A Good Night Goes Bad, but Maybe Not So Bad
Thursday night was lining up to be a really good sports night in the District/Maryland/Virginia sports corridor. We had the Washington Capitals playing Game 1 of the NFL Eastern Conference semi-finals at home versus the hated Pittsburgh Penguins, and the 1st round of the NFL draft would be coming to us from Dallas, Texas. It was going to be a good night.
My phone started blowing up with text message invites to watch all the action at a friends house as I was crawling through rush hour traffic along the Potomac on my way home from work. Traffic was so bad that I ended up having a conversation with the prospective host through our rolled down windows as we inched -- side-by-side -- through Old Town Alexandria traffic like Soviets in a mid-80s bread line.
By the time I got home, I had missed a daughter's spring string concert recital (not good at all), and the Capitals were up 1-0 (pretty good). With all of us getting home late, I had to block my son from watching the start of the draft and make him focus on homework (not so good), but I was able to plop myself down in front of the TV prior to the start of the draft (morale trending back up).
My Indy contacts and I conversed through feverish text messages throughout, and I compiled some early assessments:
#1 - Cleveland Browns: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma. This pick goes down and my son walks into the sun room to find my jaw dropped (I quickly shooed him away saying, "The Colts won't be up for a half-hour -- go do homework."). Mayfield was only the third-best quarterback in the draft according to Joseph Ferraiola of InsidethePylon.com. But he can't be any worse than the quarterbacks the Browns have drafted in the last 11 years. Since 2007, Cleveland has drafted six quarterbacks, three in the first round, and you know you would have a hard time naming them all -- because they have all stunk. Mayfield definitely has moxie, and he will need it.
#2 - New York Football Giants: Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State. When the Indianapolis Colts still had the #3 pick, I was worried they would draft Barkley. As Seen Keeler of Landof10.com highlights, some analysts feel the native New Yorker too often opts to maneuver laterally, rather than aggressively attacking the prescribed rush lane. He will not have a superior speed advantage to run east-west and turn the corner in the NFL like he did in the collegiate ranks. Leonard Fournette was the first back of the board last year (1st round, #4), but rookie Kareem Hunt led the NFL in rushing (3rd round, #86). The three next most productive rookie running backs last year, Alvin Kamara (3rd round, #67), Joe Mixon (2nd round, #48), and Samaje Perine (4th round, #114), were drafted after the 1st round. Bottom Line: you couldn't have got Barkley later, but you could have got comparable production at the running back position later.
#3 - New York Jets: Sam Darnold, QB, Southern California. Once the Jets sent their 6th overall pick, and two 2nd round picks to Indianapolis for the Colt's 3rd overall pick, most people assumed they would grab a quarterback. Now they got their big boy with a big arm, and he is coming to the big city. John B. of GangGreenNation.com aggregated the opinions of experts on this selection -- most liked the pick a lot. Has the four decade search for "the next Joe Namath" come of an end?
#4 - Cleveland Browns: Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State. Most arm-chair analysts like myself, believe you should select an elite quarterback, edge rusher, or offensive tackle early in the draft. Having elite talent at those positions will set a team apart quickly. Cleveland already had their quarterback, and they already have two great defensive ends. Passing on N.C. State defensive end Bradley Chubb may very well be questioned in the future, but Ward fills a critical role, according to Randy Gurzi of DawgPoundDaily.com.
#5 - Denver Broncos: Bradley Chubb, DE, N.C. State. The Broncos did grab an elite pass rushing talent in Chubb. He will be paired opposite of LB Von Miller who has average almost 12 sacks a year over the last seven seasons (and that is with one injury-shortened season). Opposing quarterbacks are not going to like playing Denver this year.
#6 - Indianapolis Colts: Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame. Since quarterbacks Josh Allen and Josh Rosen were still on the board, I assumed the Colts would swap their pick with Buffalo, who needed a signal caller. Of course, the Bills would have to sweeten the deal with maybe a veteran defender and a 2nd or 3rd round pick. Indianapolis general manager Chris Ballard obviously thought highly of Nelson, because the pick came in quickly. Over the last four drafts, the first guard was selected no earlier than the 28th pick. This seems very early for drafting a guard. This Nelson dude better execute opposing defenders at the 50 yard line of Lucas Oil Stadium like Russell Crowe in the Gladiator or this pick is a bust.
#7 - Buffalo Bills: Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming. And here it happened...Buffalo traded their 12th overall pick and TWO 2nd round picks to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the right to draft Allen. Ugh, the Colts could have had a still very good pick at #12, and the two 2nd round picks from Buffalo would have given Indianapolis a total of five 2nd picks this year (Colts already got two 2nd round picks from the Jets for their original 3rd overall pick). FIVE...second...round...picks -- that would have been a Herschel Walker trade-like heist almost. I need to see piles of slain opponents at the feet of Nelson.
Note: After the Bills gave so much to Tampa Bay immediately following the Colts pick of Nelson, I was not liking our pick at all. I didn't outwardly lose control, but a current of negativity was pumping through me. Man, the Colts could have brought in a lot of talent with those additional picks.
#8 - Chicago Bears: Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia. One of my Indy contacts, Indy Real Estate Dude, watches a lot of Georgia football and had been pumping up Smith in our group text conversations leading up to the draft. He had reason to be at least a little disappointed with the Colts draft, too. Bears fans, however, got exactly what they crave -- an elite linebacker. Robert Zeglinski of WindyCityGridiron.com believes Smith is "more than a worthy" addition to the historic Chicago linebacker lineage that their fans love so much.
Note: Sometime between the Colts pick and the 10th overall pick, the Capitals got a third period goal from Alex Ovechkin to take a 2-0 lead after almost 43 minutes of ice time. I checked in on that game, felt good, and went back to the draft. Within the next five minutes of hockey, the Penguins took a 3-2 lead. I swear, Washington Capitals must be Powhatan for "him who blows 2 goal leads in playoffs." Sometimes I consider giving up spectator sports altogether, but then I suck down my disappointment and steel myself for more punishment.
#9 - San Francisco 49ers: Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame. It is not uncommon for offensive tackles, particularly left tackles, to be drafted this high and even higher. The left tackle protects the blind side of the quarterback when he is in the pocket (as long as the QB is right handed, which they often are). See the highlight reel below. Key in on the goal line play against Boston College at about 0:30 of the clip. Realize that is a collegiate linebacker that you see McGlinchey fling from his fingertips like a beer bottle cap. I think McGlinchey will find a way to contribute pretty quickly.
#10 - Arizona Cardinals: Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA. The Cardinals traded with the Oakland Raiders to jump ahead of the Miami Dolphins, who might have nabbed Rosen. The UCLA quarterback was thought by some to be the best in the draft, but opinions did vary dramatically this year. Rosen provided the most noteworthy quotes of the evening, too. But with the four big quarterbacks off the board, it was time for me to turn away from the television.
I had to call Indy Banker Guy while walking the dog to check my thoughts on what I saw as a Colts "miss." In the morning, Indy Real Estate guy and I had a conversation while commuting to work. He kind of talked me off the ledge.
Later on in my Friday, I read this piece by Andrew Winn of OneFootDown.com in which Nelson two times says that he is "jacked" to be in Indy (morale trending up again). That's very cool with me. Maybe the Colts got just the right guy.
My phone started blowing up with text message invites to watch all the action at a friends house as I was crawling through rush hour traffic along the Potomac on my way home from work. Traffic was so bad that I ended up having a conversation with the prospective host through our rolled down windows as we inched -- side-by-side -- through Old Town Alexandria traffic like Soviets in a mid-80s bread line.
By the time I got home, I had missed a daughter's spring string concert recital (not good at all), and the Capitals were up 1-0 (pretty good). With all of us getting home late, I had to block my son from watching the start of the draft and make him focus on homework (not so good), but I was able to plop myself down in front of the TV prior to the start of the draft (morale trending back up).
My Indy contacts and I conversed through feverish text messages throughout, and I compiled some early assessments:
#1 - Cleveland Browns: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma. This pick goes down and my son walks into the sun room to find my jaw dropped (I quickly shooed him away saying, "The Colts won't be up for a half-hour -- go do homework."). Mayfield was only the third-best quarterback in the draft according to Joseph Ferraiola of InsidethePylon.com. But he can't be any worse than the quarterbacks the Browns have drafted in the last 11 years. Since 2007, Cleveland has drafted six quarterbacks, three in the first round, and you know you would have a hard time naming them all -- because they have all stunk. Mayfield definitely has moxie, and he will need it.
#2 - New York Football Giants: Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State. When the Indianapolis Colts still had the #3 pick, I was worried they would draft Barkley. As Seen Keeler of Landof10.com highlights, some analysts feel the native New Yorker too often opts to maneuver laterally, rather than aggressively attacking the prescribed rush lane. He will not have a superior speed advantage to run east-west and turn the corner in the NFL like he did in the collegiate ranks. Leonard Fournette was the first back of the board last year (1st round, #4), but rookie Kareem Hunt led the NFL in rushing (3rd round, #86). The three next most productive rookie running backs last year, Alvin Kamara (3rd round, #67), Joe Mixon (2nd round, #48), and Samaje Perine (4th round, #114), were drafted after the 1st round. Bottom Line: you couldn't have got Barkley later, but you could have got comparable production at the running back position later.
#3 - New York Jets: Sam Darnold, QB, Southern California. Once the Jets sent their 6th overall pick, and two 2nd round picks to Indianapolis for the Colt's 3rd overall pick, most people assumed they would grab a quarterback. Now they got their big boy with a big arm, and he is coming to the big city. John B. of GangGreenNation.com aggregated the opinions of experts on this selection -- most liked the pick a lot. Has the four decade search for "the next Joe Namath" come of an end?
What say you, Broadway Joe?
#4 - Cleveland Browns: Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State. Most arm-chair analysts like myself, believe you should select an elite quarterback, edge rusher, or offensive tackle early in the draft. Having elite talent at those positions will set a team apart quickly. Cleveland already had their quarterback, and they already have two great defensive ends. Passing on N.C. State defensive end Bradley Chubb may very well be questioned in the future, but Ward fills a critical role, according to Randy Gurzi of DawgPoundDaily.com.
#5 - Denver Broncos: Bradley Chubb, DE, N.C. State. The Broncos did grab an elite pass rushing talent in Chubb. He will be paired opposite of LB Von Miller who has average almost 12 sacks a year over the last seven seasons (and that is with one injury-shortened season). Opposing quarterbacks are not going to like playing Denver this year.
#6 - Indianapolis Colts: Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame. Since quarterbacks Josh Allen and Josh Rosen were still on the board, I assumed the Colts would swap their pick with Buffalo, who needed a signal caller. Of course, the Bills would have to sweeten the deal with maybe a veteran defender and a 2nd or 3rd round pick. Indianapolis general manager Chris Ballard obviously thought highly of Nelson, because the pick came in quickly. Over the last four drafts, the first guard was selected no earlier than the 28th pick. This seems very early for drafting a guard. This Nelson dude better execute opposing defenders at the 50 yard line of Lucas Oil Stadium like Russell Crowe in the Gladiator or this pick is a bust.
This what I need to see out of Colts 1st round draft pick Quenton Nelson this year
or I will grade him a bust.
#7 - Buffalo Bills: Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming. And here it happened...Buffalo traded their 12th overall pick and TWO 2nd round picks to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the right to draft Allen. Ugh, the Colts could have had a still very good pick at #12, and the two 2nd round picks from Buffalo would have given Indianapolis a total of five 2nd picks this year (Colts already got two 2nd round picks from the Jets for their original 3rd overall pick). FIVE...second...round...picks -- that would have been a Herschel Walker trade-like heist almost. I need to see piles of slain opponents at the feet of Nelson.
Note: After the Bills gave so much to Tampa Bay immediately following the Colts pick of Nelson, I was not liking our pick at all. I didn't outwardly lose control, but a current of negativity was pumping through me. Man, the Colts could have brought in a lot of talent with those additional picks.
#8 - Chicago Bears: Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia. One of my Indy contacts, Indy Real Estate Dude, watches a lot of Georgia football and had been pumping up Smith in our group text conversations leading up to the draft. He had reason to be at least a little disappointed with the Colts draft, too. Bears fans, however, got exactly what they crave -- an elite linebacker. Robert Zeglinski of WindyCityGridiron.com believes Smith is "more than a worthy" addition to the historic Chicago linebacker lineage that their fans love so much.
Note: Sometime between the Colts pick and the 10th overall pick, the Capitals got a third period goal from Alex Ovechkin to take a 2-0 lead after almost 43 minutes of ice time. I checked in on that game, felt good, and went back to the draft. Within the next five minutes of hockey, the Penguins took a 3-2 lead. I swear, Washington Capitals must be Powhatan for "him who blows 2 goal leads in playoffs." Sometimes I consider giving up spectator sports altogether, but then I suck down my disappointment and steel myself for more punishment.
#9 - San Francisco 49ers: Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame. It is not uncommon for offensive tackles, particularly left tackles, to be drafted this high and even higher. The left tackle protects the blind side of the quarterback when he is in the pocket (as long as the QB is right handed, which they often are). See the highlight reel below. Key in on the goal line play against Boston College at about 0:30 of the clip. Realize that is a collegiate linebacker that you see McGlinchey fling from his fingertips like a beer bottle cap. I think McGlinchey will find a way to contribute pretty quickly.
Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame, is 6'8", 308 pounds, and kind of strong.
#10 - Arizona Cardinals: Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA. The Cardinals traded with the Oakland Raiders to jump ahead of the Miami Dolphins, who might have nabbed Rosen. The UCLA quarterback was thought by some to be the best in the draft, but opinions did vary dramatically this year. Rosen provided the most noteworthy quotes of the evening, too. But with the four big quarterbacks off the board, it was time for me to turn away from the television.
I had to call Indy Banker Guy while walking the dog to check my thoughts on what I saw as a Colts "miss." In the morning, Indy Real Estate guy and I had a conversation while commuting to work. He kind of talked me off the ledge.
Later on in my Friday, I read this piece by Andrew Winn of OneFootDown.com in which Nelson two times says that he is "jacked" to be in Indy (morale trending up again). That's very cool with me. Maybe the Colts got just the right guy.
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