Matt Miller thinks the Browns need linebackers and defensive tackles, so I can't take him too seriously, but some of the rumors he's heard might be legit.
Per the mill, all four of the top draft picks are for sale, including one or four. Miller says that Dorsey is taking calls about the two picks, but won't trade both.
That makes sense.
For now, Sam Darnold looks like the frontrunner in the Quarterback Derby. Todd McShay makes a pretty strong case for him, as do a lot of other guys.
However, this quarterback class has been called by people who know what they're talking about the strongest in fifteen years.
Darnold and Rosen are the consensus top two. Rosen has the better chance not to fall on his face as a rookie, but Darnold is said to have the higher cieling, and looks a little like me when I was his age, so he's got that goin for him...
Some team will be after Rosen hot and heavy, and try to move up for him. This would be a mid-tier team who lost out on (or couldn't afford) the best veteran free agents or trade-bait, and are trying to win in 2018.
I really doubt that any of the Browns impressive talent evaluators are interested in Rosen, who is, by all accounts, a jerk (to put it mildly).
It's VERY EXTREMELY possible that they don't think Darnold is actually the best prospect, or that if he is, that he's significantly better than Mayfield, or even Luke Falk or White.
With all this ooing and ahhing over Josh Allen, HE is probably going to force his way into a tie with Darnold and Rosen.
For those of you who can count (at least using your fingers), that's THREE, ok?
As it stands, if John Dorsey is not all-in with Allen (gimme a break!) or Darnold, and is (I suspect) not a Rosen fan either, he should absolutely trade down!
New Browns consultant Scott McGloughan isn't shy about expressing his opinion that Baker Mayfield is the best quarterback in this draft (Hey! He must read this Blog!)
The hell with the "Manziel" crap. I've read Mayfield's in-depth bio, and it's not even close. The height thing is a different matter.
Hue Jackson did say he wants his quarterbacks to be 6'2" or taller, but pundits are finally starting to begin to suspect that possibly there could conceivably be exceptions.
Those who speak for Todd Haley are way off-base. Haley didn't draft his quarterbacks. He happened to have big tall ones. He never said anything about height. He might be perfectly fine with the right short guy!
Remember: When you a s s u m e, you make an ass of yourself.
McCloughan had a part of drafting Russell Wilson (third round) with the Seahawks. Tony Grossi said that Mayfield and Wilson were the same size. Actually, Mayfield is two inches taller.
It's very early, but it looks like Baker Mayfield's highest projection will be fourth, behind Darnold, Rosen, and (for strange reasons) Allen.
Laquon Barkley is the consensus-best overall player in this draft, but he's not a quarterback. He is unlikely to be drafted ahead of the Big Three (get it? "Big"? Oknevermind).
Much depends on the Colts at number two. If they trade down, Barkley should be safe. If they don't, they might draft him.
Well, this is wild guesses with too many variables now, but here's how I think some of this will shake out:
Kirk Cousins will not sign with the Browns, which is fine, since his salary will exceed his value (axe McGloughan). Foles is also unlikely, as the Eagles could well hold onto him, and that bidding war could get outta hand as well.
Dorsey's references to Chase Daniels wierd, but could be telling. Does he see this guy as another Keenum?
It could shake out that way! Unless the Vikings really are mentally impaired, Keenum stays right there.
As usual, the Browns get to sift through the leftovers.
I love Josh McCown. He would be the ideal bridge quarterback and mentor...but he'll get knocked out with injuries again, as he has every season for several seasons.
Still, given that and his age, he'd be dirt-cheap, and happy to come back to Cleveland...I started this paragraph out intending to dismiss McCown, but have accidentally talked myself into thinking he might be THE ideal "bridge" quarterback/"mentor" for the Browns!
Well maybe: Josh is a temporary patch; a two year (conditional) contract at most. He can start immediately, and play well and win, but he could go down in game one, or game five, or eight--who knows? All we know for sure is that he WILL go down at some point.
For John Dorsey and company, a Josh McCown would be perfect, and a bargain, but also a major risk.
Still with me here -snap-snap-?
First, DeShone Kizer will be much better in his second season, ok? Yes yes I get it: He could get a LOT better and still be below average.
Second, who is the rookie?
Well (ahem), if it's oh, I don't know...let's say Baker Mayfield, for example:
Well the two-time walk-on instastarter is said by his teammates to have "something like a photographic memory". He instantly made the veteran quarterback he was competing with look like the rookie from day one.
Mayfield's coaches beg to differ with this guy just being a "natural", as every one of them stressed his dedication and work ethic. (However I must insert here: His accuracy is natural/enate...not to mention amazing.)
Mayfield ran an air-raid system in the SEC, so he has two strikes against him even for us analytical guys, and that's a big reason why I think the "football guys" will shy away from him.
Air raid quarterbacks have historically failed, and SEC quarterbacks have historically failed, and Mayfield is both, AND short!
His exceptional memory and learning speed don't neccessarily equate to football intelligence as he goes from first grade to his master's thesis, either.
McCloughan and I are cool with this, even though he's a "football guy" and I'm an analyst. We agree that Mayfield is the next Drew Brees or Aaron Rodgers (but we'll settle for Russell Wilson).
Baker Mayfield is the exception to ALL the rules. McGloughan cites his leadership, guts, and irrepressable confidence. PFF and I cite the perhaps unprecedented combination of his 72% completion percentage with his nearly ten yards per-attempt.
This amazing completion percentage is high for even SEC Air-Raid quarterbacks. But the yards per-attempt might just be the highest in the NCAA...and the NFL. These two stats combined might just be unprecedented...I wish PFF would spell that out for me.
The combination (and game-tapes) describe a quarterback who looks deep first, and McCloughan and I see a lot of vertical routes and receptions. Baker Mayfield is absolutely NOT a typical Air Raid or SEC quarterback.
So in conclusion, if John Dorsey agrees with McGloughan and me about Mayfield, and wants Barkley, he may be able to trade down (a little) and still get both.
OR just draft Mayfield and Barkley to make sure.
OR...well I gotta go.
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