NFL Draft Thoughts

• The Broncos traded for Teddy Bridgewater on Wednesday. I had predicted Jimmy Garoppolo, but Bridgewater makes sense too and he’s way cheaper. It looks like Denver is only paying him $3 million and that puts him in the competition to be a backup. Yes, the Broncos could still draft a quarterback on Thursday, but I imagine that they would wait until round two. See if a QB falls into the 20s and then consider a trade up.

• Great breakdown of the linebackers from a Reddit comment:

  “There is not one LB in the draft that is a fit in every scheme with exception of Zaven Collins and even this may be stretch due to the scheme he ran in college.

  I like JOK a lot, but if you except him to play Mike or Sam in a 4-3; then you are criminally misusing him. Will in a 4-3 or a SS in a cover 3 4-3/3-4 is a the best fit. Maybe Weakside ILB in a 3-4 would be ok, but putting JOK in the box negates what he does well. Have him play outside of the box and cover.

  I like Parsons a lot, but if you put him as a Tampa 2 MLB in a 4-3 or a Will in a 4-3 or a coverage ILB in a 3-4; then you are negating what he does well. A blitzing 3-4 LB, 4-3 Sam, Leo Sam, or NE/MIA MLB (Dont'a Hightower role) is his best role.

  Jamin Davis - Mike 4-3

  Zaven Collins - Mike 4-3, ILB 3-4, OLB 4-3 Will or Sam, OLB 3-4, Sam Leo, Inside Leo. I think Collins can do it all, but I think his best spot would be a Tampa 2 4-3 LB.

  Jabril Cox - 4-3 Will, 3-4 ILB

  Chazz Surratt - 4-3 Will, 3-4 ILB

  Baron Browning - Sam 4-3, Sam Leo

  Pete Werner - 3-4 ILB, 4-3 Will

  Nick Bolton - 3-4 ILB, 4-3 Cover 3 MLB

  Cam McGrone - 3-4 ILB, 4-3 MLB

  Derick Barnes - Leo Sam, 4-3 Sam, Blitzing MLB or ILB

  Dylan Moses - 3-4 ILB, 4-3 Will

  Monty Rice - 3-4 ILB”

• I don’t think the Seahawks are keen on drafting a linebacker. In the press conference, Carroll sounded confident that a competition with Ben Burr-Kirven and Cody Barton would bear fruit, and open to re-signing K.J. Wright. I don’t think Seattle would rule out a great linebacker if he fell to them, we’ve seen that they never pass on one of those, but Carroll sounds happy with the current situation. Of course, this is a pre-draft press conference, so that could be a lie. (update: I think a LB could be on the table for day 3)

• I’m just leaving a note here to remind myself that I have strong opinions about what will happen in the draft today, and I’m positive that some of what I believe is wrong. Maybe I’ll be really wrong. There’s so much more that I don’t know than what I know, and the first round will be a harsh reminder of that.

• Sam Gold’s breakdown of Javonte Williams:

• I wonder if the Bengals “deciding between Penei Sewell and Ja’Marr Chase” could be a ploy to get a team to trade for Chase. I really do think that there is a gap between him and the next tier of receivers. The Bengals have so many needs and more day two picks could go a long way. Then again, not sure which teams would be so desperate to move up for a receiver. The Panthers aren’t too far away. The Chargers would be my wish for Chase and Justin Herbert. Despite how good Herbert was, LA had no 1,000-yard receivers last year and Hunter Henry left in free agency. Moving up for a receiver is sensible to me.

• Dyami Brown breakdown video:

• Chris Simms’ sleepers:

• WR Dyami Brown; WR Amari Rodgers; WR Amon-Ra St. Brown; WR Marquez Stevenson; WR Jaelon Darden; RB Michael Carter; RB Javian Hawkins

• TE Tommy Tremble; OT Walker Little; OL Aaron Banks; OL Jackson Carman; EDGE Rashod Weaver

• CB Paulson Adebo; DB Kary Vincent; S Andre Cisco (Simms’ #1 safety in draft); S Ar’Darius Washington

• Advice to the Seahawks from Coach Dez:

• Mark Sanchez thought the Seahawks would draft him in 2009.

• Meant to post this earlier, so I’ll just post it now. 5 hours until the draft.