Not only that, JJ might want to finish his career in 2-3 seasons. TJ won't be with the Steelers next year, so he might be jockying to play the two brothers this year and have TJ join him in Cleveland next year... Just saying, if we are throwing around scenarios.
I'm not sure if we can get him where we are picking, but it might be worth a slight move up to nab Jaycee Horn, one of the top CB prospects....He has the bloodlines. A lot of us I'm sure remember his father Joe, who was a pretty good WR for the Saints back in the day.
I'm not sure about this one. How often does building with aging, declining and over-priced players work? If we can get him at a bargain, I wouldn't be opposed, but the name alone tells me that is highly unlikely. Might just want to let the Steelers have this one. In the last 5 seasons, JJ has missed 32 games.
Yeah, but in February it's fun to bust the Steeler fans balls on here. Most of them seem excited about the prospect...which in turn wants me to come up with as many scenarios as possible for it not to happen, LOL.
I think a big difference between Houston and Cleveland is that J.J. wouldn't have to be "the guy" here. He's coming in to be the Aquaman to Myles Garrett's Superman... not the other way around. No question he's got a lengthy injury history and has probably some declining skills as well, but I posted earlier how no EDGE rusher in 2020 was double-teamed more than Watt, meaning teams still respect and fear him. If you turned that loose in Cleveland where Myles is already getting the double-teams, then suddenly you're left with a 1:1 J.J. Watt. I'm here for that. I think the other question is cost. Watt, even with his name, probably isn't going to command the Myles Garrett contract ($25 mill a year). If he's the $15 - $18 mill range, I would take that on a 2-3 year deal.
Three round Browns mock: 1(27)- Joseph Ossai, OLB - Texas 2(59)- Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB - Syracuse 3(90) Richard LaCounte, S - Georgia 3(92) Baron Browning, ILB - Ohio State
TJ was drafted in 2017, last year was the last year of his rookie deal and he is playing 2021 on his 5th year option. How is he signed through 2022?
He's got a point... Maybe @beachbum was just being optimistic that they'll franchise tag him in 2022. After all, he'll probably want to be in Cleveland after the Browns and J.J. win a Super Bowl title in 2021.
1/2 Mock Draft 1.0 | Round 1 Ground Rules: It's my mock. If you're a non-Cleveland fan and you hate my pick, it's probably because I hate your team. Sorry. 1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence, QB Clemson. They went 1-0 and finished 1-15. Congratulations. Like the Colts with Andrew Luck, they get to waste a "generational" QB talent. Feels like this pick has been done since New York won a game. 2. TRADE! Philadelphia Eagles (f/New York Jets): Zach Wilson, QB BYU. Like they did in 2016, the Eagles maneuver the board to select their top QB available. I'm not big on Lawrence or Wilson, the perceived top two guys, but here we are. Philly initially sends Carson Wentz and Zach Ertz to Indianapolis for #21 and a future second. Then, they bundle #6 and #21 (and probably some mid-round change) to get to this pick. New York should take this, knowing their not a single piece away and perhaps it is too early to give up on Darnold. 3. TRADE! Houston Texans (f/Miami, via themselves): Ja'Marr Chase, WR LSU. Houston sends superstar Deshaun Watson to Miami who immediately becomes a contender. The Dolphins have a lot of leverage with Watson already stating his preferred destination, as well as the no-trade clause in his deal. Therefore, they can get this done relatively cheaply. Miami sends #3, #36, and #50 to Houston in addition to Tau "JAG"-ovailao - picks #3 and #36 belonged to Houston anyhow. Texans select the top wide receiver as they begin a lengthy rebuild. 4. Atlanta Falcons: Justin Fields, QB Ohio State. By waiting patiently, the Dirty Birds get QB#1 and the hometown kid comes back. With an outrageous price tag ($40.9 million), Matty Ice would need to be restructured but could still start the season while Fields matured. 5. Cincinnati Bengals: Penei Sewell, OT Oregon. If, somehow, one of the Top 3 QBs is available, I would expect Cincinnati to be fielding a ton of calls. They're directionally correct but have a lot of building to do before they're ready to compete. With the QBs off the board, they should make a move to protect their investment in Joe Burrow and Sewell is the top lineman in the class. 6. New York Jets (f/Philadelphia): DeVonta Smith, WR Alabama. Assuming they don't move on from Sam Darnold (in this mock, they aren't), they need to protect him and get him some weapons. The leading receiver last season was Jamison Crowder, so Smith is a massive upgrade. 7. Detroit Lions: Caleb Farley, CB Virginia Tech. Wanted to put an offensive weapon here but the Lions were the league's worst pass defense last season and have the chance to add the Draft's best CB prospect. 8. Carolina Panthers: Kyle Pitts, TE/WR Florida. The loss of McCaffrey exposed this team and while I'm not ready to give up on Bridgewater, I might if a better prospect was here (I don't like Trey Lance at all). The 2020 Panthers actually featured two 1,000 receivers but lacked touchdowns and that's a dimension to Pitts' game that's unmatched in this class. A hybrid-type TE/WR who is a redzone nightmare could help Bridgewater and the Panthers right the ship quickly. 9. Denver Broncos: Patrick Surtain II, CB Alabama. The Broncos released one starting cornerback and could make a move with Kareem Jackson if they need to free up cap to restructure some of their larger contracts. They were in on Stafford, reportedly, but ultimately didn't make the move. Drew Lock isn't good, nor will he likely be any good, but it's tough to admit that already for a guy like John Elway who's struck out every at-bat he's had. Surtain is a good CB prospect with NFL bloodlines. 10. Dallas Cowboys: Trey Lance, QB North Dakota State. I foresee a tag-and-trade scenario here with Dak, who'll cost $37.7 mill if he plays the season on the franchise tag. Unless Jerry somehow gets the NFL to adopt a significantly higher cap, I'm looking for Dallas to trade Prescott to Chicago and prepare for a lengthy rebuild. They can get a developmental QB here in Lance who'll need to sit a season or two and maybe they sign a guy in free agency like Cam Newton or Mitch Trubisky. I don't love Lance, but he's the last of the R1 QB's by most folks' account. 11. New York Giants: Travis Etienne, RB Clemson. Dave Gettlemen is an atrocious GM -- let's get that out of the way. While he's stuck in neutral with a garbage QB and wasting a talent like Saquon, he also wants to add to the offense and their identity is built around the run. Etienne could be a very nice compliment to Saquon (who's dealt with injuries his last two seasons due to over-use) and offers a big-play threat which we know Gettlemen is enchanted by. 12. San Francisco 49ers: Mac Jones, QB Alabama. As we'll see in a few picks, the Jimmy G. era has ended in San Fran. Mac Jones, like his predecessor is JAG - just a guy - but that won't stop a team from drafting him. That said, he's best-suited for a system like Shannahan runs. 13. Los Angeles Chargers: Rashawn Slater, OT Northwestern. If they can keep Justin Herbert upright, they may have something there. After quietly having the best rookie season by a QB ever, he should be poised to flourish with better protection. 14. Minnesota Vikings: Micah Parsons, LB Penn State. How far he slides will be dependent on teams' personal evaluations, but we know Spielman will roll the dice on character issues. Some folks I've seen have Parsons as a Top 10 pick still due to his upside. Sitting out a season would normally crush a prospect and I'm guessing he falls outside the Top 10, but this would be a good team/player fit for him if they can overlook some fairly troubling character concerns. 15. TRADE! San Francisco 49ers (via New England Patriots): Najee Harris, RB Alabama. I figure this trade will happen pre-draft, but I've got San Francisco sending Jimmy Garoppolo back to New England for #15 overall. Bill gets reunited with the QB he truly wanted and San Fran gets to move on from a major mistake made. They can pair their new QB with his Crimson Tide teammate. I *love* Harris... and I hate San Francisco (and Shannahan) so this is a painful one, but I think makes a TON of sense. He's a do-it-all back who can be the centerpiece of the 49ers offense. 16. Arizona Cardinals: Jaycee Horn, CB South Carolina. Maybe the best man cover corner in the class, he would be a nice replacement piece for the departing Patrick Peterson.
2/2 Mock Draft 1.0 | Round 1 17. Las Vegas Raiders: Zaven Collins, LB Tulsa. This just feels like a Raiders pick. Collins came out of nowhere to win the Bronco Ngurski trophy as the top defensive player in college last season. Boasting a ridiculous speed/size combination, the pick smells like a classic Raiders kind of move and it doesn't hurt that he would help one of their glaring weaknesses. 18. Miami Dolphins: Terrance Marshall Jr., WR LSU. We'll see how much they have to surrender for Deshaun Watson as this could become a Houston pick. For now, let's assume Miami keeps it and gives Deshaun a target outside. 19. Washington Football Team: Christian Darrisaw, OT Virginia Tech. Where this team goes will be heavily dependent on whether Alex Smith decides to return for more. After a heroic comeback from injury, he may decide he's done enough. Either way, without an aggressive move up in a hotly-contested race, Washington will likely be using free agency to secure QB services next year. Protecting that QB will be important and Darrisaw gives them that. 20. TRADE! Dallas Cowboys (f/Chicago): Jaylen Mayfield, OT Michigan. In true rebuild fashion, they'll need to look to upgrade the offensive line that has been a weakness. This is part of the Prescott deal in which Chicago would have to unload at least #20, #52, and 2022 first and second round picks. For a team like Chicago though, I think that makes sense. Their window is closing and Prescott could push them into postseason contention. 21. TRADE! New York Jets (f/Philadelphia, via Indianapolis): Kwity Paye, EDGE Michigan. The Jets have cap space galore, but are a mess fundamentally and will be hard-pressed to convince big name free agents to show up there (even with the big city allure). I suspect they'll miss out on the Shaq Barrett and J.J. Watt sweepstakes, so if they want to upgrade their pass rush, they'll need to do so through the draft. Kwity Paye (great name) didn't get to prove much at Michigan, but they are such a cluster f**k that it's tough to blame college production on the player. As a prospect, he's intriguing. 22. Tennessee Titans: Jaelan Phillips, EDGE Miami. I hate this team, let's get that out of the way. They didn't get what they wanted out of Jadeveon Clowney, so they'll have to try in the draft. 23. New York Jets (f/Seattle): Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB Notre Dame. The diminutive linebacker can play, period. With a new, defensive-minded head coach, adding talent to the second level of the defense makes sense. 24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Alijah Vera-Tucker, OG USC. Steelers are a team that will interesting to watch as the preseason marches on. Will Ben retire and cede the helm to Mason "Dixon-Line" Rudolph? Will David DeCastro become a cap casualty? There's a chance they lose four lineman (DeCastro, Villanueva, Banner, and Pouncey) so upgrading the offensive line should be a priority. Vera-Tucker played LT but is one of those prospects that is expected to move inside at the NFL level. The versatility would be a nice-to-have. 25. Jacksonville Jaguars (f/Los Angeles Rams): Dillon Radunz, OT North Dakota State. I guess this is what happens when you dominate the FCS level - you put out multiple first round picks. Nothing says renewed hope like a rookie QB/LT combo to get the fans blood pumping. 26. TRADE! New Orleans Saints (f/Cleveland Browns): Nick Bolton, LB Missouri. The Saints are in bad shape both roster and cap-wise, so a major roster overhaul is likely coming. Cleveland trades #26, #59, and #89 overall to New Orleans for #28 and Marshon Lattimore (CB). Kwon Alexander could be a cap casualty in the shake-up, so replacing him with a cost-effective option here makes sense. 27. Baltimore Ravens: Gregory Rousseau, EDGE Miami. Seems the Ravens always just sit and wait and end up drafting great players. Rousseau sat out 2020, but projecting his 2019 results forward, he likely could have been a Top 5 pick. He was the second-most dominant EDGE defender in 2019 behind only Chase Young. Baltimore lacks a true DPR - designated pass rusher - and Rousseau could be that in spades. 28. Cleveland (f/New Orleans): Jabril Cox, LB LSU. The Baton Rouge pipeline to Cleveland keeps flowing as the Browns grab the versatile and raw prospect here. Cox was an FBS transfer who's stock has shot up since the Senior Bowl. He's another guy originally from North Dakota State who's one season at LSU went very well (58 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, 1 sack, 3 INTs). The ceiling seems very high for Cox who wouldn't necessarily be thrust into the starting lineup for the Browns immediately. I was tempted to go safety here (Trevon Moehrig, TCU) but decided that between Ronnie Harrison's emergence and Grant Delpit's return, the LB spot was too great a need. 29. Green Bay Packers: Trevon Moehrig, FS Texas Christian. I haven't even seen him in some mock drafts' R1 discussion, but the true free safety looks the part. Green Bay has very few weaknesses and Moehrig's ability to create turnovers may be too intriguing for the Pack to pass up. 30. Buffalo Bills: Javonte Williams, RB North Carolina. The Bills were a terrific surprise and look poised to sit atop the AFC East for some time now. They need to address the pass rush and the running game, so they could go either direction here. I'm going with running back this time to give the offense even more juice heading into 2021. If Miami can land Deshaun, however, I would expect this to flip to EDGE and add a guy like Azeez Ojulari. 31. Kansas City Chiefs: Wyatt Davis, OG Ohio State. So the wheels really started coming off Kansas City about the time they illegally contacted Rashard Higgins' head and the NFL decided they'd rather have the Chiefs in the Super Bowl instead of the Browns. Call it karma, but cap realities and declining play at every level (besides QB) really started to show. They could upgrade the offensive or defensive lines and are poised to lose a number of players via free agency. Davis is plug-and-play for the (assuming) departing Kelechi Osemele but they could look to tackle too if Eric Fisher or Mitch Schwartz become cap casualties. 32: Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Christian Barmore, DT Alabama. The Buccs have a number of key free agents to retain, chiefly among them should be Lavonte David (LB) and Chris Goodwin (WR), who'll command serious dollars. A name on the outs could be Ndamukong Suh, who was productive last season, but will come with a steep price tag for an interior lineman. They can get young, cheaper, and honestly better by adding Barmore through the draft.
Liked your Mock. Well, I liked it except for the guys I covet at 30 being gone, and having to settle for a RB
Damn now I'm sad. Thought it was his 4th year. Guess I was confused because it's his 3rd year as the best edge in football.
It has to go through training camp first, but basically... hence why I suggested he didn't have to start immediately.
