In the Year 2000............

Do you remember when Conan O’Brien had that bit on his late night talk show where he would point a flash light at his face (in a darkened room), sing the phrase “In the year 2000….”,  and make predictions about what life would be like in the year 2000ish?  Most of the time his predictions would be funny and often they would be wrong.  On this eve of the NFL draft, I’m hoping to achieve neither of these things with my NFL draft predictions.

I’m not one of those guys who come up with mock draft 1.0 – 137.0, starting the day after the Super Bowl and ending tomorrow afternoon.  When it comes to sports predictions, I like to wait and gather as much information as possible about any situation before forming an opinion or conclusion.  He are my humble opinions about some of the most talked about players entering this year’s draft.  No O-lineman, just my top 3 and the much debated QB’s of this draft.  They are in order of most to least talented (IMO)

 

1. Sammy Watkins – No other player has the level of talent combined with maturity and work ethic of Sammy Watkins.  If I were a GM, this is the guy I would target and/or trade up to get.  He is the best offensive player on the board.  Probably the next Julio Jones, maybe even better.  If he stays healthy, he will have the best career of anyone in this class.
2. Khalil Mack – The 1B to Sammy Watkins.  Best defensive player on the board. That’s right, I said board.  He has the potential to be the next Patrick Willis.  If my need is on the defensive side, I’m taking Mack before Roger Goodell can finish announcing whose turn it is to pick. 
3. Jadeveon Clowny – Freak of nature: skill combined with size.  Not sold on his metal game or work ethic, though.  While he’s got unlimited potential, I see this guy loving more the lifestyle football can bring him rather than what he can bring to the game of football.  I think he’s a Mario Williams clone.  Don’t get burned twice Houston.

Now for the QB’s………………

1.  Derek Carr – If I have to rank them all on talent level as of this point in time, I’m putting Carr first.  He’s a football junkie, has a cannon for an arm, is accurate, and a grinder.  He’s definitely better than his brother; just ask either one of them. If he and AJ Macarron traded colleges, Carr would have the same amount of titles and would be easily going #1 overall this year. Steal of a pick in late first round and beyond.
2. Blake Bortles – The next Ben Roethlisberger/ Joe Flacco.  Big, strong arm but a little unpolished.  If he reaches his full potential, Blake could overtake Carr as having the most success in the NFL of all the QB’s.  I like his size, arm, and football IQ, but he needs a couple of years to develop and fine tune.  Don’t know if he’s going to have that luxury.
3. Teddy Bridgewater – Mature and more accurate than his remaining competition.  Has some potential with the right coach.  Could have some early success, but will be a career back-up.
4. Johnny Manziel – Poor man’s RGIII and rich man’s Brady Quinn.  Undisciplined, not accurate, undersized, and ok arm.  Having said all of that, he is a playmaker and exciting.  He’s the Reggie Bush of this years’ QB class in that sense, and will be far less successful.  I give him 4-5 years max in the league.

I don’t want to get too carried away, so I’ll stop with my predictions there.  I’ll give this a few years to bake before I comment on this article again.  Hopefully I won’t be apologizing for completely whiffing.  Feel free to tell me how right or wrong you think I am already.


JRob