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So... who are you going to draft.. like.. ever?

Browns maybe eyeing Mariota; possible trade partner with Redskins?

http://www.csnwashington.com/redskinsblo...&ocid=yahoo

February 10, 2015, 1:00 pm

By Rich Tandler

Do the Redskins have a potential trade partner for the No. 5 pick in the upcoming NFL draft? They just might if the Cleveland Browns’ purported interest in Marcus Mariota turns into action.

Here’s the setup. Albert Breer of the NFL Network tweeted today that Browns GM Ray Farmer “has shown a liking” for Mariota, the Heisman Trophy winner who is one of the top two QB prospects in the draft.

But the connection goes deeper than that. The Browns have hired Kevin O’Connell to be their quarterbacks coach. He landed that job while working with Mariota during the Oregon product’s pre-combine training. He is finished up that work before he signs his contract to join the Browns staff.

You don’t need a very sharp pencil to connect those dots.

The Browns, however, aren’t currently in a position to draft Mariota. Their first pick is 12th overall and Mariota is highly unlikely to make it out of the top 10. But the Browns also hold the 19th pick and I’ll bet that if the phone rings in Ashburn with a Berea, Ohio area code on the caller ID, Scot McCloughan will answer it very quickly.

If you go by the draft trade chart the Browns would be overpaying by giving up No. 12 (1,200 points) and 19 (875) to move up to the Redskins five hole spot (1,700). Maybe Cleveland would pay a premium for the spot if there is competition for it. Or perhaps some other picks could be swapped to even things out. In any case, if the two parties are motivated there is a deal that could be done.

To tap the brakes on this a bit, consider that the Browns did take a quarterback in the first round last year, Johnny Manziel. And they did the same three years ago. But Brandon Weeden, that 2012 pick, is already backing up Tony Romo in Dallas and Manziel, well, you know the story there. And, hate to say it, but these are the Browns we're talking about. They go about things in their own, sometimes strange way.

We have a ways to go before things really start to percolate and it's unlikely that the trigger would be pulled before the Redskins are on the clock on the evening of April 30, the first day of the draft. But this is something to keep an eye on.




(end)

Teddy Bridgewater.

Oh wait.....we passed on him.

It still hurts my heart, bro.

For Mariotta's sake, he better hope the Titans or Buccaneers draft him.

I for one am still not sold on Teddy. However, right now, he is 100x better than anything we got...

'A bunch of NFL teams that need a quarterback this year are screwed'

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/bunch-nfl-teams-quarterback-screwed-145635198.html

Business Insider
By Tony Manfred
17 hours ago

Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images Mark Sanchez is one of the better available free agents. NFL teams looking to acquire a starting quarterback this offseason might have to get creative.
The free-agency market is as thin and the quarterback crop in the 2015 NFL Draft is as shallow as they have been in years.

NFL Network draft expert Mike Mayock on Thursday night called the quarterback position "one of the weakest in the 2015 NFL Draft." Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota are the only quarterbacks with first-round
grades, and neither is considered a can't-miss prospect.

Winston has seen his stock rise over the past few weeks, to the point in which he is now the consensus No. 1 pick. But Winston's off-field issues are still a serious concern, and Mayock compared his
turnover-prone playing style to that of Jay Cutler, saying, "He has no conscience whatsoever. He'll let it rip."

Even assuming Winston and Mariota pan out, there are simply not enough well-regarded quarterbacks (either free agents or college prospects) to fill all the open positions in the NFL.

Here are the teams that most need a quarterback this offseason:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers, No. 1 pick (current starter: Mike Glennon)
Tennessee Titans, No. 2 pick (current starter: Zach Mettenberger)
New York Jets, No. 6 pick (current starter: Geno Smith)
Cleveland Browns, No. 12 pick (current starter: Johnny Manziel?)
Houston Texans, No. 16 pick (current starter: Case Keenum)
Buffalo Bills, no first-round pick (current starter: EJ Manuel)
The Rams and the Redskins could very well be on that list as well.

That is at least six teams in desperate need of a quarterback. Once Mariota and Winston are off the board, the remaining teams will have to either take a flyer on a less-renowned prospect or sign a free agent.
The latter option isn't exactly intriguing when you look at the free agents available:

Josh McCown
Brian Hoyer
Ryan Mallett
Mark Sanchez
Colt McCoy
Jake Locker
Shaun Hill
All of those guys saw significant playing time in 2014. None of them had above-average years. McCown, whom the Buccaneers cut after signing him a year ago, is probably the best free agent.

It's a bad year to need a quarterback.



(end)



P.S.

Top Yahoo comment:

Tom 17 hours ago 4 65

To win a Super Bowl you need either: 1) An elite, once in a generation franchise qb (Rodgers, Manning, Brady, Brees etc) or 2) A legendary defense with a smart QB who makes good decisions in the clutch and has
support from his run game. If you can't get #1 then you do everything possible to build up #2 while you wait for a franchise QB to pop up someday. What you DON'T do is burn a first round pick on a "maybe"
and end up like the Browns every year.

------------------------------------------

-Hey! Was that last line even necessary? I mean I just woke up!

How is going to one of the two least talented teams in the league good for him?

He's not going to sit his rookie year like he should..

For his sake I hope something goes terribly wrong, and he falls in the draft and gets picked by New Orleans and gets to sit behind Drew Brees for 2-3 years..

What I find comical is how the media flip flops their agenda. First, they sale everyone that the QB is THE most important position and it is a must. Last several drafts draft-experts stated Browns must draft E.J. Manual, RG iii, Weeden, and Ponder. Second, now they are flipping stating you don't draft QBs if a good one is not available.

On this board and the other, fans stated you draft a QB every year until you get your guy. After hearing fans argue this point, I was slowly thinking this was valid, and my thoughts how a team should be built was a bit old school. Now we seen these past few drafts how over valuing a player/position has cost several teams.

What is even more alarming, in my opinion, these draft experts are now feeding us fans another sack of goods that building other parts outside the QB position is acceptable. No one questions their intelligence.

What is it the QB is the most important piece and you can't win without? Or, you can build other pieces and still have a winner?

Meanwhile teams like New England, Seattle, Baltimore, and Pittsburgh smile and continue doing their thing making the playoffs every year. I bet we can make a college drinking game out of how many times we hear each of this teams ran their course to old and its time for the rebuilding process to begin. You can say these teams got the QB and can do so. I say these QB were developed within a system and evolved.

'How college spread offenses are making it tougher to evaluate quarterbacks for the NFL draft'

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2015/02/how_college_spread_offenses_ar.html

By Tom Reed, Northeast Ohio Media Group on February 13, 2015 at 3:59 PM, updated February 14, 2015 at 8:17 AM

MOBILE, Alabama - As Browns general manager Ray Farmer and other NFL personnel watched from the stands, Bryce Petty struggled with the most elemental exchange in football.

The Baylor senior had difficulty taking snaps under center during the first day of Senior Bowl practice last month. He fumbled one or two and bobbled several others. His footwork appeared sloppy as he began to backpedal and look downfield for receivers.

Fifteen years ago, such a scene would have produced alarm, especially involving a prolific passer projected to be among the top five quarterbacks selected in NFL Draft 2015.

In the age of spread offenses, however, talent evaluators are accustomed to such awkward moments at the Senior Bowl.

Petty is like a growing number of young quarterbacks who have spent their entire high school and college careers running wide-open offenses. They are used to making one-read throws, not huddling, taking only three-step drops and working exclusively out of the shotgun. In some cases, their only snaps under center were in "victory formation," where they are running out the clock at the end of the game.

It makes for a tough transition to a pro offense and an even tougher projection for teams like the Browns in need of a quarterback.

"It's two different games," said Senior Bowl executive director and former Browns general manager Phil Savage regarding college and pro football.

"I do (radio for the University of) Alabama on Saturday and then I'll go to an NFL game on Sunday or watch one on TV, and it's two completely different football games that just happened to be played with the same ball."

Finding the right passer in the draft always has been a bit of a crapshoot. Just ask the Browns, who have rolled snake eyes more than almost any franchise since 1999. The influx of spread offenses like the one Johnny Manziel ran at Texas A&M is making evaluations even trickier.

Is the quarterback's success a product of his skills or the college coach's system? That's one of the biggest questions being asked regarding Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota, who some believe the Browns covet and would be willing to trade up for in the draft.

While not speaking specifically about the Oregon standout, Farmer acknowledged the challenges of reprogramming quarterbacks in the spread era.

"You talk about projections, that's what the draft is," he said sitting in stands at Ladd-Peebles Stadium last month. "It's not an instant reward situation in a lot of cases. You might take a guy who you know his skill sets are A, B and C, but then you have to train him to do something completely different and that takes time."

That's not something many general managers and coaching staffs have in abundance. Owners and fan bases are impatient in a DraftKings.com society.

Perhaps it's coincidence, but the NFL's best young quarterbacks, Andrew Luck (Colts) and Russell Wilson (Seahawks), played in pro-style offenses in college. Same for Derek Carr (Raiders) and Teddy Bridgewater (Vikings), the top two rookie passers a year ago.

It doesn't mean Mariota, Petty and other spread quarterbacks won't enjoy productive NFL careers. The Niners' Colin Kaepernick and the Redskins' Robert Griffin III were dual-threat sensations in their first seasons as starters.

The level of complexity, however, is vastly different from Waco to Foxboro.

College coaches are trying to stress defenses while simplifying the job of their quarterbacks. It's why entire offensive units can be seen turning their heads to the sidelines to watch coaches signal in the next no-huddle play. That doesn't happen on Sundays.

While the spread helps result in many high-scoring, stats-stuffing games, it can become a detriment to quarterbacks wanting to play at the highest level, said CBS Sports draft analyst Dane Brugler. That's because their vision, processing skills and pocket awareness aren't being tested the way they will be in the NFL.

Browns fans witnessed Brandon Weeden struggle with these facets for two seasons before being released a year ago. Petty has been likened to Weeden, and is well aware some NFL talent evaluators look at Art Briles' system at Baylor with suspicion.

"From what I understand our offense isn't too high on the leaderboard in transitioning to the NFL," said Petty, who threw for 61 touchdowns and more 8,000 yards the past two years. "For me, it's an opportunity to prove that I belong, that I'm relevant, that I can make that transition and be good at it.

"What I've kind of said all week is that dropping back and reading coverages is not a different language for me . . . It might just be cursive instead of print."

Petty is one of several passers in this draft - Mariota and Florida State's Jameis Winston are among others - working with quarterback guru and Massillon product George Whitfield Jr. in hopes of easing the transition into the NFL.

They're practicing center exchanges, going through progressions, understanding receiver route trees, making protection calls and improving their footwork on five- and seven-step drops.

Petty is an eager student, one who says he's ready to bring a sleeping bag to whatever NFL team facility he calls home. He also acknowledges the learning curve ahead of him.

"The college game is changing and it's not getting more and more pro style, it's actually the opposite," Petty said. "I hope they are patient and understand my willingness to learn."

The next 'test case'

Manziel arrived at last year's NFL Scouting Combine with more red flags than an old May Day parade in Moscow.

Questions regarding his life-of-the-party persona, penchant for freelancing on the field and lack of size followed him from College Station, Texas.

The Browns chose Manziel anyway at No. 22 overall and he suffered through a disappointing rookie season. He couldn't beat out Brian Hoyer, looked unprepared for his two late-season starts and never resembled college football's most dynamic player. His offseason demons eventually landed him in rehab.

With Manziel seeking treatment and free-agent Hoyer in limbo, the Browns head to the combine next week uncertain who will be their quarterback in 2015. They possess two first-round picks (Nos. 12 and 19), and one option is trading up for Mariota. He and Winston, who played in a pro-style offense, are the best prospects in a weak quarterback draft class.

Mariota doesn't possess the off-field baggage of Manziel or, for that matter, Winston. Size also isn't an issue at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds. But Mariota is like Manziel in that he'll have to prove his game translates to the NFL.

"He will be another test case like Johnny was last year," Brugler said. "He processes the game as well as anyone and he's got the physical tools . . . He's been asked to make easier throws in college and hasn't shown he can make the tight-window throws yet."

Likened to Kaepernick for his size and mobility, Mariota has played in roughly the same spread offense since high school. He threw for 73 TDs and more than 8,000 yards in a Ducks offense that rarely required him to make more than one read before tucking the ball and running.

Despite completing 68.3 percent of his passes, questions about his accuracy persist. He threw mostly short passes and didn't need to make the type of throws from the pocket that will be required in the pros.

NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock likes Mariota's physical attributes and work ethic, but he told a Philadelphia radio station this week he has concerns about his pocket awareness, consistency and ability to work through progressions.

Mariota's legs can get him out of trouble - he rushed for 770 yards and 15 TDs last season - but NFL defenses often adjust to dual-threat quarterbacks. Both Kaepernick and Griffin have regressed with the latter losing his starter's job.

Bills general manager Doug Whaley concedes the position is getting tougher to evaluate as the spread offense becomes entrenched in the high school and even middle-school levels.

Brugler said scouts must rely heavily on what he calls "transcendent" attributes: size, arm strength, mobility and being able to make "NFL-type throws." Most college defenses don't play press coverage. Quarterbacks are taught to exploit mismatches - some are pre-determined reads -- and find soft spots in zone coverage.

Savage placed his hand on a visitor's shoulder to illustrate a point about the difference between college and NFL pass coverage.

"In college that is (a player who is) covered," he said. "And for three years you are going to be taught to get off that picture and find somebody else. In the pros, that same relationship is open."

Brugler sympathizes with the transition Mariota and Petty are making.

"You are asking these guys to change what they know at the highest level of football," he said. "It's almost unrealistic."

A 'developmental league'

The NFL is the only major pro sports league in North America without a minor-league system.

NFL executives have long considered college football the perfect feeder program and that's unlikely to change. Owners have little appetite for funding a development league.

But the rise of spread offenses and their impact on quarterbacks have some pondering the need for one.

Ohio State's Urban Meyer is in the business of winning football games, not grooming quarterbacks for the NFL. His national-champion Buckeyes did not take a snap under center during the regular season.

Meyer runs innovative offenses and develops excellent college quarterbacks, but his contribution to the pro game includes Tim Tebow and Alex Smith, a former No. 1 overall pick by the Niners who's had a middling NFL career.

Farmer believes a development league makes for an interesting debate and cites the benefits of the defunct NFL Europe. Whaley, who's watched the Bills' E.J. Manuel struggle in his first two season, is a D-League advocate.

"It would be invaluable because of the landscape of what we're dealing with," Whaley said. "With the success of Russell Wilson and Andrew Luck, if guys don't come in and take teams to the playoffs as rookies they're looked on as a failure. That's not the case. They just need time to develop. A lot of guys need two to three years."

Quarterback always has been an unforgiving position for young NFL players. Learning to shed spread tendencies and adapt to the pro game adds to the challenge.

So does the 2011 collective bargaining agreement, which reduced time that players can spend around coaches in the offseason. It also eliminated two-a-days, denying quarterbacks additional practice reps in training camp.

While the NFL continues to incorporate spread elements, it remains a drastically different game, one that demands a greater commitment level - as Manziel discovered.

Many top prospects now work with independent quarterback coaches before the draft. The Browns hired one of them, Kevin O'Connell, who's been training Mariota in San Diego since last month. Some NFL executives see it as a conflict of interest and believe the Browns are exploiting a loophole.

The club's new quarterback coach should provide valuable intel on Mariota, including whether he's a project who, as some contend, needs an entire year of work before being NFL ready.

The Jaguars intended to take a slow approach with rookie Blake Bortles last season, but he ended up starting 13 games and posting one of league's worst passer ratings (69.5).

"Coach (Gus) Bradley and our coaching staff know they have to develop our players," Jaguars general manager David Caldwell said. "The NFL is becoming a developmental league and that's an important part of it. You have to understand what you are getting and put these guys in a position to succeed."

Right after they master the quarterback-center exchange.



(end)

I do not understand using a first round pick on a quarterback that will not be ready to play in the first year. It is not like the Browns had Favre ahead of him.

Excellent, excellent article. I have been saying this for the past several years now...........it is so hard to evaluate collegiate qbs these days due to the offenses they run in college.

That is why when you see a guy like Luck or Bridgewater--who played in an offense that is more of a Pro Style--it is so much easier to evaluate them.

I got a question about that.

I know that colleges are running systems to beat other colleges, but do you think it would be beneficial to college coaches who want to transition to the NFL, and their players to run more pro style systems?

like would the NFL ever try to influence that?

I don't think that would happen. The pressure to win in college is just too great to change your approach. Also, I am not sure if I would want to coach in the NFL if I had a very good college job.

We also have to remember that there are rule differences between college and the pros, such as when the offensive linemen are allowed to release down the field. Rules like that can really have an effect on play calling and design.

I could not think of a better gig than a HC of a college program especially once you have some success.

It just feeds on itself, attracts top recruits and coaches who want to use that experience and success as a stepping stone.

Remuneration is pretty good too, then add the perks, I bet Saban could get a fee meal and use of a new car just by showing up and lending his name.

Yeah, they get free cars, live in nice houses w/zero to very little cost, meals, clothing, etc, etc.

It can be a very profitable life if you are good at what you do.

Yup.

You can do that in the nfl as well though.

Not that I'm disagreeing with you......but think of all the time involved. Time coaching, watching tape, etc. I would guess it's pretty equal between top tier college coaches and nfl coaches. However, to be top tier in college, you spend countless hours recruiting, and you'd darn well better be good at it, because if you aren't, you won't be top tier for long.

Much more security in the college ranks...

What round do you guys think this guy will go in?

I don't know mate he sure was a beanpole ^^

'Will the Browns really try to trade up for Marcus Mariota?: Hey Mary Kay!'

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ss..._social_feature

By Mary Kay Cabot, Northeast Ohio Media Group on February 15, 2015 at 11:50 AM, updated February 15, 2015 at 11:53 AM

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Hey Mary Kay!

Hey Mary Kay: Do you really think the Browns will try to trade up for Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota?


-- Ryan Berlan, North Olmsted, Ohio

Hey Ryan: I do think the Browns will explore the possibility of landing the former Heisman Trophy winner. I've been told that Browns GM Ray Farmer was high on Mariota last year, and the Browns continued to scout him this year during his Heisman campaign. It depends on how the top teams in the draft view Mariota and whether or not Tampa Bay intends to take him No. 1 overall. Plenty of experts now have Florida State's Jamies Winston ranked ahead of Mariota, which means Mariota might be easier to land. The Browns have the No. 12 and No. 19 picks in the first round, and it will most likely take those two picks, and possibly next year's No. 1 to land one of the top two prospects. Considering their situation with Johnny Manziel, I don't think they can afford to take a chance on another character risk like Winston.


(More Browns-related Q's & A's on the link above)

It wouldn't surprise me one bit if they do indeed try to trade up for Mariota. Haslam knows he needs to pull a real rabbit out of his hat this time, as the boat - or perhaps more aptly put - his boat - seems to be sinking.... Again.

Farmer really talked up Mariota last year, and it would not surprise me if he tries to trade up to get him. He really, really liked him last year.

Desperate times make for desperate decisions which more often than not turn out to be bad ones

Titans G.M. talks up Mettenberger, talks down a QB at No. 2

by Michael David Smith on February 16, 2015

If the Buccaneers take Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota with the first overall pick in the NFL draft, does that mean the Titans will take the other quarterback at No. 2?

Not according to Titans General Manager Ruston Webster, who is talking up Zach Mettenberger as a potential quarterback of the future in Tennessee — and talking down the possibility that the Titans will take a quarterback with their first-round pick.

“Zach has done a great job of everything we’ve asked,” Webster told the Tennessean. “He’s working hard, and it is important to him. He just needs to keep doing that. … I know with all the questions it’s difficult, but he just needs to keep doing what he is doing, and he understands that. There’s also some other players involved, too. There’s going to be good defensive players, good receivers, and where do those other guys fit in? Really, the [second overall pick] is not all about the quarterbacks. A lot of other positions are involved, too.”

Mettenberger started six games last year after the Titans chose him in the sixth round of the draft, and he showed some promise, completing 59.8 percent of his passes with eight touchdowns and seven interceptions. Mettenberger’s stats were better than those of Jake Locker, the former first-round quarterback whom the Titans will allow to walk in free agency this offseason, and Webster is liking what he’s seeing of Mettenberger.

“We like Zach, and I think Zach has the tools to play and start in the league,” Webster said. “We’ve said all along that this is a part of this process, and we have to do our due diligence all the way through. Zach knows we are going to do that, and this is just kind of part of it. These guys are part of the evaluation process along with other positions. And we’ll take a good look at them.”

It’s no sure thing that Mettenberger will develop into a quality starting quarterback. But Mettenberger may have shown enough to make the Titans think they can pass on Winston or Mariota.


http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/201...n-a-qb-at-no-2/

I can understand if the Titans don't want to take Mariota because they don't think he will be good. I don't understand thinking Mettenberger is the answer.

If the Titans are not taking a QB then they should trade their pick. There are several teams (possibly us, Jets, Eagles (they probably don't have the ammunition unless they make several other moves)) that should be willing to trade up to that spot.

I think Whisenhunt is a schemer who knows that he gets to keep his job longer if he doesn't draft a QB. He got lucky with Kurt Warner, other than that he has been a zero. He goes through more QBs than any coach out there (Leinart, Warner, Anderson, Skelton, Hall, Kolb, Locker, Whitehurst, and now Mettenberger).

Whoever Mettenberger's backup is should stay loose.

I think mettenberger will surprise some people next season. he is a decent QB and his team will be wise to trade down and use those pick to build up a team around him.

I don't know that I could pass on Mariota or Winston if I was in the top 2 though. Still I can understand their thought process.

Mettenberger was one of the guys I studied last year.

I liked his talent, but the more I watched, the more I didn't want any part of him.

Yes, he is tall and has a good arm. He can be accurate at times.

However, he is an injury waiting to happen. He is wild w/his accuracy after he is pressured. He has character concerns. He is not a good reader of coverages. He had a ton of talent around him.........think about it.......Beckham Jr, Landry, Hill, etc and he flopped because he couldn't handle the pressure. There are reasons he fell so far in the draft. If you remember, he was being talked about as a possible first round pick.

There is a reason good teams, like the current Super Bowl Champions and the Steelers (I think I just threw up in my mouth) don't trade up. More often than not, they either go BPA or trade down. I really think that getting McCown in FA and building the team at where we stand in the draft would be smarter and better in the long haul.

Mike Mayock still thinks Johnny Manziel can be difference-maker, 'very risky' to trade up for Marcus Mariota, Jameis Winston

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ss..._social_feature

By Mary Kay Cabot, Northeast Ohio Media Group on February 16, 2015 at 7:10 PM, updated February 16, 2015 at 7:11 PM

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns aren't the only ones that didn't heed Johnny Manziel's pre-draft red flags enough last year. NFL Network's Mike Mayock is still kicking himself for ignoring the warning signs of too much partying that ultimately landed Manziel in rehab last month.

"I'm mad at myself a little bit about Johnny Manziel,'' Mayock said on his NFL Combine conference call Monday. "I'm fairly conservative and I kind of let myself get talked into [Manziel overcoming his off-field issues]. In my own head, I wanted to root for this kid, and I kind of overlooked some things I probably shouldn't have.''

Despite all of that, Mayock still believes Manziel can success at this level if he cleans up his act.

"As far as Manziel's future is concerned, I still buy into the quarterback,'' he said. "I still think he can learn to be a difference-maker in this league. But I think almost all of it is contingent upon whether he grows up, is able to handle himself, is able to overcome the problems he has and move forward with the football.''

In part because of Manziel on-and-off-the-field struggles, Mayock doesn't advocate the Browns trading up to draft Florida State's Jameis Winston, who comes with off-the-field baggage, or Oregon's Marcus Mariota, a scrambling quarterback who might not be able to operate from the pocket. The Browns have the No. 12 and No. 19 overall picks and might explore trading up for one of the top prospects, more likely Mariota because of Winston's character concerns.

"My gut tells me that trying to move up and take one of those quarterbacks is very risky after they've already made several risky moves,'' he said. "I mean, the first round last year, I'll be the first to put my hand up and I hope I learn a lesson in that I kind of bought into Johnny just being immature. And apparently there's a lot more than that. I don't by any means think that he, or the corner they took in the first round (Justin Gilbert), careers are over. Both of them are very talented kids, and I hope the Browns get something out of both of them.

"But I think it's difficult to package 12 and 19 and move up for what will be another question mark. Whether it's a projection on the field or worries off the field. If I'm Cleveland, I'm looking at 12 and 19 and saying, 'man, I need to get one of the best wide receivers in this draft, I probably could use a right tackle at some point.' You're going to need a tight end probably, depending on free agency. At the end of the day I'd like to get two great football players at 12 and 19 and I'd be very hesitant about moving up for a quarterback.''

Mayock acknowledged that Manziel's behavioral struggles in the pros have given him pause about Winston, who has a laundry list of off-the-field incidents, including stealing crab legs, a rape accusation for which he was never charged, and damaging property with a pellet gun.

"When I'm thinking about Jameis Winston, that thought process, even though I have him No. 1, I need to learn more about this kid,'' said Mayock. "I need to understand as much as I can and at a certain point, you'll see all this stuff start to get reflected."

Despite the behavioral issues, Mayock predicted the Bucs will take Winston No. 1 overall.

"I don't envy (GM Jason Licht and coach Lovie Smith) and that group their decision because there's a consensus on the top two at the quarterback position but there's contrasting issues with both of them,'' said Mayock in anticipation of the Combine, which is Feb. 17-23 in Indianapolis. "Obviously Jameis Winston, my concern No. 1 is on the field and that means I think he throws too many interceptions.

"However, I can see everything I want on the field on tape beyond that. He's a pocket aware guy, he throws with anticipation and timing, which is unusual in today's college football world. He's tough, he gets smacked in the face, he delivers the football.

"I think the bigger concern is whether or not this guy can be the face of your franchise. Let's face it, he was the face of the Florida State franchise and that didn't stop him from making a bunch of bad decisions off the field.

With Mariota, he's not sure if he possesses the innate pocket presence necessary to succeed in the NFL.

"You don't have any worries off the field and all the individual components are there,'' said Mayock. "He's athletic, he's got a big arm, he's 6-4, 215 pounds, he's got great feet, he's going to run 4.5, 4.55, all of the individual components are available.

"However, can he put them together in a pro-style offense where he has to throw with anticipation, has to go through progressions? So (the Bucs have) got a ton of homework ahead of them and I think both quarterbacks have question marks. So the third option is then you go to the best position player available.

"Who is the highest-rated position player on your board? My gut tells me they're going to go with a quarterback and at this point I would guess it's Jameis Winston just because he fits what they do more.''

Mayock cautioned against selling the farm for either of the two passers, and doesn't think they'll fetch the same price that Robert Griffin III did in 2012, when the Redskins gave St. Louis three first round picks and a second.

"I'm not sure either of these two guys you can mortgage your future on unless you just completely understand the kid and buy into the kid 100 percent and you're willing to move up,'' he said. ". ...I don't see the market that we had for RG3."

Mayock has grappled with the question of whether or not the Heisman Trophy winner's dual-threat ability will translate to the NFL.

"I've probably talked to eight general managers, several coaches and three or four college coaches in the last week trying to answer that question and that question being OK, you can't kill a kid for not doing something he's not asked to do, right?'' said Mayock. ". ...you think the kid's smart, you think the kid's tough. Therefore, you think if he gets enough reps in the new system, he'll get a feel.''

However, top passers like Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Matt Ryan, Drew Brees and the like have told him that pocket presence is innate.

"All of them said you could learn a little bit,'' he said. "For instance, you feel the rush, you duck your shoulder down, you get both hands on the football, ball security, little things you can practice to get better in the pocket. However, every single one of them, paraphrasing, basically said, 'However, I kind of feel like I was born with it.' You usually get it or you don't. So if that's the case and you don't get to see these college kids practicing it, it's really hard. That's the problem."

And one the Browns might have to solve before the draft.



(end)

Given the time of the season, I think the Titans are obfuscating their intentions.