MMQB Draft Thoughts with Gil Brandt

[Gangrene]

I thought this was worth sharing ... King interviews Gil Brandt on this year's draft.

Everything to Know About the 2018 NFL Draft Crop, According to Gil Brandt

By Peter King

April 08, 2018

Stream of pre-draft consciousness, 17 days before the first round kicks off before 75,000 fans in Jerryworld:

IT’S GIL BRANDT’S WORLD, AND WE’RE ALL LIVING IN IT

Sixty years ago, Brandt, then 25 and a baby photographer, was hired as a full-time scout for the San Francisco 49ers. Two years later, he moved to the expansion Dallas Cowboys as their chief scout. He’s lived in Dallas ever since, and this will be the first time in his life that the draft is a home game for him. Now he’s the NFL draft shepherd, going to almost every pro day, keeping tabs on the prospects, wooing the top ones to come to the first round of the draft, working for the league and helping organize the football side of the draft. We caught up late Saturday, and I tried to denude Brandt of everything he knows about the 2018 crop.

• On what makes this draft different: “This is going to be the most talked-about draft in history. And not just because quarterbacks could go one through four, or four of the top five picks. But this will be an incredible extravaganza. For years to come, people will compare every draft to Dallas. The saying, Everything’s bigger in Texas, will definitely apply. We’ll have sections all over the stadium for all 32 teams, and it’ll be like a competition between all the teams and their fans. Twelve big-time college coaches will be there—Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, Chris Petersen, others. Day two’s going to have the same excitement.”

• On the walkup to the draft: “There’s been more activity than I ever remember at all these pro days. More coaches, more assistant coaches. South Dakota State had their pro day last week, and there were six NFL tight-end coaches there to see their guy [Dallas Goedert]. But he didn’t run the 40. Hasn’t run it yet. He could go anywhere from low first to the third, but it’s hard to know because teams don’t know his speed.”

• Quality of the draft: “This is a draft where 13 to 17 guys I could point to and say for sure, This guy’s a first-round pick. After that, there’s a lot of starting-type players who could go anywhere. Let me put it to you this way: My guy who I have 21st overall on my list could go 64th. The guy I rank 47th could go 19th. So the Patriots, with their needs and their two first-round picks, should be able to get a tackle to replace Nate Solder. They need the tackle from UCLA, Kolton Miller. He’s Nate Solder, is what he is … 6'8", 310 pounds, unbelievable 10-yard speed which is what you need for a tackle. Needs development. But [offensive line coach] Dante Scarnecchia can develop a guy like that as well as anyone.” 

• His order of the quarterbacks: “Rosen, Darnold, Mayfield, Allen, Jackson.”

• Top of the draft: “Here’s what it looks like: The running back from Penn State [Saquon Barkley] has all the characteristics needed to be an all-pro player and could go anywhere in there. Nothing would surprise me. Let’s go to the quarterbacks. Josh Allen has everything you need to be a franchise QB, but he lacks accuracy, and you can’t complete 56 percent in the NFL. Now Sam Darnold, he’s got great mechanics and the right attitude and approach to be great. But he throws interceptions. This is where you have to grade him—was the interception his fault? Josh Rosen started as a true freshman at UCLA. Never happened before. Started 5-0 or something like that as an 18-year-old. [Actually 4-0, and he won seven of his first nine starts]. You want to be the surest that you won’t be laughed at five years down the line with one of these quarterbacks? Pick Rosen. He’s a player. Lamar Jackson, immense talent, immense upside. Baker Mayfield is a guy like Drew Brees. He’s got velocity, good accuracy. We all undervalued Drew. But what you don’t know about anyone is which quarterbacks are gonna work like Drew Brees. Drew’s gonna work his ass off. His agent could get a call during the season from a car company saying, ‘We got a $200,000 commercial for you to tape on Tuesday.’ And Drew would say, ‘No, I’m not gonna do that on Tuesday. That’s my day to work on the next opponent.’ Your job if you’re going to draft one of these guys is to figure out who’s like Drew Brees.”

• Josh Rosen and the questions surrounding his desire: “I have zero questions about Josh Rosen. I have no problems with him at all.”

• Biggest surprise in the top 10: “[Notre Dame] tackle Mike McGlinchey. He’ll go in the top 10.”

• Player who will go higher than everyone thinks: “Will Hernandez, guard, UTEP. Reminds me of Mike Iupati—both drafted higher than anyone thought.”

• Draft invitee who fascinates Brandt: “Leighton Vander Esch, the Boise State linebacker. He’ll be the first man ever invited to the draft who played eight-man football in high school. He’s from Salmon River High School in Riggins, Idaho. A true rising star.”

• The Super Bowl champions’ plans: “I don’t know what they’re going to do, but I have been amazed at their presence everywhere at these Pro Days. I told [general manager] Howie Roseman, ‘You must have an unlimited scouting budget—and I think you’ve exceeded it.’ They’ve had coaches and scouts everywhere. They don’t act like they just won the Super Bowl. They act like they’re dying just to make the playoffs.”

• Happiest draft invitee: “We’ve got 22 guys coming in, and maybe the happiest is a guy who won’t be picked in the first round: Shaquem Griffin [the UCF linebacker who lost his left hand because of a birth defect at age 4]. When I called his mother to invite them, she started crying because of how much this means to the family.”

---

ROSEN HAS A FRIEND IN AARON RODGERS

Interesting week for the UCLA quarterback, deciding how to respond to his former coach’s comments in this column a week ago and ultimately settling on one word on Twitter: 

 

Rosen is mentally and physically spent from the pre-draft pushing and pulling, and he has four on-campus visits left: Giants today, Jets on Tuesday, Bills on Wednesday and Chargers, back home in southern California, late this week. Then he’ll disappear and work out and veg out for a week or so before going to Dallas for the draft.

He’s developed a relationship with Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who had some advice to Rosen about putting his best feet forward in every visit with a team. (At least I think that’s what his message to his mentee was.)

“The road is long,” Rodgers texted. “The time is short.”

 

 

 

[Patriot Killa]

So even Brandt think Rosen is the man with zero question. 

 

That’s good to know.

found everything else in this article extremely interesting and I appreciate the thread. Draft day is killing me though..it needs to hurry up because I’m beyond sick of the anticipation.

[KRL]

Gil Brandt on the draft and a huge section on Josh Allen:

 

https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/04/09/nfl-draft-prospects-gil-brandt-dallas-mmqb-peter-king

Sixty years ago, Brandt, then 25 and a baby photographer, was hired as a full-time scout for the San Francisco 49ers. Two years later, he moved to the expansion Dallas Cowboys as their chief scout. He’s lived in Dallas ever since, and this will be the first time in his life that the draft is a home game for him. Now he’s the NFL draft shepherd, going to almost every pro day, keeping tabs on the prospects, wooing the top ones to come to the first round of the draft, working for the league and helping organize the football side of the draft. We caught up late Saturday, and I tried to denude Brandt of everything he knows about the 2018 crop.

• On what makes this draft different: “This is going to be the most talked-about draft in history. And not just because quarterbacks could go one through four, or four of the top five picks. But this will be an incredible extravaganza. For years to come, people will compare every draft to Dallas. The saying, Everything’s bigger in Texas, will definitely apply. We’ll have sections all over the stadium for all 32 teams, and it’ll be like a competition between all the teams and their fans. Twelve big-time college coaches will be there—Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, Chris Petersen, others. Day two’s going to have the same excitement.”

• On the walkup to the draft: “There’s been more activity than I ever remember at all these pro days. More coaches, more assistant coaches. South Dakota State had their pro day last week, and there were six NFL tight-end coaches there to see their guy [Dallas Goedert]. But he didn’t run the 40. Hasn’t run it yet. He could go anywhere from low first to the third, but it’s hard to know because teams don’t know his speed.”

• Quality of the draft: “This is a draft where 13 to 17 guys I could point to and say for sure, This guy’s a first-round pick. After that, there’s a lot of starting-type players who could go anywhere. Let me put it to you this way: My guy who I have 21st overall on my list could go 64th. The guy I rank 47th could go 19th. So the Patriots, with their needs and their two first-round picks, should be able to get a tackle to replace Nate Solder. They need the tackle from UCLA, Kolton Miller. He’s Nate Solder, is what he is … 6'8", 310 pounds, unbelievable 10-yard speed which is what you need for a tackle. Needs development. But [offensive line coach] Dante Scarnecchia can develop a guy like that as well as anyone.” 

• His order of the quarterbacks: “Rosen, Darnold, Mayfield, Allen, Jackson.”

• Top of the draft: “Here’s what it looks like: The running back from Penn State [Saquon Barkley] has all the characteristics needed to be an all-pro player and could go anywhere in there. Nothing would surprise me. Let’s go to the quarterbacks. Josh Allen has everything you need to be a franchise QB, but he lacks accuracy, and you can’t complete 56 percent in the NFL. Now Sam Darnold, he’s got great mechanics and the right attitude and approach to be great. But he throws interceptions. This is where you have to grade him—was the interception his fault? Josh Rosen started as a true freshman at UCLA. Never happened before. Started 5-0 or something like that as an 18-year-old. [Actually 4-0, and he won seven of his first nine starts]. You want to be the surest that you won’t be laughed at five years down the line with one of these quarterbacks? Pick Rosen. He’s a player. Lamar Jackson, immense talent, immense upside. Baker Mayfield is a guy like Drew Brees. He’s got velocity, good accuracy. We all undervalued Drew. But what you don’t know about anyone is which quarterbacks are gonna work like Drew Brees. Drew’s gonna work his ass off. His agent could get a call during the season from a car company saying, ‘We got a $200,000 commercial for you to tape on Tuesday.’ And Drew would say, ‘No, I’m not gonna do that on Tuesday. That’s my day to work on the next opponent.’ Your job if you’re going to draft one of these guys is to figure out who’s like Drew Brees.”

• Josh Rosen and the questions surrounding his desire: “I have zero questions about Josh Rosen. I have no problems with him at all.”

• Biggest surprise in the top 10: “[Notre Dame] tackle Mike McGlinchey. He’ll go in the top 10.”

• Player who will go higher than everyone thinks: “Will Hernandez, guard, UTEP. Reminds me of Mike Iupati—both drafted higher than anyone thought.”

• Draft invitee who fascinates Brandt: “Leighton Vander Esch, the Boise State linebacker. He’ll be the first man ever invited to the draft who played eight-man football in high school. He’s from Salmon River High School in Riggins, Idaho. A true rising star.”

• The Super Bowl champions’ plans: “I don’t know what they’re going to do, but I have been amazed at their presence everywhere at these Pro Days. I told [general manager] Howie Roseman, ‘You must have an unlimited scouting budget—and I think you’ve exceeded it.’ They’ve had coaches and scouts everywhere. They don’t act like they just won the Super Bowl. They act like they’re dying just to make the playoffs.”

• Happiest draft invitee: “We’ve got 22 guys coming in, and maybe the happiest is a guy who won’t be picked in the first round: Shaquem Griffin [the UCF linebacker who lost his left hand because of a birth defect at age 4]. When I called his mother to invite them, she started crying because of how much this means to the family.”

ROSEN HAS A FRIEND IN AARON RODGERS

Interesting week for the UCLA quarterback, deciding how to respond to his former coach’s comments in this column a week ago and ultimately settling on one word on Twitter: 

Josh Rosen✔@josh3rosen

Why? #why

2:43 PM - Apr 2, 2018

7,094

1,999 people are talking about this

Twitter Ads info and privacy

Rosen is mentally and physically spent from the pre-draft pushing and pulling, and he has four on-campus visits left: Giants today, Jets on Tuesday, Bills on Wednesday and Chargers, back home in southern California, late this week. Then he’ll disappear and work out and veg out for a week or so before going to Dallas for the draft.

He’s developed a relationship with Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who had some advice to Rosen about putting his best feet forward in every visit with a team. (At least I think that’s what his message to his mentee was.)

“The road is long,” Rodgers texted. “The time is short.”

Wise old owl, that Rodgers.

AN INTERESTING CRITIQUE OF JOSH ALLEN FROM DAN ORLOVSKY

I had the former Lions, Bucs, Texans and Rams backup on my podcast this week. Orlovsky’s become a must-follow on Twitter for his quarterback insight, breaking down plays of the top prospects and giving pointed critiques of what he sees. I found his take on what he considers two glaring weaknesses in Allen’s game interesting:

“The two things for me that are like major red flags … There’s a couple of times on tape in a game where he’ll get up to the line of scrimmage and he'll communicate with his offensive line. It looks like he's changing your protection or setting your protection one way … There’s a clip against Iowa where he changes a protection. The Will linebacker blitzes and everybody runs hot and Josh Allen does not move till his third step of the drop. What were you thinking? What was going on? And that shows up way too much for me. And again, that stuff is not fixable. You think Dick LeBeau is easier to do it against? When he’s got Star Wars on the back end going on? … When the ball is snapped it's almost like, I don't know what's going on … It seems like he doesn't have a plan and a process, and to get to the NFL level and to not be able to do the little things—if you can't do the little things, you can't do the big things. The little things are your plan and your process. The big things are executing against what happens. And so it just seems like he doesn't have that as part of his DNA, as part of his quarterbacking. And that for me I go, Well, what does it matter how big he is, how athletic he is if you could throw it to the moon, the field’s a hundred yards. To not be able to adjust or react to a Will linebacker blitzing is alarming to me. Alarming.

“And then the second thing—I saw this at the combine, and it made me go watch all his tape again. But when he was throwing at the combine, he was staring at his receivers. And I was like, well, that’s a bad habit, and it’s a habit you can create just trying to be better at accuracy. So, I watched all his tape, and that showed up on tape a bunch where he would just stare at receivers when he catches the snap … And so for me those are things that are really hard to change. You got to change years and years of having those bad habits.”

On Saturday, I read Orlovsky’s criticism of Allen to one draft-day-decider (on a team that is studying quarterbacks for this draft and could pick one) and asked if he agreed with Orlovsky.

“I’d say it’s true,” the NFL person said. “If people see Carson Wentz when they look at Josh Allen, because they’re both big guys, they are making a massive mistake. Wentz was so ready mentally for the pro game. Allen needs a lot of work there. If you pick Josh, you are taking a raw, talented kid and banking the future on your coaches being able to take that raw talent and turn him into a great player. It’s a gamble for sure.”

[Joe Jets fan]

That’s a huge indictment of Allen.   No way I draft this kid at 3.   

[Patriot Killa]

3 minutes ago, Joe Jets fan said:

That’s a huge indictment of Allen.   No way I draft this kid at 3.   

Hell no.. it’s Rosen or Mayfield. Rosen is the best but Mayfield does have the work ethic and balance to become a good-great player.

[The Crusher]

5 minutes ago, Joe Jets fan said:

That’s a huge indictment of Allen.   No way I draft this kid at 3.   

Hopefully they gots no high speeds  interwebz in Cleveland.

[varjet]

Allen sounds more like Hack every day. 

[Adoni Beast]

Brandt’s order is spot on:

Rosen , Darnold, Mayfield, Allen, Jackson.

I’d say theres a gap between Rosen and the rest. Rosen is the clear #1.

Darnold and Mayfield are more like 2A/2B to me.

Allen and Jackson are both first round talents that have boom or bust. 

[Matt39]

24 minutes ago, Adoni Beast said:

Brandt’s order is spot on:

Rosen , Darnold, Mayfield, Allen, Jackson.

I’d say theres a gap between Rosen and the rest. Rosen is the clear #1.

Darnold and Mayfield are more like 2A/2B to me.

Allen and Jackson are both first round talents that have boom or bust. 

I dont see how Darnold, Mayfield, and Rosen arent all grouped together. There isnt a clear cut guy. Darnold outperformed Rosen in pretty much every statistical category in the same conference. Both guys take terrible sacks. Rosen getting hurt every time he gets hit is a huge red flag.

[Patriot Killa]

3 minutes ago, Matt39 said:

I dont see how Darnold, Mayfield, and Rosen arent all grouped together. There isnt a clear cut guy. Darnold outperformed Rosen in pretty much every statistical category in the same conference. Both guys take terrible sacks. Rosen getting hurt every time he gets hit is a huge red flag.

As much as Rosen has actually gotten hit and as much as he has actually gotten hurt..this statement is false beyond belief. Darnold maneuvers through the pocket with the best of them and Rosen can climb the pocket as well. Do they take unnecessary sacks sometimes. Yes. Without a doubt.

but this notion that Rosen is a statue in the pocket is laughable at best.

There is absolutely a clear cut #1.

[Matt39]

3 minutes ago, Patriot Killa said:

As much as Rosen has actually gotten hit and as much as he has actually gotten hurt..this statement is false beyond belief. Darnold maneuvers through the pocket with the best of them and Rosen can climb the pocket as well. Do they take unnecessary sacks sometimes. Yes. Without a doubt.

but this notion that Rosen is a statue in the pocket is laughable at best.

There is absolutely a clear cut #1.

He was sacked 26 times in 11 games last season along with 8 fumbles. That's concerning.

[faba]

Darnold and Mayfield are my top two

[Patriot Killa]

13 minutes ago, Matt39 said:

He was sacked 26 times in 11 games last season along with 8 fumbles. That's concerning.

Who is he? Rosen?

Because not to be the man’s personal excuse maker or anything but DAMN..let’s just not act like there are 5 Josh Rosen’s lined up in front of Josh Rosen.

[Augustiniak]

42 minutes ago, Adoni Beast said:

Brandt’s order is spot on:

Rosen , Darnold, Mayfield, Allen, Jackson.

I’d say theres a gap between Rosen and the rest. Rosen is the clear #1.

Darnold and Mayfield are more like 2A/2B to me.

Allen and Jackson are both first round talents that have boom or bust. 

i think mccagnan realized that if he didn't trade up he was looking at allen or chubb.

when draft day rolls around we'll be hoping rosen falls to us but mayfield and rosen are probably equally likely at this point.  

[chirorob]

53 minutes ago, Patriot Killa said:

Hell no.. it’s Rosen or Mayfield. Rosen is the best but Mayfield does have the work ethic and balance to become a good-great player.

That's my opinion as well.   I want one of those 2.

[ChuckkieB]

Darnold, Rosen, Mayfield, Allen.

I will be happy no matter who we end up picking, but my happiness level will be tempered slightly if we end up with Allen.  Definitely the biggest risk of the 4 IMO and the Jets can't afford to take a risk here.  Their pick needs to be a year 1 starter, and Allen is the furthest away from that reality IMO. 

Don't get me wrong, I'll be rooting like hell for whoever the pick is!

 

[Happy Clouds]

Gil Brandt is one of the most knowledgeable football guys around. His opinion certainly should be highly respected. 

But, for all his insight, evaluating  player development is still an educated guess. Is Gil right, more than wrong? Absolutely. But, even he gets it wrong sometime.

I recall the article he wrote for NFL.com in March of 2014 titled:

“GENO SMITH WILL SHOW HE IS THE NY JETS ANSWER AT QUARTERBACK”

You just never know.

[MDL_JET]

 

[Doggin94it]

16 minutes ago, ChuckkieB said:

Darnold, Rosen, Mayfield, Allen.

I will be happy no matter who we end up picking, but my happiness level will be tempered slightly if we end up with Allen.  Definitely the biggest risk of the 4 IMO and the Jets can't afford to take a risk here.  Their pick needs to be a year 1 starter, and Allen is the furthest away from that reality IMO. 

Don't get me wrong, I'll be rooting like hell for whoever the pick is!

 

This is pretty much where I'm at, though I haven't actually paid any attention to Darnold at all, since his floor is the Giants at 2.

[Augustiniak]

7 minutes ago, Happy Clouds said:

Gil Brandt is one of the most knowledgeable football guys around. His opinion certainly should be highly respected. 

But, for all his insight, evaluating  player development is still an educated guess. Is Gil right, more than wrong? Absolutely. But, even he gets it wrong sometime.

I recall the article he wrote for NFL.com in March of 2014 titled:

“GENO SMITH WILL SHOW HE IS THE NY JETS ANSWER AT QUARTERBACK”

You just never know.

was the question, "is the world flat?"

[Kleckineau]

1 hour ago, The Crusher said:

Hopefully they gots no high speeds  interwebz in Cleveland.

Earthlink dial-up in the upscale sections.

[Beerfish]

I will continue to maintain my rankings.

Darnold

Rosen

MASSIVE GRAND CANYON LIKE GAP

Allen / Mayfield

The Jets traded up to the wrong side of the grand canyon.

[The Crusher]

10 minutes ago, Kleckineau said:

Earthlink dial-up in the upscale sections.

Yes please.

[The Crusher]

1 minute ago, Beerfish said:

I will continue to maintain my rankings.

Darnold

Rosen

MASSIVE GRAND CANYON LIKE GAP

Allen / Mayfield

The Jets traded up to the wrong side of the grand canyon.

The thing that makes this post great is the jets trading up to three is a top five all time Jetsy thing to do.

[Mo Lew]

If Allen goes first this board will explode!

im fully aware that the universe can't let that happen though...

[Augustiniak]

probably the worst start to the draft would be if cleveland takes darnold, then the giants trade to buffalo who takes rosen.  

[jetstream23]

My board is set (as if anyone cares) and it's 1. Darnold 2A. Rosen 2B. Mayfield.  The Jets have the 3rd pick.  Allen shouldn't even be in the conversation anymore the same way we wouldn't talk about Nelson, Rudolph, Minkah or anyone else.....no need to.  We have our prioritized list of 3.

[Joe Jets fan]

47 minutes ago, Happy Clouds said:

Gil Brandt is one of the most knowledgeable football guys around. His opinion certainly should be highly respected. 

But, for all his insight, evaluating  player development is still an educated guess. Is Gil right, more than wrong? Absolutely. But, even he gets it wrong sometime.

I recall the article he wrote for NFL.com in March of 2014 titled:

“GENO SMITH WILL SHOW HE IS THE NY JETS ANSWER AT QUARTERBACK”

You just never know.

Except it was not Gil that everyone is reacting to 

[prime21]

1 hour ago, faba said:

Darnold and Mayfield are my top two

You can always expect the unexpected on draft night so why haven't the Jets schedule a meeting with Darnold?  I'd bet that he wont be there at #3 BUT you really never know.  

[varjet]

I would really like to get a 2nd or 3rd back from the Browns so they can take Barkley at 3 if we have to take Mayfield or Allen at 4, but I don't think that is going to happen.  

[56mehl56]

They know we want a QB , why would they trade to 3 when they can pick their guy 4th.

[kdels62]

The Jets cancelled Allen’s visit to Florham Park. Idk what that means but it happened. Mayfield is in house today and Rosen is in later this week.

[Thai Jet]

1 hour ago, Patriot Killa said:

As much as Rosen has actually gotten hit and as much as he has actually gotten hurt..this statement is false beyond belief. Darnold maneuvers through the pocket with the best of them and Rosen can climb the pocket as well. Do they take unnecessary sacks sometimes. Yes. Without a doubt.

but this notion that Rosen is a statue in the pocket is laughable at best.

There is absolutely a clear cut #1.

Agree , Darnold IS the clear cut #1.

[freestater]

6 minutes ago, kdels62 said:

The Jets cancelled Allen’s visit to Florham Park. Idk what that means but it happened. Mayfield is in house today and Rosen is in later this week.

That's some news! Can't say that I'm not relieved 

[Thai Jet]

6 minutes ago, kdels62 said:

The Jets cancelled Allen’s visit to Florham Park. Idk what that means but it happened. Mayfield is in house today and Rosen is in later this week.

Could just be a smoke screen. This time of year it's anybody's guess.