Tag Archives: NFL Draft

Browns, Draft, NFL

QB Search 2017: Player Profile DeShone Kizer

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*This is part seven of a 10 part series where we will take a look at the Cleveland Browns options for the elusive quarterback of the future.

Name: DeShone Kizer

Height: 6’4″

Weight: 233 pounds

Throws: Right

School: Notre Dame

NFL Team: N/A

Draft Spot or Projection: Mid Round 1-Early Round 3

Strengths: AFC North size at 6’4″ and 233 pounds…can add to frame still…big arm…can make all of the throws…atheltic…throws catchable ball with tight spiral…good arm motion…strong hands…mostly accurate…stands in pocket and takes hit when necessary to find open receiver…

weaknesses: INCONSISTENT…ditches mechanics at times and relies on strong arm causing the ball to fly all over the field…sticks on primary targets…not a great field general…makes awful decisions with the ball…takes unnecessary sacks even with time and clear and clean pocket, loves to hold the ball looking for big play rather than take what defense gives them…

Summary: If you were going to build the perfect quarterback, you’d want size, arm strength, and a strong build. Kizer has that. However, you’d also want the guy to have field smarts and Kizer is lacking at times. He can be a really good pro, just needs to get out of his own head or at least let someone in to help him out.

Up Next: Cal QB Davis Webb

Previously: Clemson QB Deshaun Watson

Browns, Draft

2017 NFL Draft Offensive Positional Rankings

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With the NFL Draft just a week away my positional rankings are finally set. Today I will post my offensive top five per position and they will soon be followed by my defensive top five.

Quarterback

  1. Mitchell Trubisky, North Carolina
  2. Patrick Mahomes, Texas Tech
  3. Deshaun Watson, Clemson
  4. Deshone Kizer, Notre Dame
  5. Davis Webb, California

Summary: Trubisky has held steady as my number one guy throughout the process, with Mahomes gaining fast. None of these guys should start in 2017, but with enough work, they could all be diamonds in the rough in just a few years.

Running Back

  1. Leonard Fournette, LSU
  2. Christian McCaffery, Stanford
  3. Dalvin Cook, Florida State
  4. Joe Mixon, Oklahoma
  5. Alvin Kamara, Tennessee

Summary: There is a lot of running back talent in this draft and who goes where will be based on what a team wants or needs. Fournette is my clear number one, with the human swiss army knife McCaffery not far behind. Mixon, if not for off of the field stupidity, would be near the top, almost side by side with Fournette.

Wide Receiver

  1. Corey Davis, Western Michigan
  2. Mike Williams, Clemson
  3. John Ross, Washington
  4. Curtis Samuel, Ohio State
  5. JuJu Smith-Schuster, USC

Summary: Much like the running back position, the wide receiver spot is filled with players who can fill a variety of roles. Davis and Williams are neck and neck for my number one spot, but the big bodied Davis reminds me of (should be) hall of famer Terrell Owens. Samuel is the McCaffery of this group and can do a little bit of everything.

Tight End

  1. O.J. Howard, Alabama
  2. David Njoku, Miami
  3. Evan Engram, Mississippi
  4. Adam Shaheen, Ashland
  5. Bucky Hodges, Virginia Tech

Summary: Howard is my clear number one tight end. He can do everything you want at the tight end spot, including block. Njoku,Engram, and Hodges are basically big slot receivers who will line up at tight end from time to time but are weak blockers. Shaheen is a small school monster who showed that he can do a little bit of everything against weaker competition. He is definitely the wild card at this spot.

Offensive Tackle

  1. Ryan Ramczyk, Wisconsin
  2. Garrett Bolles, Utah
  3. Cam Robinson, Alabama
  4. Rod Johnson, Florida State
  5. Antonio Garcia, Troy

Summary: Much like the QB spot, none of these guys are going to be great in 2017. Among them I believe Ramczyk has the best chance of becoming a good left tackle the soonest, with Bolles not far behind. Robinson, Johnson, and Garcia are all best suited at right tackle and may eventually move to guard.

Offensive Guard/Center

  1. Forrest Lamp, Western Kentucky
  2. Dan Feeney, Indiana
  3. Pat Elflein, Ohio State
  4. Ethan Pocic, LSU
  5. Dorian Johnson, Pitt

Summary: Lamp and Feeney are the clear top guard talent in this draft, with Lamp the only one I have a first round grade on. Elflein is the only center I have in my top 60 players (60). Though Pocic played center at LSU, I think he is best suited at guard in the NFL due to his 6’6″ height. Tall centers struggle in the NFL.

 

Browns, Draft

Browns Draft About More Than 2017

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With reports coming out over the past few days tying the Browns to North Carolina quarterback Mitch Trubisky, rather than Texas A & M monster defensive end Myles Garrett with the first overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, pundits around the country were quick to jump on the downtrodden franchise for a number of reasons.

Among the reasons mentioned is the point that Garrett will be an immediate impact player on a roster clearly void of such players. While I agree that this is most likely the case, if the Cleveland Browns front office determines that Mitch Trubisky is in fact a guy they believe can lead their franchise beyond 2017 and into the future, then the pick is a no brainer, it’s the quarterback every time.

With the Browns being atrocious in the NFL draft every season since 1999 and keeping the team from being competitive due to awful decision-making, it is easy to second guess any move they make. We all have been guilty of it at some point. However, there are no guarantees in the NFL Draft and that includes Garrett.

While Garrett most likely will be a star in the NFL as an edge rusher, quarterback is the most important position on the field in all of sports. With the number one overall pick in the draft, the Browns have their choice of every available player and the organization owes it to themselves and their fans to look at every conceivable option before making a final decision.

Regardless of what the Browns do in this draft, it takes a full three years to truly determine the success of a draft class. So patience is necessary.

Basically what I am saying here is that while Garrett will be the best player for the Browns in 2017, he may not be the best choice for the long-term future.

In the end, Garrett is most likely the pick, but if the Browns think any quarterback is heads above the others in this class and there is any chance they will lose out on a possible franchise guy, they must select them first overall, even if it costs them Garrett.

Browns, Draft

OAB365 Mock Draft 2.0

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We are just 17 days from the 2017 NFL Draft and the Cleveland Browns are on the clock, with little suspense as to who they are going to pick. In mock draft 2.0 here on OAB365, I stop just short of the Browns third pick, but in my final mock in two weeks I will take it two full rounds.

  1. Cleveland Browns- EDGE Myles Garrett, Texas A&M

Garrett is the biggest stud in this draft. The Browns do not need more draft picks. They need stars. The card is ready to be turned in.

  1. San Francisco 49ers- DL Solomon Thomas, Stanford

After Garrett, Thomas may be the best pass rusher in this draft. Even with multiple first round picks on the line already, the Niners still do not have great pass rushers. Thomas will change that.

  1. Chicago Bears- CB Marshon Lattimore, Ohio State

The Bears secondary needs help. Lattimore has the ability to become a shutdown type CB.

  1. Jacksonville Jaguars- RB Leonard Fournette, LSU

The Jags have a good young defense, but the offense seems to be stuck in neutral. They need to take pressure off Blake Bortles and the passing game. Fournette can do that.

  1. Tennessee Titans- S Jamal Adams, LSU

If Lattimore fell, he’d be the pick here, but Adams is a great consolation prize. I don’t think he’s as physical as others but the kid as all the traits to be a stud safety for years.

  1. New York Jets- QB Mitch Trubisky, North Carolina

Despite one season of starts, Trubisky was able to show NFL traits. He will sit for a little bit, but will instantly be the best QB on the roster.

  1. Los Angeles Chargers- S Malik Hooker, Ohio State

For the second year in a row, the Chargers head to Columbus to take an instant impact defender. Hooker is the best centerfielder in this draft.

  1. Carolina Panthers- DL Jonathan Allen, Alabama

Allen can play across the defensive line making him a fit based on talent alone. The Panthers could use some offensive weapons but Allen is tough to pass at this point in the draft.

  1. Cincinnati Bengals- LB Reuben Foster, Alabama

Foster has had his share of issues off the field, including being sent home from the combine, but the Bengals do not mind off field issues if the talent is a need. Foster is an athletic sideline-to-sideline linebacker who will be a perfect fit next to Vontaze Burfict.

  1. Buffalo Bills- TE O.J. Howard, Alabama

Tyrod Taylor is staying in Buffalo, so maybe the Bills should get him some weapons. Howard is a pure tight end who can do everything.

  1. New Orleans Saints- CB Quincy Wilson, Florida

Wilson is an instant upgrade for the Saints defense. The team needs secondary help and I think Wilson fits them better than anyone.

  1. Cleveland Browns- QB Patrick Mahomes, Texas Tech

Accurate, insanely strong armed gunslinger, who has best pure arm talent in this draft. I do worry sometimes that he lacks touch, but he has every skill you want in a future franchise leader.

  1. Arizona Cardinals- WR Corey Davis, Western Michigan

Larry Fitzgerald isn’t going to play forever and Davis is the perfect guy to come in and become the heir apparent.

  1. Philadelphia Eagles- WR Mike Williams, Clemson

Even with the signing of Alshon Jeffery, the Eagles need to get Carson Wentz more help. Williams has the talent to be a number one guy for a long time.

  1. Indianapolis Colts- CB Gareon Conley, Ohio State

The Colts defense needs to get better and take pressure of Andrew Luck. Conley has the talent to be a shutdown guy, but may take some time to grow into the position.

  1. Baltimore Ravens- WR John Ross, Washington

After losing Steve Smith to retirement, the Ravens need help at the WR spot. Adding the fastest man in the draft with big arm Joe Flacco could make for an exciting duo.

  1. Washington Redskins- DT Malik McDowell, Michigan State

McDowell has the skills to be a star. The Redskins could use a monster in the middle of their defense and McDowell

  1. Tennessee Titans- CB Chidobe Awuzie, Colorado

Awuzie can play CB or FS and excel at either. Even with free agent additions Cyprien and Ryan, adding Awuzie and Adams in round one would be a coup for the Titans.

  1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- RB Dalvin Cook, Florida State

Cook’s draft stock has been slipping, but reuniting with Jameis Winston could be a perfect fit for him and the Buccaneers.

  1. Denver Broncos- OT Ryan Ramczyk, Wisconsin

The Broncos still have a loaded defense, so this pick will likely be offense. Adding Ramczyk to their offensive line could be a weapon for them on offense. His strength and athleticism are perfect fits for Mike McCoy’s offense.

  1. Detroit Lions- LB Haason Reddick, Temple

Reddick can play off the edge and be a stud weak side LB. Perfect fit for the Lions.

  1. Miami Dolphins- OG Forrest Lamp, Western Kentucky

Miami needs to keep Ryan Tannehill upright and open holes for Jay Ajayi if they want any chance of winning. Lamp will help them do that day one.

  1. New York Giants- RB Christian McCaffrey, Stanford

McCaffrey is a jack of all trades who could take the Giants offense to the next level in both the run and pass games.

  1. Oakland Raiders- TE David Njoku, Miami

The Raiders could pick a running back or go secondary with this pick, but Njoku is someone they cannot pass on at this point. Tight end size with wide out ability, Njoku would be a great addition to the Raiders young and potent offense.

  1. Houston Texans- QB Deshaun Watson, Clemson

A Super Bowl caliber defense and a giant hole behind center. The Texans take Watson here and hope he develops quickly behind Tom Savage.

  1. Seattle Seahawks- CB Kevin King, Washington

Whether Richard Sherman is dealt or not, King with his combination of size and talent is a perfect fit for the Seahawks defense.

  1. Kansas City Chiefs- EDGE Takkarist McKinley, UCLA

The Chiefs do not have any glaring needs which will allow them to take McKinley late in round one and allow him to develop into a Tamba Hali clone.

  1. Dallas Cowboys- DE Charles Harris, Missouri

The Cowboys need to get to the quarterback and adding Harris will help them do that. If Harris can play to his potential, Dallas might have a star on their hands.

  1. Green Bay Packers- RB Joe Mixon, Oklahoma

The Packers need a running game behind Aaron Rodgers and there may not be a more talented runner in this draft than Mixon. He does come with baggage, but I believe the Packers would have the support system around him to allow him to succeed.

  1. Pittsburgh Steelers- S Jabrill Peppers, Michigan

Peppers will give the Steelers and in the box safety who can also move around the defense for them.

  1. Atlanta Falcons-EDGE Derek Barnett, Tennessee

More depth on the defensive line for the NFC Champions. I am not as high on Barnett as others, but I do think he would be a great fit for Dan Quinn and the Falcons.

  1. New Orleans Saints- S Budda Baker, Washington

The Saints add more power to their secondary with their second first round pick. Baker is an undersized player with an immeasurable heart and a ball hawking mentality.

Browns, Draft, NFL

Cleveland Browns Full Six-Round Mock Draft Version 1.0

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We are 44 days from the 2017 NFL Draft and with the Cleveland Browns holding the first pick, just about anything is possible. Over the next  six and a half weeks I will be posting a mock draft each week. On alternating weeks, I will post an NFL mock draft and on the other weeks I will post a Browns only mock.

Today begins the first Browns only mock draft of the season here on OrangeandBrown365.com. With the Browns having zero picks after the sixth round, this will only be a six-round mock.

*Note: Fanspeak’s mock draft simulator was used for this along with Matt Miller’s Big Board

Round 1 Pick 1: EDGE Myles Garret, Texas A&M

Garrett is a pass rushing monster. A better prospect at this point in his career than Jadaveon Clowney was. There are very little guarantees in the draft, but Garrett just may be as close as you can get. Power, finesse, speed, agility, he is the total pass rushing package and will be a guy the Browns can plug in and play day one.

Round 1 Pick 12: QB Mitchell Trubisky, North Carolina

In my opinion Trubisky is the best quarterback in this draft with Patrick Mahomes following directly after. Trubisky has a blend of touch and power on his passes and his accurate in and out of the pocket. The former Mentor Cardinal is also a very good athlete and shows good escapability in the pocket. He will be able to handle the pressure of being the Browns QB, my only worry is if fans will be able to handle their own expectations.

Round 2 Pick 33: S Budda Baker, Washington

Baker is an instinctual athlete with a lot more power than it looks like his small frame can produce. He is smaller than you’d like a safety to be at 5’10” and just 195 pounds, but he is a centerfielder with heart who can also play in the slot.

Round 2 Pick 52: CB Adoree’ Jackson, USC

Jackson is an elite athlete who showed greatly improved ball skills and coverage in his final season as a USC Trojan. He can start out in the slot and work his way outside later in his career, while being a huge bonus on special teams as a return man.

Round 3 Pick 65: TE Evan Ingram, Ole Miss

An explosive athlete at tight end in the mold of Washington’s Jordan Reed. Ingram ran a 4.42 40-yard dash at the combine. He will be a chess piece for Hue Jackson to move around the field. He needs to get better at sitting in zone coverage, but manages to find himself open at all levels of the field in man.

Round 4 Pick 108: EDGE Tarell Basham, Ohio

Athletic and strong off of the edge, Basham has an NFL body at 6’4″ and 270 pounds and shows flashes of explosion. His stiffness and lack of a full arsenal of pass rush moves will allow him to slide here where he can be a steal for the Cleveland Browns.

Round 5 Pick 145: WR JuJu Smith-Schuster

Smith-Schuster has very good size and average speed for the WR position. He is a very aggressive target and has great body control. At this point in the draft Smith-Schuster would be a steal as he as all the talent and ability to be at worst a very good number two WR in the NFL.

Round 5 Pick 175: SS Delano Hill, Michigan

A perfect fit for a Greg Williams defense as Hill is aggressive and physical at the point of attack and loves to live near the line of scrimmage. His coverage skills leave something to be desired, but he does have the ability to become an average zone defender.

Round 5 Pick 181: DT Davon Godchaux, LSU

Godchaux is a space eater and will be a rotation guy who will probably rarely, if ever, get much of a pass rush. He has the ability to use his hands, leverage, and reaction times to fill the hole.

Round 6 Pick 185: LB Alex Anzalone, Florida

A very talented and fluid linebacker who just cannot seem to stay healthy. Anzalone can be a steal at this point in the draft or at minimum a guy who can help on special teams. If he can stay healthy, he could develop into a very good player, however, given his history that is a very big if.

Round 6 Pick 188: RB Donnel Pumphrey, San Diego State

A small (5’8″, 176 pounds) but very fluid runner with great agility. He is the all time leading rusher in NCAA history and has proven he is able to take a beating. His size will hurt him against NFL blitzers but his heart will help him in the run game.

 

Browns

Browns, Pryor at Stalemate as Deadline Passes

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The deadline to place franchise or transition tags for free agents came and went at 4 p.m. on Wednesday with no deal in place for Cleveland Browns wide receiver Terrelle Pryor.

Pryor, who led the team with 77 catches for 1007 yards, is seen as a priority for the team this offseason. However, Browns executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown said at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis that the team “won’t panic if he’s not on our roster” entering 2017.

With no deal and the deadline passing, Pryor is now headed towards free agency where an extremely rich market will await him. The team does have until March 7 to reach a deal before other teams can legally begin talking with Pryor.

Browns, Draft, NFL

QB Search 2017: Player Profile Deshaun Watson

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*This is part six of a 10 part series where we will take a look at the Cleveland Browns options for the elusive quarterback of the future.

Name: Deshaun Watson

Height: 6’2″

Weight: 210 pounds

Throws: Right

School: Clemson

NFL Team: N/A

Draft Spot or Projection: Mid Round 1-Late Round 2

Strengths: Throws a catchable ball…can make all the necessary throws…has enough arm strength but won’t wow anyone…accuracy is solid…EXCELLENT character…great teammate…TRUE leader…average pocket presence…mobile….can be dual threat, but more of a pocket guy…confident in his abilities…hard worker…winner…comes into the draft with a lot of upside…plays it cool in the biggest moments…has incredible and unteachable intangibles…

Weaknesses: Needs to get bigger but think he has frame to add 20 pounds…ball placement is a big problem and led to many ball security (interceptions) issues even when his man won the one on one matchup…inaccurate at times…footwork needs to improve, throws high a lot…needs to work through his progressions better…stares down primary option…like many college kids has little experience under center…

Summary: Watson’s intangibles are off of the charts. He is a true leader who commands his huddle and can will his team to victory. Love his upside but there are many things he needs to work on. If he can improve his footwork and adjust to an NFL offense and being under center, he can continue winning at the next level. He will also need to add some weight. Overall, he is a coaches dream, as long as that coach wants to teach him and work with him a lot before sending him onto the field.

Up Next: Notre Dame QB DeShone Kizer

Previously: Texas Tech QB Pat Mahomes

Browns, Draft, NFL

QB Search 2017: Player Profile Pat Mahomes

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*This is part five of a 10 part series where we will take a look at the Cleveland Browns options for the elusive quarterback of the future.

Name: Patrick Mahomes II

Height: 6’3”

Weight: 215 pounds

Throws: Right

School: Texas Tech

NFL Team: N/A

Draft Spot or Projection: Round 1-2

strengths:  Incredible arm talent…shows great touch…possibly the strongest arm in the draft…accuracy has gotten better from his freshman year until now…great improvisation…stays in pocket even as things break down…delivers the ball from so many angles, but always with elite velocity behind it…probably the most fun quarterback to watch in 2017 draft…shows on field swagger…has unbelievable belief in his arm…can squeeze the ball into the tightest of windows, even with strange-looking mechanics at times…always looks for the big play…athletic…has everything you want in a quarterback that is absolutely uncoachable…

Weaknesses: Tendency to trust his arm too much…holds on to the ball while looking for the big play too often…comes from an air raid offense…needs to improve anticipation…mechanics go absolutely terrible at times, but with him it is a gift and a curse…may take a few years to fully develop while making his head coach go nuts…

Summary: Mahomes is a joy to watch. He could be the biggest value at quarterback in this draft because the sky is the ceiling if everything falls into place for this talented kid. He is either going to be Jay Cutler with Johnny Manziel’s improvisation ability or he will be the next Brett Favre.

Up Next: Clemson QB Deshaun Watson

Previously: North Carolina QB Mitch Trubisky

Draft, NFL

QB Search 2017: Player Profile Mitch Trubisky

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*This is part four of a 10 part series where we will take a look at the Cleveland Browns options for the elusive quarterback of the future.

Name: Mitch Trubisky

Height: 6’3”

Weight: 220 pounds

Throws: Right

School: North Carolina

NFL Team: N/A

Draft Spot or Projection: Top 15 overall

strengths:  Very accurate…throws a catchable ball…shows great anticipation…leader on the field and off…athletic and will surprise people at combine…throws with a strong base…solid mechanics…good velocity…great on short to intermediate routes, decent deep ball…goes through progressions well…looks off safety well…shows above average pocket presence, especially given minimal playing time…will only get better as he plays more…extremely coachable and smart, a true football loving gym rat.

Weaknesses: May not be as big as listed, want to see how tall he truly is at combine…velocity looks good on tape, need to see how hard he actually throws at combine. I like to see 56 mph or above from an elite QB prospect…has tendency to throw off back foot at times when rush in his face…limited playing time in college…

Summary: Trubisky looks the part of an elite quarterback prospect. The limited playing time does have me worried some, but the playing time he did have shows a quarterback with little weaknesses in his game. His ceiling might not be as high as some, but he is the safest of all of the quarterbacks in the 2017 draft and at worst will be an Andy Dalton or Alex Smith type quarterback.

Up Next: Texas Tech QB Pat Mahomes

Previously: Buffalo Bills QB Tyrod Taylor

Browns, Dawg Biscuits

Dawg Biscuits: Myles Doesn’t Want to Be a Brown?

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***Dawg Biscuits is a daily rundown of thoughts, news, and opinions on the Cleveland Browns.***

  • A video came out this weekend of possible number one overall pick and Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett pleading with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to trade up for him. In it, Garrett tells Jones that he should trade Tony Romo and picks to the Browns so that they can take him number one overall and he can be a Cowboy. Browns fans are losing their minds about this and it is so unnecessary. Yes, Garrett would prefer to be a Cowboy and yes, he did say he didn’t want to play for a cold weather city, but in another video, posted on twitter by Fox 26 (Houston) sports director Mark Berman Garrett talks about wanting to be a Brown. There are two sides to all stories and unless he pulls an Elway or an Eli he should be the number one pick. He is a talented monster.
  • Many people have talked about how deep this edge rush class is in the 2017 NFL Draft, with as many as seven guys going in round one. That talk has brought about the argument that the Browns should take a quarterback (which is not as deep a unit) at number one. No. NO, they should not. This quarterback class is filled with questions all around. At number one, the Browns need a sure thing and Garrett, who is clearly the best edge rusher available, is the closest to a sure thing you can find.
  • While the quarterback class is weak, I am still among the few that think North Carolina’s Mitch Trubisky can be a very good NFL QB. The kid has everything you want in a franchise signal caller.
  • Speaking of Trubisky, the fact that he was not a starter until 2016, as  a redshirt junior, has been brought up ad nauseam. Carson Wentz sat for years behind a guy who wasn’t an NFL prospect (Brock Jensen), let alone future starter, and how did he look last season? Pretty damn good. College coaches are paid to win games not develop NFL type signal callers. Marquise Williams, who was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Vikings, was a good college quarterback and an athletic freak who helped his college team win ball games. Jensen won National Championships while keeping Wentz on the bench.Just because Williams started over Trubisky does not mean Trubisky won’t be an excellent NFL quarterback. It’s just a weak take.
  • More on this, last night Ken Carman of CBS Radio tweeted out a take from North Carolina quarterbacks coach Keith Heckendorf…
  • carman-mitchy
  • The reasons most likely are that Williams was a very good college quarterback. Some guys are great college quarterbacks, but not suited for the NFL game.
  • Last thought on Trubisky…Biggest worries with him are his true height (hope he is at least 6’2″) and his velocity (hopefully clocked over 56 mph). Outside of either of those coming up short, he will most likely remain my number one QB in this draft.
  • My current top five in this draft at QB…Trubisky, Mahomes, Watson, Kizer, Kaaya.
  • Mahomes is rising because of what he can be. He’s a mix of Favre, Cutler, and Manziel…As long as the good outshines the bad, the future can be very, very, bright.
  • After releasing Josh McCown and Tramon Williams, the Browns have more than $100 million in cap space. Even with that, don’t expect them to go crazy in free agency. They will add some pieces, but they won’t go overboard.
  • The reason they have so much cap space is because they don’t have the piece that takes up most of a teams cap, a franchise QB.
  • That’s all for today. Want to finish off before I say anything about a certain growing legend that rides the bench for the Patriots…
Browns, Draft

QB Search 2017: Player Profile AJ McCarron

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*This is part two of a 10 part series where we will look at the Cleveland Browns options for the elusive quarterback of the future.

aj-mccarron
Bengals back up QB AJ McCarron

Name: AJ McCarron

Height: 6’3″

Weight: 22o pounds

Throws: Right

School: Alabama

NFL Team: Cincinnati Bengals

Draft Spot or Projection: 5th round, 164th overall (2014)

Strengths: Good size for an NFL QB…big hands…played in a pro style offense and makes NFL caliber reads…goes through progressions well…good short to intermediate accuracy in the pocket and also accurate while on the move…above average mechanics with smooth throwing motion…used to being under center from college offense…above average arm strength…takes care of the ball…smart…a leader on the field…prepares well.

Weaknesses: Struggles with the deep ball…not overly athletic…does not drive the ball at times, causing his receives to adjust a lot of times, putting them in awkward situations…had an amazing NFL caliber team around him in college, hard to tell how much was him and how much was the talent around him as far as wins and production…

Summary: When I wrote my original scouting report on McCarron I was stuck on how good his supporting cast was. Watching just McCarron’s mechanics and the way he works in the pocket, you can see a guy who has talent but is also a big product of the guys around him. In the NFL he can be an average starter, but will only get as far as the talent around him can help him.

Up next Part Three: Bills QB Tyrod Taylor

Part one: Jimmy Garoppolo