Word yesterday was that Cousins was down to two teams - Vikings & Jets.
Vikings makes sense as they have the weapons to win now, but it appears the Jets are so desperate that they are prepared to guarantee the entire contract, which is unheard of in the NFL.
The two burning questions of the minute, I suppose:
1) Do the Browns take BPA - Saquon Barkley - at no.1 overall and take the second best quarterback available to them?
I think they should. The more I go over Barkley's combine and stats at Penn State, the more I think they have to take him. Colts are unlikely to take a QB with Luck still around (we think), but even if they did, they're still left with a plethora of options. Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, Baker Mayfield, Josh Allen, and even Mason Rudolph and Lamar Jackson would all be serviceable options. They still want to sign an FA QB - possibly McCarron - and have one of the above sit behind a veteran for a year.
If they don't then that's understandable. Duke Johnson is a good RB and taking a QB at 1 with (probably) Bradley Chubb or Minkah Fitzpatrick at 4 helps their defensive needs immensely. But they have so many picks that they can probably afford to wait until rounds 2 and 3 to find a defensive playmaker or twenty...
2) Kirk Cousins. Where's he going? What's the QB situation shaping up to be across the league?
Vikings seem to be the mood music in recent days. I think it'll be either them or the Jets. Both are good fits. Jets have much more cap wiggle room, so are in a better position to pay him what he wants, but the Vikings with Cousins under centre would become huge Super Bowl contenders (like they were this year).
The QB market is pretty huge this year. There are a lot of teams looking - either in need of a starter; or who need to look ahead to 2019/20; or who need a backup:
Browns (starter), Giants (next year), Cardinals (they literally don't have a QB), Broncos (starter), Vikings (all 3 of their main QBs are unrestricted free agents), Jets (starter), Bills (starter, depends on Tyrod Taylor), Chargers (maybe), Jaguars (backup), Steelers (backup/future), and Ravens (backup/future) are the teams that come to mind.
That's a lot of teams. Thankfully there are a lot of QBs around - four or five who could prove alright from the draft, plus Cousins, Keenum, Bridgewater, Bradford, Tyrod Taylor, McCarron, Gabbert (more of a backup), even Josh McCown.
There's gonna be some very well-paid players. I'm no oracle, but I reckon some of the moves will be Cousins to the Vikings, Broncos/Browns/Giants in the draft market, and Cardinals gambling on someone like Keenum.
The two burning questions of the minute, I suppose:
1) Do the Browns take BPA - Saquon Barkley - at no.1 overall and take the second best quarterback available to them?
I think they should. The more I go over Barkley's combine and stats at Penn State, the more I think they have to take him. Colts are unlikely to take a QB with Luck still around (we think), but even if they did, they're still left with a plethora of options. Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, Baker Mayfield, Josh Allen, and even Mason Rudolph and Lamar Jackson would all be serviceable options. They still want to sign an FA QB - possibly McCarron - and have one of the above sit behind a veteran for a year.
If they don't then that's understandable. Duke Johnson is a good RB and taking a QB at 1 with (probably) Bradley Chubb or Minkah Fitzpatrick at 4 helps their defensive needs immensely. But they have so many picks that they can probably afford to wait until rounds 2 and 3 to find a defensive playmaker or twenty...
2) Kirk Cousins. Where's he going? What's the QB situation shaping up to be across the league?
Vikings seem to be the mood music in recent days. I think it'll be either them or the Jets. Both are good fits. Jets have much more cap wiggle room, so are in a better position to pay him what he wants, but the Vikings with Cousins under centre would become huge Super Bowl contenders (like they were this year).
The QB market is pretty huge this year. There are a lot of teams looking - either in need of a starter; or who need to look ahead to 2019/20; or who need a backup:
Browns (starter), Giants (next year), Cardinals (they literally don't have a QB), Broncos (starter), Vikings (all 3 of their main QBs are unrestricted free agents), Jets (starter), Bills (starter, depends on Tyrod Taylor), Chargers (maybe), Jaguars (backup), Steelers (backup/future), and Ravens (backup/future) are the teams that come to mind.
That's a lot of teams. Thankfully there are a lot of QBs around - four or five who could prove alright from the draft, plus Cousins, Keenum, Bridgewater, Bradford, Tyrod Taylor, McCarron, Gabbert (more of a backup), even Josh McCown.
There's gonna be some very well-paid players. I'm no oracle, but I reckon some of the moves will be Cousins to the Vikings, Broncos/Browns/Giants in the draft market, and Cardinals gambling on someone like Keenum.
This is what I suggested yesterday and take McCarron
I think the Browns should take Barkley at #1. NYG may take a QB, probably Sam Darnold, that leaves the Colts who won't take one. Worst case scenario Browns get to pick from one of Allen, Rosen, Mayfield and Jackson at #4.
If the Browns took Barkley I could see something like this
1. Barkley 2. Rosen to Giants 3. Chubb to Colts (trade is very possible, Broncos, Bills etc) could see the Broncos taking Allen if they did. 4. Mayfield to Browns.
I still think there’s a scenario where the Browns don’t take Barkley too.
1. Rosen to Browns 2. Barkley to NYG 3. Chubb to Colts 4. Fitzpatrick to Browns 5. Allen to Broncos 6. Mayfield to Jets
Overall I think that what the Browns do at 1 has a knock on over the entirety of the rest of the draft, they could even take Barkley at 1 and trade up with the Colts to get their QB at 3 if they really wanted.
If the Browns took Barkley I could see something like this
1. Barkley 2. Rosen to Giants 3. Chubb to Colts (trade is very possible, Broncos, Bills etc) could see the Broncos taking Allen if they did. 4. Mayfield to Browns.
I still think there’s a scenario where the Browns don’t take Barkley too.
1. Rosen to Browns 2. Barkley to NYG 3. Chubb to Colts 4. Fitzpatrick to Browns 5. Allen to Broncos 6. Mayfield to Jets
Overall I think that what the Browns do at 1 has a knock on over the entirety of the rest of the draft, they could even take Barkley at 1 and trade up with the Colts to get their QB at 3 if they really wanted.
Also wouldn't be surprised to see Browns take a QB at #1 and trade 4th spot away.
Pretty much completely forgot about Darnold in that too, I think there are way too many factors in play for the Browns to not mess it up.
Darnold the first QB off the board surely.
I think it could literally be any of Rosen, Darnold, Allen and even Mayfield. I think Darnold was concensus before this season but slipped a bit since.
Comments
I expect Browns to still take a QB first pick, but will they trade their 4th pick to another QB hungry team?
a lot depends on where the Free Agency QB'S end up, starting with Cousins and what the Vikings do with their three QB's
Vikings makes sense as they have the weapons to win now, but it appears the Jets are so desperate that they are prepared to guarantee the entire contract, which is unheard of in the NFL.
1) Do the Browns take BPA - Saquon Barkley - at no.1 overall and take the second best quarterback available to them?
I think they should. The more I go over Barkley's combine and stats at Penn State, the more I think they have to take him. Colts are unlikely to take a QB with Luck still around (we think), but even if they did, they're still left with a plethora of options. Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, Baker Mayfield, Josh Allen, and even Mason Rudolph and Lamar Jackson would all be serviceable options. They still want to sign an FA QB - possibly McCarron - and have one of the above sit behind a veteran for a year.
If they don't then that's understandable. Duke Johnson is a good RB and taking a QB at 1 with (probably) Bradley Chubb or Minkah Fitzpatrick at 4 helps their defensive needs immensely. But they have so many picks that they can probably afford to wait until rounds 2 and 3 to find a defensive playmaker or twenty...
2) Kirk Cousins. Where's he going? What's the QB situation shaping up to be across the league?
Vikings seem to be the mood music in recent days. I think it'll be either them or the Jets. Both are good fits. Jets have much more cap wiggle room, so are in a better position to pay him what he wants, but the Vikings with Cousins under centre would become huge Super Bowl contenders (like they were this year).
The QB market is pretty huge this year. There are a lot of teams looking - either in need of a starter; or who need to look ahead to 2019/20; or who need a backup:
Browns (starter), Giants (next year), Cardinals (they literally don't have a QB), Broncos (starter), Vikings (all 3 of their main QBs are unrestricted free agents), Jets (starter), Bills (starter, depends on Tyrod Taylor), Chargers (maybe), Jaguars (backup), Steelers (backup/future), and Ravens (backup/future) are the teams that come to mind.
That's a lot of teams. Thankfully there are a lot of QBs around - four or five who could prove alright from the draft, plus Cousins, Keenum, Bridgewater, Bradford, Tyrod Taylor, McCarron, Gabbert (more of a backup), even Josh McCown.
There's gonna be some very well-paid players. I'm no oracle, but I reckon some of the moves will be Cousins to the Vikings, Broncos/Browns/Giants in the draft market, and Cardinals gambling on someone like Keenum.
Not like the old days before rookie contracts were limited so wouldn't cost them an arm and a leg.
If there isn't a QB they like then take Barkley or whoever is top of your draft board at 1 and a top defensive player at 4.
They shouldn't be taking a QB at 4 in my opinion.
Although I think the Browns should take Barkley at 1, I don't think they will.
Usual Ts and Cs
Any errors or additions let me know.
Only 4 teams remain unsupported
Texans, Panthers, Cardinals & Rams
AFC EAST:
Bills – Avi_dAddick
Dolphins – 9goalswentpastperry, CharltonParkLane, Hertsseasider, Jdredsox, Johnhumphrey, kielyskickingboots, RomseyAddick, Simon E
Jets - CAFCTrev, CharltonMadrid, rina
Patriots – 56yearsofdreams, ForeverAddickted, RalphMilnesgut, sam3110, SomervilleAddick
AFC NORTH:
Bengals - Bigbadbozman
Browns - cafcbrown, creepyaddick, SE7toSG3
Ravens - ChiAddick, Its_Hamer_Time, limeygent, StubleyAddick, The Red Robin
Steelers - Ben18, bobmunro, Pedro45, ScrappyCAFC, WestSA
AFC SOUTH:
Colts – CAFC1304, Rossman92
Jaguars – PaddyP17, SE10Addick
Texans –
Titans - tommyr
AFC WEST:
Broncos – buckshee, Leroy Ambrose, Rothko, sonicstud85
Chargers - andyg90, Blinkant, DamoNorthStand
Chiefs – cafc_4life, johnny73, Minkcafc, stackitsteve
Raiders – All_Thaid_Up, dread_pirate_addick, Floebot, MrOneLung, northstandsteve, se9addick, SoundAsa£, World of Woe
NFC EAST:
Cowboys – Bilko, Callumcafc, chester_conrad, supaclive
Eagles – Ashdown, cypriot_addick, kigelia, Low_Ears, twiggyaddick, ValleyGary
Giants – AddicksAddict, EastStand, SuedeAdidas
Redskins – bolloxbolder, cafckev, GoOnYouHaddocks, hudson-son-son, Miserableoldgit, Pedro45, tonyupnorth, wellingtentioned
NFC NORTH:
Bears – addick16, andyg90, ChicagoAddick, Laddick01, Oh_Yoni_Boy, Wright6679
Lions – Sparrows Lane Lion
Packers – addickfanatic, CAFCjoe94, Macronate, NapaAddick
Vikings - cafc_harry, flyingkiwiDK, Lincsaddick, SantaClaus
NFC SOUTH:
Buccaneers – danhughes99, Dannoo_86
Falcons – Big C, BrentfordAddick, DanDavis, Karim_myBagheri, Morboe
Panthers – charente addick, McBobbin
Saints – LLMTP, philcafc
NFC WEST:
49ers – cs1986, Missed It, NorthStandUltra, RDG, Red_James, Rob
Cardinals –
Rams –
Seahawks - Briston_Addick, Cafcspud, thecrazyaddick
The colts are hardly going to pick a QB with Luck so would only remove 1 QB from the draft at #4.
Hue seems to want to bench them for a year though so likely to sign another QB on free agency. Maybe Mccarron
1. Barkley
2. Rosen to Giants
3. Chubb to Colts (trade is very possible, Broncos, Bills etc) could see the Broncos taking Allen if they did.
4. Mayfield to Browns.
I still think there’s a scenario where the Browns don’t take Barkley too.
1. Rosen to Browns
2. Barkley to NYG
3. Chubb to Colts
4. Fitzpatrick to Browns
5. Allen to Broncos
6. Mayfield to Jets
Overall I think that what the Browns do at 1 has a knock on over the entirety of the rest of the draft, they could even take Barkley at 1 and trade up with the Colts to get their QB at 3 if they really wanted.
Don't watch as much now as I used to though.
"Cam Newton Plays Jazz: A Tribute to Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie"