2018 NFL Draft

These are the stats from 2013 Texas Tech comparing Davis Webb and Baker MAyfield.

Rk Player Cmp Att Pct Yds Y/A TD Int Rate
1 Webb 226 361 62.6 2718 7.5 20 9 139.1
2 Mayfield 218 340 64.1 2315 6.8 12 9 127.7

Isn't the reason Mayfield left Texas Tech that Webb beat him out? In 2013 Webb was clearly the better quarterback.

 

There's no way to know if anyone else had him at the top of the board. And there's a distinct chance he would have been gone at No. 4. In fact, I believe I read the Jets were considering him.

 

The reason Joe Flacco ended up at Delaware is Tyler Palko beat him out to be the starter for Pitt. Flacco certainly has his detractors, and for good reason, but he has been a hell of a lot better as a pro than Palko, who mostly bounced from one practice squad to another for a few years before being out of the league entirely.

 

I read that as well. Supposedly, the Jets loved him. I know there was public debate about the four quarterbacks, but it sure seems like the Browns thought he was their man. If that's your guy and you are sure about it, you take him at No. 1.

 

Ward was the top corner in the draft. I believe Fitzpatrick played some corner in college, but everything I read and heard had him as a safety in the NFL.

 

PK in MMQB, quoted the Browns GM Dorsey (I think) as stating at least three other teams had Mayfield as No. 1 choice, and one team willing to move up to Browns 4 spot If - and Only IF - Mayfield was available.

 

So the 6'6" guy (Flacco) had a better pro career than the guy who beat him out in college, Palko (6'1"). Webb is 6'5" and Mayfield is 6'1". So Webb has prototypical NFL size.

 

So did Dan McGwire. How did that work out? It takes a lot more than just the prototypical NFL size. Some of it is physical, such as arm strength. Flacco has an excellent arm. Palko did not. Of course, it goes beyond just physical skills.

Sometimes one guy is further along when he arrives in college, like Palko, but that advantage eventually runs out. That is why one player may be better earlier in their college careers, but the other could be the better pro.

 

The Browns taking Mayfield had less to do with how much they liked Mayfield and more mow much they disliked Darnold, Rosen and the other guy.

 

People keeping saying this -- I heard it again on the radio this morning from someone (Brian Billick, maybe?): Cleveland could have taken Barkley No. 1 and maybe still could have had Mayfield at No. 4.

Well, yeah, except Mayfield might not get past the Jets, and with Barkley gone the Giants might take an offer to bail out of No. 2 from someone (Buffalo, perhaps?) wanting to move up to get Mayfield.

If the Browns believed Mayfield was the No. 1 QB by a significant margin, then they did exactly the right thing. They got their man.

 

Everyone’s an expert immediately after the draft.

 

As opposed to a select few who are before the draft, amirite?