Jaybirds

Probably Spence or Stanley in that case. BUT..... you're suggesting SF wouldn't have a QB for next year, and Wentz would be available to us, one pick ahead of the 49ers? Pretty sure someone trades up at that point.

I agree. For me this seems like drafting Pitta with his current hip situation. We don't really know if it's ever going to be healthy. But if he is, we've got something special.

I'm not blaming for you. Just usually Ozzie says things that make a little more sense than this. The idea that we're looking for a running back in the 4th makes sense. The idea that we like Henry makes sense. But put the two together and I'm confused.

How does he fall that far? I thought he was likely to go in the 2nd.

For me it depends on whose spot he takes. Forsett? I have a problem with that. Taliaferro or West, not so much. I know our line is better than many he's run behind, so I have some optimism for his yards per cary. But there's a trend forming here that I don't like: first West, and now Richardson. Both fairly young still, but high risk. We're not acting like we have depth at the position, or even a long term plan.

Since this is the rumor thread, I'm comfortable with analyzing rumors. And one rumor that involves two teams in front of us seems worth mentioning. I think you make a great point with Bosa falling. I was assuming a team had approached them about a QB. Someone moving up to try to take Bosa makes sense in those spots though: someone has to get in front of us and Jacksonville. Could be true for Ramsey as well, but it seems like Alexander and maybe VH3 would be there for any team that has a shot at Nkemdiche. A lot of people on the boards have suggested we go after Tunsil, Bosa, Ramsey, or Buckner with the #6 pick. Others add Jack to that list as well. Now if Nkemdiche is a possibility for 2 different spots ahead of us, we're that much closer to critical mass at #6.

But clearly something has changed. He simply shouldn't be on the radar for those two teams. He's supposed to be too much of a reach at the first, and gone by the second. Unless both teams got approached by the same team for a trade-up (which means we're getting skipped over in the QB rush). But that doesn't seem plausible. Why would San Diego and Dallas even look at him unless someone is moving? It's more likely him than both of them.

More details about Nkemdiche: it looks like scouts are expecting him to have a great combine. Expectations are 35+ inches vertical jump, and a 40 under 4.7 seconds, says Walter. So it's a question of his stock rising instead of Dallas/San Diego dropping. San Diego still surprises me: Bosa and Buckner should both be on the board for them. I wonder who they're bumping down.

Walter Football is quickly becoming my new caffeine. If I wasn't awake before, I am now. * They're saying the Ravens have signed Trent Richardson, though they don't know the details so maybe it's just pre-emptive of them. I.... I'm just not handling this well. * They're also saying the Chargers and Cowboys are both taking interest in Robert Nkemdiche. I'm not sure how to read this, but it could make things interesting. If just one of those teams see him as a Top 5 guy, then someone is definitely falling to us at 6. If they're suspecting he falls to the 2nd round, well that's interesting too. The only other way he falls to them (well, more like they fall to him) is if both are considering trading back?

Here's my favorite link for these discussions. http://overthecap.com/salary-cap/baltimore-ravens Personally I'm looking for guys with more cap space than dead money, and make me go "really? that guy?!". This year that's Chris Canty before June 1 and both Pitta and Daryl Smith after June 1. "Honorable" mention to Kyle Arrington.

Recent headlines say the Eagles are negotiating with Bradford, and a lot of teams are expecting him to stay there. San Francisco has said they're keeping Kaepernick and Gabbertt. Washington is not keeping Griffin, so he'll be on the market (no idea where he would be a starter though). None of those is big by themselves, but it's starting to look like the Draft QB market is drying up.

I have definitely thought this. I believe we have him higher than Treadwell, possibly Stanley as well. I think he'd be a long term upgrade for us at an important position. I think he'd do very well in Trestman's offense. I think he'd indirectly take pressure off our wide receivers and our defense. The pick makes a lot of sense to me. But let's just say it's not a popular opinion around here.

It's not impossible to figure out if these ideas are far-fetched or not. How many teams need QBs this offseason? How many QBs are going to be available if you count free agents and the draft? If a couple of teams risk drawing the short stick, then those teams are more likely to trade up. Maybe it takes a different thread just for the QB market. But we can figure this out. EDIT: actually, I think it's simpler than that. I think it's less and less likely San Francisco takes a quarterback. That makes it way less likely anyone has to trade into the top 5 or 6 to get Wentz or Goff. 1 QB in the top 5 picks is most likely.

I'm in the "never say never" camp. I know everyone says we're keeping Pees. But Frazier is a little over-qualified for the job he took here. I think the writing is on the wall for Pees. If a clear 4-3 talent falls to us at #6 (Bosa, Jack), I could see us gradually shifting from a 3-4 to a hybrid and then to a 4-3 in a few years. The money isn't there now, but we'll be rebuilding the defense in a year or two anyway. When it comes time to replace Suggs, Canty, Dumerville, Smith, Smith, and Webb, who's to say we have to spend that money on 3-4 guys? But I wouldn't expect it for next year; we're more than just two people away.

Sure. But I'd say Upshaw was a surprising disappointment in that regard, and perhaps a fluke. I also like Buckner's trend towards showing improvement. I'm not even saying it WILL happen. But there's evidence to show it could.

I know it's not a popular opinion, but the Broncos can only give the franchise tag to one other person. And Cousins has hit a snag with his contract negotiations. I think Cleveland definitely gives Cousins and Osweiler a call the second it's not tampering. Hopefully that still gives us enough time revise all our predictions here before the draft.

That's pretty much my top six as well, except for knees. Buckner could probably be #4 just because his ligaments seem to be intact. I don't know if we (or San Diego, or Dallas) pass Buckner for an injured Smith. Even though I like Smith better personally.

I mostly agree about the pass rushing, at the very least it's safe to say he's more refined in stopping the run. BUT..... here's his sacks numbers in college: 2012: 13 games, 1.0 sacks 2013: 12 games, 2.5 sacks 2014: 15 games, 4.0 sacks 2015: 13 games, 10.5 sacks. If anything he's trending in the right direction. If I didn't know any better, I'd say someone left the team after 2014 and Buckner's responsibilities changed. I think he'll respond well if we give him opportunities to succeed.

Agreed. I kinda want to start a thread discussing the third and fourth rounds. I think those rounds will be just as important to finding quality starters if this team is going to improve.

Thank you for pointing this out. It really seems like there were two bad years in a row. And we're still recovering from those two drafts. But 2014 and 2015 both look like we're back on track. It was just bad timing with those two draft classes and salary cap issues. Overall I don't think there's really a problem here.

I don't see a lot of sites predicting success for Kirkland, at least not at left tackle. I am seeing concerns about his coordination, balance, and translating his size into meaningful power. I could see him adding depth at Guard, but not at tackle. I think a lot of teams are going to copycat Denver's defense, and bulking guys like Kirkland aren't going to be able to keep up on the edges.

I thought someone posted a rumor about Jacksonville preferring to work on their front 7 instead of DBs, interesting that Kiper isn't biting down on that. I could also see Jack going in front of us instead of behind. But I think the point is still the same: there's three pass rushers in the top 10, and at least 7 guys who could legitimately go in the first six picks. Spence is probably our floor if we don't trade back. Oh, darn.

Myles Jack is probably competing for one of those spots as well, which would be six.

Coleman is falling to the 2nd round? I'm a little surprised by that. If he's there with our original second pick, I'm happy with him there.

So here's one I find weird, from Walter's rumor mill posted yesterday: The Titans like Tunsil better than Bosa. Okay, not a big surprise. But Walter says they really want to trade back, still staying in the top 10, and take a DB. Walter thinks they have eyes on Ramsey or maybe Hargreaves. I'm not sure who in the top 10 would trade all the way up to first, and for whom. Is there a team that clearly really needs Bosa that badly? I'm also intrigued that it makes it sound like the Titans have Ramsey in the back of their top 10, considering we've been assuming he's gone by #6. Last, Mariota is going to cry himself to sleep if they skip Tunsil for more draft picks. It seems like they're trying to maintain the value of the first pick overall, in case there is a trade partner. But I don't see them doing this. Am I missing something? It's also interesting because that would put them right around our pick, and looking for some of the same guys.