Is this the most unpredictable draft you've anticipated (due to QBs)?

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Just wondering if anyone else is completely befuddled by the plethora of quarterbacks that might be drafted in the first round this year. After seeing that the Titans are torn between Fairley or Andy Dalton, I realized that this is absolutely nuts.

Cam Newton- Will probably go number one overall, but this isn't exactly a Sam Bradford or Peyton Manning pick. This guy is one of the most controversial players in recent memory because of his love-hate ratings from draft pundits. No one thinks he'll be decent. Either champion or team cancer.

Jake Locker- Here's a guy who was a sure-fire first overall pick last year. Now the question is whether he'll go in the first round. Mock drafts have had him as high as number 10 and as low as the mid-40s. Consensus is he will go 12th to Minnesota, but no one will be surprised if his horrible senior season knocks him out of the first round.

Blaine Gabbert- He is deemed a safe pick, but find me a fan base who is actually excited about this guy. He'll probably be a top 5 pick, but again, he is deemed by almost every pundit as a solid, but not elite, prospect.

Andy Dalton- As I mentioned before, this guy came out of nowhere to become a top-10 prospect. Who is this guy? He's received virtually no attention. Why would a team grab him in the top 10 if he might be available in the second round?

Colin Kaepatrick- Another QB who has gotten much better due to a lack of intense scrutiny by draft pundits. Can't remember who, but one of the big pundits (Mayock perhaps?) said he is the best quarterback of this class. Not very often you have that much disagreement among even the mainstream talent evaluators. Will probably go in the second round, but I've seen smart mockers put him in the top 20.

Ryan Mallett- Could go anywhere from 15th overall to fourth round, and I'm not sure anyone would be surprised. Big time character issues, but this could just be a smokescreen from a team that recognizes his talent. Yet another QB where you have absolutely no idea where he'll actually land.

Christian Ponder- I've seen lots of mocks that have him the late first to early second round. Not bad for the consensus 7th rated QB in a class where there are no knockout QBs.

Perhaps someone could shed some light on this situation. Usually there are 2-3 QBs expected to go in the first round, and you kind of know that if a few teams pass, they could free fall. This year seems completely up for grabs, though.

 

[Sciz]

It's great news. We could have 4-5 QBs picked before 17 and 7 before 33 (after trading back/out from 28). That's awesome!

 

[patsfanboy]

It's great news. We could have 4-5 QBs picked before 17 and 7 before 33 (after trading back/out from 28). That's awesome!

3 QBs before 17 is more than luck.

 

[Sciz]

3 QBs before 17 is more than luck.

Newton and Gabbert are given. Locker could easily go at 12 to Minnesota. Dalton has been linked to Tenn at 8. Mallett could easily go in the top 16. I'm going to be optimistic and plan on 4 of those 5 going in the top 16

 

[randomk1]

3 QBs before 17 is more than luck.

Why? It's fairly realistic in my eyes.

 

[patsfan-1982]

IMO only 2 will go in the first round and maybe 2 more in the 2th round

 

[randomk1]

IMO only 2 will go in the first round and maybe 2 more in the 2th round

There are alot of teams with QB needs though...maybe i'm just trying to be optimistic regarding our own picks.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

It's crazy how much indecision is surrounding even the top 5 picks right now because of the QBs. Personally, I wouldn't draft any of these guys in the 1st round, but at least 2 should go in the top 10 (no clue where). And guys like Dalton and Locker could be top-16 or mid-second round.

I think BB will move around depending on the QB outcome. If they're drafted early, he might wait for someone to fall to him, or at least not need a huge jump to get a guy he really wants. If they're not, then he'll be ready to move out of 28/33 to accommodate one of the QB-needy teams. So even though we probably won't be drafting a QB, where they're drafted will impact our draft.

 

[ausbacker]

To be fair and not that it matters but IMO Cam Newton at pick 1 seems to be a peer pressure stupid decision to make. How many times has the same scenario been repeated by other teams?

I kinda like Dalton and Locker to be honest.

 

[HomerSchooled]

It's great news. We could have 4-5 QBs picked before 17 and 7 before 33 (after trading back/out from 28). That's awesome!

We can dream. At least for another day.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Its unpredictable because there are more than a few 'top ten' picks that would be of no shock if they entered the 20s without being drafted yet.

Even Cam Newton could last until the 5th pick

If you think the Brady Quinn thing was a shocker in the draft a few years ago or maybe as far back as Wilfork,you have seen nothing yet.

 

[BradyBranch39]

Its unpredictable because there are more than a few 'top ten' picks that would be of no shock if they entered the 20s without being drafted yet.

Even Cam Newton could last until the 5th pick

If you think the Brady Quinn thing was a shocker in the draft a few years ago or maybe as far back as Wilfork,you have seen nothing yet.

but who could that really happen to? there aren't many guys who are consensus top-10 picks this year. Gabbert? Don't see it. Locker? Would that really be as shocking as the Quinn fall?

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

but who could that really happen to? there aren't many guys who are consensus top-10 picks this year. Gabbert? Don't see it. Locker? Would that really be as shocking as the Quinn fall?

Quinn could fall a bit,maybe as low as 12

Dareus,Miller and Newton are locks within the top 10

Gabbert will fall no lower than down to Cincy at #4 where I think he lands. - Cincy may also do a trade with Carolina perhaps that may deal Carson Palmer to them while they may draft Newton

But there WILL be unexpected upsets in a draft that is surrounded by so many issues that are beyond the walls of the draft headquarters...its the CBA and what it will and will not contain into the future of the league will have an effect on who some teams draft.

 

[patchick]

I think it's a wildly unpredictable draft, but not so much because of the QBs. (I suspect the "feeding frenzy" won't start until the mid-20s, if at all.)

What has my head spinning is the lack of free agency, the uncertainty about 2012 picks, the knowledge that there will be no UDFA signings, and the large number of 1st-round talents with injury or character question marks.

 

[jeffbiologist]

To be fair and not that it matters but IMO Cam Newton at pick 1 seems to be a peer pressure stupid decision to make. How many times has the same scenario been repeated by other teams?

I kinda like Dalton and Locker to be honest.

There are only certain positions that are drafted so high. Tell me Miami isnt regretting bypassing Ryan?? Thats the type of thing that gets guys fired. Its a risk reward for sure, but no one can argue that Newton doesnt have about as high of an upside as anyone in the draft. He plays the right position, the team is compelled to draft him. You dont ever want to be the Trailblazers drafting Bowie over Jordan do you??

 

[ausbacker]

There are only certain positions that are drafted so high. Tell me Miami isnt regretting bypassing Ryan?? Thats the type of thing that gets guys fired. Its a risk reward for sure, but no one can argue that Newton doesnt have about as high of an upside as anyone in the draft. He plays the right position, the team is compelled to draft him. You dont ever want to be the Trailblazers drafting Bowie over Jordan do you??

I don't think Newton has the mental aptitude to play QB at the highest level like a Matt Ryan. He's an exceptionally gifted physical QB.

To be perfectly fair the John Gruden QB Camp spokes volumes to me of the lack of cerebral play Newton has. Rest assured defensive coordinators will scheme against this and confuse him from the outset.

The kid couldn't even call 1 audible when put on the spot. That wasn't even a pressure situation.

 

[Peachhead]

To be perfectly fair the John Gruden QB Camp spokes volumes to me of the lack of cerebral play Newton has. Rest assured defensive coordinators will scheme against this and confuse him from the outset.

Agreed, and it's why I hope and pray he somehow ends up in Buffalo. BB will confuse him so much, Newton wouldn't even remember his own name after his first game vs the Pats.

 

[Patriot Missile]

Agreed, and it's why I hope and pray he somehow ends up in Buffalo. BB will confuse him so much, Newton wouldn't even remember his own name after his first game vs the Pats.

As much as I think this guy will be wearing the pointy hat on the stool, I always find myself going back to that 30 passing 20 running TD stat. Enormously gifted athlete.

 

[TheRealMcCagh]

Cam Newton is like Vince Young 2.0. Im not sure why every talking head on ESPN and NFLN is all over him. Maybe im just a little bias because I'm not a huge fan of the whole QB running for 100 yards a game...
I like the look of Dalton but he could totally fall apart without the right leadership and end up like a Leinart or Alex Smith

 

[SamBamsFan]

This has been the strangest draft season I ever remember (and I go back to being ready to throw out my transistor radio when Upton Bell selected Tommy Reynolds). It is not just that the regular off season has been reversed. i.e. no one has been able to add FA"s, make trades, etc... That is what I believe is driving the potential draft stock of the QB's. But think about these a moment:

- Rick Gosselin does not have a single ILB in his top 100 list.
- There is not a single safety, in my mind, with a better than 4th round grade.
- The best Center finished the year weighing about 280.
- The highest rated OT in the draft has never played LT in college, and he put on 20 off-season pounds to go through the workouts. Yet, it is predicted at least 5 OT's will go in the 1st round.
- The top ranked guard supposedly will go in the top 15 picks, but if I ranked him the 4-5th best guard in the draft (which I frequently do), there is little, or no argument. I could make up to a list of 5 guards using about a dozen potential draftees, and people would say, "yeah, that seems right".
- The power in this draft is that there will be at least a dozen RB's, WR's, and CB's drafted in round 3-4. I've never seen a draft in my life where it depends on the median grade.

I was in the antique business for over 20 years. This was called a "pickers market", because there was stuff out there to be had, but you needed to keep a firm grip of prices and an awareness of what you could profit on...