The Too Early 2018 QB talk

[feltdizz]

QBs drafted in Ben's year [draft position]

[1] Manning
[4] Rivers
[11] Ben
[22] JP Losman
[90] Matt Schaub

The earliest we can pick is probably something like 26/27. I think it's pretty unlikely to get a franchise QB in that range (see results above from a deep QB class). We're way more likely to get a career backup / journeyman where we pick...and we probably already have 2 guys like that on the roster.

The best way get get a franchise QB is to pick in the top 10. The only reason we got Ben at 11 was because the Browns were unbelievably stupid.

We should play out Ben's career trying to put as much talent on the field as we can. Then, hope that Jones / Dobbs give us a terrible season so we can get another good / great QB. There will be very good football players at the end of the first, but they probably won't be QBs.

This class is deeper IMO. Not sure if there are multiple SB winners in this years draft but based on talent I think this year is extremely deep and there are a few franchise QB's in there.

I also think the notion that franchise QB's can only be had in the first 11 picks is incorrect.

[Shawn]

Question for all the draft gurus. I freely admit I don’t follow college football closely and since Colbert never takes my calls I tend to let him just do his job and second guess afterwards. But maybe someone can answer this.

Assuming Ben doesn’t retire. We know Landry is likely not the next franchise qb. Yet the Steelers took josh dobbs last year. With those three still on the books - do the Steelers take another qb in the draft? Do they write off dobbs after no playing time. From the position we’ll be drafting from - there won’t be any top tier guys available. Will what IS on the boards be good enough for them to move on from Landry and dobbs?

So maybe they don’t take a qb at all this year? that’s my question.

This is a deep QB draft. This is the year to pull the trigger. Now you bring up an interesting point...or points. Do we carry 4 QBs? What if Ben doesn't retire do we give up on Dobbs? If there is ever a case for holding onto 4 QBs, this is the case. If Ben leaves after this year its a moot point and we will know more after the season.

[steelerkeylargo]

In a QB starved league you may very well be right. But let me ask you this question. Do you believe he is athletic as a Russel Wilson? Because I don’t. And for a guy that short to find passing lanes he will have to move. I think his arm talent and athleticism is above average but neither are elite. And a guy his size will not comfortably sit behind a 6 foot 5 OL and pick a part a D from the pocket. Usually I agree with you on most picks. But I don’t think Mayfields game translates against bigger faster NFL players. Guess time will tell. And all that is ignoring some of immaturity issues. I say pass.

No I don't think he is Russell Wilson at all. I think he is a cross between Brett Favre and Doug Flutie. Watch him light up the Senior Bowl and the Combine. He will crush it. I said last year that Mahommes was the guy I wanted for the Steelers, similarly don't be surprised when Mayfield comes off the board in the top 10 (maybe even #1).

[Captain Lemming]

QBs drafted in Ben's year [draft position] The only reason we got Ben at 11 was because the Browns were unbelievably stupid.

Northern you KNOW this makes no sense. It is the "Browns."
There is literally nothing "unbelievable" in anything "stupid" they do.

"Unbelievably stupid" is an expression that can never be correct when applied the Browns.

A more correct rendering is:
"The team at 11 foolishly failed to draft Ben. Of course it was stupid.....its the Browns."

[Shawn]

No I don't think he is Russell Wilson at all. I think he is a cross between Brett Favre and Doug Flutie. Watch him light up the Senior Bowl and the Combine. He will crush it. I said last year that Mahommes was the guy I wanted for the Steelers, similarly don't be surprised when Mayfield comes off the board in the top 10 (maybe even #1).

#1? That's a stretch I believe. Top 10 I could believe. I loved Mahommes as well. But, this year I guess we can agree to disagree. I mean Mayfield might turn out to be the next Drew Brees. But, I don't believe he is top 3 QB in this draft. I don't think he has the size, elite athleticism or the cannon arm to justify a top 5 selection.

[buccoray61]

QBs drafted in Ben's year [draft position]

[1] Manning
[4] Rivers
[11] Ben
[22] JP Losman
[90] Matt Schaub

The earliest we can pick is probably something like 26/27. I think it's pretty unlikely to get a franchise QB in that range (see results above from a deep QB class). We're way more likely to get a career backup / journeyman where we pick...and we probably already have 2 guys like that on the roster.

The best way get get a franchise QB is to pick in the top 10. The only reason we got Ben at 11 was because the Browns were unbelievably stupid.

We should play out Ben's career trying to put as much talent on the field as we can. Then, hope that Jones / Dobbs give us a terrible season so we can get another good / great QB. There will be very good football players at the end of the first, but they probably won't be QBs.

Jacksonville was also unbelievably stupid also. They had the number 9 pick, Buffalo was at 13
The Bills wanted to move up to take Ben. The Jags decided to stay put and took Reggie Williams we from Washington
They could have got some valuable picks in a deal,and still probably could have landed Williams at 13

[Shoe]

#1? That's a stretch I believe. Top 10 I could believe. I loved Mahommes as well. But, this year I guess we can agree to disagree. I mean Mayfield might turn out to be the next Drew Brees. But, I don't believe he is top 3 QB in this draft. I don't think he has the size, elite athleticism or the cannon arm to justify a top 5 selection.

Brees would be an interesting comparison... never thought of him, but he does have a unique body structure when it comes to great NFL passers. I think Brees is a cerebral guy though, whereas Mayfield seems more of a playground, see-it-and-throw-it, frat boy like Manziel. I don't want a frat boy as a face of our franchise though. (Ben has/had some frat boy in him.)

I want a mature guy, from a hardscrabble upbringing. I don't want a guy from a major school who's been catered to forever (Mayfield, Rosen, Darnold). I don't want Jackson at all. But, given Tomlin's obvious proclivity toward black QBs, I think he is a lock for us if he makes it down that far.

[feltdizz]

Brees would be an interesting comparison... never thought of him, but he does have a unique body structure when it comes to great NFL passers. I think Brees is a cerebral guy though, whereas Mayfield seems more of a playground, see-it-and-throw-it, frat boy like Manziel. I don't want a frat boy as a face of our franchise though. (Ben has/had some frat boy in him.)

I want a mature guy, from a hardscrabble upbringing. I don't want a guy from a major school who's been catered to forever (Mayfield, Rosen, Darnold). I don't want Jackson at all. But, given Tomlin's obvious proclivity toward black QBs, I think he is a lock for us if he makes it down that far.

If Lamar Jackson is available at the end of the first round you have to take a chance on him. I don’t care if he was purple.

I also don’t think it’s Tomlin who likes Black QB’s. Steelers have been drafting them since the 70’s.

[Buzz]

If Lamar Jackson is available at the end of the first round you have to take a chance on him.

No you don't, and it has nothing to do with his color.

If we know Ben is coming back, spend the high picks on filling holes at S and LB. Why did we draft Dobbs last spring?

[Steel Maniac]

We are so thin at linebacker now that It could be argued they use two out of the first three picks on linebackers and the other pick on a safety.

[Shoe]

If Lamar Jackson is available at the end of the first round you have to take a chance on him. I don’t care if he was purple.

I also don’t think it’s Tomlin who likes Black QB’s. Steelers have been drafting them since the 70’s.

For the record, I'm not saying I don't like him because he's a black QB. It seems obvious to me how Tomlin feels about black QBs though.

[feltdizz]

No you don't, and it has nothing to do with his color.

If we know Ben is coming back, spend the high picks on filling holes at S and LB. Why did we draft Dobbs last spring?

We drafted Dobbs because we thought he was a good value for a 4th rounder.

However, Lamar is a first round talent who could be a franchise QB.

I’m a huge Dobbs fan but you don’t pass up a chance to draft a QB like Lamar.

[Sugar]

I want a mature guy, from a hardscrabble upbringing. I don't want a guy from a major school who's been catered to forever (Mayfield, Rosen, Darnold).

Mayfield was the first walk-on true freshman to ever start a season opener at a BCS school. That's not a guy that's been catered to. He also seems to have fantastic leadership characteristics.

[Furious]

Alex Smith in the off-season? Above average starter that with this OL and compliment of skilled players around him could be a good transition for a couple more years til we find another franchise QB.

[Buzz]

Alex Smith in the off-season? Above average starter that with this OL and compliment of skilled players around him could be a good transition for a couple more years til we find another franchise QB.

He's almost as old as Ben, isn't he? He certainly wouldn't come cheap.