At this rate, my pancakes are getting cold! The phones are ringing, the mouths are wagging. Here is some more of the usual craziness as draft day approaches;
Most draft analysts predict that Garrett Bolles will be the first offensive lineman drafted, possibly with the #20 pick by Denver, but word out of Baltimore is that Ozzie Newsome will bring in a player from his old school to the organization by taking Cam Robinson at #16. Newsome’s original intention was to upgrade the receiving unit, with Mike Williams his primary target, but if the Tennessee-Cleveland deal goes through, the Titans are also eyeballing Williams at #12.
While Jamal Adams’ name has been etched into the #3 slot for the Bears, Chicago might switch gears, depending upon the outcome of San Francisco’s decision at #2. Most assume that the 49ers would take local product Solomon Thomas, if they do not trade the choice, but if Thomas slides and Jonathan Allen’s medical recheck alleviates any concerns, the Bears are strongly considering upgrading the defensive line first, before turning attention to the secondary in the later rounds.
One whisper making the rounds is that Derek Barnett is actually the 49ers preference, over Thomas, if they can not find a suitor for #2. For weeks, this was supposed to be the selection that everyone expected Cleveland to trade up for in order to get their quarterback, but Lynch might have asked for too much in return, compared to the offer that Tennessee is willing to take from the Browns. San Francisco can still trade down, as both Cincinnati and Carolina are still in pursuit of leap-frogging Jacksonville to make a run at Fournette.
That could set up the Jets to score who many believe is the best player in the draft – Adams. Sure, he could be a perfect fit for Dick LeBeau in Tennessee, but the Titans seem intent on wheeling and dealing and have all but stated that either #5 or #18 will be auctioned off. They could also trade both picks with an eye at the slew of second round level talent and to add to the cache of picks next year, as the 2018 class looks to be loaded.
Oh, if this was 2018 & the QBs in college perform as expected in 2017, I say next year's 1-2-3 picks are Darnold, Josh Allen & Louisville's Jackson. Those that say Jackson is not a QB? I refer to a bigger version of Russel Wilson
THR has him at #15
Mayock has him at #16
Draft Board Guru has him at #17
Gil Brandt has him at #15
Rob Rang has him at #19
The criticism of the OL in the draft is that there are no top 10 grades and the pool is shallow in general, but nobody (other than some silly fools on BBI) is saying there aren't any OL worthy of a 1st grade.
Flowers is strong and yet look at how off balance he plays.