Obstructed Thoughts on the NFL Draft
So the NFL Draft is over. Everybody does a grade analysis and everybody hoots & hollers over picks, trades, etc. And yeah, I get it. I do it too. But I also get very quiet about the draft in part because we do not have a crystal ball to go "yep, great pick!" or "yep, we knew that pick would be a dud!" We just don't know.
Think about this: We've had "experts" like Mel Kiper say that Ryan Leaf was going to be a better quarterback in the NFL over Peyton Manning. Philadelphia fans were furious that the Eagles took Donovan McNabb over Ricky Williams. Cleveland nearly had a victory parade when the Browns traded up to get Johnny Manziel. So what have we learned from this? Nothing. We're still going to keep saying "yep! great pick!" or "yep! bust!" and then attach a grade to teams.
I'm not one to put grades on drafts, but I will just throw in my two cents on some of the happenings in the NFL draft.
1. The first round was probably the craziest round in the NFL Draft history. Trades made, surprise picks, draftees bringing babies, draftees bringing portraits of their grandmothers and then cursing on TV, top 10 projected picks going in late first round or 2nd round, late first round picks being top 5 picks, Goodell getting slammed by the Philly fans, etc. It was very entertaining in my eyes.
2. Trades came at heavy prices, as the Bears pointed out. Now was Chicago THAT worried that San Francisco would draft Mitch Trubisky while the Bears strongly believed he was going to be the next best quarterback in the NFL just to move up one spot? Or did they believe another team was trying to trade with the 49ers? But even teams like Kansas City who drafted Patrick Mahomes and Houston for Deshaun Watson paid a heavy price for them. I guess if it was to get your franchise quarterback in the first round, but many believe this is NOT the Draft to do that on.
3. The BEST bet of a franchise quarterback in the first round? Deshaun Watson. I am not saying he will be, but Trubisky has only played one season and while the Tar Heels offense was very good, Trubisky himself was very streaky and inconsistent at times. And on a side note: Mike Mayock's "highlight" of Trubisky throwing a pass to a wide open receiver where the corner was about 10 yards away isn't necessarily the best highlight you can come up with, though I am not going to completely poo-poo on Trubisky, but I just don't see him being a franchise guy. Anyway, and I have my reservations on Mahomes given he was in an Air Raid style offense and Air Raid QB's in the NFL have NOT panned out at all. Watson has been at the very least solid and effective. And he will probably be the first of the rookies to start in the NFL. Maybe Week 1.
4. Once again, the Browns, according to many, had a GREAT draft class. We've heard this how many times now? But with a new regime, there's a vibe that the Browns will get it right this time around, similar to what we see in places like Atlanta and Tampa Bay. But you know what? "Fool me once..." But in the media's eyes "Fool me once, shame on you; Fool me again, we haven't learned our lesson and you can keep fooling me again." That said, if the Browns are thinking Kizer is their man, then the draft grade drops a bit.
5. We may be over-thinking on some of the picks, especially the quarterbacks. People are already thinking Davis Webb is Eli's heir apparent to whenever he retires. In my best "Chris Farley Show" bit: remember when the New England Patriots drafted Ryan Mallett and they were saying he was Tom Brady's replacement to when he retires and then he got traded to Houston? That was awesome." Again, Webb, who transferred from Texas Tech (Air Raid offense) to California (Air Raid offense). I think he is going to be more of a backup to Eli Manning and Eli probably has 2-3 more years. And people looked at Pittsburgh with Joshua Dobbs and Big Ben. I see Dobbs being similar to Charlie Batch was, a reliable backup, but not a franchise guy at all. And remember, the Steelers have Roethlisberger this season. Next season of course is a long way away and if he does retire, you do have to think of the crop that next group of quarterbacks that possibly can come out. Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, and Josh Rosen are guys that many believe will be highly touted in next year's draft as well as Jarrett Stidham. So, let's not think one of these third round guys will be Dak Prescott 2.0 just yet.
Again, the draft is always fun to look back on in 3-4 years and go well that draft was great or that draft was bad (as it may be the total opposite of what "experts" have said). But it is all a major crap-shoot that we enjoy every time. But best of luck to all of these guys as well.
-Fan in the Obstructed Seat
