Matt Miller’s Mock Draft and NFL Notes
Nov 9, 2013; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; LSU Tigers tight end Dillon Gordon (85) catches a tipped ball by Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker C.J. Mosley (32) during the third quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Matt Miller runs a great deal of football coverage for Bleacher Report and is a great Twitter follow. He came out yesterday with new information as we ramp up to the NFL Draft. His Scouting Notebook has a variety of very interesting NFL Notes that we encourage you to check out after your done here. He starts with some scouting information about specific players but also delves into some thoughts on NFL Free Agency, including about the Cleveland Browns:
"9. Early free agency losers: Oakland Raiders (overpaying and embarrassed), Cleveland Browns (got older and more expensive on defense), Kansas City Chiefs (losing starters, adding backups), Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys."
Interesting note that the Browns are loser for getting older and more expensive though he doesn’t note that both additions are widely agreed to be better then those lost for the system the team will run. Getting lumped in with the other teams who had ugly (Raiders), roster changing (Panthers & Cowboys) and limited impacting (Chiefs) free agency so far seems a bit unfair. Another note regarding a team drafting above the Browns that could impact the team:
"4. The closer we get to the draft, the more it seems like the Houston Texans will not draft a quarterback first overall. That’s not what I would do—Teddy Bridgewater‘s name would already be on the card if I were the general manager—but Rick Smith and Bill O’Brien are either doing a good job smokescreening the media or they really don’t like the top quarterbacks."
For Browns fans, and possibly the front office, having as many QBs on the board when they pick seems to be the best bet. Until now odds were that the Browns would have at least 1 QB on the board as well as Sammy Watkins. Free agency, specifically the Rams free agency, may mean that Watkins is off the board leaving the Browns with a QB or two, Khalil Mack and one of the stud offensive tackles. The Texans could go with Mack, Jadeveon Clowney or a offensive tackle therefore giving the Browns a better shot at “their” QB at #4. Now on to Miller’s Browns’ Mock Draft:
"4BrownsQB Blake Bortles, Central Florida26BrownsILB C.J. Mosley, Alabama"
Miller has the Browns adding 1 high risk player in Bortles, who could excel after sitting a year or two, and one low risk player in Mosley, who many don’t feel would fall this far. A note from earlier in his write up may explain why he believes Mosley could fall:
"1. Alabama players leave the school with much attention from the NFL and the NFL media. Nick Saban has built a football powerhouse in Tuscaloosa, but should teams start to question his prospects? Saban’s players haven’t quite panned out in the league as expected, and many enter the pros worn out physically and nursing injuries.Take a look at the best Alabama prospects since Saban arrived in 2007 and you’ll find a list of injuries, disappointments and missed evaluations. Sure, Saban is a god on the college football level, but teams need to look past the helmet and look at the Crimson Tide players’ track record of poor health in the NFL."
Could Mosley in fact be a fragile package when he arrives in the NFL? History isn’t good and could scare off some teams allowing the Browns to draft a youngster to play next to and later replace Karlos Dansby.
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What do you think of Miller’s ability as a analyst? Do you think his view of the Browns free agency is accurate? Do you think he has a pulse on the Texans? And finally what are your thoughts on a Bortles/Mosley first round?