O'Brien Coy About Draft Options

[HPF Bob]

If we draft a QB, he'll be at least 5-11. I can guarantee that.

Fitzpatrick is only 6-2.

If we take Clowney, we have to be ready to accept we won't be in a position to draft a QB at 1-1 for some time in the future but then you have to ask if Bortles is worth a 1-1 and if he isn't, what alternate plan would be suggested for getting a QB who can be a SB-caliber quarterback.

I tried my trade-ups in the simulator and they were not getting accepted, although I could not add Yates or Keenum to the deal like I'd like to.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

If we draft a QB, he'll be at least 5-11. I can guarantee that.

Fitzpatrick is only 6-2.

If we take Clowney, we have to be ready to accept we won't be in a position to draft a QB at 1-1 for some time in the future but then you have to ask if Bortles is worth a 1-1 and if he isn't, what alternate plan would be suggested for getting a QB who can be a SB-caliber quarterback.

I tried my trade-ups in the simulator and they were not getting accepted, although I could not add Yates or Keenum to the deal like I'd like to.

The alternate plan would be to develop a solid supporting cast led by the defense, that way a team can get a "SB-caliber quarterback" in the second or third round just as San Fran and Seattle did.

[Joshua]

that sounds more like hope than a plan. And SF and Seattle benefitted from drafting their guys when the league's view of the QB was changing. JF is the closest thing to Wilson in this draft and he definitely won't hang around until the 3rd round even though a lot of people don't think he is the prospect Wilson was. And next year, the closest thing to Kaepernick is Mariota, want to bet me where he is drafted? I say he'll be closer to the 1st pick than the 2nd round. Want that action?

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by Joshua

that sounds more like hope than a plan. And SF and Seattle benefitted from drafting their guys when the league's view of the QB was changing. JF is the closest thing to Wilson in this draft and he definitely won't hang around until the 3rd round even though a lot of people don't think he is the prospect Wilson was. And next year, the closest thing to Kaepernick is Mariota, want to bet me where he is drafted? I say he'll be closer to the 1st pick than the 2nd round. Want that action?

If you are the Houston Texans, "hope"(AKA as day-dreaming) would be deceiving yourself into thinking there's somebody in this years Draft like Andrew Luck or John Elway.

[Joshua]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

If you are the Houston Texans, "hope"(AKA as day-dreaming) would be deceiving yourself into thinking there's somebody in this years Draft like Andrew Luck or John Elway.

Well, I don't recall ever saying that there was but I'll respond nonetheless. I seem to recall that one of the last drafts that supposedly didn't have an "Aaron Rodgers"-type player in it was the draft when the Packers actually took Aaron Rodgers. So you never know.

But to return to the QBs in this draft, are you suggesting that there is not a single QB in this draft that has the potential to develop into a franchise QB and that this crop is so weak that the average QB available in some future 3rd round grades out higher?

And finally, I see a contradiction in your plan where the Texans front office somehow become draft savants and start landing Pro Bowlers at every round and a franchise QB in a later round (a/k/a the Seattle/SF plan). Yet, this same front office you don't have confidence in identifying the best QB in this draft.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by Joshua

Well, I don't recall ever saying that there was but I'll respond nonetheless. I seem to recall that one of the last drafts that supposedly didn't have an "Aaron Rodgers"-type player in it was the draft when the Packers actually took Aaron Rodgers. So you never know.

But to return to the QBs in this draft, are you suggesting that there is not a single QB in this draft that has the potential to develop into a franchise QB and that this crop is so weak that the average QB available in some future 3rd round grades out higher?

And finally, I see a contradiction in your plan where the Texans front office somehow become draft savants and start landing Pro Bowlers at every round and a franchise QB in a later round (a/k/a the Seattle/SF plan). Yet, this same front office you don't have confidence in identifying the best QB in this draft.

My impression of this class of QBs is that the top 6 to 7 are worthy of Draft grades ranging from the second half of the first round thru the end of the second round. So without an obviously strong QB candidate (or "franchsie QB" if you like), it's really a crap shoot to a certain extent.
So if O'Brien is in love with one of those QBs, he should definitely draft him with the 1.1. But if fails to see that much difference between the QB prospects but thinks he can still draft one with promising potential in the second round, he should give serious consideration to drafting one of the very strong non-QB prospects like Clowney, Greg Robinson, or Watkins with his 1.1.

[barrett]

I saw them talking about the pro days of the 3 QBs on ESPN today and they said something interesting. Everyone agreed that the pro days reinforced the game tape and showed that Manziel CLEARLY has the best arm of the 3 (along with having the quickest release). Then they knocked Manziel and called him risky and small and injury prone for 20 minutes.

My question is this...What exactly makes Bortles a high upside guy if he has so much less arm strength than Manziel? What exactly makes him a safe pick compared to Manziel? Does it really just come down to the guy looking the part? His college performance, competition level, and ability to throw the ball is clearly 3rd best in the QB class but he has somehow become an option as the 1st overall pick?

I think Bortles is the only outcome that would bother me at 1.1. Give me a trade down, clowney, the pro ready Bridgewater, or the endless possibility of Manziel. Just don't give me Bortles. I doubt the AAC conference defenses he faced had more than 11 pro defenders when you add them all up.

[Roy P]

I concur with this line of reasoning. I sort of like Bortles...I like Garoppolo because I can stratify my risk with a later pick. I like McCaron and he could be as good or better than Bortles, just not as physically imposing. I like Carr's arm. If I'm confident the position can be coached, give me Logan Thomas.