Here are some things I found interesting from Bob McGinn's NFL Draft series on QBs. McGinn is very highly respected when it comes to the draft so I figured a lot of people would be interested in what he has to say.
A personnel man for a team with an established starter at the position recognized some of the current angst. Then he looked at a board with Southern Cal’s Sam Darnold, UCLA’s Josh Rosen, Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield and Wyoming’s Josh Allen at the top and had many more positive thoughts than negative ones.
Don’t even suggest that he might be happy not to be in position of having to draft a quarterback next week.
“You know, you can say that every year,” the NFC executive said. “It’s kind of a copout. I wouldn’t be worried. At least you have some good candidates.” |
The same personnel man thinks 4 QBs go top 10 and thinks they go 1-2-3.
An AFC personnel men said sure these guys can bust just like any player, but he wouldn't be scared to take any of them top 5.
A poll of 14 personnel people reflected the lack of consensus. Each scout was asked to rank his best quarterbacks from 1 to 5, with a first-place vote worth 5 points, a second-place worth 4 and so forth.
Darnold drew seven firsts compared to five for Rosen, one for Allen and one for Mayfield.
Darnold led with 59 points, and was followed by Rosen with 55, Allen with 43, Mayfield with 35, Louisville’s Lamar Jackson with nine, Oklahoma State’s Mason Rudolph with eight and Washington State’s Luke Falk with one.
Two of the 14 declined to answer which of the six leading players had the best chance to bust. The 12-vote results showed five bust votes for Allen, four for Jackson and three for Mayfield. |
So basically NFL teams say Darnold & Rosen are the top 2 QBs and Allen has the best chance to a bust.
One personnel man said that Darnold has some Brett Favre too him. They love his character and he has that factor that you can't coach. Very good on the move, but not great in the pocket. Thinks he can become great in the pocket.
He said Josh Rosen is the best pure passer he's seen since Drew Brees. Two scouts compared his attitude to Aaron Rodgers coming out of Cal. Said he is probably smarter then your QB coach and you have to challenge him intellectually.
A personnel man said he feels Mayfield has a chance to be great. The height is a concern. Said if he was two inches taller he'd clearly be the 1st pick. Feels like you have to tailor your offense to him and bails on the play too easily. Benefits from a lot of one throw reads so adjusting to the NFL might be difficult. If he's on your team you love him. If he's on the other team you hate him.
Allen is the biggest & best physical specimen of all of them. He just isn't as far along as a QB. “The wonder boy,” said another scout. “There’s been nobody that’s been good with his poor stats, his lack of dominance, the low percentage and the lack of winning. He was compared to Jake Locker, Tim Couch and Blake Bortles. Can throw the ball through a wall, but he has accuracy issues that he can't see getting better.
One of the personnel guys says they will go off the board in this order. Allen-Darnold-Mayfield-Rosen-Jackson.
I really don't know why people say it like it's a guarantee. There are a lot of people with inside sources and a few who are close to Dorsey that say he's going to take Allen with the 1st pick.
I agree it's unlikely they take Allen, but to basically say there is no way they pass on Darnold is pretty crazy too. This is the Cleveland Browns we're talking about. Not exactly the best decision makers.
This is the same team that had the 2nd overall pick and was in great position to take Carson Wentz. Yet they moved down twice and ended up with Corey Coleman, Shon Coleman, DeShone Kizer, Cody Kessler, Derrick Kindred, Spencer Durango, Ricardo Louis & Jordan Payton.
It's definitely a possibility. I just can't figure out why the Browns would be playing fake stories or putting smokescreens out for the 1st overall pick.
Here's a little bit. When execs voted for the top player at RB Saquon was a unanimous selection. It's the 16th year McGinn has been doing this. It's the 6th time a unanimous selection has happened. The other 5 were Reggie Bush, Peterson, Eddie Lacy, Zeke & Trent Richardson.
One executive said the Browns should take Barkley at 1, but he doesn't know if they will.
Most of the personnel men said he's a good all around prospect who can do it all.
He was knocked for his production dip in 2017 and the 4 games under 60 yards.
Supremely skilled, but not as ferocious as Fournette, Zeke or even Gurley.
Another scout said he didn't see the fight in him that those 3 had. Didn't think he was quite as aggressive or as physical as those other 3. Tries to win on speed too much and seems to shy away from contact.
One personnel man was asked if he was in the mix as the top guy when comparing him to the other 3 and he said "I suppose so"
People forget that Dorsey was a top candidate to interview with the Giants with mutual interest from both sides. The Browns acted quickly in firing Sachi and hiring Dorsey. If we had hired Dorsey, we would be singing his praises. But somehow because he is with the Browns, people act like he is an incompetent GM.
Dorsey doesn't have experience as a GM? Who knew... Although, I guess the Chiefs don't count to some.
Your point is that Bi-Polar BBI would always find fault in every situation.
That all said and again generally speaking, I have not been convinced that a TO machine like Darnold is guaranteed, through higher level coaching to suddenly turn it around through mechanics adjustments, etc..It’s not as if he doesn’t have other shit he has to worry about in a game that exponentially increases in pace and speed at this level.
No choice is safe, but if available Barkley makes the most sense to me and if gone and no tradedown, Chubb.
In sum, I am far from convinced about Darnold off of all I’ve been able to discern and have not read all that much to convince me that this is remotely our franchise guy. Imho
Quote:
Saquon?
Here's a little bit. When execs voted for the top player at RB Saquon was a unanimous selection. It's the 16th year McGinn has been doing this. It's the 6th time a unanimous selection has happened. The other 5 were Reggie Bush, Peterson, Eddie Lacy, Zeke & Trent Richardson.
One executive said the Browns should take Barkley at 1, but he doesn't know if they will.
Most of the personnel men said he's a good all around prospect who can do it all.
He was knocked for his production dip in 2017 and the 4 games under 60 yards.
Supremely skilled, but not as ferocious as Fournette, Zeke or even Gurley.
Another scout said he didn't see the fight in him that those 3 had. Didn't think he was quite as aggressive or as physical as those other 3. Tries to win on speed too much and seems to shy away from contact.
One personnel man was asked if he was in the mix as the top guy when comparing him to the other 3 and he said "I suppose so"
So the experts have a 40% success rate. It’s such a crapshoot. Trading down to the Bills would guarantee quantity that could lead to quality. I’m in the trade down camp.
Reflecting the history of Browns incompetence on the new guy who wasn't involved is what he meant.
You can say that these guys weren't on the level of Barkley, though some would disagree. Many thought Bush was the next coming of Barry Sanders except he could catch the ball. He wasn't as big as Barkley, though. Eddie Lacy was also a massive bust.
Peterson was a success, but he was picked outside the top 5, and the Vikings never won anything of note with him, and they really weren't super competitive outside of the years when they had a good Favre. Last year they dumped him and went to the NFC Title Game.
This does not support taking Barkley at 2 overall.
If the Browns do pick Allen, I think the Giants will reject all trade offers and pick Darnold. Otherwise, I think they will pick Barkley, or trade down.
Most of you think that what the Jets do doesn't play into another team's mind, but when two teams share the same city, that is not necessarily the case. Sure, Gettleman won't drastically overreach to draft a QB, but I do believe he has at least two QBs ranked highly, and I have to believe one of them will be the pick Thursday. If he does not pick a QB, we hired Shurmur for no reason, and he doomed the franchise into QB hell for a decade.
Browns take Darnold
Josh Rosen is the pick for us.
Most of you think that what the Jets do doesn't play into another team's mind, but when two teams share the same city, that is not necessarily the case. Sure, Gettleman won't drastically overreach to draft a QB, but I do believe he has at least two QBs ranked highly, and I have to believe one of them will be the pick Thursday. If he does not pick a QB, we hired Shurmur for no reason, and he doomed the franchise into QB hell for a decade.
In theory, a franchise QB is the way to go. But what if the Giants are not vested in any of these supposed top QBs? What if they think Webb is or will be the heir-apparent to Eli? Or that there’s a future QB in the later rounds? Doesn’t matter what WE want, it’s what the Giants have assessed.
As to the Shurmur “waste,” he did get very good mileage out of Keenum and Foles before that.
Taking the highest rated player in the ENTIRE draft at 2 (Barkley) is by no means a dumb move, especially given that he’s an every down player that, combined with the receiver talent, will benefit, Eli, the O in general and a rested D that will be called upon to come up big late in games