2016 NFL Draft - The Quarterbacks

Shouldn't we save this discussion for the 2016 NFL Draft - The Wide Receivers thread, fellas?

 

Cardale Jones - Ohio State, RS Junior
6'5" 249 pounds, 23 years old
Stats for 2015: 110 completions on 176 attempts (62.5 percent), 1,460 yards (8.3 YPA), 8 TDs, 5 INTs

General Consensus: a very mixed bag. Likely a mid-round pick who could shoot up boards once he's throwing in shorts.

My Evaluation: Cardale checks every box on the "Build Your Own Franchise QB" scale, as well as the "How to Dominate Madden NFL" build-a-character. He's mobile, big, strong, and has a howitzer for an arm. Throws the prettiest deep ball in college.

However, there are so many question marks around him that it's a complete crap-shoot at the next level. We all know how Jones took the nation by storm (helped out by Ezekiel Elliott) in last season's College Playoffs. Unfortunately, his 2015 season did not play out anywhere near those lofty expectations.

Ultimately, Jones has every tool to get it done but will need a very good QB coach and the right situation to be brought along to the NFL game. In the right situation, there's no reason to believe he can't be an NFL MVP. Seriously. Some film you watch on him and he's dialed in, making sharp throws and good decisions. Other times, he looks like a guy who just walked onto a football field and has no idea where to go with the ball and instead trusts his massive arm to try and make something happen.

My Comparison: Duante Culpepper. The popular choice is JaMarcus Russell (yikes!) but I think Culpepper is a better choice. He exhibits the same size, arm, and mobility as the former Vikings QB and I think, ultimately, will have a career more like the former No. 11 overall pick than the former No. 1 overall.

Bottom Line: almost too intriguing to pass up, but with so many needs on the roster, can the Browns afford a Cleveland-native QB dripping with potential but also needing a lot of polish?

 

I've been waiting for this name to pop up. Not because I'm a Buckeye fan but because I have a theory about this guy.

I'm wondering if Cardale was a drop back pocket passer in a read-option offense. While he is somewhat mobile, you will never confuse him with Braxton Miller or JT. He just seems shuffle his feet when trying to execute the option. He didn't appear to show that went moving north or south - just east and west.

If he goes in the draft (and he will) I think it will be in a mid round (3rd at best, 5th at worst)

To the guys who REALLY watch a lot of tape, what's your take?

 

Implying I don't watch a lot of film?

:/

 

Dammit Sam, you beat me to the punch...I was saving Jones for last...

lol, I never really gave up on the idea of bringing Cardale Jones to Cleveland. In fact, I am extremely down on this QB class, but as far as projects go, Jones has potential in spades.

The problem with the NFL is time...no one has it...except, I have a feeling Haslem is building his inner circle that will finally get that 5 years to build a winning team. Jones, imho, would have that time as well. They will need to replace Josh McCown either this year or next to give him the time needed, but because of that needed time, Jones should fall to the 3rd round where the analytics take over in the smart decision making on draft day.

I would love to see Jones in a Browns uniform..

 

Feel free to add to anything I may have missed!

I am very intrigued by Jones, but tend to look at him as a luxury we cannot afford.

 

Not at all. Simply comparing myself who doesn't watch a lot of tape to those who do.

 

Why would they need jettison McCown this year (2016) if they took a chance on Jones later (3rd round on) in the draft?

 

Because age has caught up to him...He will be 37 years old and he has a brain that makes him play like he's 27...The 8 games he missed due to injury tell me that we need to replace him with a younger version. We can't afford to have him, Jones who will take a minimum 2 years on the bench to become a reliant pro, a back up and a back up to the back up...

I commend McCown for what he did on the field, but because of the reckless way he plays, he simply isn't a viable solution..

 

But isn't he a viable mentor? Do you really believe he had zero impact on your boy's on field improvement and why couldn't he do the same for yet another QB project?

Again, I go back to Gary Danielson. He got injured early but still took the time to mentor Bernie.

Don't be so quick so throw out the elderly. *THIS*

 

I would be absolutely fine keeping him on as mentor and the de facto backup...But to build an offense around him, I am not fine with. I would rather spend the resources building around a player that has a more probable 16 games in his body. McCown can adapt to anything, so keeping him as the backup and mentor would be fine with me...his contract is very fair at $5M...especially when cutting him would only save $2.7M of that money.

I would still like to get someone like RGIII or Sam Bradford to be the starter...

 

Free agency should tell us a lot about their plans at the QB position for next year and beyond. If they're able to sign a guy like RG3 to come in, it's clear they plan to draft a mid-round QB and allow them time to develop.

If instead, they opt to stand pat, it seems reasonable to assume that at either No. 2, No. 32, or whatever they can get out of Joe Thomas, they'll be using that on a QB who'll start pretty much immediately.

I like -- to Irish's point -- using McCown as the backup in either case. Austin Davis is just awful and the Browns clearly need a backup that has some competency to them. McCown would be perfect -- capable backup, tremendous mentor -- to either a freshly-signed RG3 or a freshly-drafted Jared Goff.

I really don't see a murky middle-ground here at the QB position. Although I should remember this the Browns we're talking about...

 

You know . . .

Sometimes I think you guys just jump on the RGIII / Johnny Manziel bandwagon to get my goat. As much as you guys know about the game, I find it very hard to believe that you actually think a QB like this will be a success in the NFL. There hasn't been one yet . . . why on earth would now be any different?

 

Lym I can't believe this but I totally agree with you about the QB's. Phuq a spread offense QB. I want a pocket passer. Big, strong arm, accurate and smart. I know....... There is only one Peyton Manning but a scrambling QB is not the answer. Pocket Passer!

 

Once again, I don't care what "type" of QB, I want the best available and when the Redskins cut RGIII, he has had the single best season of ANY available QB..

I also mentioned Sam Bradford, although, I think Bradford will be more expensive and just as susceptible to injuries..

As for RGIII, can you give me an alternative that shows as much promise, In Real Life Experience? If you can give me a "pocket passer" that has been in the top 3 of passer rating and yards per attempt, then by all means...I'll certainly listen.

 

Nice to see the thread has come full circle. lol! Maybe we should have kept the RG3 conversation going here Lym.....

 

I'm still a fan of RG3 and I wouldn't mind Cleveland adding him to the QB mix at all. My worry would be the same as it is with McCown. Can he stay healthy?

Both have a tendency to take tremendous hits....

 

You know I can't give you one and you also know why. Because teams make damn sure that a pocket passer that has been in the top 3 in any favorable category NEVER become available. And that kind of proves my point.

And . . . you still haven't answered my question:

"I find it very hard to believe that you actually think a QB like this will be a success in the NFL. There hasn't been one yet . . . why on earth would now be any different?"

 

Because he was successful for one year...then the situation ran off the tracks for him. Do you honestly think his situation was tailored for success?

I'm not saying he is the God send we have all been waiting for..hence my want for Cardale Jones in the 3rd...All I am saying is that he is the current best available and why shouldn't we want the best available?

Look, once we draft someone who turns out to be successful, I will be all for doing what ever it takes to keep him...unfortunately, that type of player comes around about every 5 years...ONE player on average every 5 years or so...There's 32 teams, not good odds..

So for the rest of us that don't luck into that guy, you take the best available. If Kirk Cousins decides free agency is a better option, then by all means, I would be ecstatic to go after him instead..but as of right now, I am going under the assumption that the Redskins will do what you said, do what it takes to keep him. That means releasing RGIII, thus making him the best available.

 

You still didn't answer my question. Rather you keep talking about specific players and/or their situations.

What makes you think that a "Read-Option" quarterback will be successful in the NFL when there hasn't been one yet?