Draft week
OK, we're stoked. Stoked.
Draft week is here. (Side note: Press Row will be loaded with some bona fide draft experts this week. Pull up a chair weekdays from 3-6 on ESPN 105.1 the Zone.)
We love the draft. You know this.
Monday we shared the five first-round prospects we like the best, regardless of position.
Today, we'll share five beliefs that we think that everyone else may or may not have.
1. We'd take Lamar Jackson over either of the Joshs among the first-round quarterbacks. Seriously. Remember all the time when the shotgun and read-option looks started to become more and more a part of the NFL playbook and we wondered what Mike Vick could have been in these systems. Lamar Jackson is Mike Vick, and actually has a more accurate arm and has spent three years working under an offensive savant.
2. We think Saquon Barkley is a great running back prospect, but the simple math makes him a bad value at No. 2. Know this, the No. 2 pick will average $8 million per year guaranteed over the next four seasons. That would make Barkley the fourth-highest paid running back in the NFL and that's a lofty spot compared to getting a quarterback - or trading the No. 2 to someone who wants a quarterback - for $8 million per.
3. The over/under on first round QBs should be 5.5, and we'd lean toward the over. The big four, Lamar, and at least one more as a team moves into the latter part of round one to draft a quarterback and get that extra year on a team-friendly contract.
4. The Colts are poised to win this draft. If Andrew Luck is ready to return, the Colts moved down three spots and got picks 37 and 49 (as well as a 2019 second-rounder). The Colts have three monster needs, and they fit the three best players on everyone's draft board - Quinton Nelson, Bradley Chubb and Barkley. If Barkley is on the board at 6 - and again, this is only out there if Luck is ready to return - then the contract is way better in terms of running back affordability. (The Jets took Jamal Adams with last year's No. 6 pick and his contract averaged $5.5 million over four years with a team option for year five.)
5. The talk of college spread offenses and the fallout on quarterbacks is a common refrain. But this year the effects of the transition will be felt more at tackle and wide receiver, two big priority positions in today's game.
Oklahoma fifth-year senior quarterback Baker Mayfield has completed 71 percent of his passes and has 41 aerial touchdowns and only five interceptions entering this afternoon's Rose Bowl against Georgia.More draft
Adam Scheffer on the ESPN family of networks said this morning that Baker Mayfield as the No. 1 overall pick is a definitely possibility.
Oh my. Is it smokescreen? Is it real? Is it some of each.
With that, here's our latest version of the mock top 10.
Cleveland: Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma. Does anyone have better sources than Schefty?
Buffalo (trade with the Giants): Sam Darnold, USC. Buffalo has two first-rounders this year and a lot of draft capital.
New York Jets: Josh Rosen, UCLA. I prefer Lamar Jackson, but Rosen has some fans too.
Cleveland: Bradley Chubb, N.C. State. Yes, Barkley could be tempting here, but in a league that covets pass-rushers, a bookend tandem of Chubb and Myles Garrett could be special.
Denver: Josh Allen, Wyoming. Hate this pick, but understand the need of a quarterback of the future there. Again, wonder if Elway has the lugnuts to pull the trigger on Jackson here?
Indianapolis: Saquon Barkley, Penn State. The way this falls, the Colts get three extra second-rounders as well as the highest-ranked player on almost everyone's board. Mel Kiper may wet himself if this is how it plays out.
Tampa Bay. Derwin James, Florida State. As Barkley falls, the Bucs may get an itchy trigger finger and look to move up. Still James is an elite athlete and difference maker.
Chicago. Quinton Nelson, Notre Dame. If Nelson falls to here, the Bears will sprint to the podium.
San Francisco. Roquan Smith, Georgia. While the 49ers would love to have James and could be tempted by Minkah Fitzpatrick, the Alabama defensive back. But Smith is a monster, every-down middle linebacker, and with Reuben Foster's unknown future, this makes a lot of sense. (And will make a lot of Johnny Raiders Fans angry.)
Oakland. Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama. The Raiders need secondary help and Fitzpatrick has the look a 10-time Pro Bowler.
Thoughts?
Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) drives around Oklahoma City Thunder forward Corey Brewer (3) in the first half during Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Monday, April 23, 2018, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)Playoff intensity
It's fairly understandable that the players have a lot invested in these playoffs.
For a lot of teams - OKC, Portland, Washington, Toronto to name but four - first-round playoff setbacks likely will mean an offseason of much change.
(Side note: If the Thunder get bounced by Utah - and the Jazz now lead that series 3-1 - it's hard to see how Billy Donovan survives it. And it will continue to add fuel to the question of whether superstar Russell Westbrook has the skill set to be the best player on a championship team.)
And that's understandable because there is no place worse in the NBA than being on the first-round-and-out treadmill.
With that in mind, the chippiness of last night's Jazz win over the Thunder makes sense. (Side note, II: The heat on Donovan is warranted considering the Thunder had a grand total of 10 assists last night and are a game away from elimination to a Utah team that has a roster with no career All-Star appearances.)
And that spotlight will be intensified tonight as the Bucks-Cletics series, which is tied at 2, gets back in action.
Good times.
Here's a series update of the series with the schedule:
Milwaukee at Boston. Series tied at 2, Game 5 tonight at 7 on NBA TV.
Miami at Philadelphia. 76ers lead 3-1. Game 5 tonight on TNT.
San Antonio at Golden State. Warriors lead 3-1, Game 5 tonight at 10:30 on TNT.
Washington at Toronto. Series tied at 2, Game 5 Wednesday at 7 on NBA TV.
Indiana at Cleveland. Series tied at 2, Game 5 Wednesday at 7 on TNT.
Minnesota at Houston. Rockets lead 3-1, Game 5 Wednesday at 9:30 on TNT.
Utah at Oklahoma City. Jazz lead 3-1, Game 5 Wednesday at 9:30 on NBA TV.
New Orleans swept Portland 4-0.
This and that
- Wow, there are some dumb people out there, for sure, and there also are people who make really dumb mistakes. Here's a test case: In today's teenage society, apparently it matters how you ask people to the prom. It's even called a 'Promposal,' so there's that. Well, this kid in Florida has the worst-worded sign since the invention of signs. Here it goes: "If I was black I'd be picking cotton, but I'm white so I'm picking U 4 Prom?" Discuss.
- And while we're in the race realm, here's the story of five female golfers who had the cops called on them because the club owner says they were playing too slow. Man, we knew pace of play was an issue, but apparently it's become a crime epidemic.
- The Dodgers called up Walker Buehler and the kid looked the part. Five solid innings, no runs allowed and more than a half-dozen pitches that hit 98-mph or better, including a couple that reached triple digits.
- Been a rough week for Jalen Hurts. Dreadful spring game. Last week's story with his dad talking about free agency. Now, he was almost hit by a foul ball at an Alabama softball game.
- Gronkowski, the horse named for Rob Gronkowski, will miss the Kentucky Derby.
- Julio Jones scrubbed his Instagram account of all Falcons references.
Today's questions
Happy Tuesday, true or false.
It was 14 years ago today that the 2004 first round of the draft delivered three legitimate franchise quarterbacks in first 11 picks. True or false, Philip Rivers, Eli Manning and Big Ben Roethlisberger are all Hall of Famers.
True or false, Lamar Jackson will have a better NFL career than Josh Allen.
True or false, the chippiness of these NBA playoffs are good for the game.
As for this day, well, in 1184 BC, the Greeks entered Troy using the famous Trojan Horse.
In 1704, the first U.S. newspaper - the Boston News-Letter - is formed. Wonder if some of the folks back then complained about bias?
Today is National Pigs-in-a-blanket day. We say Pigs-in-a-blanket are a definite friend.
What makes the Rushmore of appetizers?
Go.