The Rams apparently have a yuuuge hard-on for someone.

 

 

Somewhere in Maryland, Ozzie Newsome is poppin a bottle of the bubbly

 

Can you elaborate on that, Hts? I don't get the Ozzie reference.

Rams just paid a ransom to move from 15 to 1. Wentz is supposed to be their target.

 

Somewhere in Maryland, Ozzie Newsome is poppin a bottle of the bubbly

 

Some think they're going after Goff. Either way, we'll know shortly - since they have the #1 overall, they can begin negotiations with the player they want. Hopefully they do because it makes the Browns' #2 pick that much more valuable knowing who is left on the board.

^^Ravens are picking 6 in a draft with 5 elite, 'can't miss' prospects (Tunsil, Bosa, Ramsey, Jack, Elliot).  If the QBs go 1 and 2, then he will have his pick of at least 2 of those prospects.  He virtually guaranteed yet another stud for the next 10 years.  Par for the course, I suppose.

 

^I wonder if anyone will be looking to trade up to grab Tunsil.

That’s what happens when you've got your QB situation resolved. Now you can build your team around him and his skillset.

You get to rebuild around your quarterback, because you couldn't afford all the talent you had after having to pay the quarterback. The price of success.

The Rams apparently have a yuuuge hard-on for someone.

 

 

 

Shouldn't there be a reach-around included in this deal?

Thats what happens when you've got your QB situation resolved. Now you can build your team around him and his skillset.

 

Ozzie tends to draft BPA regardless of his QB situation.  The Ravens didn't have a quality QB prior to Flacco and had quite a bit of success with Ozzie's system of drafting.  In fact, we've taken as many QBs in the first round in the past 4 years as he's taken in Round 1 since that franchise came into existence in 1996.  The only other time they took a QB in round 1 was the year Terrell Suggs fell to them at 10 and they took Boller later in that first round. 

 

 

That’s what happens when you've got your QB situation resolved. Now you can build your team around him and his skillset.

 

Ozzie tends to draft BPA regardless of his QB situation.  The Ravens didn't have a quality QB prior to Flacco and had quite a bit of success with Ozzie's system of drafting.  In fact, we've taken as many QBs in the first round in the past 4 years as he's taken in Round 1 since that franchise came into existence in 1996.  The only other time they took a QB in round 1 was the year Terrell Suggs fell to them at 10 and they took Boller later in that first round. 

 

 

That's exactly right, Ozzie won a SB with Trent Dilfer and another with Flacco who was a late 1st round pick.  The Ravens strategy meant actually drafting the best player available which results in a team full of difference-makers at their respective positions.  The Steelers basically did the same thing, they built a quality team and then drafted their QB at #11.

 

Rather than the Browns approach of hitting the QB easy-button every few years hoping one player can single-handedly resurrect the entire franchise.

Browns haven't gone after QBs hoping they would rescue the franchise. If they did, they would have taken them higher in the draft or traded up to get them. They've just drafted badly especially in the first round, and including their QB selections. If you don't like Goff or Wentz, that's fine. But I do and I think either is worthy of their #2 overall pick. And apparently the Rams thought so too because they just traded away El Monte, Santa Ana and West Hollywood to put themselves in a position to get one of them.

As usual, the closer we get to the draft, the higher the stock of the available QBs goes.  That's how Christian Ponder, EJ Manuel, and Jake Locker ended up being high first round picks, even though their draft stock started out much lower.  If Goff and Wentz weren't in this draft, every QB desperate team would be jockeying for position to draft Paxton Lynch or Connor Cook. 

My feelings about Goff and to a lesser extent Wentz are the same as they were during bowl season. I felt better about Wentz after the senior bowl. He didn't seem out of place among the Division 1 boys.

 

I don't care for Paxton Lynch or Connor Cook. Lynch strikes me as a snake oil salesman and Cook is a spoiled child. Not only do they lack the physical abilities of Goff and Wentz, they lack the leadership too.

 

While I agree the value of QBs goes up as draft day approaches, would you expect teams to be jockeying for Garrett Grayson and Sean Mannion if Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota weren't in last year's draft? Of course not. And yes, I do think Goff and Wentz are close to, if not in the same category as Winston and Mariota.

Browns haven't gone after QBs hoping they would rescue the franchise. If they did, they would have taken them higher in the draft or traded up to get them. They've just drafted badly especially in the first round, and including their QB selections. If you don't like Goff or Wentz, that's fine. But I do and I think either is worthy of their #2 overall pick. And apparently the Rams thought so too because they just traded away El Monte, Santa Ana and West Hollywood to put themselves in a position to get one of them.

We just have a fundamental difference of opinion on QB's and the process of building a winning team.  My belief is that in order for a (vast majority) young QB to become a "franchise-caliber" QB, he needs to be surrounded by a good supporting cast and solid franchise.  If this approach isn't followed, and young QB's are dropped into a cesspool of talent around them the odds of them developing into a franchise-caliber QB are stacked against him, as he's knocked around due to a lack of protection, nobody to throw to, no running game, and always playing from behind where the opposing D's are just teeing off on him game after game.

 

I also believe that's why so many QB's drafted at the top turn out to be "busts", it's due in large part to the team that drafted them.  It's also why 3rd round QB's like Russel Wilson benefitted by getting drafted by the Seahwaks, a team that was putting it all together with a solid defense, run game, etc..  Had Wilson been drafted by the Browns for example in the 1st round, he likely would've never seen a playoff game and probably gone after 3-4 years as fans/media clamor that he's too short, etc..

 

So it's not that I don't value the QB position or that I don't think we need an elite FQB.  It's that I think the way to build a team, then develop or even recognize if you have a young franchise-caliber is to provide a legitimate opportunity for him to succeed.  This is opposite from let's just draft the highest rated QB in a particular draft class and hope he can overcome all of the deficiencies this franchise has on and off the football field, especially when the QB's available are 1) Air Raid system QB who went 14-23 as a starter and winless against ranked teams, or 2) 1-AA QB with less than 20 starts against other 1-AA teams.  There are no Cam Newton's or Andrew Luck's in this draft.

 

BTW - The Rams trading away multiple picks for a QB means about as much as the Redskins trading the farm for Griffin at this point.  However, I do like what the Rams have done recently, they have a legit defense complete with pass rushers, and decent OL and a star RB.  So a 7-9 team moving up from #15 that was by and large truly a QB-away makes sense.  A young QB has a much better chance going into that situation than sent to the Russian front where an already bad 3-13 team is less talented than it was last year and #1 WR at this point is Brian Hartline.

The Browns are moreso in Tennessee's situation at this point. So consider this scenario...

 

As Cleveland Browns mull options at quarterback, it would be wise to Remember the Titans: Tom Reed

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2016/04/as_cleveland_browns_mull_their.html

 

The Cleveland roster is so decimated the team almost is assured a top-3 pick again. A good young quarterback isn't going to change the win total drastically, especially in the AFC North. Neither is an injury-prone Robert Griffin III.

 

Hit on the quarterback this year and the Browns can set themselves up for the future, particularly if they finish with the league's worst record as Marcus Mariota and the Titans did in 2015.

I'm not sold that Mariota is going to be a long-term solution in Tennessee.  I've had my doubts about him since before last year's draft.  I actually might like Goff better as an NFL prospect.  I really haven't been enamored with any QB prospect since Luck.  He is the last one I can recall being truly worthy of a top-5 pick.  It seems the QB crops have been watered down for awhile now.  It might be because of changes to the college game.  Consider the past decade of picks.....

 

2015 - Winston, Mariota, and the rest look like trash

2014 - Bortles, Manziel, Bridgewater, Carr..... Carr seems head and shoulders above the guys who went ahead of him

2013 - Manuel, Smith and a bunch of other garbage

2012 - Luck, RGIII, Tannenhil, Weeden, Osweiler, RWilson, Foles, Cousins (probably the best year in recent memory)

2011 - CamNewton and three wasted 1st rounders (Locker, Gabbert, Ponder) sandwiched between Cam and Dalton, plus Kaepernick going a few picks later

2010 - Bradford, Tebow, Clausen, McCoy (barf)

2009 - Stafford and then crap (including Sanchez and Freeman going in 1st round)

2008 - Ryan and Flacco and then nothing

2007 - Russell, Quinn, Kolb all wasted picks

2006 - Young, Leinhart, Cutler in the first round

2005 - Alex Smith, Rogers, Campbell in the first (not bad)

I wonder if the Titans think they're set with their young QB after one year like the Rams were with Bradford, the Skins were with Griffin, the Titans were with Locker, the Jags were with Gabbert errr Bortles, etc, etc..

 

I'd rather be in the Raiders position right now, they have demon pass-rusher and a QB they drafted in the 2nd round that looks better than all the above.

What is the big deal about the schedule release?  You already know who all 16 of your opponents are going to be. Does it really matter in which order you play them?

Because ESPN is the NFL's b!tch.

affluenza ragers!

 

http://pagesix.com/2016/04/14/johnny-manziel-accused-of-trashing-pad-with-booze-and-drug-filled-ragers/?_ga=1.37088357.430001820.1444980237

 

If the brass is not in love with whichever of Goff or Wentz is left after LAR picks, I'd do the Philly trade. If the two QBs go 1-2, that guarantees one or more of Ramsey, Bosa, Tunsil, Elliot, Jack, and Buckner being there at 8. If you can walk away with a bevy of picks AND one of the top 6 prospects in this draft, you do it

Well there you go:

 

CLE trades #2 overall and a 2017 fourth round pick to PHI for #8 overall plus 3rd and 4th round picks this year and 1st rounder in 2017 and 2nd rounder in 2018

Thanks for the heads up, the Facebook group will be melting down now and only two of us babysit.

at the surface looks great if they didn't like those QB's.  I wont get excited about these anymore until they actually pan out.  Hoping the Eagles tank next year with Goff/Wentz.  Ill trust Hue can evaluate QB's more than I can at this point...because I thought Wentz looked promising

They better hang onto McCown.  RG3 could be worthless, and now we probably won't be drafting anyone ready to roll.

I think their opinion was that there was no one available ready to roll.... or at least not after LAR takes whomever they are going to take.

 

With 12 picks in this year's draft, I fully expect the Browns to be wheeling and dealing on draft day.  Look for them to move up (consolidating picks to get higher for someone they are targeting) or move out (e.g., trading a 4th rounder this year for a 2017 3rd round pick).  I can't imagine they will bring in 12 rookies.

With 12 picks in this year's draft, I fully expect the Browns to be wheeling and dealing on draft day.  Look for them to move up (consolidating picks to get higher for someone they are targeting) or move out (e.g., trading a 4th rounder this year for a 2017 3rd round pick).  I can't imagine they will bring in 12 rookies.

 

That sounds like what they've been doing every year, through several regimes.  Somehow we go from 12 picks to 5 reaches and a guy in a wheelchair.  Recently we've been drafting people who don't even seem to lift weights.  If that's our version of quality, I'd rather have quantity.

 

I just wish we could-- occasionally-- keep it simple.  3-13 with no QB?  Well then use your awesome draft pick on a QB.  Quit screwing around.

Good value with the Philly trade.  Wouldn't surprise me if they trade with the Titans now from 8 to 15.  When it's all said and done, the Browns may end up with 7-8 picks in the 1st 3 rounds.

Off the wall question, I was thinking last night what if QB's is not the pick for one of the first 2 draft spots. Could Philly just have traded up to get a tackle?

While I'm glad the Browns added more draft selections to fill their depleted roster, I'm still regretting losing the chance to draft Jared Goff. I think he's going to be a terrific QB. Granted, that probably ended when Tennessee traded with LA. But it definitely ended with the Browns' trade yesterday. The consolation prize was Wentz, who has some potential to be very good: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000654455/article/did-cleveland-browns-just-pass-on-big-ben-again

 

None of the other QBs in this draft interest me. And the only one next year who interests me is Deshaun Watson. Hopefully the Browns are the worst team in the NFL this year so they have the shot to get him.

 

If I'm the Browns, I'd draft the best-rated OT available at #8, WR at #32 and then go defense with my third and fourth rounders.

You can't predict at this point how the QBs will be in next year's class.  Rewind to this time last year and no one was talking about Wentz, and Goff was pretty far behind Connor Cook on the draft boards.

 

I wouldn't be shocked if we moved back again.  It is quite possible that the new regime rated Lynch as even with or possibly better than Goff/Wentz.  At this point in the draft process, I like to look back at where the prospects were before all the pre-draft build up began.  In other words, how were they rated based solely on their play on the field.  The conversation at that point was Lynch v. Goff.  Wentz wasn't really in the picture.  I'm not saying I like Lynch all that much.  It just wouldn't surprise me if the Browns think the drop in his stock is similar to what was seen with Aaron Rogers, who ended the season neck and neck with Alex Smith only to see his value plummet to the end of the first round in the time between the last time he strapped up and the draft.

 

I'm not worried about what past Browns regimes have done.  We have cleaned house.  All new people.  The trade they made yesterday was a 'no-brainer' on any value chart you can find.

 

in addition to the 6 prospects I mentioned upthread, I am going to add Treadwell.  All you have been pining for them to draft a WR for the past several years.  He is your chance.  He will be there at 8.

This is back from 2015 a mock of current draft(2016) Wentz not even on it. Paxton Lynch (who i like, just not at 8) is the top QB over Goff

 

 

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2600377-2016-nfl-mock-draft-predictions-for-elite-cfp-prospects

Then let me qualify my remarks: the only QB who interests me "at this time" is DeShaun Watson.

 

I agree the trade had to be made, but like all trades involving draft picks, the only way you can judge them is after the passage of years.

No doubt we got good value on the trade.  But if Wentz goes at 2 and becomes a star, those draft pick values don't really matter.  Unless one of them gets us our QB, in which case no harm done.

Does anyone think the Browns may pick up Cardale in a later round, just to give it a shot?  Another hometown boy made good?

^I hope not.  I don't see NFL QB in his future.  I'd rather roll the dice on a Jeff Driscoll or Christian Hackenberg.

 

^^We may already have our QB.  I know that it is not 'likely' that RGIII fulfills that potential which led to teams scrambling to sell the farm to take him, but I put his odds at that about even with the odds that Wentz turns into a 'star'.  Regardless, so long as we don't blow the picks like past regimes did on draft busts, then the draft pick values absolutely do matter.  As much as the Julio Jones trade gets panned, it would've been the right move if the players we drafted with the picks we got in return turned out to be worthy of their selections. 

unfortunately rgIII is more prime for injury than greatness. otoh, the good news is playing moneyball is unlikely to make any outright dud picks. the trade was was a classic moneyball move and obviously a good idea at this point in time for the talent starved browns. that was the easy move though, now comes the real draft work.

 

maybe we can still get tunsil, conklin, osu's decker, or somebody solid like that with #8.

If we take an OL at 8, I would think it would be either Tunsil or ND's Ronnie Stanley. I've seen a few updated mocks with us taking the latter. Very small chance Tunsil lasts to us at 8. Other mocks have us trading down again, some as low as 20 with NYJ. In the one we moved down to 20, we took the WR Doctson

Chargers will grab Tunsil. They have an ever narrowing window with Rivers and they're going to try their best to keep him intact.

 

Some Philly radio guy came on 92.3 yesterday to say that the fans in Philly hate the trade.

I don't see Tunsil lasting until #8. Chargers desperately need OL help. Ronnie Stanley is a good possibility though if the Ravens don't grab him. ESPN's mock draft last night had the Browns drafting DeForest Buckner but with some disagreement whether they should take Stanley or Ezekiel Elliott. While I understand the health/longevity risk of taking Elliott, he's a tremendous all-around back. In addition to his rushing and receiving, his blocking will be a tremendous addition. This draft is deep with OL and DL. There's no need to draft one in the first round. In fact, I'd even go WR at #32 and then stock up on OL and DL in the third and fourth rounds.

for QB's I would do this... KEVIN HOGAN, Stanford in the 4th or

 

CARDALE JONES, Ohio State in the 6th or NATE SUDFELD, Indiana in the 5th. I would be ok with any of these guys as projects to sit for 1 or 2 years behind RG3.

The idea of trading down again to the middle of the First Round is growing on me.  This draft is absolutely loaded with 2nd and 3rd round talent.  If we can get some assets in those rounds and/or to move up and get more picks in those rounds, I can see the logic in that.  It all depends on if they love one of the prospects who will still be there at 8.

Interesting comments by Sashi indicating that the Browns have a set board and are targeting a very specific player.  It seems they think this player will be there at #8, but have a contingency plan if he is not.  Zeke Elliot has been linked in many mocks since the trade, but I have my doubts it is him.  I'm thinking it is someone outside the 'Big 6'.  Perhaps Ronnie Stanley.  Jack Conklin's stock seems to be on the rise.  But my prediction is Leonard Floyd, OLB from Georgia.  That wouldn't fit my draft philosophy, but I wouldn't be ready to throw something against the wall either.

Ian Rapoport:  Player who is rising & appears headed inside the top 10: #UGA LB Leonard Floyd. Teams caught a small glimpse of his skill set in college

 

 

Floyd would be my guess as well, but think they'll move down a few spots one more time.

Jack is off my board, unfortunately.  If the player himself admits that he may need microfracture surgery on his knee at some point, you can't spend a high draft pick on him.  Between him and the kid from ND, I think we are going to see the two best LBs in this draft drop like rocks.

 

More and more buzz about possibly taking Lynch at 8 or if they trade back a few spots.  Makes sense if they had him rated better than or on par with Goff/Wentz, which wouldn't surprise me in the least. 

the trade was absolutely brilliant no question and the right right thing to do, i guess its just a matter of who is there at 8 that is the solid choice. i hate this draft day run up. good luck browns management.

To me Leonard Floyd is Mingo part 2, I don't want him.

To me Leonard Floyd is Mingo part 2, I don't want him.

 

Without the coolest name in football.  Barkevious! 

Didn't see Colemand coming, but I like his tape. Sort of Antonio Brown-ish in his style of play. Does not have ideal height, which is OK because I'm not sure the Browns WR uniforms fit guys who are taller than 6'0. But he's not frail at all. Both blazing fast and extremely quick (there's a difference). His vertical jump was 10 inches higher than Treadwell's. It's hard to argue that our team didn't desperately need an explosive playmaker who can create TDs. That's who this kid appears to be. He's Travis Benjamin +30 lbs.

 

I think Buckner might have been their guy who they thought would fall to them at 8. He got picked 7. So they traded back again and got decent value. I wasn't in love with anyone at that point. The only two player left on my board at that point was Tunsil and i can understand why this team couldn't take the risk on him.

 

Nice to have the first pick in the second round. They are on the clock all day. Pick of the litter. I might take a swing on Jack at this point. Even if you only get 4-5 years out of that knee, it may be worth it

yeah so tunsil was there at 8. oh well. another good wheel n deal and coleman is an ok moneyball pick, although i question spending the earliest pick on a wr. otoh with benjamin gone and the problems w/gordon i understand. coleman comes off as a bit small for the nfl, hopefully his strengths can overcome that.

 

so this might be the most disturbing event of the evening. manziel alone in cols watching draft before heading to a bieber concert. yes bieber. this poor guy is truly lost. and back to back biebering too, he had been in cle for the previous show. and in a twist, coleman was also there:

 

http://nypost.com/2016/04/29/johnny-manziel-spends-2-year-draft-anniversary-alone-at-ohio-bar/