Across The Field
Oaky Afterbirth
You also saw a late 3rd rounder win the SB by beating an UDFA QB in the NFC Title game. Again, picking a QB at #1 means nothing for job security if he's not the right guy. If he sucks, jobs will be lost within a couple years regardless. Taking the BPA is what wins Super Bowls. If the BPA is indeed a QB, you take him. If you don't see any of the QBs available as being worthy of the #1 overall pick (very fair this year), you take the BPA.If the Browns don't draft a QB in the first, they'll (still) be a laughing stock...
The rest of that top 10? Includes 3 #1s, a #2 and a #3, among others. Brees was picked 32nd. Brady is the ultimate exception. Both Brees and Wilson fell in the draft due to their height (obviously not as much of a problem now, with Baker likely an early 1st rounder). Cousins is the lone true outlier IMO of those 10 (and I liked him in that draft).
We've seen the consequences of taking a non-elite QB prospect at an elite draft slot time and time again in recent years. Look what it did to Jacksonville, Oakland, Tennessee, Minnesota, Miami, the Rams, etc. When there are elite prospects available that can help you win now, you take them IMO. Drafting a QB at #1 if you don't truly think you can turn them into an elite QB is just stupid. 4 of the last 5 Super Bowl champs won with no better than 3rd rounders, and the one first rounder that won was the shell of Peyton Manning, who looked like shit and was carried by his elite supporting cast.