Round 5 - Pick 140 - Dorian Thompson-Robinson, QB, UCLA

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

This is just the most Stefanski quarterback room yet. They all approach the game similarly with similar talents. They have known each other from quarterback off-season work before they were teammates.

Most importantly they know the pecking order: Watson is the clear star, Dobbs is the vet, DTR is the day three pick.

Nobody wants to think of Watson potentially missing time, but I like what they have in place if Watson gets banged up.

I don't want to tell you what's in the back of my mind.

I could see both the Browns and Broncos deeply regretting their QB acquisitions... and starting QB's other than Watson and Russ as early as 2024.

I'm trying to keep those dark thoughts at bay. Deshaun will bounce back, no problem--it's just rust. Being away from football for two years won't have a permanent effect...

 

[adam81king]

I don't want to tell you what's in the back of my mind.

I could see both the Browns and Broncos deeply regretting their QB acquisitions... and starting QB's other than Watson and Russ as early as 2024.

I'm trying to keep those dark thoughts at bay. Deshaun will bounce back, no problem--it's just rust. Being away from football for two years won't have a permanent effect...

Smoke some VERY good weed and those dark thoughts will turn into Deshaun being the best QB ever...and playing on clouds with oompa loompas...

 

[Ohio]

had DTR as my QB4 heading into this draft. I wasn't a Levis fan.

I think there's a lot of similarity to Jalen Hurts. Lots of college experience. Athlete. Got better and more accurate every single year...

Agreed 100%. I watched a good bit of UCLA the past few years solely because of DTR. He was fun to watch and his development year-to-year was obvious to see. He is a good player and will be in this league for a long time. To me, his floor is Josh Johnson.

Honestly would not be surprised at all if DTR ends up being a top 3 QB in this class. Thought Levis was/is incredibly overrated and I'd take DTR at 140 over Anthony Richardson at 4 every single time.

 

[Phills14]

This is just the most Stefanski quarterback room yet. They all approach the game similarly with similar talents. They have known each other from quarterback off-season work before they were teammates.

Most importantly they know the pecking order: Watson is the clear star, Dobbs is the vet, DTR is the day three pick.

Nobody wants to think of Watson potentially missing time, but I like what they have in place if Watson gets banged up.

Correct, they are similar skill sets too so if they are forced into the game, the offense doesn't have to change drastically to accommodate them.

 

[The Wizard of Moz]

I could see both the Browns and Broncos deeply regretting their QB acquisitions... and starting QB's other than Watson and Russ as early as 2024.

Regretting? Maybe

Watson not starting in 2024 for the browns outside of injury I think there’s basically no chance

It was just too large of an investment in capital (draft, reputation, and cash) for Jimmy to not give every last chance for it to work out. If Watson is terrible this year it’s goodbye to Stefanski (and maybe the front office) and try again in 24 with a new coach. No expense will be spared to make this work and no amount of lecturing a billionaire on sunk cost fallacy will make him reconsider

 

[Los216]

We're going to get a really high draft pick for DTR

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

I'm trying to keep those dark thoughts at bay. Deshaun will bounce back, no problem--it's just rust. Being away from football for two years won't have a permanent effect...

Keep telling yourself that....

I'd be surprised if he was ever as good again relative to the rest of the league as he was in 2020, but we can always hope.

 

[MirORich]

Keep telling yourself that....

I'd be surprised if he was ever as good again relative to the rest of the league as he was in 2020, but we can always hope.

I think he will absolutely be really good.

But I am curious about two things specifically

1. Does playing 70-80% of his games on grass instead of the opposite when he was in HOU have any affect on his playstyle

2. Is there a change in how he is able to run the Browns offense pre-November and in domes vs. the outdoor games played in colder climates from the middle of November through January

It may be completely unfounded and there are plenty of fast paced offenses that still excel in any conditions short of Buffalo Bluzzards but it’s still something I am at least curious about.

 

[buzzdog]

Keep telling yourself that....

I'd be surprised if he was ever as good again relative to the rest of the league as he was in 2020, but we can always hope.

Yes, because at 27 years of age the guy is clearly washed.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

Yes, because at 27 years of age the guy is clearly washed.

How about just a touch of nuance and decorum?

Nobody, especially not @The Human Q-Tip , is saying Deshaun Watson is "washed" (Q-Tip, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong).

However, it's very much possible that being removed from football for two full years permanently sets him back from where his peers were at that time. Two years of growth from his contemporaries, and two years of regression/stagnation from Watson, likely means that those he was neck-and-neck with in 2020 have now permanently pulled away from Deshaun.

I still think it's likely that he bounces back and is the best QB the Browns have had since the return--but I think there's a heavy amount of skepticism that he can ever be a borderline MVP candidate again.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

How about just a touch of nuance and decorum?

Nobody, especially not @The Human Q-Tip , is saying Deshaun Watson is "washed" (Q-Tip, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong).

However, it's very much possible that being removed from football for two full years permanently sets him back from where his peers were at that time. Two years of growth from his contemporaries, and two years of regression/stagnation from Watson, likely means that those he was neck-and-neck with in 2020 have now permanently pulled away from Deshaun.

I still think it's likely that he bounces back and is the best QB the Browns have had since the return--but I think there's a heavy amount of skepticism that he can ever be a borderline MVP candidate again.

I think it's more likely that he's a top 6-10 QB here as opposed to top 5. Didn't think that was a very extreme statement but I suppose opinions vary.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

I think it's more likely that he's a top 6-10 QB here as opposed to top 5. Didn't think that was a very extreme statement but I suppose opinions vary.

I'd agree. I struggle putting anyone ahead of him outside of this group. Dak and Aaron Rodgers are probably my next two, but even that keeps Deshaun inside the top 10.

1. Mahomes
2. Burrow
3. Allen
4. Lamar
5. Hurts
6. Herbert
7. Lawrence

If you tell me Watson outperforms TLaw and Hurts, I wouldn't be shocked. If you tell me Lamar gets hurt and isn't even on this list, now Watson is top 5.

 

[DJTJ]

I'd agree. I struggle putting anyone ahead of him outside of this group. Dak and Aaron Rodgers are probably my next two, but even that keeps Deshaun inside the top 10.

1. Mahomes
2. Burrow
3. Allen
4. Lamar
5. Hurts
6. Herbert
7. Lawrence

If you tell me Watson outperforms TLaw and Hurts, I wouldn't be shocked. If you tell me Lamar gets hurt and isn't even on this list, now Watson is top 5.

Like objectively, is it even debatable that these 7 are better that Deshaun? I’m really confused by this discussion…

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

Like objectively, is it even debatable that these 7 are better that Deshaun? I’m really confused by this discussion…

I think there's a lot of unknowns.

If Deshaun returns to his 2020 form, then you can argue he might flat beat out everyone on that list outside of the top 3.

If Deshaun looks the way he played to end 2022, there will be a lot more names that go ahead of him.

So much is projection, scheme, and assumptions on opposing defenses. If you told me Trevor Lawrence had worse numbers this year than he did last year, I'd believe you. That sounds crazy because he's a young, developing QB. They added Calvin Ridley. He should get better--but interceptions are wonky, and improvements in the AFC South could lead to worse statistical performances out of Lawrence.

I assume Herbert looks incredible this year after the Chargers jettisoned Lombardi. But, there's a chance that assumption is wrong.

There's so much chaos in football--we know very little for certain, especially at a position where so much of your performance hinges on your skill position players, your offensive line, your coach, your plays being called, etc.

 

[Selby]

I personally think he is going to be Kirk Cousins-esque. He will comfortably sit in that top 10-12 QB range for years, probably put up some decent counting stats, make a few Pro Bowls, take us to the playoffs a handful of times. However, I don't think he is THAT guy who wins us the ultimate prize.

I'll now sit back while everyone roasts me.