Bradford/Clausen now split among Mock Drafts

[wilsowilso]

If Colt McCoy is still available in the 5th round I say we still pass on that bum.

[GTripp0012]

Basically in Clausen, I see a sound prospect (more sound than Bradford) that is a medium efficiency player (like Cutler, McNabb, Campbell, Flacco) who makes a lot of bad plays (more in the past than in 2009) and isn't really tuned in to the quarterback minutae that can seperate the franchise players from the expendable players. For a team that doesn't have any sort of passing game, he's a major upgrade, and for those (like Washington) who have an efficient passing game that needs an extra boost to get over that hump, he's not the part that will get you there.

[53Fan]

Nicely written article GTripp! I agree that in this particular draft class, the best QB may turn out to be one taken after the top three are gone. I don't see either one being worth the risk of a #4 pick. They MAY turn out great, but IMO they have just as much chance of being the 3rd or 4th best QB's chosen in this draft.

[KI Skins Fan]

The debate between Clausen and Bradford as the potential first round pick of the Skins is a ho-hummer to me. That's because I'm not convinced that any QB in this draft is worth a first round pick to the Skins.

I haven't been a supporter of Jason Campbell as our starting QB but the way he handled all of the adversity that was heaped on him last season and still had his best season has made me reconsider. I now think that he might be just fine as our starting QB.

I'd prefer to see us trade down in the first round and pick up another first day pick. Then I'd like to see us take a QB in the second round. I like either Zac Robinson or Tim Tebow.

I've never seen Robinson have a bad game. He is a very accurate passer, he's got good size, and he's athletic enough for the NFL. I like him a lot.

And I love Tim Tebow as a developmental QB. He is a winner. He's an unbelieveable physical specimen and a top athlete. He reminds me a lot of Big Ben in the way he can shake off tacklers and buy time to make big plays downfield. I think Tebow could be outstanding after a couple of years as a backup. Nobody will study more or work harder than Tim Tebow.

[MTK]

I'm hoping to go o-line with our top 2 picks, and use a later round pick on a QB to groom for the future. This draft has good depth along the OL so we could easily come out of it with 2 rookie starters at the very least.

[SFREDSKIN]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

I'm hoping to go o-line with our top 2 picks, and use a later round pick on a QB to groom for the future. This draft has good depth along the OL so we could easily come out of it with 2 rookie starters at the very least.

Trade down pick a highly rated OT and then go for Iupati followed by either RB or QB.

[Longtimefan]

Originally Posted by SFREDSKIN

Trade down pick a highly rated OT and then go for Iupati followed by either RB or QB.

I'm all for trading down providing we can find a partner, unless they think Russell Okung is the man at #4. I relish the idea of the extra pick (s).

[Slingin Sammy 33]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

I'm hoping to go o-line with our top 2 picks, and use a later round pick on a QB to groom for the future. This draft has good depth along the OL so we could easily come out of it with 2 rookie starters at the very least.

The NFL is a QB league, if we can get a franchise QB, we've got to get him. If we look at the Conference championships, who are the QBs; Manning, Brees, Favre, Sanchez (#1 D, #1 Rushing O). Look at the division round; Warner, Rivers, Flacco (excellent D, excellent run game), Romo (Cowpuke, he just sucks and is the exception). So unless a team can build a dominant defense and develop a dominant running game, a franchise-type QB is needed to win in the playoffs.

The only franchise QB in this draft IMO is Clausen. If STL grabs him, then we definitely go OL or trade down and get even more OL and help elsewhere.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Slingin Sammy 33

The NFL is a QB league, if we can get a franchise QB, we've got to get him. If we look at the Conference championships, who are the QBs; Manning, Brees, Favre, Sanchez (#1 D, #1 Rushing O). Look at the division round; Warner, Rivers, Flacco (excellent D, excellent run game), Romo (Cowpuke, he just sucks and is the exception). So unless a team can build a dominant defense and develop a dominant running game, a franchise-type QB is needed to win in the playoffs.

The only franchise QB in this draft IMO is Clausen. If STL grabs him, then we definitely go OL or trade down and get even more OL and help elsewhere.

I agree, but is someone like Clausen or Bradford a true franchise type? I think that's up for debate, neither seem like slam dunks. So if that's the case I'd rather build the line and look for a later round gem to develop. I hear what you're saying about winning games in the playoffs but let's not get ahead of ourselves here, a quality OL is an important piece of the puzzle too.

[Slingin Sammy 33]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

I agree, but is someone like Clausen or Bradford a true franchise type? I think that's up for debate, neither seem like slam dunks. So if that's the case I'd rather build the line and look for a later round gem to develop.

Deciding that is why Shanny and Allen are getting paid seven figures per year. Get it right and we're looking at playoffs in 2011/12. Get it wrong and we're stuck in 8-8 mode or worse for a while.

I hear what you're saying about winning games in the playoffs but let's not get ahead of ourselves here, a quality OL is an important piece of the puzzle too.

Agreed 100%. Even if we get Clausen, we need to spend our 2nd & 4th on OL. Hopefully we can work some type of trade along the way to pick up a 3rd too. But if Clausen's gone, then build the OL now.

But let's say he's there and we pass on Clausen to build the OL, when do we get the franchise QB? If our OL is better, we aren't picking in the top 5-10 in 2011 and Locker & Luck won't last that long next year.

[53Fan]

Originally Posted by Slingin Sammy 33

Deciding that is why Shanny and Allen are getting paid seven figures per year. Get it right and we're looking at playoffs in 2011/12. Get it wrong and we're stuck in 8-8 mode or worse for a while.

Agreed 100%. Even if we get Clausen, we need to spend our 2nd & 4th on OL. Hopefully we can work some type of trade along the way to pick up a 3rd too. But if Clausen's gone, then build the OL now.

But let's say he's there and we pass on Clausen to build the OL, when do we get the franchise QB? If our OL is better, we aren't picking in the top 5-10 in 2011 and Locker & Luck won't last that long next year.

That's what we're hoping Sammy. With a strong o-line we may find we can do just fine with the QB we have and groom someone from the 4th round, who could turn out to be very good.

[tryfuhl]

Originally Posted by Slingin Sammy 33

The NFL is a QB league, if we can get a franchise QB, we've got to get him. If we look at the Conference championships, who are the QBs; Manning, Brees, Favre, Sanchez (#1 D, #1 Rushing O). Look at the division round; Warner, Rivers, Flacco (excellent D, excellent run game), Romo (Cowpuke, he just sucks and is the exception). So unless a team can build a dominant defense and develop a dominant running game, a franchise-type QB is needed to win in the playoffs.

The only franchise QB in this draft IMO is Clausen. If STL grabs him, then we definitely go OL or trade down and get even more OL and help elsewhere.

Yep; QB is the one spot it's okay to reach a bit. If you hesitate to draft one because the spot is too high you'll rarely draft one.. and you'll have high draft picks quite a bit most likely. Unless you really see enough intangibles out of a later pick that you know that you can groom him, you might as well take one of the big boys it seems, unless you're fairly certain you'll be in place to draft someone you're more interested in the next year and are certain you can land him. There are always busts but that's just the risk you have to take. Either that or you can just stay forever satisfied with questionable QB play, something I'd rather put behind us.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by tryfuhl

Yep; QB is the one spot it's okay to reach a bit. If you hesitate to draft one because the spot is too high you'll rarely draft one.. and you'll have high draft picks quite a bit most likely. Unless you really see enough intangibles out of a later pick that you know that you can groom him, you might as well take one of the big boys it seems, unless you're fairly certain you'll be in place to draft someone you're more interested in the next year and are certain you can land him. There are always busts but that's just the risk you have to take. Either that or you can just stay forever satisfied with questionable QB play, something I'd rather put behind us.

Devil's Advocate:

If you're at No. 4, and you're reaching for a QB prospect who is value-wise, in the 11-20 range on a big board...what exactly is the pick designed to net you.

I mean, if you're getting a top five type, that's not a reach at all. If you're not getting a top ten type...it's hardly an ambitious move. It seems foolhardy.

But what about that grey area in between. In five years, what if one of the guys who will be available at No. 4 is going to be a top ten quarterback. Which is to say, he's not better than Campbell now, but in four seasons (assuming there is still football), he's good enough to net some pro bowls if a guy drops out. Like say, Matt Schaub or Carson Palmer. Would that be a reach, or a pick at value? And furthermore, would it be worth it (if a crystal ball could confirm that you weren't getting a player who would ever be top five at his position).

Essentially though, there are 25ish franchise quarterbacks in this league, and a lot of them do a lot of losing. So, perhaps it's not a quarterback league after all.

[Monkeydad]

We needed a new thread for this?

[Zerohero]

Can say i wasn't happy with the last couple years in ND, but heres my .02 for Clausen since i watched every minute of every game. Somewhat mobile, can throw the deep out, has played through great adversity. Granted he had GREAT receivers but it helped he didn't have too many ints. He might not have won them all, but countless times brought team back in games when they fell behind early.

Even then i don't want a qb first round. After unless Brennan isn't coming back i see no need to draft qb in later rounds.