We took a look at some fresh draft rumors earlier Friday. Here are several more, courtesy of Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller:
- While Browns head coach Hue Jackson wants the team to select Texas A&M edge rusher Myles Garrett first overall, per Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com, that doesn’t mean he’s against taking North Carolina quarterback Mitch Trubisky. Jackson “likes Trubisky a lot,” writes Miller, who notes there’s a chance the signal-caller will still be on the board when the Browns make their second first-round selection at No. 12 (assuming Garrett’s their initial pick, of course).
- The Jets have met with Trubisky on multiple occasions, but Miller’s not quite buying their interest. They “would love” if someone traded ahead of them at No. 6 and chose Trubisky, Miller contends.
- Both the Cardinals and Chiefs “really like” Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes, two sources have told Miller. The Cardinals are reportedly interested in trading up from No. 13 for Trubisky, but they could perhaps stay where they are and grab Mahomes. As for the Chiefs, who own the 27th pick, Mahomes visited them last month.
- The Titans are likely to draft Ohio State cornerback Marshon Lattimore if he’s still available at No. 5, according to Miller; in the event he’s gone by then, Clemson wide receiver Mike Williams will garner consideration. The club met with Lattimore earlier this month, and it subsequently created a need at corner when it released Jason McCourty on Thursday. Tennessee hosted Williams on Tuesday, and has done its homework on the 6-foot-3, 225-pounder.
- Lattimore may well end up with the Bears at No. 3 overall. Whether it’s him or someone else, one executive is “99 percent sure” the Bears will wind up with a defensive back in Round 1.
- The Saints “would love” to select Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster at No. 11, per Miller. Otherwise, New Orleans is a possible destination for one of Foster’s college teammates, cornerback Marlon Humphrey, as are the Titans and Ravens.
- Ohio State running back/wide receiver/return man Curtis Samuel might come off the board before Florida State RB Dalvin Cook, a scout told Miller. Samuel’s ability to impact games in all of those areas is improving his stock, with teams mindful of the damage Kansas City’s jack-of-all-trades weapon, Tyreek Hill, did last season.
- Like Samuel, Michigan defensive lineman Chris Wormley is a candidate to go earlier than expected. Miller pegs Wormley as a Day 1 starter in a 3-4 defense, adding that he’s unlikely to last beyond the top 50 picks.
The Titans are probably trading the fifth pick regardless who is available if they get the offer they want.
All this talk about Trubisky at 12th pick is smoke and mirrors. They are inflating his draft value. Other interested teams will move up to take him, and the browns will pick their intended target. I suspect a safety or CB. Mahomes is interesting, and with the draft capital at their disposal I can see them moving back into the 1st round to pick him up. Don’t believe everything you read.
Couldn’t agree more
I do see them moving down from 12 and getting more picks. Sam Darbold in ’18. The quarterback isn’t there this year.
why does nobody talk about watson …he is way more proven
There’s a lot of QBs more proven in college that don’t project as well if at all at the next level. Watson will have a decent career, they just think Trubisky projects better.
I understand what you’re saying about Watson. The problem is he is a one or two read thrower. He is not able to make a long read in the pocket. He was never asked to in college. He is also not as accurate nor does he have the arm strength that some of these other quarterbacks have. Watson was a system driven quarterback. They played a specific system to his skill set. That is not a pro skill set. The big picture for the Browns, in the AFC North, You need a big arm that could move in the pocket, which fits Hue Jackson’s offense. I know everyone is up on Trebisky, but honestly for my money, I think Patrick Mahomes would probably be the best bet for the Browns.
They thought the same thing about another big arm Big-12 QB……Brandon Weeden.
How’d that work out?
They’re all coming from spreads. Sounds a lot like the Gabbert/Newton debate to me. Both guys were coming from remedial systems, but people tried every which way to prop the underwhelming guy up and knock the guy who was electric coming out. I wouldn’t take any of them early, but Watson would be the only one I’d be intersted in if I was forced to.
That was a different team and different coaching staff. And front office. Also Weeden started in the NFL at age 28. I always thought that was a useless pick. And he turned out to be nothing but second or third string QB at the NFL level. Getting Mahomes at such a young age and giving him one or two years of maturing under Hue Jackson, he could be a solid QB. I think the same works for Trubiski, could be something for the Browns. I evaluated both watching the combine and pro days, and to me Trubiski is very raw, Mahomes showed a little better. Both will take time to become serviceable at the Pro level.
The problem is and you said it is forced to. I don’t think the Browns have any ideas of adding a quarterback that early. If they learn anything from last year’s draft it is to be patient. The Browns are in enigma, with so many needs at so many different positions, this draft really could set them up for the next few years. But talking quarterbacks that early especially in this draft, is overreaching, and I think the brain trust has learned their lesson about overreaching, look at the last five drafts. Prior to the new regime. What a mess!