Whoa there. He's a freshman with zero pedigree. Luck and Manning came from NFL lineage and had 4 phenomenal years with continual improvement.
Exactly. If you have Clowney and Watt blowing **** up in the backfield, even someone as inept as Brice McCain could make a pro bowl bid.
Jags Vikings Bucs Rams Browns Steelers Those are the teams that could with their likeliness of drafting a QB probably in that order.
numerous NFL scouts have said Jamies Winston is the best qb prospect since Elway... so yes he is a better prospect than ANdrew Luck look at his play this year, he is having a better year than any year Luck ever had at Stanford, and he is only 19
So, Minnesota is already done with Ponder? Yet another example of why reaching for a QB in the first round is never a great idea.
You don't have to born of a former QB to have an understanding of the game well beyond your years. A 12 year old kid who understands concepts like using go-routes to attack outside linebackers when a defense shows cover 4, using trail/mesh/shallow/smash routes to counter man or press coverage's, curl/flat/smash/verticals when seeing a cover 3..... It's an understanding of the position that is advanced in ways typically only seen in players who have that pedigree. He's unique in that he doesn't have the bloodline, yet still displays a remarkably advanced understanding of the position. Winston's play as a freshman has been exceptional as well. Peyton Manning didn't improve through his 4 years, but his game was remarkably consistent(145-147 rating through all 4 years). Luck showed a HUGE improvement as a sophomore and on, but his freshman season was comparatively pedestrian. Winton's production as a freshman QB is beyond any single season of Luck or Mannings college careers. Obviously, none of this equals Winston being a better prospect in my eyes. There's a ceiling that all 3 hit, which is "if they are on the field, they will succeed." An advanced skillset doesn't have to come from Dad. If someone has it, they have it regardless of where the knowledge was bestowed on them. Not to say the train can't come off the tracks. He has to get through the current scandal, and if he does, keep his nose clean from there. Any regression would be concerning. He must maintain the same level of play, or improve on it. , and I fully expect him to do just that.
Okay. I originallly though you meant injuries coming into the draft. And not injuries in general. If that's the case, then wouldn't that disqualify EVERY player to ever play the NFL to be sure things? The NFL by nature is injury prone. If anything, in the right system and a smart QB, the QB position is the only place where injury risks can be mitigated. Especially since Bridgewater is considered a pro-style QB who can read defenses. If you include injuries, then there's literally no such thing as a sure fire NFL prospect. Go down any draft and the list of injuries that derailed careers is a long one.
Even though I really like Clowney, I'm rarely against trading down. Particularly when there are multiple 1st & 2nd round picks to be gained in addition to what we already have. Wouldn't have to get quite as much as the Rams did for RG3, but I'd still want to see a hefty return. Swap 2014 1st rounder's with a team picking in the top ten, plus a 2014 second rounder & future 1st round pick at the least.
Bucs and Steelers are a no. Rams have a tiny chance, as Bradford should get to prove what he can do when healthy. Browns have a 50/50 chance, but they really like Brian Hoyer so who knows.
The Browns are drafting a QB. They have two first round picks and the great Brian Hoyer played all of three games for them and tore his ACL.
Ponder has had almost three full seasons and sucked the entire time. Like, Blaine Gabbert level suckage. He's done there, especially if Frazier is gone.
Steelers have been rumored to be wanting to part with Big Ben this summer, so it's possible. I feel bad for the Browns because they don't know exactly what they have in their QBs with all the injuries this year but 2 1st round picks makes it easier to do. Bradford has been healthy plenty and he's not that good, also if he is getting injured so much, that might be a sign of things to come. Bucs it depends on what the new coaching staff will want.
Bust. I don't want the Texans to take a QB with the #1 overall pick if have it. Trade back if possible. At one time there was some buzz about Kirk Cousins is he a career back up or is he a potential starter? Honestly I would not mind if they brought in Vick for a look.
That's what I meant from the start. When you said sure things don't exist, I disagreed only because I don't consider these freak happenings to disqualify every prospect from being a lock. An injury history is one thing. A history of serious injury is something that would keep an otherwise elite prospect from being a "sure thing" in the way I intended. By "sure thing" I don't mean to suggest that there is zero chance of something going wrong. What I mean is that they they will not fail because they lack a particular trait (i.e. height, strength, speed, work ethic, ability to make progressions and/or reads, etc.) or a recurring injury that was well documented. I think Charles Rogers was a sure thing, and proved it in the brief amount of time he was actually healthy during that first season. Even in hindsight, there was nothing to suggest he wouldn't be an elite WR in the NFL. For example, Ernie Davis was a "sure thing" prospect just as Jim Brown was before him. If he had made it to the field, he would have been a game changer. No doubt. For him to die from leukemia before the season started is an exception to the rule per se. Anyway... We're really grinding out semantics at this point lol. I think we're on the same page now though.
Draft Clowney with the first pick. I think he has the mental makeup to be a great player. Then draft a QB in the second or third round, and let them compete with Keenum for the job. Brady was a 6th round pick. Turned out ok. Or trade for Big Ben, and he can extend his career playing for a good texans team.
Jags: yes for sure will be drafting a QB Vikings will as well Bucs have something with Glennon,..would not draft a QB in the 1st round guaranteed. Rams?? Sam Bradford??? Browns: yes but doubt 1st round... Steelers arent getting rid of Big Ben for chump change. Ben will most likely retire a Steeler! Considering the Texans are also looking for a QB. And if the current projections are right: Bridgewater goes first, then Manziel, then Carr...The Texans have the chance to get a really solid 4 year Senior or take a gamble on a player like Hundley or Mettenberger. If the Texans are picking this year with the #1 pick, a lot is gonna be based on if McNair goes with a new regime and what their vision is for a QB. The right decision might be to get Barr or Clowney first, or trade down for a guy like Matthews or Sammy Watkins