Saxer is staying excited: QB musings on a dewy yet snowy Sunday

[saX man]

I've got to say, I really like the top QBs not called Trevor Lawrence or Justin Fields, but first, let us rewind.

 

Wassup:

 

This franchise has had 4 QBs worth a damn (in their primes): Collins (for the beers), Beurline, Delhomme, & Cam.  And we have only drafted 2 QBs in Round 1 in our ~25 year history (Cam & Kerry). With that in mind, I get why this is such a lively topic and people have pause in drafting one high. Especially when we’re gonna be sitting at 5-11ish.  Collins was drafted to be the first face of the franchise, and then Cam again at pick 1 where both were pretty obvious.  We walk on novel grounds in this glowing year of 2021. We've just gone through a Rodney Peete type year and it's time to break free.

 

Let me punt the following along:

Put yourself in the pre-draft mind of past years and take a sober look at the past top QB picks.  Be honest with how we viewed these guys:

2016: Goff (1), Wentz (2) 

2017: Trubisky (2), Mahomes (10), Watson (12)

2018: Mayfield (1), Darnold (3), Allen (7), Rosen (10)

2019: Kyler (1), Daniel Jones (6)

2020: Burrow (1), Tua (5), Herbert (7) 

So Watson (12), Mahomes (10), & Allen (7) have become something special.  Burrow seems promising.  Tua, Herbert (especially) & Murray both look decent but the rest have sputtered in varying fashions. The thing was, none were really THAT huge of a “can’t miss” type minus Burrow.  Mahomes was a "project", Watson was a leader but many said had limitations.  Murray was maybe playing baseball/rose super quickly, Allen, Darnold & Baker had big question marks. 

Thing is, look at these teams that took those shots (for better or worse) when the talent wasn’t this can’t miss generational type-->

Rams: SB appearance, have long term coach

Eagles: SB win, coach looked good, now looks like crap, same with Wentz (they are an enigma)

Chiefs: SB win.  Good stuff in KC.

Bills: Arguably the hottest team in the league, w/long term coach, & Allen looks awesome after some years of improvement.  Love how Beane built things.

Bears: Trubisky is a dud but they have a decent coach and may get into the playoffs. Were a crossbar away from a playoff win in 18'.  (Imagine that team w/Watson)

Browns: Should be in the playoffs, Mayfield seems there to stay for a bit.  Looking decent.

Dolphins: Great new coach, awesome defense, Tua needs to work on it but has looked good in spurts.

Cardinals & Chargers are mid-builds but look promising with their young guys. Texans are getting rebuilt bc of F5 Bill O'Brien

--

The only teams I think would really regret their move are the Giants & Bears.  Gettleman is bananas and Daniel Jones isn’t a starting quality QB. 

The Eagles & Rams both experienced success but are at a crossroads with their guys/have slacked. 

AZ was still able to land Murray and ship Rosen for a 2nd rounder (smart).

--

And I just don’t think these teams were set back by going after these guys.  One could argue the Bears would be a top team if they just picked Watson.  That's the one stinger.  But if anything, these squads weren't really screwed up by any means.

What I'm getting at--you really need to take a swing when you're in the top-12ish and need a QB.  You simply don't see QBs taken in the teens/early 20s.  It's either high first or low first (Jackson, Love).  Then after that it's a toss-up the rest of the draft. And overall, I think this shows that the right coaching is just huge and helps a team take that risk on a QB talent.

So, don't be shocked if we trade up for Wilson or (longshot Fields)...BUT what I want to caution (and where I'm taking this):

I will not get miffed if we stay put, don’t trade, and grab Mac Jones or Trey Lance.  I think both could do quite well here.  I also look at them and don’t think they are really that far off in comparison to some of the top QBs in past years. Unsure about Trask & the Cinci kid but I’ll at least give them a mention for a late R1 grab or high 2nd in the vein of a Kaep/Jackson/Lock type pick.   

So in summation: Take a stab at a QB.  It's not a reach.  It doesn't set a franchise back if you're on the upswing as a team with a promising coach (which we are).  And this QB class is stacked, we should take advantage instead of worrying about reaching.  If you find the right guy, you figure out how to get him.  That could VERY likely be one of Zach Wilson, Trey Lance, or Mac Jones if we’re around pick 5-11.  Our QB play this season was detrimental to our games/stunted drives and we need to find our new young gun.  I see no way in hell we grab another vet with Teddy being paid as a starter one more year, we are set up perfectly to draft a promising QB and have him under that rookie contract.

Or maybe we grab Nate Sudfeld

Been a super weird season, let's keep it weird.

-Weirdo

 

[hepcat]

I wish Cam never hurt his shoulder

[saX man]

32 minutes ago, hepcat said:

I wish Cam never hurt his shoulder

It was quite a wild ride with that man.

[saX man]

As a selfish bump, I find this prudent with today's results. 

I'm cool with Mac or Lance