Specifically, Mike Holmgren is not done overhauling the QB position in Cleveland. Mary Kay asked him directly if he would use the #7 pick to select Sam Bradford or Clausen. He said he would absolutely consider using the #7 pick on a QB. She asked him if he would trade up to select Sam Bradford or Jimmy Clausen. Holmgren said is definitely considering a trade. When pressed a little further, Holmgren stated he likes Sam Bradford a hell of a lot. No comment on Clausen. Mary Kay Cabot declared that she believes that the Browns have stockpiled picks so that they have the ammo to make such a trade on draft day.
Setting aside the Rams' goals and objectives, and considering this from the Browns' viewpoint only, this makes a lot of sense. Right now, Cleveland a veteran QB who really cannot play anymore. Yet he is a tremendous guy, and he would make a nice mentor/wet-nurse for an excellent rookie QB. The Browns also have a deep third stringer who knows your offense. The former moves make sense if you get Sam Bradford.
How can Cleveland select Bradford when they select #7? Rod Woodson declared what should be obvious to all: If Holmgren wants Bradford, he has to trade up to #1. The risk of the Rams selecting him is too great, if you are Holmgren. You know my position on this subject, but I sense that the organization's mindset has been turning since the results of the Wonderlic were released. Bill Devaney talked draft for two hours with the fans this very night at J Bucks in Clayton. Early leaks from the meet-n-greet indicate that he said nice things about Bradford.
Fans can have distorted and selective hearing. I wish we had audio tape. Before we assume that Ram fans are crying out for Bradford, I should state that most of the Ram fans I am talking to are crying out for Ndamukong Suh. Regrettably, I don't sense a strong vote for Suh inside the org. Rumor has it that coach Spags prefers McCoy. Before we shoot coach Spags, we should recognize that he knows a lot about defensive linemen. If we don't select Bradford, it will probably be Gerald McCoy. Most Ram fans will choke on that one, if it comes to pass.
Should we make a deal with the Browns? Not unless we stick a gun in their ribs and make them pay a premium. I would even be inclined to select Bradford and see if Holmgren can stand the temptation of us dangling Sam in front of his face. The problem is that Cleveland doesn't really have a lot to give us. They have #7 in the 1st. They have the #6 in the 2nd. They have 3 picks in the 3rd. Unless we get a 1-2-3 for swapping down with them, I would not do it. Isn't that a little steep? I said I want to stick a gun in their ribs.
What if we get the #7? What should we do with it? There are two names on my list Trent Williams OT Oklahoma, and Dez Bryant WR Oklahoma State. Either might be available at #7. Both would fill tremendous, dire needs.
What do we do if we get Cleveland's #6 pick in the 2nd round. This is quite conditional upon what Tim Tebow does tomorrow at Florida's ProDay. Many if not all experts seem settled on the notion that Tebow will be going in the 3rd round. Many think he should go later, but he won't. If this consensus continues up to draft day, we might be able to use both 2nd rounders to get help we need. Maurkice Pouncy of Florida looks damn good to me. Many think he will slide to #33.
What do with pick #39? if Tebow's going to go in the 3rd, we have the luxury of dealing that pick for Vick, or using it for another player. I would prefer not to give it to Philly. Who then would I draft? Of course, you could go after Colt McCoy. According to CBS Sport's Draft Central, there is a certain fellow from Cal Berkeley named Javid Best who is ranked at exactly #39. I find it difficult to believe Javid will fall to #39. I believe somebody will reach for him in the 1st, because that ranking is clearly low. However, if Javid were to fall to us at #39, we would be stupid not to take him. This is one dude with a clear shot at replacing Marshall Faulk in our lineup.
What do we do in the 3rd? You know what I would do with the first pick. How about the second? This the Dexter McCluster point for me.
How about the 4th? There is a guard from Alabama I covet named Mike Johnson. Some have him in the 3rd round. Some have him in the 4th. If he is there, I would take him with our own pick in the 4th round.
The end product of this draft pattern would look like this:
- #7 Dez Bryant WR Oklahoma State.
- #33 Maurkice Pounce C/G Florida
- #39 Javid Best RB Cal Berkeley
- #65 Tim Tebow QB Florida
- #71 Dexter McCluster RB/WR Ole Miss
- #97 Mike Johnson OG Alabama
It would take some luck to line up that draft. There are assumptions that everybody on that list slides a bit. There are reasons to believe they will. Centers and guards are not valued well in the draft. Even Jamie Dukes, who played center, says he doesn't like selecting them in the 1st round. Javid Best may be overlooked because of his injury. Tebow is getting raped by the press. McCuster is labeled as small and slow. Nobody even knows who Mike Johnson is... except me and his family members.
If we could nail that draft, we could fix almost everything that is wrong with our offense. We would have playmakers all over the place. Adding Dez Bryant and Dexter McCluster to our receiver corp would give us some threatening weapons. Javid Best is the serious lightning compared to Steve Jackson's thunder. We would still need a veteran QB to take us through 2010. This is why I would trade a conditional pick in 2011 for Michael Vick, after the 2010 draft.
Anyhow... this is all just theory. There is no guarantee that there will be a trade.
