"Dorsey still shouldn't do it! He can't pass up his quarterback!" That's true if he has only one quarterback he feels is head and shoulders better than the rest.
Ross Tucker has a real issue wrapping his head around the very idea that a General Manager could possibly rate more than one quarterback as roughly equal. No matter how many times guys like me say "Maybe the Jets like three of them, and would be glad to get the third one", Ross keeps saying "but how can they be sure their guy will still be there?"
Knock-knock anybody home Ross?
I kid, of course, because Ross Tucker is extremely smart (as well as likeable). But a lot of otherwise smart people can't get a handle on this concept.
Already, rumors are starting that the Jets are going to try to trade from third to first next, because at three, their guy might be gone, and they might get stuck with one of the other bumbs.
I won't redundate the whole earlier post here, but I do have to repeat that this quarterback draft is different than any we've seen in the last couple decades, because there are four quarterbacks (not two) running neck-and-neck, and Lamar Jackson is quietly narrowing their lead on him.
Just check it out: Goff and Wentz both came from the same draft. Watson was drafted later. Mahomes looked good enough to render Alex Smith expendable. All these guys came out of the last two drafts.
This quarterback class is those two classes combined.
I remember clearly, Wentz was getting dinged heavily for his "wind-up", deep inaccuracy, and level of competition. Goff for his Air-Raid system, skinniness, arm, and immobility. They were forced to one and two overall because they were just the best two in a weak class.
Almost EVERYBODY said that niether of them "should" be drafted in the top ten.
Pick one: Wentz, Goff, Watson, Mahomes. Take a survey, and nobody will agree. Mahomes comes in last, only because he played the least, but he's the most gifted of them all!
That's what we have in this draft. A comparable set of quarterbacks, all at once!
Here's some more redundationalizationalizing: I said Goff and Wentz were kinda the same (except different). I couldn't figure out what the hell was wrong with Watson and Mahomes. I liked them both a little more than Trubisky (I didn't include our homie here because he had a tough rookie season, and I need to simplify this for you reactionaries).
But now that I've mentioned Mitchell, where would he rank in this draft? Is any of this sinking in yet?
This is common sense, but (fortunately for the Jets and maybe the Browns) "unthinkable" or even "crazy" to most NFL front offices. They laugh at guys like me.
Nevertheless, I doubt that Dorsey will trade down from first overall. Even if he does, he'll still draft a quarterback with his highest pick.
Current mocks almost universally agree on Darnold first, and Chubb is the popular pick at four (even if Laquon Barkley is still there).
Well, as Pat Kirwan points out, this draft is jam-packed with impact running backs, but the dropoff from Chubb to the next-best edge-rusher is steeper. Analytically (Pat doesn't realize he's being analytical shh don't tell him), that's important.
Analytics (excuse me "moneyball") says that the most important positions in football are quarterback, defensive end (edge rusher), and left tackle in that order.
Chubb opposite Myles Garrett is terrifying to contemplate.
Chubb and Garrett are similar to eachother. Garrett has more "bend" to him, which I feel gives him an edge, but if Garrett's a ten, Chubb is a 9.5.
I like Ogbah a lot, but wowzers! Chubb would start immediately, of course (he's the total package; sets the edge, good vs the run too), but Ogbah could then rotate in and out to spell both Chubb and Garrett (especially on run downs).
Beyond that, what a "Nascar" package Gregg Williams could field on second or third and longs, because all three of these guys can play inside as one-gappers!
Minkah Fitzpatrick? He's been deleted from most of the mock drafts because Williams has signed a FS/CB and two cornerbacks, but he's a freak too, and this secondary is by no means "fixed" yet.
Fitz would instantly make this a top five NFL secondary. Now Gregg would have TWO corner/free safety guys. Gregg would just need to figure out which to start at corner and which at safety. This firmly pushes both Kindred and Peppers into their optimal SS/LB hybrid roles...
Tough call between Fitz and Chubb, but I lean to Chubb here, based on
I was gone for awhile, but I'm back now: I have to demote Saquon Barkley here, as Dorsey may already have with his recent signings (the most reliable slot guy in the NFL, a hammerhead running back, and effort to extend Duke Johnson).
Barkley is awesome, and will kick ass in the NFL, but in 2018, the Browns already have a strong running game (thank God for Haley!) and passing game too.
In 2017, the defense was above average, but rarely got any turnovers, and caved in late in games. Gregg Williams had a solid core, but not everything he needed. He had to run softer coverages than he wanted to, play Peppers at free safety, etc.
Dorsey, in trades and free agency, has already helped Williams out. Damarious Randall did play free safety in college, but is a for-real man corner in the NFL. Physically, he checks all the boxes for Williams' "angel" position, but his "floor" is man-cornerback.
The free agent corners are very talented, with a lot of starts. They are still young, but very talented, and with great upside.
Dorsey hasn't helped much at linebacker yet, but didn't need to. I'm (emotionally) glad to see that he tendered homie underdog Jamie Meder, but then, he does what Danny Shelton did (except cheaper).
Between Minkah Fitzpatrick and Chubb here, Williams certainly prefers Chubb:
1: Every 4-3 defensive coordinator dreams of not having to blitze much. They want the passrush built into the defensive line, so the linebackers can be linebackers, and the secondary can cover. A Garrett/Chubb(Ogbah) DE crew guarantees a "pincer manuever" edge-rush on every down, plus stunts, etc., plus makes it impossible to double-team Coley, Ogunjobi, Brantley...well you get it.
2: Every 4-3 defensive coordinator dreams of defensive ends who are not only awesome passrushers, but can also set the edge and stuff runs (directly or indirectly).
3: Every defensive coordinator dreams of having the best defensive line in the NFL.
Chubb is a huge "difference-maker" as-is, but opposite Myles Garrett? It's tough to fathom.
Gregg Williams is probably chasing Dorsey all over the building lobbying for Chubb.
Williams has blitzed (ie sent a fifth passrusher; a defensive back more often than not) over half the time throughout his carreer, but he's never had the almost inconceivable front four (or three, or five) which he'd have with the addition of Chubb.
Fitzpatrick can't match the impact Chubb would have for the 2018 Browns, nor could Barkley.
As it stands, the Giants at second overall are more likely to trade down than not, but if they don't...
Tough call: The consensus says that since Gramps Manning will last awhile longer, they won't bother drafting a quarterback at second overall (you know, since in 2019 or 2020 they can draft one in the lower half of the first round, or trade up, or something)...
But the Giants are in "win now" mode right now, so they might well srand pat and draft Barkley or Chubb.
That's the consensus. I'm not so sure:
The Giants two best wide receivers will return from injury in 2018, which will really help Eli out of his "death-bed", not to mention his freak tight end drafted in 2017 entering his second season.
The Giants' 2018 resurgence is built-in and inevitable, and the Eli-bashing is ignorant, especially considering they just upgraded his blindside protection with Nate Solder.
You guys think one guy can fix everything, but you're wrong.
They need a running back, but it doesn't have to be Barkley. Their defense frankly sucked, and one draft pick (believe it or not) won't fix that (Honest!).
The Giants will strongly consider trading down. They do need to find Eli's eventual successor, and won't see this much depth at quarterback for the forseeable future. They also need to rebuild their defense.
Browns fans have Stockholm Syndrome, but in reality, the 2017 Giants defense sucked, and the Browns' defense did not. A Chubb or Fitzpatrick could make a big difference here, but not so much in Jersey.
Quarterbacks could go one, two, and three. Chubb, Barkley, and Fitzpatrick could all be there at four. It's fun to think about.
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