2018 Draft Prospects Thread

[CBBI]

When people say that Rosen and Darnold have all the tools, what tools do they have that Baker mayfield doesn't?

Height.

I know it sounds stupid, but that's genuinely the only real difference between Mayfield and Rosen/Darnold.

If Mayfield was 6'3", he would be the No. 1 pick.

 

[Soda]

We can get 3 first round picks easily like we did last season. So a first round of A QB, Minkah and Sutton isn’t impossible to pull off

The team definitely does seem to like that 5th year option. Especially so if the move is for a raw talent, like Njoku was.

 

[Ohio]

WELP, 2 more mocks (SB Nation & B/R):

1. Cleveland Browns: Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
Although DeShone Kizer had the best game of his career on Sunday, he just hasn’t done enough to show he should be Cleveland’s quarterback of the future. Rosen can be a little haphazard in his play while under pressure, but his tools are No. 1 worthy. He’s got a strong arm and a rapid fire release.

8. Cleveland Browns (via Houston Texans): Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama
There’s not much Fitzpatrick can’t do. Alabama has used him all over the place, from outside corner to free safety to even dime linebacker. Fitzpatrick is at his best in coverage. That would mean the Browns could finally stop wasting Jabrill Peppers as a deep, single-high safety.



1. Cleveland Browns: Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA

8. Cleveland Browns (from HOU): Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State

AnchormanBoner.gif

 

[Los216]

Height.

I know it sounds stupid, but that's genuinely the only real difference between Mayfield and Rosen/Darnold.

If Mayfield was 6'3", he would be the No. 1 pick.

And to that I'll say his height hasn't been an issue playing behind an offensive line that's as big as an NFL offensive line. I just think if height is the only thing that people have reservations on Mayfield for then they're to the point of overthinking it. Or they're relying on the prototypical QB models in a league that has multiple different styles of successful QB's.

 

[CBBI]

And to that I'll say his height hasn't been an issue playing behind an offensive line that's as big as an NFL offensive line. I just think if height is the only thing that people have reservations on Mayfield for then they're to the point of overthinking it. Or they're relying on the prototypical QB models in a league that has multiple different styles of successful QB's.

I think a lot of it has to do with the severe groupthink nature of the NFL.

 

[Triplethreat]

If Mayfield were 6' 3" he'd be considered the next great QB prospect ala Andrew Luck.

Unfortunately, he's not so here we are.

I personally think he'll be great, but I also like Rosen and would not be upset if we took him. I think his ceiling might be higher than Mayfield, but he had A LOT of work to do.

 

[Randolphkeys]

Height.

I know it sounds stupid, but that's genuinely the only real difference between Mayfield and Rosen/Darnold.

If Mayfield was 6'3", he would be the No. 1 pick.

And while I agree, he also has small hands for the position. I haven't seen the measurements, but it's a reason he wasn't recruited by a major tier one D1 program out of high school. We haven't seen Mayfield play much in less than ideal weather. I'm hoping Mother Nature changes that by the end of the season. Kaepernick had smaller hands and he was unable to throw well in the cold weather throughout his career, despite having a cannon for an arm in ideal weather.

With all these factors, there isn't just one that eliminates a player from having success. Rosen is an asshole, that's a paper cut against him. Barkley slowed down halfway through the season, that's a paper cut against him. It's just a question of how many paper cuts add up to a huge risk with the #1 overall pick.

I'm excited to watch this TCU game I recorded later today. I'm bed ridden and I can really sink my teeth into an Oklahoma game without kids running around for the first time.

 

[dark2332]

Rosen and Cleveland would not mix. I really don't think he has the right attitude to be a success on the next level.

I know many of you are high on him, but he has many of the same flaws Kizer has in his game. And in terms of off-the field? He's a mess. Why not just see what Kizer can do in his 2nd year--year 1 to year 2 is a massive leap in terms of preparation and understanding. Much of this will be determined over these last 7 games of whether or not we think the light is coming on for him. It's a huge step from college to the NFL.

If we determine a need for a QB, the only one that I would entertain taking in the first 10 picks of this draft is Sam Darnold. Period.

 

[Triplethreat]

Rosen and Cleveland would not mix. I really don't think he has the right attitude to be a success on the next level.

I know many of you are high on him, but he has many of the same flaws Kizer has in his game. And in terms of off-the field? He's a mess. Why not just see what Kizer can do in his 2nd year--year 1 to year 2 is a massive leap in terms of preparation and understanding. Much of this will be determined over these last 7 games of whether or not we think the light is coming on for him. It's a huge step from college to the NFL.

If we determine a need for a QB, the only one that I would entertain taking in the first 10 picks of this draft is Sam Darnold. Period.

We're taking a QB this year.

It sure as fuck won't be Darnold. He has done absolutely nothing but turn the ball over this year so I'm not really sure why you're infatuated with him.

His mechanics are extemely poor.

On top of that he's said privately he doesn't want to be in Cleveland.

 

[CBBI]

On paper, Darnold has everything you want.

Prototypical size, good-to-very good arm, athleticism, success against high end opponents, anticipation and accuracy (at times).

But he's had major problems with turnovers this year. He's inexperienced at a position that really demands experience. A downgrade along his OL has led to some really bad mechanical breakdowns both against pressure and against "ghosts" aka anticipating a rush that isn't there.

The freshman to sophomore regression concerns me quite a bit.

I still think when it's all said and done, if he declares, Darnold is picked in the top 5.

 

[Randolphkeys]

Okay, I watched the Oklahoma matchup with TCU. First off, I want to say that I watched the OSU vs. Oklahoma game as well, just not with the uninterrupted attention I gave this game.

In the two OK games I've watched, the star of this team is still the offensive line in my book. There is no weak link and both Orlando Brown and their interior line in particular are equally dominant in pass pro and opening holes in the run game. Rodney Anderson is in the middle of a breakout as the running back, making plays in the pass and run breaking tackles. Okahoma has a complete offense for the college level, and Mayfield orchestrates the entire group.

Positives:
- very quick in his reads, especially when he diagnoses the blitz early.
- arm is strong enough, comfortable making throws on the move.
- very accurate, especially when he doesn't have an opponent approaching unblocked.
- when moving in the pocket, keeps his eyes on the first down area for a receiver breaking open.

Negatives:
- College level overconfidence as a runner. Too often he mistakes himself for a running back and tries to turn the edge on the sidelines or put his helmet down. It's bad enough when I watch Kizer do it, this guy is built like a place kicker by comparison.
- along the same lines, cost his team a first down first possession after halftime by running backwards trying to create a long gain. You are a quarterback, not a punt returner.
- should look more often to dump the ball off rather than take hits at the next level.

Overall:
Way more accurate with better arm talent than Colt McCoy, but exhibits the same playing style as a prospect at the college level. In the Senior Bowl, coaches should push him to make more pro decisions because he can get away with some brash overconfidence in the Big 12 that won't work in the NFL against the speed and powerful hitting of a pro defense.

 

[Norm]

Okay, I watched the Oklahoma matchup with TCU. First off, I want to say that I watched the OSU vs. Oklahoma game as well, just not with the uninterrupted attention I gave this game.

In the two OK games I've watched, the star of this team is still the offensive line in my book. There is no weak link and both Orlando Brown and their interior line in particular are equally dominant in pass pro and opening holes in the run game. Rodney Anderson is in the middle of a breakout as the running back, making plays in the pass and run breaking tackles. Okahoma has a complete offense for the college level, and Mayfield orchestrates the entire group.

Positives:
- very quick in his reads, especially when he diagnoses the blitz early.
- arm is strong enough, comfortable making throws on the move.
- very accurate, especially when he doesn't have an opponent approaching unblocked.
- when moving in the pocket, keeps his eyes on the first down area for a receiver breaking open.

Negatives:
- College level overconfidence as a runner. Too often he mistakes himself for a running back and tries to turn the edge on the sidelines or put his helmet down. It's bad enough when I watch Kizer do it, this guy is built like a place kicker by comparison.
- along the same lines, cost his team a first down first possession after halftime by running backwards trying to create a long gain. You are a quarterback, not a punt returner.
- should look more often to dump the ball off rather than take hits at the next level.

Overall:
Way more accurate with better arm talent than Colt McCoy, but exhibits the same playing style as a prospect at the college level. In the Senior Bowl, coaches should push him to make more pro decisions because he can get away with some brash overconfidence in the Big 12 that won't work in the NFL against the speed and powerful hitting of a pro defense.

You are missing the biggest factor Key's............ how hot is his GF?

 

[CBBI]

Overall:
Way more accurate with better arm talent than Colt McCoy, but exhibits the same playing style as a prospect at the college level. In the Senior Bowl, coaches should push him to make more pro decisions because he can get away with some brash overconfidence in the Big 12 that won't work in the NFL against the speed and powerful hitting of a pro defense.

Do you think he's a better or worse prospect than Patrick Mahomes?

 

[Randolphkeys]

Do you think he's a better or worse prospect than Patrick Mahomes?

I wasn't high on Mahomes specifically for the Browns because I thought he wasn't ready to play from the pocket. Alex Smith has been brilliant this year, but he had to be or else Mahomes would have the job by now. Mahomes is a rich man's Kizer.

That said, Mahomes like Kizer fits a physical mold that will never be unpopular in the pro game. Mayfield was dumped by Klingsbury for Mahomes... The decision proved to be a mistake, but pro scouts would agree with the choice.

 

[Los216]

I wasn't high on Mahomes specifically for the Browns because I thought he wasn't ready to play from the pocket. Alex Smith has been brilliant this year, but he had to be or else Mahomes would have the job by now. Mahomes is a rich man's Kizer.

That said, Mahomes like Kizer fits a physical mold that will never be unpopular in the pro game. Mayfield was dumped by Klingsbury for Mahomes... The decision proved to be a mistake, but pro scouts would agree with the choice.

A lot of scouts seem to be warming up to Baker now. I think where baker has a clear advantage over all the other QB's in this draft is his processing speed, decision making, and his eyes. And of course his accuracy.