2018 NFL off-season thread: Mr. Alex Smith goes to Washington

Q, what factors make you so certain Mayfield will be a bust? Not saying you're wrong, mind you, but curious as to your reasoning.

 

Like Manziel, he’s not big enough, his arm isn’t strong enough and the speed and elusiveness he displayed will be mitigated by the average NFL defender. That’s too much to overcome.

 

Big 12 gimmick-offense quarterbacks don't have a very good history in the NFL.

 

But Russel Wilson.

 

His arm looked strong enough to me. I can see the size issue though.

 

"Wait, what?"

 

Two ‘l’s, but Wilson is one of the greatest outliers in NFL history. He shouldn’t be able to do what he does, yet he does it. Wilson is the exception that proves the rule. And related to LTL’s post, it really helps to have a foundation in at least something resembling a pro-style offense.

 

His arm strength looked good in the Big 12.

 

Mahomes at least has a cannon for an arm. He checks one of the boxes.

 

It was sarcasm. It’s what everybody falls back on. There’s a reason he’s the only one.

 

Russell Wilson's biggest asset in between his ears. He knows how to maximize his strengths and minimize his weaknesses.

 

I think Mayfield would be a decent 3-round pick, there is just no way I'd put a franchise on his shoulders. That's the stupid thing about the draft, your talent is your talent, drafting you higher than your ability suggests doesn't make anyone better. He would probably have a better career as a third-rounder than as a first-rounder.