Official 2010 NFL Draft Thread

[phins]

I'm not a Rams fan, but I think that the Rams should go for Bradford. Suh/McCoy are going to be great players, but you can find starting DT's in the second or third round. Hard to find a franchise quarterback down there. It's just the nature of the draft. Now, later DT's won't be as good, obviously, but you don't win superbowls and playoff games on the shoulders of a starting DT. Look at the Bears with Tommy Harris, who was probably just as highly rated as Suh when he came out... maybe even higher by some measures (rushing the QB comes to mind).

I don't know. Brady was famously a 6th rounder, Favre was a 2nd rounder, Warner was an Arena League guy, Tony Romo was undrafted, Brees was the bottom of round 2, Matt Schaub was a 3rd rounder... If you've got the right people evaluating talent, there have been a lot of really talented QB's taken down there.

I don't say this to be mean to Rams fans; it's the truth. It's irrelevant what position they draft because the team is so bad, just about every position on the field is an area of need.

Just a small correction, Brees was the first pick of the second round by the Chargers. They took Tomlinson and Brees, instead of Vick. I punched my floor when the Phins took Jamar Fletcher #26, I believe, instead of taking Brees, despite the fact we had Surtain and I forget he other corners name, he went to the Giants later in his career, but I digress.

By the same token, you also have to look at the other QB's in this draft, which is pretty poor for QB's. Unless you like McCoy, you aren't taking one in the second either. Believe it or not, I'm hearing it's pretty certain someone takes Tebow round one, so he won't even be there. After that, not much.

I'd take the QB if I liked him.

[cpebbles]

Okay, if it's a weak draft for QBs and the Rams are a lousy team (And I'm not disagreeing on either of those), why spring for a QB this year? It's not like a reasonable blueprint for success is Bradford sitting for a year and then going All Pro in 2011 and pulling the team into contention. If Bradford isn't worth #1 overall (And I have little doubt that he isn't), why not pick up a cornerstone DT and get your future QB somewhere in the '11 draft?

[phins]

Okay, if it's a weak draft for QBs and the Rams are a lousy team (And I'm not disagreeing on either of those), why spring for a QB this year? It's not like a reasonable blueprint for success is Bradford sitting for a year and then going All Pro in 2011 and pulling the team into contention. If Bradford isn't worth #1 overall (And I have little doubt that he isn't), why not pick up a cornerstone DT and get your future QB somewhere in the '11 draft?

Personally, I'm not in love with Bradford, but that doesn't mean the Rams' brass aren't.

I also believe the Rams have chosen your route two years in a row, instead of taking the highest rated QB. That route has gotten their fans apathetic, and the team nowhere. You simply cannot win in this league without a great QB. There is no way around it. Sure, you'll have your outlier team, but the statistics have shown over the course of time, no QB, no rings.

There are also other factors in play, like franchise value declining rapidly, attendance, and merchandise sales. Bradford improves all of those overnight (granted, it's only a two year boost unless he is good).

My final argument, history has shown that DT's bust more often than even QB's do. The transition is amazingly difficult for DT's, because of the talent in the linemen they see, and the fact their previous techniques are no longer nearly as effective.

Be smart Rams, for once, and take the QB.

[Fat Strat]

I'm not a Rams fan, but I think that the Rams should go for Bradford. Suh/McCoy are going to be great players, but you can find starting DT's in the second or third round. Hard to find a franchise quarterback down there. It's just the nature of the draft. Now, later DT's won't be as good, obviously, but you don't win superbowls and playoff games on the shoulders of a starting DT. Look at the Bears with Tommy Harris, who was probably just as highly rated as Suh when he came out... maybe even higher by some measures (rushing the QB comes to mind).

I don't know. Brady was famously a 6th rounder, Favre was a 2nd rounder, Warner was an Arena League guy, Tony Romo was undrafted, Brees was the bottom of round 2, Matt Schaub was a 3rd rounder... If you've got the right people evaluating talent, there have been a lot of really talented QB's taken down there.

I don't say this to be mean to Rams fans; it's the truth. It's irrelevant what position they draft because the team is so bad, just about every position on the field is an area of need.

While that's true, you can never really know when you're going to hit gold. The Chiefs took this philosophy for decades and haven't developed a QB since Dawson. Their most recent attempt, Brody Croyle, was a failure as a starter. Now, he's a pretty decent #2 guy, so he wasn't a waste of a 3rd round pick, but he's certainly not a QB that will take a bottom of the league franchise and turn them into a Super Bowl contender. They're trying it again with Cassel, and while I think he has some good upside, it's yet to be seen if he's the guy to turn the club around.

Look around the league and most of the playoff teams are led by QB's who were drafted in the first or second rounds.

[phins]

New England- Brady (6)
NY Jets- Sanchez (1)
Indy- Peyton (1)
Balt- Flacco (1)
San Diego- Rivers (1)
Pittsburgh- Big Ben (1)
Cinnci- Palmer (1)
Philly- McNabb (1), remains to be seen with Kolb (2)
Dallas- Romo (UFA)
Arizona- Leinart (1), but not because of him
New Orleans- Brees (2, but the first pick of second round)
Minnesota- Favre (2)
Atlanta- Ryan (1)

Two of these things are not like the others!

[albertmvpujols]

New England- Brady (6)
NY Jets- Sanchez (1)
Indy- Peyton (1)
Balt- Flacco (1)
San Diego- Rivers (1)
Pittsburgh- Big Ben (1)
Cinnci- Palmer (1)
Philly- McNabb (1), remains to be seen with Kolb (2)
Dallas- Romo (UFA)
Arizona- Leinart (1), but not because of him
New Orleans- Brees (2, but the first pick of second round)
Minnesota- Favre (2)
Atlanta- Ryan (1)

Two of these things are not like the others!

Ryan and Roethlisberger didn't make the playoffs this year? (Aaron Rodgers probably should also be included on this list)

I get what you are saying, but of course the vast majority of QB's that make the playoffs are going to be first and second rounders when ~70% of the starters are first or second rounders. In regards to this though, I'm not sure why you would include second rounders as the Rams have the first pick of the second round (not that I think there is likely to be anyone there that merits that pick, but still).

Edit: And I'm not sure why I'm really arguing this as I agree with most of what you are saying/have said.
Edit2: I'm an idiot and didn't see Fat Strat's comment about 1st/2nd round QB's in the playoffs.

[phins]

New England- Brady (6)
NY Jets- Sanchez (1)
Indy- Peyton (1)
Balt- Flacco (1)
San Diego- Rivers (1)
Pittsburgh- Big Ben (1)
Cinnci- Palmer (1)
Philly- McNabb (1), remains to be seen with Kolb (2)
Dallas- Romo (UFA)
Arizona- Leinart (1), but not because of him
New Orleans- Brees (2, but the first pick of second round)
Minnesota- Favre (2)
Atlanta- Ryan (1)

Two of these things are not like the others!

Ryan and Roethlisberger didn't make the playoffs this year? (Aaron Rodgers probably should also be included on this list)

I get what you are saying, but of course the vast majority of QB's that make the playoffs are going to be first and second rounders when ~70% of the starters are first or second rounders. In regards to this though, I'm not sure why you would include second rounders as the Rams have the first pick of the second round (not that I think there is likely to be anyone there that merits that pick, but still).

Edit: And I'm not sure why I'm really arguing this as I agree with most of what you are saying/have said.
Edit2: I'm an idiot and didn't see Fat Strat's comment about 1st/2nd round QB's in the playoffs.

I understand they didn't make the playoffs, I was just doing the best teams off the top of my head. Aaron Rodgers can be put in there for Ryan, and you have a different 1. I'm really a big proponent of getting a QB to build on, and develop him. Whether you have all the pieces in place or not.

Full disclosure, I did not think of Sanchez that way, and was surprised he looked as good as he did in the playoffs.

Edit: I see your edits, and realize you saw why I put the playoff type QB's in a list.

[Socnorb11]

Okay, if it's a weak draft for QBs and the Rams are a lousy team (And I'm not disagreeing on either of those), why spring for a QB this year? It's not like a reasonable blueprint for success is Bradford sitting for a year and then going All Pro in 2011 and pulling the team into contention. If Bradford isn't worth #1 overall (And I have little doubt that he isn't), why not pick up a cornerstone DT and get your future QB somewhere in the '11 draft?

Personally, I'm not in love with Bradford, but that doesn't mean the Rams' brass aren't.

I also believe the Rams have chosen your route two years in a row, instead of taking the highest rated QB. That route has gotten their fans apathetic, and the team nowhere. You simply cannot win in this league without a great QB. There is no way around it. Sure, you'll have your outlier team, but the statistics have shown over the course of time, no QB, no rings.

There are also other factors in play, like franchise value declining rapidly, attendance, and merchandise sales. Bradford improves all of those overnight (granted, it's only a two year boost unless he is good).

My final argument, history has shown that DT's bust more often than even QB's do. The transition is amazingly difficult for DT's, because of the talent in the linemen they see, and the fact their previous techniques are no longer nearly as effective.

Be smart Rams, for once, and take the QB.

Pretty much nailed it, in my opinion. Only difference is, I really do like Bradford a lot. I think he's going to be elite. And I'm not a Rams fan.

[phins]

I've hitched my wagon to Clausen, but Bradford has shown a little better than I anticipated with the transition and footwork to under center. That's not something that is easy to learn, and usually takes a few years. If Bradford gets that transition to go smoothly, he has the tools to be special in an offense that can protect him.

Hope the Rams look at an Arrelious Benn type guy in the 2nd, and then look at a G/C or both in the mid rounds to upgrade that OL.

With the night in between the 1st and 2nd rounds, I would be pretty darned surprised to see the Rams keep the 33rd pick. Look for them to trade back 4-5 spots for a team wanting to come up and grab a player who slipped from round 1 to 2. We've seen the first team in the 3rd round (the round that had the night break) trade back at least three years in a row, and each time it was for a team to come up and take a RB who slipped. It could be any position obviously, but I think the Rams grab another 4th rounder and move back a few spots from that pick and still get a great player.

[Freed Roger]

I do like the NFL draft - in spite of it being the most overhyped event there is.