2017 Draft Prospects Thread

[Phills14]

There is a lot of smoke out there about the Browns trading up. I just don't buy it. I believe of the QBs, Trubisky is the best fit for Hue and his vision of a QB.

Hue Jackson wants someone 6'2 or taller, big hands, accurate with arm talent, football smart with good decision making, must be a leader, and must have functional mobility to run out of trouble or a boot. Trubisky checks all those boxes so I do believe the interest in him is genuine. I'm not sure it's trade up in the 1st round genuine.

I am confident based on what I understand of the Browns in total, that they will NOT trade up for Deshaun Watson. Watson is just barely 6'2, is not accurate, does not have a strong arm, and has had a history of making bad decisions throwing the football. He's got big hands, he is an unquestioned leader with big game experience and has plus mobility. I can see them intrigued by him because they feel his arm strength can improve as he gets older and changes mechanics but the decision making has to scare them. I think there is no chance they trade up for him.

 

[chrisrich91]

The phrasing makes it sound like they're contemplating accepting a deal prior to the draft otherwise is it really noteworthy? Already known they've talked to many teams about that spot

I don't see a scenario where a team would trade up to 5 until Tennessee is on the clock. Leaves too much time for someone else to jump them in a top 5 where it seems most picks are available for the right price.

Only time a trade prior to the draft makes sense to me is if you're trading for #1 or #2 (in the Winston/Mariota or Goff/Wentz cases when you just want to ensure you get one of the two).

 

[bob2the2nd]

I still think the browns are just blowing smoke hoping to get the guy they want at 12. I don't think the browns have any interest in one of these qbs in the top 12 picks. Agnes quite frankly they shouldn't

 

[Soda]

I don't see a scenario where a team would trade up to 5 until Tennessee is on the clock. Leaves too much time for someone else to jump them in a top 5 where it seems most picks are available for the right price.

Only time a trade prior to the draft makes sense to me is if you're trading for #1 or #2 (in the Winston/Mariota or Goff/Wentz cases when you just want to ensure you get one of the two).

This. At this point, you've waited long enough to wait until the clock is ticking and you know exactly who the trade is for.

What I'll find interesting is what New England does about not picking until 72. I have a feeling they'll end up picking higher, I just don't know what they'll give to make the move. They've got to be working the phones.

 

[SixPACK]

 

[SixPACK]

Browns, Seahawks could make sense as first-round trade partners

The Seattle Seahawks go into Thursday's draft with seven overall picks, and general manager John Schneider has said he'd like to pick up some more.

The Cleveland Browns, meanwhile, have 11 picks, and they're looking to add a quarterback.

The Seahawks have not drafted in their original first-round slot since 2011. They haven't made a first-round pick at all in three of the last four years. Teams around the league know that Schneider will be more than willing to deal the 26th pick, and the Browns could make sense as a potential trade partner.

This trade with the Seahawks makes sense for the Browns under one circumstance -- they don't get the quarterback they want with the 12th pick.

There also are a couple of players at 12 the Browns may take instead of going quarterback: Ohio State safety Malik Hooker or Alabama tight end O.J. Howard.

The move up with the Seahawks to the 26th spot makes sense because it's ahead of Kansas City. The Chiefs are one team that appears ready to draft a quarterback late in the first round as they start to prepare for a future without Alex Smith. To move from 33 to 26 would involve 120 points on the draft-value chart. The Browns could likely move up and make a trade with Seattle by giving up the first pick in the second round (33rd overall) and the first pick in the fourth round (108th overall). Those picks add up to 692 points on the chart; the 26th pick is worth 700 points. The Browns could easily add another late-round pick to complete the deal if Seattle demanded it.

The Browns would still have the 20th pick in the second round (No. 52 overall) and the first pick in the third (No. 65) to go with three first-round choices.

 

[sportscoach]

Browns, Seahawks could make sense as first-round trade partners

The Seattle Seahawks go into Thursday's draft with seven overall picks, and general manager John Schneider has said he'd like to pick up some more.

The Cleveland Browns, meanwhile, have 11 picks, and they're looking to add a quarterback.

The Seahawks have not drafted in their original first-round slot since 2011. They haven't made a first-round pick at all in three of the last four years. Teams around the league know that Schneider will be more than willing to deal the 26th pick, and the Browns could make sense as a potential trade partner.

This trade with the Seahawks makes sense for the Browns under one circumstance -- they don't get the quarterback they want with the 12th pick.

There also are a couple of players at 12 the Browns may take instead of going quarterback: Ohio State safety Malik Hooker or Alabama tight end O.J. Howard.

The move up with the Seahawks to the 26th spot makes sense because it's ahead of Kansas City. The Chiefs are one team that appears ready to draft a quarterback late in the first round as they start to prepare for a future without Alex Smith. To move from 33 to 26 would involve 120 points on the draft-value chart. The Browns could likely move up and make a trade with Seattle by giving up the first pick in the second round (33rd overall) and the first pick in the fourth round (108th overall). Those picks add up to 692 points on the chart; the 26th pick is worth 700 points. The Browns could easily add another late-round pick to complete the deal if Seattle demanded it.

The Browns would still have the 20th pick in the second round (No. 52 overall) and the first pick in the third (No. 65) to go with three first-round choices.

I'd still say they could trade down from 12 and get a few more picks then trade up and get three first rounders and not lose out points wise on either chart lol part of me says they aren't going to draft at either 12 or 33, something will be moved.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

There's a lot of theories out there that include the Browns engaging in some clever misdirection in an attempt to fool other teams in the league. I don't think this front office does that. I'm not saying that they will leak who they like -- they very much want to play their cards close to the vest. But there's a difference between not leaking, and engaging in an affirmative disinformation campaign.

I think that's too clever by half for these guys, and I mean that as a compliment.

 

[Soda]

Welp. I have no doubt.

 

[NorthCoastBias]

Welp. I have no doubt.

 

[Douglar]

https://theathletic.com/55790/2017/04/25/what-do-bengals-have-to-do-with-browns-let-me-tell-you/

Analytics-based quarterback evaluation, the kind we’re assuming the Browns have been using, values quarterbacks who made 25-plus college starts, had a completion percentage better than 60 and had strong touchdown-to-interception ratios.
[...]
One-year college starter Mitchell Trubisky has been linked to the Browns, and not just because he’s a native Northeast Ohioan. But it seems like the Browns would either have to take Trubisky at No. 1 overall, or trade up from No. 12 to get him. Maybe they can sit tight at 12 and still get him — or another quarterback they truly covet. Maybe they can follow the Bengals’ plan from 2011, sit tight at No. 33, and still get a quarterback who ends up being pretty good. Or even one who ends up being good enough for a while.

We don’t know much about the Browns’ plans. We know, from vice president of football operations Sashi Brown, that the front office prefers not to trade up and essentially turn two (or more) picks into one. All we’ve really heard on the record from Jackson is that he prefers his quarterback to be at least 6-foot-2, and that the Browns won’t trade the No. 1 pick to acquire a quarterback.

Maybe four quarterbacks go in the first round again. Maybe the Browns really like Trubisky despite his relative inexperience. Maybe the Browns really like a guy — DeShone Kizer or Davis Webb, maybe — that they think they can get at No. 33. Or by trading into, say, No. 28. Or even later in the second round.

Maybe the Browns will use their four picks in the first two rounds and not take a quarterback at all.
​

 

[Pick6]

I am not sure there is any reason for the Browns/Silver to leak that. Therefore I'm not sure I buy it...

 

[Derek]

There is a lot of smoke out there about the Browns trading up. I just don't buy it. I believe of the QBs, Trubisky is the best fit for Hue and his vision of a QB.

Hue Jackson wants someone 6'2 or taller, big hands, accurate with arm talent, football smart with good decision making, must be a leader, and must have functional mobility to run out of trouble or a boot. Trubisky checks all those boxes so I do believe the interest in him is genuine. I'm not sure it's trade up in the 1st round genuine.

I am confident based on what I understand of the Browns in total, that they will NOT trade up for Deshaun Watson. Watson is just barely 6'2, is not accurate, does not have a strong arm, and has had a history of making bad decisions throwing the football. He's got big hands, he is an unquestioned leader with big game experience and has plus mobility. I can see them intrigued by him because they feel his arm strength can improve as he gets older and changes mechanics but the decision making has to scare them. I think there is no chance they trade up for him.

Didn't Trubisky measure out shorter than Watson at the combine?

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

https://theathletic.com/55790/2017/04/25/what-do-bengals-have-to-do-with-browns-let-me-tell-you/

Analytics-based quarterback evaluation, the kind we’re assuming the Browns have been using, values quarterbacks who made 25-plus college starts, had a completion percentage better than 60 and had strong touchdown-to-interception ratios.
[...]
One-year college starter Mitchell Trubisky has been linked to the Browns, and not just because he’s a native Northeast Ohioan. But it seems like the Browns would either have to take Trubisky at No. 1 overall, or trade up from No. 12 to get him. Maybe they can sit tight at 12 and still get him — or another quarterback they truly covet. Maybe they can follow the Bengals’ plan from 2011, sit tight at No. 33, and still get a quarterback who ends up being pretty good. Or even one who ends up being good enough for a while.

We don’t know much about the Browns’ plans. We know, from vice president of football operations Sashi Brown, that the front office prefers not to trade up and essentially turn two (or more) picks into one. All we’ve really heard on the record from Jackson is that he prefers his quarterback to be at least 6-foot-2, and that the Browns won’t trade the No. 1 pick to acquire a quarterback.

Maybe four quarterbacks go in the first round again. Maybe the Browns really like Trubisky despite his relative inexperience. Maybe the Browns really like a guy — DeShone Kizer or Davis Webb, maybe — that they think they can get at No. 33. Or by trading into, say, No. 28. Or even later in the second round.

Maybe the Browns will use their four picks in the first two rounds and not take a quarterback at all.
​

Looks like he really went out on a limb there....

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

I am not sure there is any reason for the Browns/Silver to leak that. Therefore I'm not sure I buy it...

I assume it would be the teams the Browns contacted who would leak that the Browns want to trade up, but I agree there is absolutely no reason for the Browns to leak that their target is Trubisky. That part sounds like speculation.