Some Possible Good & Bad Outcomes for AFC North Teams in the First Round of the Draft

[RuthlessBurgher]

Thinking about the draft, and looking at our division rivals inparticular, I started considering what who I would not want each team to take,and an alternate pick that I would prefer much better.

Cleveland at #2:

I do not want them to take Carson Wentz. The Browns are comically bad at QB, but newcoach Hue Jackson is somewhat of a quarterback whisperer, so I worry about themactually selecting a competent player with upside and actually developinghim.I really like what I hear aboutthis kid, and he seems to fit the physical mold of an AFC North QB likeRoethlisberger and Flacco (unlike Goff, who I see being more like a Matt Ryanor Sam Bradford type of dome or warm weather guy).I’m rooting for Tennessee to be able to tradetheir #1 pick to another team who wants to leapfrog Cleveland to get Wentz.

I would prefer that they take Laremy Tunsil. Most have Tunsil going first overall toTennessee, but they might trade the pick to another team who wants to move upto get Wentz instead, or they might fall for Tennessee native Jalen Ramsey instead.I was hoping that Cleveland would trade oneof their day two picks for Colin Kaepernick and then not drafting a real QB at#2, but I'll be happy with them signing RGIII and then not drafting a real QBat #2.I like Tunsil as a player andconsider him to be a safe pick, but it would be funny if they took Tunsil totake over at RT for the departed Mitchell Schwartz now, and then be theeventual heir apparent for Joe Thomas at LT when he moves on.They would have a great set of bookendtackles with nobody worth protecting.They could even compound the problem by using one of their next coupleof picks on someone like Connor Cook, Cardale Jones, Dak Prescott, or ChristianHackenberg, thinking that a second rate QB prospect is the answer yetagain.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Baltimore at #6:

I do not want them to take Jalen Ramsey. He’s my guy in the draft this year, and Idon’t want to see him end up in Baltimore of all places.The Ravens had an elite safety before in EdReed, but we were able to balance that out with our Troy Polamalu.It would be hard to stomach them if they gotRamsey and we only had Robert Golden backed up by Shamarko Thomas.I highly doubt this happens anyway, because Ithink he comes off the board either at #1 or #3.

Another alternative involving the Ravens that I would not want tohappen would be a trade down for more picks. Many mocks have the top 2 QB’s coming off the board at #2 to CLE and #7to SF.The Rams need a QB, and in theirfirst year back in L.A., they would probably like to make a splash.Moving up from #15 to #1 would be too pricey(like getting the reverse end of what they got from Washington in the RGIIItrade a few years back).But they dohave an extra second round pick at their disposal, so a move up to get just aheadof their division rival Niners would not be out of the question.The trade chart says that the Rams picks at1.15, 2.43, and 4.110 should be sufficient to obtain 1.6, but because of thepremium for quarterbacks, Ozzie may even be able to get more than that fromthem to move down.And then he could usethat pick in the mid-first to take one of the defenders from his beloved Tide (R.Ragland, J. Reed, or A. Robinson) and would then have an absurdity of riches inthe next few rounds to restock the shelves…they already have 7 picks in the top4 rounds without taking into account this projected trade, so I certainly don’twant to see them get even more ammunition to improve themselves.

I would prefer that they take DeForest Buckner. I just don’t think that taking a 3-4 DE withthe 6^th overall pick is the most efficient use of resources.The only one taken that high who lived up tothe billing was Richard Seymour.J.J.Watt and Haloti Ngata were taken with the 11^th and 12^thoverall picks, respectively.I think itis a great d-line draft in terms of its overall depth at the position, but itisn’t a top-heavy d-line draft in terms of elite level dominant forces at thevery top of the class.And Oregon hashad very highly drafted DE’s flame out in the recent past (Miami traded up tothe #3 pick to take Dion Jordan a few short years ago).

[RuthlessBurgher]

Cincinnati at #24:

I do not want them to take Laquan Treadwell. He did not run the 40 at the combine, so heonly had one shot at his Pro Day to show off his speed, and it was awfullydisappointing.So a guy who has theabilities on tape to be the first WR off the board in the early teens couldpossibly now drop into the mid-twenties instead.A poor 40 time once caused Anquan Boldin todrop into round 2.I don’t want Treadwellto become to A.J. Green what Boldin was to Larry Fitzgerald back in theirdesert days together.

I would prefer that they take Robert Nkemdiche or Noah Spence. Both are talented pass rushers and Cincylikes to draft talented pass rushers.But both appear to have major issues involving substance abuse (fallingout of hotel window and getting kicked off your original college teams arepretty big red flags).Mike Brown has atendency to overlook red flags when it comes to obtaining potentially elite leveltalent.That will keep his teamcompetitive, but it will also prevent his team from being a champion.If he keeps bringing in more and more guyslike Pacman Jones and Vontaze Burfict again and again and again, then his teamwill continue to self-implode when the chips are down, and that is fine byme.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Pittsburgh at #25:

I do not want us to take a safety here. To me, the only safety with a bona fide firstround grade is Jalen Ramsey, and he will likely be off the board within thefirst 3 picks of the draft.Safety is stilla major need for us (along with corner and d-linemen), but I think we’d getbest value taking one with a day two pick or early on day three.I’d say that there are a solid dozen or sosafeties that could be decent picks in that range (Vonn Bell, Jeremy Cash,Keanu Neal, Karl Joseph, Jalen Mills, Miles Killebrew, T.J. Green, DarianThompson, Jayron Kearse, Sean Davis, K.J. Dillon, and DeAndre Houston-Carson).I also do not want us to take a red flaggedplayer like Nkemdiche or Spence, regardless of how talented they might be.

I would prefer that we take the best available cornerback ordefensive tackle. Whoever the teamdetermines is the best fit for us and the best overall value at #25.I won’t argue if it’s Vernon Hargreaves(highly doubtful…but then again, so was David DeCastro), Eli Apple, MackenzieAlexander, William Jackson III, Kendall Fuller, Jarran Reed, A’Shawn Robinson,Andrew Billings, Sheldon Rankins, or Vernon Butler.I trust that the team has done its homeworkand has researched which of these guys would best help our defense begin itsascent to the next level.

[Iron City Inc.]

Nice work Ruthless lot of great effort there.
Haven't given much thought to what other teams in our division may do. Still checking tape on some guys I like and some tape on guys who some buds of mine ask me to break down.
Gave some thought after reading this thread regarding where our division rivals may go 4/28.....
Browns need the qb regardless of all else.
Balt will get a stud at 6. I agree Ramsey goes before that. Don't see them trading out of the top 10. Stanley,Buckner or VHIII all could go here. Pick your poison.
Cincy would scare me if a stud DT was their #1. They have one stud there already so to double that up would make me nervous.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Nice work Ruthless lot of great effort there.
Haven't given much thought to what other teams in our division may do. Still checking tape on some guys I like and some tape on guys who some buds of mine ask me to break down.
Gave some thought after reading this thread regarding where our division rivals may go 4/28.....
Browns need the qb regardless of all else.
Balt will get a stud at 6. I agree Ramsey goes before that. Don't see them trading out of the top 10. Stanley,Buckner or VHIII all could go here. Pick your poison.
Cincy would scare me if a stud DT was their #1. They have one stud there already so to double that up would make me nervous.

Yeah, I wouldn't like Cincy putting, say, Jarran Reed next to Geno Atkins. A dominant run stuffer to pair with their penetrating 3-technique.

I also wouldn't like to see Vernon Hargreaves III (another personal favorite) wearing Purple and Black.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Ravens take Ronnie Stanley over Laremy Tunsil...I've heard some rumors that Stanley doesn't have the love for football that you'd like to see, particularly in a top 10 pick. So far, so good. Cleveland didn't get Wentz and Baltimore didn't get Ramsey (the top two players on my personal board).

[steeler_george]

heard tunsil was doing bong hits pics went viral

[steeler_george]

the goodd...Apple gone to giants, hargrave still there at 11

[Oviedo]

the goodd...Apple gone to giants, hargrave still there at 11

Hargraves now gone to Tampa


I agree Apple being gone is good

[RuthlessBurgher]

heard tunsil was doing bong hits pics went viral

I guess the Dolphins don't follow Tunsil on Twitter.

[Oviedo]

I guess the Dolphins don't follow Tunsil on Twitter.

I doubt college kids doing dope is a shock to any of the NFL teams. Probably more just an awkward PR issue to deal with. IMO the Dolphins got a 10 year player and one who will be good.

[feltdizz]

I doubt college kids doing dope is a shock to any of the NFL teams. Probably more just an awkward PR issue to deal with. IMO the Dolphins got a 10 year player and one who will be good.

and people wonder how athletes go broke. Family can be so short sighted at times. it's disgusting.

Pretty sure the word is that his step Dad posted this because Tunsil knocked the guy upside his head when he tried to abuse his mother.

alson wonder if Miami posted the video? LOL

[RuthlessBurgher]

We've only taken 4 players so far (still waiting for our final 3 picks) and Cleveland drafted 4 wideouts, plus a TE who was a wideout at Princeton (they've made 13 picks already and still have 1 more to go):

1.15 WR Corey Coleman
4.114 WR Ricardo Louis
4.138 TE Seth Devalve
5.154 WR Jordan Payton
5.172 WR Rashard Higgins