2017-18 CFB SEASON / '18 NFL DRAFT

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Saquon Barkley - RB - Nittany Lions

A scout told Bob McGinn Football that Penn State RB Saquon Barkley is a "big Barry Sanders."

The full quote: "That dude is built to last. He’s a big Barry Sanders." Another scout told McGinn that Barkley was the "total package" because of his ability to create yards in the run game and also as a receiver. It wasn't all glowing, however, as one scout was curious why Barkley's production as a rusher was so much worse in 2017 than it was in 2016. That scout acknowledges that it likely had something to do with scheming, but it is worth mentioning. Barkley is a lock for the first five selections.
Source: Bob McGinn Football

Apr 23 - 9:09 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Sam Darnold - QB - Trojans

ESPN's Todd McShay hears that the Jets would take USC QB Sam Darnold if he's still on the board.

The Jets and Browns are the two teams everyone is "sure" will take a quarterback, and McShay hears that Darnold (6'4/220) is their top choice. If Darnold is the first pick as many expect, Baker Mayfield and Josh Rosen are the next two options they are considering. It's interesting to note that Josh Allen isn't listed here, so he could slide out of the top five if things play out this way. We think the Mayfield vs. Rosen choice -- if it comes to fruition -- will be one of the more fascinating things to watch for on Thursday.
Source: ESPN

Apr 23 - 10:00 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Sony Michel - RB - Bulldogs

The Ringer's Mike Lombardi mentioned on his GM Street Podcast that Georgia RB Sony Michel could slide because of a "medical concern."

"There's a lot of teams telling me there's a medical concern here, so he could slip a little bit," said Lombardi. "His medical grade is a little iffy." Lomardi doesn't say what the medical issue is, because he doesn't know what the medical issue is. Michel is often cited as the second-best running back in the class and the one most likely to go after Penn State's Saquon Barkley. A scout recently told Bob McGinn that he is reminded of Todd Gurley when watching him run, but concerns over his medical report could cause him to slide behind players like LSU's Derrius Guice, San Diego State's Rashaad Penny, or perhaps his teammate at Georgia in Nick Chubb.
Source: GM Street Podcast

Apr 23 - 9:38 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Derwin James - DB - Seminoles

ESPN's Todd McShay reports that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have narrowed in on Florida State S Derwin James with the seventh pick.

McShay goes as far as to say that James to the Buccaneers is the "worst kept secret" in the NFL right now. There were reports last week that the former Seminole turned down an invitation to a private workout with Tampa Bay, but that wasn't about the team specifically, but rather that he felt satisfied with his workout at the NFL Scouting Combine. If Alabama S Minkah Fitzpatrick is still on the board as expected we could see the Crimson Tide standout going to the Bucs, but on paper, the James to Tampa Bay fit makes an awful lot of sense.
Source: ESPN

Apr 23 - 8:37 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Leighton Vander Esch - LB - Player

Per NFL Network's Jane Slater, the Cowboys envision Boise State LB Leighton Vander Esch as "(Brian) Urlacher 2.0."

It's an aggressive comparison to the first-ballot Hall of Famer, but not an uncommon one. NFL draft insider Tony Pauline passed along rumors Vander Esch was drawing Urlacher comparisons from scouts shortly after the college season. In addition to wide receiver, the Cowboys have a big need at linebacker. They want to keep Sean Lee on the weak side, move Jaylon Smith to the strong side, and find a true three-down "Mike."
Related: Cowboys
Source: NFL.com

Apr 23 - 5:06 PM

[ChrisPozz]

Let me clarify my last statement a little bit better for the record.

I'm bummed they have 4 first round grades on QBs this year because I'm really only a Josh Rosen in the first guy; albeit a fan who is scared of the personality stuff because it's not a terrific match to my own personality and all the things that go with that if I'm building a team from the ground up. But ultimately the throwing stuff is too good and there's enough coaches out there I respect that I think that could work alongside him.

I really like Darnold the guy and all that comes with that with him. He's just not the right fit for me to take the plunge on if I have to find the right coaches that are best suited to work with him. It's not the project I'd want to take on. If someone ELSE could find the right coaches for him then I'm on board with Darnold because he's very much someone I wouldn't mind being around day in and day out and having the Darnold experience rub off on other guys I bring in.

As far as the grades go. The reason why I said 2 would've excited me is because it fall in line with how I see this class and, obviously, I feel good about the work I've done given what I've been able to work with to get to these places with each. I'm not so against Darnold in that I'd tell them, "How could you put a first round grade on Darnold?" If they feel like they can get him the help he needs I'm ok with a coaching staff telling me that depending on the staff and the leeway I'm willing to give them. I'm willing to go that far with Darnold. He just wouldn't be for me if I'm running the board.

As I also said if you want to tell me there's a 3rd guy you'd be willing work with - say Josh Allen - I would tell you it scares the pants off me but ultimately I can forgive that move alone. If I put the Josh Allen stuff and stack it up against other QB evaluations that I disagreed with then that's when I start to have a major problem with your QB eye, though. But having a 3rd first round grade on a QB still falls in the forgiving range for me ON ITS OWN even though I only want to work with 1 but am ok if someone ELSE wants to work with Darnold.

If you're telling me you've got 4 guys you'd take in the first round that's where we start to get problems. That's a major stretch at that point. At that point I'm telling you I think you're wrong, I don't get the value, and that it's more than just finding the right people that are a good fit for him.

If there's a 5th one then we've got a problem and have major differences. If you've got 5 guys AND you're someone that I feel has bumbled the QB position in prior years then that's where we start to have a major debate and I begin to question how much work you've done and/or what you think you're seeing.

If you're in rare air and you're telling me there's a 6th, and have previous statements that were poor on the QB spot, that's when we enter fire able offense territory for me like I said.

Lastly, that last post of mine had nothing to do with the Jimmy G. stuff. I haven't changed my mind on him. Ultimately I think this team still needs a THE GUY at that spot but I'm wasting my time putting Jimmy G. into too many of the discussions because he'll be their guy for the foreseeable future and most of my opinions have to work around that.

If anybody in the next week or so wants my two cents on if I'd make a move on a QB with Jimmy G. in the fold and all that I can go there but I haven't really done much Jimmy G. vs. a 2018 NFL Draft QB prospect because I don't think it'll get a lot of attention on this board. I feel like it'd get a lot of yawns if I went there.

I hope my previous post didn’t offend you in any way, Pozz. The way you responded was not Pozz like. Maybe I’m the one with the issue and reading the content of this post too deep. I can’t tell by the tone, but anyway... Yeah, when it’s dead—I say a couple weeks after the draft (worst time of the year in regard to football) just give us a layout just for the fun of it. There are 3 guys I would have preferred to be our QB than Jimmy G. But I’m content with him as a future. It could have been much worse I think with Kirk Cousins. I was so excited about the 2018 QB and looking forward to getting our franchise player this year in the draft.

Offended? Ha, no. I don't get offended fairly easily. My tone in word form sometimes comes off a hair harder than I'd like it to sometimes. Or, more often, my passion for a subject goes to level 10 right out of the shoots and sometimes people aren't used to that.

[ChrisPozz]

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[ChrisPozz]

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30 is on the high end in comparison to people in the scouting community not paid by NFL teams.

Also, I wouldn't have expected anything differently but seeing they have 4 first round grades on QBs bums me out a little bit. 2 would've excited me with this staff. 3 would've been in the forgiving category but 4 is starting to stretch things for me personally. 5 would've made me sweat. 6 is a fire able offense.

He also added he believes 12 players have "Pro Bowl potential." That statement is a better one and less worrisome to me than the 30 first round grades in my opinion.

The phrase "Pro Bowl potential" in draft talk gets thrown around a lot more than it should I've noticed over the years. Or, the more definitive phrase "future Pro Bowler." That one is another one that bugs me. Too often I think casual fans/draft folks set the ceiling too high for many of these kids and then get themselves in trouble with the definitive tags. I'm almost always lower than other people's numbers when it comes to projecting Hall of Famers, All Pros, Pro Bowlers, potential Pro Bowlers, etc..

[ChrisPozz]

"Day one starter" is another phrase that's thrown around too often, too. IMO

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Billy Price - C - Buckeyes

Ohio State C Billy Price's health is "no longer really a question," according to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport.

Price suffered a pec injury at the NFL Combine. Rapoport adds three centers could be round one picks: Price, James Daniels and Frank Ragnow. We believe the latter two are more likely, with Ragnow a virtual lock.
Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter

Apr 24 - 10:11 AM

[ChrisPozz]

Baker Mayfield 'definitely' in conversation for Browns' No. 1 pick

http://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2018/story/_/id/23301572/baker-mayfield-definitely-conversation-cleveland-browns-no-1-pick

A number of options where this stems back to. It doesn't hurt the Browns, and the league certainly won't frown on multiple names still being thrown out there, but the most intriguing aspect of this for me would be if this was sourced back to Scot McCloughan or one of HIS guys with the Browns.

McCloughan, if you were unaware, was on record LAST OCTOBER as stating that if he has to start his franchise with one quarterback that'd be available in this draft he said very enthusiastically that it'd be Baker Mayfield. He also added in October that 3 would go top 10 and that 5 would go in the first round.

He's always entitled to change his mind, and maybe he has, especially the 5 in the first round part, but if you're a fringe draft guy and you're wondering about this Baker Mayfield/Browns stuff, it's possible that this is coming from the Scot McCloughan side of things. Also if you are unaware it should be noted that McCloughan is "only" a personnel consultant so he likely doesn't have much contractual control with them.

The type of edge that comes with a Baker Mayfield is a surface fit with the type of edge McCloughan has been tied to in the past. They both have some dog to them. There's an edge that probably plays well together when they're in the same room. I don't think that would scare McCloughan one bit, and, in fact, I think A LOT, but not all, of Mayfield's edginess could attract a guy like McCloughan to him.

I think part of Baker's make up probably intrigues Dorsey, too. He's got some of that in him (Dorsey) as well in the past with his guys but Dorsey is a bit more buttoned up and might tend to find other personality traits as appealing or more appealing if things are close. If Dorsey has another QB (Allen?) slightly ahead/slightly behind, I could also see Dorsey feeling better about a safer personality/make up type. Not that the personality/make up stuff is going to be 1A on their priority list.

Anyway, the McCloughan connection is really the only part that makes this discussion worthy in my opinion. McCloughan has been known to put stuff out there with different reporters so that it's on the record especially after his GM/main personnel days have ended. I think he really likes and enjoys his takes being out there so that they can live on if he's proven to be more right after things are decided. I could see this being the case with the Mayfield/Browns stuff. And, for the most part, the Browns themselves probably don't mind another name being tied to them for the number one pick. And, as I previously stated, the league loves that this is being dragged out until draft day, too.

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Josh Rosen - QB - Bruins

One GM believes the 2018 NFL Draft might set a record for the number of first-round trades.

Quarterback deals and the belief that there are a handful of elite prospects then a drop off all back this statement up. Teams could prioritize a target in picks 10 through 32 and move up or down to acquire them, adding a third-round pick or so in the process.
Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter

Apr 24 - 9:15 AM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Sam Darnold - QB - Trojans

USC QB Sam Darnold will be the youngest passer drafted in the first round since the NFL merger in 1970.

Darnold will turn 21 years old on June 5. Darnold likely won't start as a rookie if he goes to the Browns, but if he does he'll be the youngest to do so in week one. It adds fuel to the fire that Darnold has room for improvement. He also has played the position for that long.
Source: Graham Barfield on Twitter

Apr 24 - 8:56 AM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Billy Price - C - Buckeyes

Ohio State C Billy Price told Sirius XM Radio on Monday that he's made "significant progress" from his pectoral injury.

Price suffered the injury at the NFL Scouting Combine while doing the bench press, but the former Buckeye claims that he has a "full range of motion" now in the area. He's now lifting dumbbells for the first time since the injury; obviously a positive sign. Price was once a lock to be the first center off the board, but because of the injury, he could slide into Day 2. Assuming full health, he'd be tremendous value at that point in the draft.
Source: NFL Draft Scout

Apr 23 - 10:52 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Baker Mayfield - QB - Sooners

Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield is "definitely" in the conversation at No. 1 overall to the Browns, according to one executive who spoke with Adam Schefter.

We buy it. A few scenarios could be playing out in front of us. One, John Dorsey knows the pick, but is keeping it a secret, especially from Hue Jackson. We all know Hue has friends in the media and leaks information. Second, Dorsey, Jackson, McCloughan, Haley and more could disagree on which passer is the top quarterback in this class. At the end of the day the pick will come down to Dorsey. McCloughan already stated Mayfield is his top quarterback.
Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter

Apr 24 - 8:43 AM

[CrimsonCrew]

Sam Darnold - QB - Trojans

USC QB Sam Darnold will be the youngest passer drafted in the first round since the NFL merger in 1970.

Darnold will turn 21 years old on June 5. Darnold likely won't start as a rookie if he goes to the Browns, but if he does he'll be the youngest to do so in week one. It adds fuel to the fire that Darnold has room for improvement. He also has played the position for that long.
Source: Graham Barfield on Twitter

Apr 24 - 8:56 AM

Alex turned 21 in early May of the year he was drafted, so I'm guessing he's the guy who's being knocked off as #1.

[ChrisPozz]

NFL draft predictions for all 32 teams: Who's trading up, more

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/page/32for32x180424/2018-nfl-draft-predictions-all-32-teams-trades-first-round-picks-more

The Packers will try to trade up for a defensive back

If they have to. That's how badly they need one of the top cornerbacks or versatile defensive backs in this class. They'd like a crack at either Ohio State's Denzel Ward, Alabama's Minkah Fitzpatrick or Florida State's Derwin James, and new GM Brian Gutekunst knows he might have to move up from No. 14 in order to do so. -- Rob Demovsky

I'd look to trade UP first than down as I've been saying all along but I've also said I like a bunch of guys in the 2nd-3rd rounds this year as well so to say I'd be open for business would be an understatement. I'd be taking phone calls and aggressively entering back-and-forth discussions that are meaningful. Not just look-see stuff.

Josh Jackson enters the picture at 14 for me, too. (A guy a lot of people think GB will have on the tips of their tongue).

[ChrisPozz]

ESPN will have all the news about the NFL draft — until it's time to announce the selections

http://www.latimes.com/sports/nfl/la-sp-sports-media-nfl-draft-20180423-story.html

The NFL Network and ESPN again have instructed their employees not to report on teams' choices until they are revealed at the podium by Commissioner Roger Goodell.

That also would be the case for Fox, which is simulcasting the first two days of the NFL Network's feed.

So no matter when a reporter for one of those outlets might be tipped off about an upcoming pick, he or she won't be able to report it until it's official.

I'm fine with the league saying they want ratings, to build up the suspense as long as possible, and to stretch things for excitement purposes. I get that. I'm also OK if a network (ESPN, Fox, etc.) wants to do the same for the same reasons. I feel for the reporters a little bit who have the itch to run with stuff the minute they get it and can't if they are instructed not to by their employer. That part stinks a little bit.

I have zero, none, nadda, and no sympathy for fans who moan and groan and groan and moan over getting picks tipped early to them. Sorry, I couldn't care less about THOSE people's feelings. You don't want to be tipped? Sit in a room and only watch the TV. Don't follow people on Twitter that want to tip picks. Don't open your phones, don't look at your computer screens, don't talk to others if you don't want to be tipped off.

The folks that routinely moan and groan and groan and moan enough in hopes that it will help cause an uproar for networks to change business practice, or now keep business practice in place, drive me crazy. Those folks are awful on a sports level. (I'm sure many are wonderful people otherwise). I have no sympathy for those types. It drives me nuts every year.

[ChrisPozz]

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30 is on the high end in comparison to people in the scouting community not paid by NFL teams.

Also, I wouldn't have expected anything differently but seeing they have 4 first round grades on QBs bums me out a little bit. 2 would've excited me with this staff. 3 would've been in the forgiving category but 4 is starting to stretch things for me personally. 5 would've made me sweat. 6 is a fire able offense.

He also added he believes 12 players have "Pro Bowl potential." That statement is a better one and less worrisome to me than the 30 first round grades in my opinion.

The phrase "Pro Bowl potential" in draft talk gets thrown around a lot more than it should I've noticed over the years. Or, the more definitive phrase "future Pro Bowler." That one is another one that bugs me. Too often I think casual fans/draft folks set the ceiling too high for many of these kids and then get themselves in trouble with the definitive tags. I'm almost always lower than other people's numbers when it comes to projecting Hall of Famers, All Pros, Pro Bowlers, potential Pro Bowlers, etc..

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Just ran across this in case someone wanted someone else's take on the number 30. (Cowboys have 17).

[ChrisPozz]

The Jets are selecting a QB, they are more likely to do so then the Giants (whom I also believe will select one). I don’t think it’s even up for debate at this point.

So you really think the Jet's brass just traded up for the third pick and said, "Okay, whichever one of these franchise QBs falls in our laps is the one we'll be taking." The fact you don't believe SQBK is in the realm of possibility is mindless. Now, I can't definitively say, SQBK is getting taken by the Jets but 99% sure he'll be taken in the top 3. The odds that there are three deserving QBs that will be picked consecutively right out the gate is the other 1%.

If they feel really good about the top quarterbacks this year, combined with some inkling of how they believe it'll fall based on their research, I strongly lean towards them going the QB route. I don't know of a hired personnel man in history who'd make that trade if they only liked 1 of the QBs even if it was the guy they felt most sure about falling to them. I can't name anybody that I've studied who I believe would push their luck with that.

Slightly different situation with the Rams and Eagles but the Eagles made their move feeling good about both Goff and Wentz. Obviously it was probably a little safer for them because they only had 2 evaluations to make as opposed to the likely 3 but there's a little history there of a team moving up roughly the same number of spots to take a QB that was the leftover guy.

Would they make that trade if they liked/loved two of the quarterbacks and didn't really like the other very much? I doubt that. Do I blindly think they don't have a preference? I absolutely do think they have a preference if forced.

Slight curve ball where I might differ with a lot of people. Would I tell somebody, "Yep, it's 100% that they take a QB?" No, I wouldn't do that. Why? Because I don't HAVE to tell anybody that. I rarely like throwing out the 100% stuff. Personnel men do weird/dumb stuff all the time in the NFL. (Actually, I'm not a huge Darnold guy other than him as a man and Allen scares me as a project so I'm not saying if you pass on either you're dumb). You won't hear me say it's 100% with a lot of things anymore.

If I'm another team trying to gauge what their plans are, the numerous reports of how they tried to handle the QB spot in FA gives me confidence that this move is for their quarterback and that they feel good about multiple guys. All 3? I don't know. More likely than not I think a part of them would feel comfortable with any one of the three.

In regards to Barkley specifically. I will repeat for the millionth time so none of his fans get upset that I think he's a special and unique back. I will repeat that I think he has one of the highest ceilings I've ever studied in a running back. He also has one of the lowest floors of all the top backs I've ever studied. Would I ever say the Jets will NOT take him? No, I wouldn't say that. Do I strongly believe they'll pass on him if he's there? Yes, I do think they'll pass on him if they're done moving.

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For the QB or not a QB debate that took place way back in the middle of March when the trade happened........