2014 NFL draft thread (no longer too early)

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

Wow, that's interesting. I do remember the Rodgers/Packers speculation because Favre was starting to get old and the Packers were still decent. The thinking was, IIRC, that they didn't have many pressing needs and could afford to spend a No. 1 pick on a guy who wasn't likely to play for 2-3 years.

 

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

Favre was pissed. When the Packers were on the clock, his agent called Ted Thompson and told him to take Logan Mankins. That would have been a great pick too, but getting a potential franchise QB at the end of the first round is a no-brainer.

People also don't realize that Favre fucking with the Packers about retiring did not start after the 2007 season. It started after the 2001 season when he told Peter King that he didn't think he was going to play much longer. After the Packers lost to the Falcons in the playoffs, Favre told the team he was retiring. Mort actually reported it, and then they talked him out of it before an announcement was made.

There were a lot of people who thought the Packers were thinking about using a first-rounder on a QB in the 2003 and 2004 drafts. The Bears moved in front of them in 2003 to take Grossman and the Bills did the same thing to take JP Losman in 2004. I think it's safe to say the Packers are probably glad they waited.

 

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

A curious case in the QB/waiting genre is Dan Marino. He surely would have gone higher than late-first round is he came out after his junior year, but his senior season hurt his stock.

 

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

I think Jake Locker is another one whose draft stock probably didn't benefit from returning to school. It's really hard to say unless they go through the workouts, the combine and whatnot because sometimes a guy who might project as the No. 1 overall pick doesn't stand up to the scrutiny once they start getting poked a prodded.

Does Matt Barkley fall to the fourth round if he comes out as a junior? I don't know...

 

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

Jake Locker went eighth in the 2011 draft and was not going to be drafter higher in 2010. Bradford was the better prospect so he was always going to be the first pick and picks 2-7 have all been Pro Bowlers. I think Locker was a reach in any year he came out.

 

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

It's amazing how strong the top of the 2010 and 2011 drafts were. I'd forgotten how strong 2010 was.

Yeah, looking at the 2010 draft, it's hard to imagine Locker going any higher than No. 8.

 

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

I actually covered Locker when he was in high school. Good all-around athlete, nice kid, nice family. Played at a smaller school, but never struck me as so overwhelming that you knew you were looking at greatness. Also, he was never even first-team all-conference (much less all-American) when he was in college.

 

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

I wonder if Denver might look to go that route. They've obviously got a HOF caliber QB now in Manning, but realistically they gotta know he's probably got 2-3 more years, tops. So if they see someone they like late first round or second round, grab him and groom him as Manning's understudy for a couple of years.

 

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

What high school did he go to?

 

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

Ferndale High School, about 20 minutes south of the Peace Arch on Interstate 5.

Locker's senior year, Ferndale beat a Prosser HS team that had future Boise State QB Kellen Moore (Moore's dad was the coach) to win the Washington Class 3A title.

 

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

You guys keep focusing on QBs. There are many other positions on the field.

 

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

Ok, what do you think of UCLA linebacker Anthony Barr? He might be a candidate for the Vikings with the No. 8 pick.