MrEpsYtown

Keenum is definitely a dome guy for sure. I still feel Foles winds up in Arizona, but Keenum makes sense.

This would indicate a trade up happening. Perfect guy for the quarterback room, good dude who knows the offense and could start 4-8 games if the rookie needs some time. This also hints at Rosen because he is the only guy really ready to start this season in my opinion.

I'm going Brock Coyle linebacker

Brooks is a terrible evaluator. His mocks are ridiculous and his takes are often not accompanied by actual analysis.

My initial thought is the Giants because they have some great players and no depth. With the defensive scheme switch, no offensive line, and very little in the way of cap space or draft picks, I think they are the most likely team to trade down. I mean if the Browns take Barkley and you aren't going quarterback what do you do? A guard? Chubb? But I suppose it could be any of them. I'm not sure the Browns will, but I could see the Colts doing it because they are also dealing with a scheme change. However, with a new staff and a good amount of cap space, there is no sense of urgency. The Giants are still in a window of contention in my opinion.

The quarterback with the Marino-esque release will drop ala Marino because of nonsense? Nah, Rosen is going #2 to us

Thanks for the reply. I hear you, but these guys are professionals and they don't generally burn bridges. Andy Reid fired Sean McDermott and they still have a ton of love for each other. I think GMs talk openly with GMs they are connected to. I don't think they keep a ton of secrets from those they trust. To me, if you are the Browns and you talk to the people you know well, you don't have to trade up. you can just kind of wait. Just my 2 cents.

Agreed. I think Rosen could benefit from the Eli treatment, where they had Kurt Warner start the first 8 games of the season. But I think he could certainly start right away. To me, he is the only one in this draft who can. Mayfield could start right away, but you are going to have to change your offense the way Bill O'Brien did for Watson. I think Allen and Darnold need a year or two.

I have to say yes, simply because we made the playoffs.

Small connection, but a connection nonetheless, our tight end coach was with the Rams during a couple of years of Bradford's tenure there. He was OC after Bradford was traded. In fact Boras has coached Bradford, Foles, and Case Keenum.

Bear with me here, but I have been thinking about this for awhile. While we are in smokescreen season, I do think that all signs point to a trade up for the Bills. Typically, general managers and front office personnel are most comfortable making deals and having conversations with people they know and trust. There is a a lot of nepotism and good ole boys networks. It is one of the reasons Belichick traded Jimmy G. to San Francisco without even shopping him to anyone else. There is a ton cronyism that happens and I think this could benefit the Bills this year. How the top of this draft goes depends on three people: John Dorsey, David Gettelman, and Chris Ballard. Interestingly, all three are connected to McDermott and Gettleman is connected to McDermott and Beane. My basic premise here is that all of these guys can get together and make sure that the top four picks in the draft go the way they want them to go. Dorsey, like McDermott, is an Andy Reid guy through and through. They go all the way back to the Green Bay Mike Holmgren days. They work for years together in Kansas City and McDermott was willing traded down 17 spots so that KC could get their quarterback of the future last year. They helped each other out. McDermott knew full well that KC was going up to get Mahomes, because they likely told him. Gettelman is connected to both McDermott and Beane. Our GM Beane was basically Gettleman's apprentice. Beane's success as a general manager should be important to Gettelman. He also has a working relationship with Sean McDermott. Chris Ballard in Indy is also a KC Andy Reid guy. He hasn't been around as long, but basically was Dorsey's right hand man and apprentice in KC. He is a part of the coaching/front office tree. So there are the connections. These guys can all get together and make the top of the draft go the way they want. Dorsey can take Barkley at 1 and assure himself Darnold at four by talking to Gettleman, Beane, and Ballard. Ballard can make sure he is going to get his hands on Chubb and can assure Dorsey he will not trade out. Beane could assure Dorsey that we are going to take Rosen so he can get Darnold at 4. GMs have conversations like this all of the time. Smokescreens are sent out a lot, but generally, people who know each other communicate about who they are going to pick. By engaging each other, they can control the top four of the draft and keep people like the Jets, Broncos, and Cards out of the top 4. Is it collusion? Kind of, but their is nothing wrong or illegal about it. Now on to motivation. The Browns should want to do this so that they can get Barkley at 1 and make sure they can get the quarterback they want at 4. The only issue with this is if the Bills and Browns want the same guy. However, with the Browns trade for Tyrod Taylor, I am assuming the Bills and Browns are looking for different things at the quarterback position. The Giants should trade back. They have no offensive linemen and their defense is switching to a 3-4. They also have very little cap. They need all of the picks they can get. A trade back would help the Giants quickly get themselves back into contention. If they draft a quarterback, they are punting on the rest of Eli's career. If they know Dorsey is going to take Barkley, they may be more motivated to trade out. Indy needs to take Chubb They are switching to a 4-3 defense and their personnel does not fit. By engaging the other GMs at the top, Ballard can assure himself that Chubb will be there. If the Giants won't go for a trade down, Indy could consider it as well. Their offensive line is shoddy at best and their defensive transition is going to require different personnel. These connections and conversations allow these GMs to dictate how the top of the draft is going to go. The Browns, Colts, and Bills can assure themselves "their guy" while the Giants can rebuild their team in one fell swoop.

I think Apple and Jenkins are much better fits for what new DC James Bettcher wants to do. I suppose Apple is getting a clean slate with new people at the helm. I could see them being all over the Honey Badger if he winds up being released. However, the Giants are in a tough ca space place because they have no offensive line and they are switching to a 3-4...all the more reason for them to trade down for multiple picks.

Could be Brees' agent trying to leverage the Saints. If I'm Brees I am checking in with Arizona. Dome team with Larry Fitzgerald.

The Foles thing is interesting because of his contract. It is really cheap, which would allow the team to use money elsewhere, and I think he is young enough that you don't have to move up to draft a quarterback this year. I prefer jumping up and drafting Rosen, but I think the Foles thing makes sense. My question is, does that contract void next year regardless of what team he is on? Or is it a provision that is specific to the Eagles. If he is coming with that contract, he is definitely worth a second round pick and then you have a ton of flexibility in the draft. That said, I still think we want Rosen and I think Foles winds up in Arizona.

Yes Coyle is a UFA

I think it depends on who you are drafting. If you aren't going to trade up or need a guy for 1-2 years I would probably go Bradford or Keenum. If if you are signing a guy to be the guy I guess you go after Bridgewater or McCar on, who are both still young. The other option would be a trade for Foles. If you trade up for Josh Rosen you sign a guy to basically start 4-8 games this year while Rosen gets ready. That could be a much older guy who isn't all that impressive. That could be McCown, Matt Moore, Chad Henne..something along those lines. Any way you slice it you absolutely must have a veteran in the quarterback room. It can't be like Peterman and a rookie. What the Bills do this week is going to give us a good idea of what their draft plans are imo.

Agreed. I think that guy has to come from the draft. However, I mentioned Brock Coyle above, but all of his pro day number were comparable to Kuechly. I think he could be a sleeper, under teh radar guy for our defense. Here is Coyle's pro day: Pre-draft measurables Ht Wt Arm length Hand size 40-yard dash 10-yd split 20-yd split 20-ss 3-cone Vert jump Broad BP 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 32.5 in (0.83 m) 9.38 in (0.24 m) 4.60 s 1.60 s 4.28 s 6.74 s 37.0 in (0.94 m) 9 ft 7 in (2.92 m) 25 rep Here is Kuechly's combine: Pre-draft measurables Ht Wt Arm length Hand size 40-yard dash 10-yd split 20-yd split 20-ss 3-cone Vert jump Broad BP Wonderlic 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 242 lb (110 kg) 31 in (0.79 m) 9 3⁄4 in (0.25 m) 4.58 s 1.63 s 4.12 s 6.92 s 38.1 in (0.97 m) 10 ft 3 in (3.12 m) 27 reps 34 Avery Williamson is going to be expensive, but were are his numbers: Pre-draft measurables Ht Wt Arm length Hand size 40-yard dash 10-yd split 20-yd split 20-ss 3-cone Vert jump Broad BP 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 246 lb (112 kg) 32 3⁄4 in (0.83 m) 9 1⁄2 in (0.24 m) 4.66 s 4.07 s 7.11 s 30 1⁄2 in (0.77 m) 10 ft 0 in (3.05 m) 25 reps All values from NFL Combine[5] I know athletic ability isn't everything, but I found it interesting that Coyle had such impressive numbers, and again had a really nice year for the Niners. He is now listed at 6-1, 245 so he got bigger. Coyle could be the under the radar Poyer-Hyde type of signing that no one sees coming.

There was a report that Yarborough was coming back. I just think this front office is pretty tightly sealed, so you don't hear a ton of information like we are used to in the past.

Another under the radar guy is Brock Coyle. He is a small school guy from Montana who runs a 4.6. Was an UDFA who bounced around. He started his career with the Seahawks, and just had a really nice year for the 49ers. Gritty small school player? Seems like a good fit. I could see McDermott liking him.

I wouldn't love it. I really like Matt Milano as a WILL. I think this team needs a MIKE and a SAM. I really like the idea of Christian Jones as a SAM backer. He has been kind of miscast as a 3-4 ILB in Chicago. In a 4-3 Under the SAM is a two down player, but Jones played some DE at FSU. He'd effectively replace Lorax. Jones also has super long arms, which helps when lining up over the tight end. At the MIKE I think you go after Tahir Whitehead or Avery Williamson. You look to see if the Pats release Shea McClellin. I'd also be willing to take a flyer on Brian Cushing. Outside of that, I think you have to find your MIKE in the draft whether it's Evans or Vander Esch or whatever. Preston Brown should be gone.

I think his volatile nature is a flaw in him as the little guy who has to contstantly prove himself all of the time. I think that can cause a person to be defensive. I agree and I think he definitely has the potential to get fat. I just don't like his body type and I'm not sure he will be able to take the pounding the NFL will bring.

Playing center in the SEC with all of those great defensive tackle is tough, so I will buy Ragnow. He can play guard as well. The rest of it is cool with me. I prefer Josh Rosen, but Mayfield is interesting. I don't think McBeane will draft him though.

I could see Leonard Johnson, Kyle, and Thompson back. Shamarko Thomas was really good on special teams at the end of the year. Pretty much it for me.

Awesome article. Thanks for sharing.

I interesting concept but I'm not sure it says much. Whether a guy was traded up for is really just statistics and semantics and has nothing to do with their success or lack of success.