Sports Krunch w/DKROM

1. Many people I know (if not most) believe that you should NEVER draft a running back in the first round, regardless of the talent. Do you agree or disagree with that school of thought?

2. Two RB’s that have a shot at going in the first round are Najee Harris of Alabama and Travis Etienne of Clemson. It’s a neck-and-neck race between them in terms of who is the top runner in this class. You currently have Etienne ranked above Harris. What is your reasoning for that ranking? Just for the sake of playing Devil’s Advocate, why do you think many people rank Harris as the best of the two?

3.  Something that goes against the grain in your RB rankings is you having Kenneth Gainwell of Memphis as the third best back of the bunch. Gainwell hopes to continue the promising trend of recent Memphis RB’s finding success in the NFL (Tony Pollard and Antonio Gibson to be exact). However, he’s only 195 pounds and Lance Zierlein of NFL.com sees his role in the NFL as merely a change-of-pace back. Moreover, an NFC scouting director told Zierlein that he’s not certain Gainwell’s skill-set will translate to the NFL “if he doesn’t find a scheme that keeps him in space.” Do you think Gainwell can be more than what Zierlein and that anonymous scouting director project him to be and if so, why?

4. Kenneth Gainwell wasn’t the only thing that was outside the box in your RB rankings. There’s a near-universal consensus that North Carolina’s Javonte Williams is the best running back in the draft outside of Etienne and Harris. However, you have his teammate Michael Carter, who stood out at the Senior Bowl, ahead of him. Why is Carter the better back of the Tar Heel twosome in your view?

5. Buy or Sell

-Trey Sermon: Buy

-Khalil Herbert: HOLD

-Larry Rountree: Sell

-Kylin Hill: Buy

-Jermar Jefferson: BUY

-Jaret Patterson: Sell

-Chuba Hubbard: Sell

6.  Best Team Fits

-Travis Etienne: Buccaneers

-Najee Harris: Dolphins

-Kenneth Gainwell: Cowboys

-Javonte Williams: Steelers 

-Michael Carter: Patriots

-Trey Sermon: Bears, Chiefs

-Khalil Herbert: Chargers, Saints

-Larry Rountree: Lions

-Kylin Hill: Broncos

-Jermar Jefferson: Giants

-Jaret Patterson: Ravens

-Chuba Hubbard: Bills

1. The consensus top interior OL prospect in this class is Alijah Vera-Tucker from USC. We discussed him on our OT special, and Nick Kendell of MileHighHuddle.com said he doesn’t see a place at tackle for Vera-Tucker at the pro level. When it comes to his prospects at guard, Dane Brugler believes Alijah Vera-Tucker has Pro Bowl potential. Would it surprise you if Vera-Tucker becomes the best guard in the NFL not named Quenton Nelson within the next 2-4 years?

2. Arguably the biggest riser up draft boards since January has been the man with the coolest midriff in America, Quinn Meinerz, center out of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Today, Daniel Jeremiah released his third Top 50 list, and he had Meinerz at 44. And this draft journey, at least so far, gives me flashbacks to when another small-school guard who, like Meinerz, saw his stock begin to skyrocket after dominating at the Senior Bowl. That small-school guard I’m talking about is Ali Marpet, currently with the Bucs and arguably a top 5 player at his position. Are you bullish on Quinn Meinerz, and if so, can you see him achieving similar success in the pro game as Ali Marpet?  

3.  Landon Dickerson of Alabama is another prospect with rock solid game tape, yet a medical history that’s very troublesome. He started out at Florida State in 2016, and missed 25 of 38 games over three seasons down there. After transferring to Alabama, he started 24 straight games until tearing his ACL in the 2020 SEC Championship game. Since it is harder than ever for NFL clubs to obtain accurate medical information due to COVID-19, how far do you see Dickerson falling, and when at the earliest does his talent warrant consideration?

4. In 2019, there was a lot of first-round buzz surrounding Oklahoma center Creed Humphrey, yet he decided to return to school for his senior year. Then, we saw his draft stock fall during the season, yet it has come back up a bit in recent weeks, as evidenced by him cracking the top-50 in Dane Brugler’s latest rankings. Do you think Creed Humphrey made the wrong decision (and potentially lose money) by returning to school?

5. One of the fascinating things about not only this iOL class, but this OL class in general, is the amount of position versatility and varied projections when it comes to several prospects. Three prospects we discussed on the last show: Alabama’s Alex Leatherwood, Oklahoma State’s Teven Jenkins, and Michigan’s Jalen Mayfield, are seen as better fits at guard by several. How do you like the chances of each of those guys to succeed at guard if need be?

6. Buy or Sell

-Wyatt Davis: Buy 

-Deonte Brown: Sell

-Jackson Carman: Buy

-Trey Smith: Sell

-Ben Cleveland: Sell

-Aaron Banks: Buy

-Josh Myers: Buy

-Kendrick Green: Buy

-Michael Menet: Sell

7.  Best Team Fits

-Alijah Vera-Tucker: Vikings, Chargers

-Landon Dickerson: Dolphins

-Quinn Meinerz: Titans

-Creed Humphrey: Dolphins 

-Wyatt Davis: Vikings, Lions

-Deonte Brown: Bengals

-Jackson Carman: Packers

-Trey Smith: Seahawks

-Ben Cleveland: Cowboys

-Aaron Banks: 49ers

-Josh Myers: Steelers

-Kendrick Green: Buccaneers, Bengals

-Michael Menet: 

1. Before we get to this OT class, let’s discuss the earthquake that shook the NFL a few days ago. And that earthquake was a blockbuster trade in which the Dolphins traded the #3 overall pick in the draft to the 49ers for the 12th overall pick (which Miami subsequently traded to the Eagles), first-round picks in 2022 and 2023 (the former of which the Dolphins also traded to Philly), and a third-round pick in 2022. It is clear that Kyle Shanahan wants his long-term answer at QB, especially one on a rookie deal that will extend the Super Bowl window of this extremely talented 49ers roster. And it is all but certain that the first two picks in the draft will be Trevor Lawrence at #1 to the Jaguars and Zach Wilson at #2 to the Jets. This means that the 49ers will be choosing between Justin Fields and Trey Lance at #3. If you were Kyle Shanahan, which of those two QB’s would you select, and why?

2. Around this time last year, many people were saying that Penei Sewell would be the “can’t-miss” prospect in the 2021 class a la Chase Young in 2020. However, I’ve come across some that say that as freakishly talented as Sewell is, he is FAR from a sure thing and there were some rumors that have him falling outside the top-nine. What are your thoughts on Penei Sewell and why do you think some aren’t as high on him?

3.  The OT prospect some have ranked above Penei Sewell is Northwestern’s Rashawn Slater. He’s a freak athlete who did a PHENOMENAL job against Chase Young in 2019. Another big reason to be bullish on him is that he can play ANY of the five offensive line positions. Many believe Slater is a much better fit at guard given his lack of length. However, our friend Jordan Reid at The Draft Network believes Slater must be tried out at tackle first and only be moved to guard if he proves he can’t survive on the outside. Do you agree or disagree with Jordan’s assessment?

4. A prospect in a pretty similar predicament as Rashawn Slater is Alijah Vera-Tucker out of USC. Like Slater, many view Vera-Tucker as a relatively safe prospect. He put two outstanding years of film in both at guard and this past year, at tackle. Although the consensus is that he is a much better fit inside, do you think there’s a place for him at tackle in the NFL?

5. Another OT prospect that you are rather high on personally is Virginia Tech’s Christian Darrisaw. You went as far to say that he should be considered as an option for the Broncos at #9 overall. And there are several reasons why that should be the case. One is his experience (he started all 34 games he played in college) and the other is his scheme versatility. But as we all know, the tape is the most important part of the equation. What on Christian Darrisaw’s tape make him worthy of a top-15 pick in this draft?

6. Eleven years after Russell Okung was the sixth overall pick, Oklahoma State will likely have another OT go in round one, Teven Jenkins. While Jenkins is regarded by many as the best finisher in this OT class, some say his below-average athleticism might force him inside to guard. Where is the best home for Teven Jenkins in the NFL?

7. Buy Or Sell

-Jalen Mayfield: Sell at tackle

-Samuel Cosmi: Buy

-Dillon Radunz: Buy

-Liam Eichenberg: Buy (top-50)

-Alex Leatherwood: Buy (top-50)

-James Hudson: Buy in round 3-4

-Walker Little: Buy (mid-day 2)

-Spencer Brown: Buy (round 3)

1. Today was the Penn State Pro Day and the consensus #1 linebacker in this draft Micah Parsons blew the roof off the facility with his freakish athleticism, most notably his sub-4.4. 40. But as you know more than anyone else, the tape matters FAR more than a Pro Day for any prospect. Based on the tape alone, why is Parsons the best LB in this draft class? 

2. But as amazing as Parsons is on the field, he is, to put it mildly, a headache off the field. As my friend Erick Trickel of MileHighHuddle.com noted earlier today, Reuben Foster was considered a top-10 prospect in 2017, and character concerns nearly caused him to fall out of the first round altogether…and the red flags on Parsons are even worse. How far do you see Parsons falling?

3.  An increasing trend in the NFL these days is that of the so-called “position-less” defender. Last year, we had Isaiah Simmons, who was listed as a linebacker, even though he could also be a safety, part-time EDGE, ad boundary corner. This year, Notre Dame’s Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is another such prospect. He may be universally listed as a linebacker, but many, including you, don’t see him that way. What is his best role in the NFL and how high will he get drafted because of his versatility?

4. Another outstanding LB prospect in this class is Zaven Collins out of Tulsa. He may be 260 pounds, but he moves around MUCH quicker for someone his size, is scheme versatile, and is the ultimate playmaker as he recorded four interceptions, two TD’s, one safety and one forced fumble this year alone. Would you be surprised if he ended up as the best linebacker from this class in the long run?

5. The University of Kentucky has sent two solid ‘backers to the NFL in recent years, Wesley Woodyard and Danny Trevathan. And this year, Jamin Davis hopes to add to that lineage. Davis has astronomically risen up draft boards throughout this process. 2020 was his only year as a starter, yet he absolutely broke out, totaling 102 tackles, four TFL’s, 1.5 sacks, 3 INT’s (one for a TD, the other that set up the game-clinching TD for the Wildcats in the Gator Bowl). How does Davis compare to Woodyard and Trevathan as prospects, and do you think he’ll be an even better pro than both?

6. Another prospect that has shot up draft boards due to a breakout 2020 campaign is LSU’s Jabril Cox. Cox spent the first three years of his college career at North Dakota State before transferring to LSU this past year, and he did very well down in Baton Rouge, posting 58 tackles, 6.5 TFL, five pass breakups, and three interceptions (one of which was returned for a score). The main issue with him according to Dane Brugler, is his run defense, but do you think his abilities in coverage make him warrant a higher selection given that the NFL is the ultimate pass-happy league now?

7. Buy Or Sell

-Nick Bolton: Buy

-Baron Browning: Buy on late Day 2/3, but not early

-Chazz Surratt: Buy

-Cameron McGrone: Buy Day 3

-Dylan Moses: Sell

-Pete Werner: Buy

-Garret Wallow: Buy

8. Best Team Fits:

-Micah Parsons: Cowboys, Washington, Dolphins

  -Zaven Collins: Vikings

-Jamin Davis: Cardinals, Bucs

-Jabril Cox: Steelers 

-Nick Bolton: Patriots, Dolphins, Titans

-Pete Werner: Giants, Packers

-Chazz Surratt: Chargers

-Garret Wallow: Seahawks, Lions

1. This has been a rather rough week for one of the top CB prospects in this draft class, Virginia Tech’s Caleb Farley. This week, his draft stock may have taken a hit as he underwent a microdisectomy procedure on his back on Tuesday. This is the second back operation he’s had in 15 months (he underwent surgery due to a pinched nerve in his back in December 2019). Many analysts had him as the top corner on their boards prior to this latest news. Even though you weren’t one of those analysts, why do you think so many regarded him that way and still do? Assuming he’ll be ready for training camp, is he still worth a top 15-20 pick in your eyes or should his worrisome history of back problems make him fall further down the board in your opinion?

2. The top corner on your board at the moment is the guy who many had running neck-and-neck with Caleb Farley as the top-rated corner in this draft prior to these latest developments, and that is Alabama’s Patrick Surtain II. The son of All Pro CB Patrick Surtain, Sr., Surtain II was arguably THE cornerstone to the 2020 National Championship Crimson Tide’s defense. Moreover, Alabama’s associate DC Charles Kelly compared the younger Surtain to Jalen Ramsey, whom Kelly also coached in college. Do you think Patrick Surtain II can eventually reach the current level of Jalen Ramsey, who is arguably the best corner in the NFL right now?

3.  As rough as a week as it was for Caleb Farley, this was a fantastic week for South Carolina’s Jaycee Horn. The son of long-time Saints WR Joe Horn, Jaycee absolutely tore it up at the South Carolina Pro Day yesterday, posting strikingly similar numbers to Patrick Surtain II. Does the tantalizing upside Horn offers make him worth a top-15 pick in your view, and would it surprise you if he eventually turns out to be the best corner from this class?

4. A corner that is likely shooting up draft boards at the moment is Eric Stokes of Georgia. Stokes may have the best ball skills of any corner in this class (he totaled four interceptions this year, and only allowed a 38.5 percent completion rate when targeted), and he displayed some freakishly athletic traits at the Georgia Pro Day (ran a 4.31 in the 40, and posted a 38.5” vertical). However, he also posted some very concerning numbers in the agility drills (a 6.96 three-cone time, which puts him in the 7thpercentile, and a 4.36 20-yard shuttle time, which puts him in the 9thpercentile). Are those times enough to push him out of the first round entirely in your view?

5. This year’s safety crop is rather poor, but it has a consensus name at the top of the list in TCU’s Trevon Moehrig. What makes him the best safety in this class?

6. A safety that has seen a pretty meteoric rise up draft boards since he stole the show at the Senior Bowl is Richie Grant of UCF. There is buzz around the league that he could end up as a top-50 pick. Do you think that’s mainly because of the poor depth of this safety class or does his talent warrant such value? If this draft had a more typical group of safeties, where would he go?

7. Buy Or Sell

-Greg Newsome (Northwestern): Buy

-Elijah Molden (Washington): Buy

-Kelvin Joseph (Kentucky): Sell

-Tyson Campbell (Georgia): Buy as a sub-package player (early day three)

-Asante Samuel, Jr. (Florida State): Buy

-Jamar Johnson (Indiana): Sell

-Jevon Holland (Oregon): Buy

-Hamsah Nasrildeen (Florida State): Buy

8. Best Team Fits

-Caleb Farley: Cowboys, Lions

-Patrick Surtain II: Patriots, 49ers

-Jaycee Horn: Vikings, Chiefs

-Eric Stokes: Seahawks, Jets, 49ers

-Greg Newsome: Broncos

-Asante Samuel, Jr.: Colts

-Elijah Molden: Any zone-heavy team (Chargers, Broncos, Seahawks, Jets, 49ers)

-Trevon Moehrig: Falcons

-Richie Grant: Cardinals, Giants

-Jevon Holland: Lions

1. Not only the best pass-catcher in this draft, but arguably the best prospect period, is Florida TE Kyle Pitts. Daniel Jeremiah suggested that Pitts would be the overwhelming choice of folks around the NFL if they had to vote on which 2021 prospect is most likely to don a gold jacket. What makes Kyle Pitts so special and why is he worth a top-five pick despite playing a position that is less valued?

2. The WR class was arguably the centerpiece of the entire 2020 draft. Many, if not most, were pegging it as a generational crop. But some believe this year’s WR class could be even better. Do you share that belief, and if so, why?

3. The top WR on your board at the moment is the 2020 Heisman Trophy winner himself, Alabama’s Devonta Smith. And I can personally understand why you would have him there since it can be argued he is the best route runner and has the best hands of the bunch. However, some say he isn’t somebody who can absolutely dominate at the pro level and as he said himself today, he only weighs 170 pounds. And if you wanted to find the last WR standing over six-feet tall and weighing less than 180 pounds that was drafted into the NFL, you would have to go all the way back to 2001 when Marvin “Snoop” Minnis was taken by the Chiefs in the third round (that nugget courtesy of our friend Jordan Reid at The Draft Network). What is your message to all those who doubt Smith can make a generational impact in the NFL because of his lack of size and freakish athleticism?

4. As the Kansas City Chiefs have shown the league in recent years, speed is an absolute necessity in modern day NFL receiving group. And the best speed receiver in this year’s draft is Devonta Smith’s teammate Jaylen Waddle. Last year, another speedy wideout from Alabama, Henry Ruggs, was the first WR to go off the board. Buzz around the league suggests that scouts and GM’s are higher on Waddle than they were on Ruggs. Why do you think that’s the case and would you be surprised if Waddle is the first receiver off the board?

5. LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase is considered to be the best WR prospect in this class by many, including Dane Brugler and Daniel Jeremiah. He was obviously Joe Burrow’s go-to guy during LSU’s national title run in 2019, hauling in 20 TD’s in the process. But above all, it’s his yards after the catch ability and ball skills that make him the ideal prototype for today’s “X” receiver. What are the weaknesses in Ja’Marr Chase’s game that prevent you from ranking him number one on your board?

6. After the big three of Smith, Waddle and Chase, there’s a logjam of guys with diverse skill-sets. You have gadget-types like Kadarius Toney of Florida, Allen Robinson/Courtland Sutton-type talents like Terrace Marshall, Jr. of LSU and Rashod Bateman of Minnesota. If you were a GM of a team that had a bare cupboard at WR and had to choose between those three prospects while you were on the clock, who would you choose and why?

7. The distant second-fiddler to Kyle Pitts in this year’s TE class is, according to many, Penn State’s Pat Freiermuth. What makes Freiermuth a good consolation prize for a TE-needy team picking in the top 50 that has no shot at Pitts?

8. Best Team Fits

-Kyle Pitts: Bengals

-Devonta Smith: Dolphins

-Jaylen Waddle: Lions, Giants

-Ja’Marr Chase: Eagles, Lions

-Kadarius Toney: Packers

-Terrace Marshall, Jr.: Ravens

-Rashod Bateman: Patriots

-Elijah Moore: Bears

-Rondale Moore: Bengals

-Dyami Brown: Vikings

-Pat Freiermuth: Jaguars

-Brevin Jordan: Panthers

-Tre McKitty: Chiefs

1.   The Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers have made it clearer than ever that they are hell bent on running it back and repeating. Last week, we saw Chris Godwin receive the franchise tag, Lavonte David sign a 2-year extension and Tom Brady agree to an extension via restructure that cleared $19 million in cap space. And yesterday, minutes after the legal tampering period began, star pass rusher Shaq Barrett re-signed with the team on a four-year deal worth up to $72 million. Just hours later, Gronk re-signed on a one-year deal and the Bucs currently are deep in talks to retain Antonio Brown, Ryan Succop, Ndamukong Suh and Leonard Fournette. At the moment, how do you feel about Tampa’s odds of making it back to the Super Bowl and who do you think is the greatest threat to them in the NFC?

2.   Arguably the biggest headliner of free agency so far is Tom Brady’s former team, the New England Patriots. As of this morning, according to Adam Schefter, the Patriots have doled out a WHOPPING $137.5 million in guaranteed money, which is the second most in NFL history. Most notably, a bulk of those guarantees went to TE’s Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry, WR’s Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne, and pass rusher Matt Judon. Based on these moves, do you think the Patriots have a team that can win the AFC East, or at least make the playoffs as a wild card in 2021? Should the Patriots be eyeing a move up the board on draft night for either Justin Fields or Trey Lance?

3.   In response to the shellacking they experienced in Super Bowl LV, particularly up front, the Chiefs made the biggest OL move in free agency so far by signing former Patritos All Pro G Joe Thuney to a market-setting five-year, $80 million deal. Last week, they released both of their starting tackles, Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz, but the club is very high on last year’s third-round pick Lucas Niang, who had a STELLAR performance against Chase Young in college. For now, looking at the Chiefs potential starting OL for Week 1 of the 2021 season, you’ve got Niang at LT, Thuney and Duvernay-Tardif at G, Austin Reiter at center and a rookie RT who they will likely draft early. While this group may be a downgrade from their 2020 Week 1 starting offensive line, do you think it could eventually represent a dramatic upgrade from the OL MASH unit they trotted out in the Super Bowl?

4.  Last week, Texans head coach David Culley told Jim Trotter of NFL Network that Deshaun Watson was their QB “right now”, and those two words convinced Trotter and many, including myself, that the Texans will inevitably end up trading him. And today, the Texans signed Tyrod Taylor to a one-year deal that can be worth up to $12.5 million based on playing time and incentives. This shows you the Texans are at LEAST bracing for a LONG holdout from Deshaun Watson. But should they eventually realize a trade is in their best interest, should they make a deal before the draft or in late August before the regular season?

1.  We are approaching the one-year anniversary of the NFLPA’s ratification of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement. It was ratified by a very slim majority thanks in part due to COVID-19. I was STRONGLY opposed to it personally because I don’t think the players got nearly enough in return for the 17th regular season game. How did most of your clients view it then, and how do you view it now? 

2. Due to the pandemic-related drop in the salary cap, this free agency period promises to be unlike any other. Outside of a few couple dozen big name free agents, we could see the VAST majority of players on the open market settle for one or two-year deals. If you had to make a guess, what percentage of free agents will sign one-year or two-year deals and how many game-changing market setting deals will we see?

3.  As many NFL fans sadly don’t know, such news headlines that say “Player X signs a five-year, $120 million contract,” are blatantly misleading. The way NFL contracts are constructed, the overall length and total value of a deal aren’t a given. The only main givens are the signing bonus, the amount of money fully guaranteed at signing, and the cash flow in the first three years. If you had a client who made multiple Pro Bowls and the team’s final offer set the market in the latter three metrics, but not the former two, would you be inclined to accept such an offer? 

4.  We are 50 days away from the 2020 NFL Draft. Have any prospects signed up with you or your agency, and if so, whom?

5. If the Texans do not trade Deshaun Watson by late August and remain dug in, would you advise Watson to be willing to sit out the entire 2021 season if you were his agent?

6.   What was the most grueling contract negotiation you went through in order to get the best possible deal for your client?

1. When you look at this EDGE class, there are no sure-fire top-10 picks, yet it is ripe with sky-high potential. Two current budding EDGE stars (Brian Burns and Montez Sweat) were selected outside the top-10 in the 2019 draft (Burns at 16 overall, Sweat at 26 overall). Do you anticipate a similar eventual outcome from this year’s class?

2. The top EDGE on your board at the moment is Gregory Rousseau of Miami. What makes him such an interesting evaluation is that he only has a four-month sample of college tape since he got hurt after a few snaps in 2018 (his freshman year) and opted out due to COVID-19 this past year. But that four-month sample in 2019 is staggering as he posted 15.5 sacks and earned ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. What makes him the top EDGE on your board right now? How much of a fall down the board, if any, will he experience given his relatively minute sample of game tape?

3. You have two other EDGE prospects ranked just slightly behind Rousseau in Michigan’s Kwity Paye and Georgia’s Azeez Ojulari. Both are super-freakish athletic specimens, yet some top analysts believe Paye’s film was underwhelming and that Ojulari needs to add a lot of moves to his rush. If you were a GM and your team ran a defensive scheme that was equally accommodating to the skillsets of both players, which one would you select and why?

4. Penn State’s Jayson Oweh is another intriguing EDGE prospect. While he only posted five sacks in his two seasons at Happy Valley, he possesses as much mouth-watering traits as the prospects we mentioned so far. Would you be surprised if he ended up as the best EDGE in this class?

5. This defensive line class (specifically defensive tackle) is not a good one this year. The top DT prospect on most analyst boards is Christian Barmore from Alabama. Given the poor depth of the group, is Barmore worth a top-20, if not a top-15 pick in your view?

6. The next two DT’s behind Barmore on most analyst boards are Washington’s Levi Onwuzurike and Iowa’s Daviyon Nixon. What do you like/dislike about their games and are any of them worth a late-first round pick?

7. Who are some of your late day 2/day 3 sleepers?

8. Best Team Fits:

-Gregory Rousseau: Vikings, Colts

-Kwity Paye: Giants

-Azeez Ojulari: Titans

-Jayson Oweh: Dolphins

-Jaelan Phillips: Buccaneers

-Joseph Ossai: Cardinals

-Ronnie Perkins: Rams

-Joe Tryon: Bills, Chiefs

-Christian Barmore: Raiders

-Levi Onwuzurike: Cowboys

-Daviyon Nixon: Buccaneers

1. I am as guilty as charged for carelessly saying “this guy is the best QB prospect since Andrew Luck” in the past, which I’m not qualified to do so given my porous film-evaluation skills. However, to say that about Trevor Lawrence may not be hyperbole. What makes Trevor Lawrence such a special, generational prospect? Do you like his fit with Urban Meyer and the Jaguars?

2. Almost every year, a QB begins the season as a borderline Day 2/Day 3 selection and eventually skyrockets into the top-five. This year, that prospect is BYU’s Zach Wilson, who many expect to be selected by the New York Jets with the #2 overall pick provided they decide to trade Sam Darnold. Conventional wisdom has it that Wilson is a natural fit for the Shanahan-esque system that new Jets OC Mike LaFleur will be running, but Benjamin Solak strongly disputed that notion in a recent column for The Draft Network. Do you side with Solak or the CW?

3.  In terms of draft stock, if there’s a QB that is somewhat of an opposite to Zach Wilson, it’s Justin Fields. Fields entered the year as the near-unanimous choice as the 2nd-best QB prospect in this class. But some serious trouble spots in his game were exposed this season, most notably his struggles when his initial target is taken away. And Tony Pauline (Pro Football Network) reported that he is falling down draft boards. What would be the best possible situation for Fields to be in as a rookie?

4. It’s hard to believe, but it is pretty likely that for the second time in six years, a North Dakota State QB will be selected in the first round. Although there is concern about Trey Lance’s relatively thin resume (he only started 17 games, including only one in the past 414 days per Peter King), people have praised his poise and decision-making. Why do you think some clubs may have Lance ahead of Justin Fields?

5. Another QB garnering first-round discussion is Alabama’s Mac Jones. Jones, however, is a “throwback” pocket passer that many believe is going the way of the dodo. Your colleague Doug Farrar wrote a column that essentially said for that reason alone, he shouldn’t be a first-round pick. But given the high demand and relative lack of supply at QB, Jones may go earlier than many think. When is the earliest point in the draft that you would take a chance on him?

6. What QB that is expected to be selected late Day 2 or some time Day 3 is the most likely to outperform his draft value?

7. QB Carousel Fits

-Wilson: Panthers

-Lance: 49ers

-Jones: Patriots, Washington, Broncos

-Fields: Falcons

                -Stafford: Rams

-Goff: Lions

-Wentz: Colts

-Darnold: Washington

-Wilson: Bears

-Watson: Dolphins, 49ers