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| NFL.com |
Johnny Football's got to tempt the Jagwires here. Gus Bradley just left a team that won a Super Bowl with a very mobile, undersized QB. If he's going to build a team like the one he left in Seattle, he needs his Russell Wilson, right?
The Russell Wilson lesson, though, is that you can find top QBs later in the draft, rather than make ill-advised reaches for immediately-overwhelmed QBs like Blaine Gabbert whose college systems never prepared them for the NFL, and some of us (ahem) really should have seen that instead of saying Gabbert should be drafted before Cam Newton. OK, enough of that.
The Manziel opportunity, though, is an opportunity the Jagwires have passed on before. They ignored the box-office bonanza they would have gotten with Tim Tebow, and drafted a PUNTER ahead of Russell Wilson. And, very much rebuilding under a defensive-minded coach, they're not going to worry about passing on a mobile QB again. Mack was a college sack machine, there's a major drop-off at pass rusher in this draft after him, and Bradley needs his Bruce Irvin right now more than he needs his Russell Wilson.
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| ESPN.com |
Two teams picking in the top 4 last year drafted right tackles and went on to the playoffs, so I think the stigma's off taking a tackle high but not plugging him in at LT right away. So I really, really hope that works again in 2014. Like the Rams, the Browns are in a very physical division and need to be able to run. With Matthews, Joe Thomas and Alex Mack on that line, they ought to be able to dictate some terms in the AFC North.
QB would make a ton of sense here, if you think a highly-drafted QB would ever survive in Cleveland. I say take Matthews, be pretty sure he's going to play forever, and build a wall that will stand a long time that you can put a lesser QB behind.
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| Liberty Voice |
This pick's probably up for grabs. Oakland needs to amass picks this year more than they need to pick an arguably undersized receiver, at least for this high in the draft, and YES, I realize we're a whole three picks away from where the Rams took Tavon Austin last year. Many talk about Detroit trading up for Watkins even though they already have Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate, which I thought was one of this year's very best free-agent signings. Oakland does need a downfield threat badly, and they do love their stopwatches out there, so they could easily keep Watkins for themselves.
If Watkins were 6'4", I'd be screaming the Rams HAVE to take him #2. But he's not. He's 6'1", he didn't really wow at the Combine except for his 40, and the Sports Illustrated that was just out talks about the trouble he's going to have gaining separation in the pros. Ray Sherman isn't going to coach him (or any other WR, frankly) up out of that.
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| Detroit Free-Press |
That is, if this pick is still Atlanta's. If it's Houston, this will be Johnny Manziel. If Houston took a QB at #1, it would be a no-brainer for the Rams to trade down to here, or just take Clowney #2 if there's no decent offer. A QB going first would set some dominoes in motion, and there'd be a good chance of Matthews or even Robinson slipping to this spot, with Watkins as the consolation prize.
Lewan would be fast friends with Jake Long but isn't the mauling run blocker I expect the Rams will favor. I doubt they would take him here. At the same time, Lewan put on a Lane Johnson-like show at the Combine and comes from one of the great offensive line factories. Atlanta's most massive need is to improve their pass rush, but with the top two rushers long gone, they'll have to concentrate on their equally big need on the other side of the ball. If they stay here. Maybe it'll be the Rams trading UP with the Falcons to get this next player?
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| Baltimore Sun |
Aaron Donald's the prototypical Lovie Smith DT, but upon further review, the Bucs are young and deep at his position, while having mostly dreck at WR after Vincent Jackson. Evans is far from a reach here, and while I still can't believe the Bucs are planning to go with Josh McCown as their starter, he did thrive pretty well last year throwing to two big WRs.
Picks 8 thru 12 on the way...
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