and the top of their heads.  

Baker Mayfield is the best quarterback in this draft, period REMEMBER I TOLD YOU.

I'd be happy with Cousins at a reasonable price, but think Alex Smith is more realistic (and better), but either way, imo you still draft the best quarterback in this draft class, and that is Baker Mayfield.

I am stunned that Kiper and an unnamed expert could predict Josh Allen (DeShone Kizer II) as the first overall draft pick by the Browns...

Fortunately, Hue Jackson has zero power now, and John Dorsey can do exactly what Sashi Brown would have done, since it's blatently obvious:

Draft the best quarterback in this draft, AND the consensus-best player (Barkley).

Dorsey's GM history isn't that long, but the fact that he zeroed in on Alex Smith as soon as he was hired in KC, and then traded up for Patrick Mahomes last season, tells me how smart he is.

Most GMs look at Tom Brady and decide they don't have to draft a quarterback until their starter is over 40 as well.  Dorsey groks that Brady is an outlier.  Also, he saw Alex Smith's 20 million salary looming, along with the one season left on his contract.

He no doubt planned to trade Smith himself and hand the keys to Mahomes next season.

That was Kansas City, where he had an issue with cap space.  Here, he can afford and even extend Smith, and get his eventual successor in the classroom right now.

And that replacement?  He will be like Alex Smith: A C C U R A T E.

...I hope.