Bradley Chubb was a dominant force on a team that was far from dominant. I dont believe this take is a reflection of my opinion of Chubb, rather than a result of the league wide need for quarterbacks. There are already rumors circulating 3 months before the draft that Buffalo is looking to move up with the Colts from 21 and 22 in order to grab a QB.
Fitzpatrick was the heart and soul of the Alabama defense and led his team to another national championship. That being said, while some will hype Fitzpatrick for his position versatility between corner and safety, that same tweener role has led to the fall of many of college footballs most talented players including Jabrill Peppers and the Honey Badger. Sadly, these types of players almost never work out. From Sua Cravens to Eric Reid, it seems that NFL coaches are not adept at fitting square pegs into their old, white, round holes. Denzel Ward looks like he will be the next great Ohio State CB to enter the draft, and the positional value of outside CB is way more valuable than slot CB or FS, the roles that Fitzpatrick will be limited to as a pro. Joshua Jackson and Derwin James are both larger options for DB needy teams.
I get the Marcus Davenport hype. I do. Davenport not only succeeded in college, but also put on a strong display at the Senior Bowl. The problem is, many JAGs put on feats of strength at the Senior Bowl, but that success rarely translates into high picks. I expect Chubb to be the first EDGE off the board, but I think Landry is closer behind than people think. I think Davenport is more likely to go in top of the second round than the top of the first round.
While I dont personally believe that QBs like Lamar Jackson can succeed in the NFL, there is no denying that his college tape is beyond crazy. Watching Jackson play ACC opponents reminds me of when I would create a player in NCAA 13 and run for 300 yards every game. I think that there is an NFL coach out there that is a Lamar Jackson believer at the QB position. I expect Steve Wilks, now in AZ from Carolina with Cam, to take a long look at Jackson as well as Buffalo and Sean McDermott may be interested. I think theres a high chance that Mason Rudolph has a chance to be taken at the end of the first frame as well, by the Steelers, Saints, or Patriots.
Josh Rosen has long been considered a lock to be taken first in the NFL Draft due to his tremendous size, footwork, arm power, and accuracy. Dont forget his experience in a Pro Style system. All of those attributes remain true, but it does not seem like Josh Rosen can elevate the talent around him. Rosens protector Kolton Miller is the only other UCLA athlete expected to be chosen in the first couple frames. While Rosen seems like the superior product, I think Darnold has the skills to be more successful in todays NFL. Darnold has experience running a pro style scheme as well, and leads all quarterbacks in RPO snaps per PFF. The RPO is extremely common in todays NFL, in fact, the Super Bowl champion Eagles ran the RPO more than any other team in the NFL this year. The NFL is a copycat league, and look for the Browns to pick the QB that fits a modern scheme and has elevated the likes of Deontay Burnett and Ronald Jones.
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