(01-19-2018, 09:04 PM)atburg Wrote:

(01-19-2018, 08:12 PM)TheO-LineMatters Wrote: I think it's easier to replace mediocrity, than it is to replace an outgoing star, because the bar is set lower. Our QB bar here in Jacksonville is not that high. I'm not saying it'll be easy to try and find a replacement, I'm just saying we have to try. No team ever gets better by settling. 

I have been pretty vocal about my opposition to signing Cousins. Like you say, he's not special and he'd cost us a fortune. Alex Smith is showing that he's a good QB, when they actually get him a decent deep threat and let him throw the ball (this year), but the guy is in his mid 30's. To me, it would be a waste of a high draft pick (the cost it would take to get Smith), just to have him as a starter for a couple of years. 

The draft is the place to get a QB. Why is taking a QB in round 1, more risky to you than taking a TE in the same spot? I don't get it. The draft is a crapshoot, no matter which positional player you take. There are no guarantees. You just have to trust what you see. Personally, I see 3 of the most accurate rookie passers I've seen in years (Rosen, Mayfield and Rudolph). To me, accuracy is the #1 factor in selecting a QB. I want a guy who has the ability to place the football where only his WR can get it. I see that in these 3 guys. I don't see it consistently in any other QB in this draft. Darnold flashes it at times, but then he gets wildly inaccurate at other times. There are no developmental QB's in this draft either. Drafting a QB in round 3 on, would truly be a waste of a pick. I've seen almost every eligible QB in this draft (with the exception of some small school guys) and this draft is top heavy with the quality going straight off a cliff after round 1, possibly round 2 depending on who falls. 

Drafting a QB early does not mean we immediately replace Bortles. It means we are actively trying to bring in viable competition for him. Getting a "developmental guy" in the mid rounds is not viable competition. It's burning a draft pick on a guy who's ceiling may be the same as Chad Henne's was. What does that accomplish?

Well the top 2 picks are projected to be quarterbacks. Do you suggest moving up 27 or more spots? Perhaps we could pull off a Rickey Williams type trade? I really like that idea, go from possibly winning it all to trying to develop a quarterback. Essentially starting over!! I realize you've seen almost every quarterback in this draft class (so you must own a television) , but so has anyone who watches college football.

Again, my targets would be Rosen (Gone), Mayfield (likely gone) and Rudolph (I believe he might be there when we pick.) We'll just have to wait and see what happens closer to the draft to figure out our course of action. A lot can happen between now and then.

---

(01-19-2018, 08:30 PM)Rico Wrote:

(01-19-2018, 08:12 PM)TheO-LineMatters Wrote: I think it's easier to replace mediocrity, than it is to replace an outgoing star, because the bar is set lower. Our QB bar here in Jacksonville is not that high. I'm not saying it'll be easy to try and find a replacement, I'm just saying we have to try. No team ever gets better by settling. 

I have been pretty vocal about my opposition to signing Cousins. Like you say, he's not special and he'd cost us a fortune. Alex Smith is showing that he's a good QB, when they actually get him a decent deep threat and let him throw the ball (this year), but the guy is in his mid 30's. To me, it would be a waste of a high draft pick (the cost it would take to get Smith), just to have him as a starter for a couple of years. 

The draft is the place to get a QB. Why is taking a QB in round 1, more risky to you than taking a TE in the same spot? I don't get it. The draft is a crapshoot, no matter which positional player you take. There are no guarantees. You just have to trust what you see. Personally, I see 3 of the most accurate rookie passers I've seen in years (Rosen, Mayfield and Rudolph). To me, accuracy is the #1 factor in selecting a QB. I want a guy who has the ability to place the football where only his WR can get it. I see that in these 3 guys. I don't see it consistently in any other QB in this draft. Darnold flashes it at times, but then he gets wildly inaccurate at other times. There are no developmental QB's in this draft either. Drafting a QB in round 3 on, would truly be a waste of a pick. I've seen almost every eligible QB in this draft (with the exception of some small school guys) and this draft is top heavy with the quality going straight off a cliff after round 1, possibly round 2 depending on who falls. 

Drafting a QB early does not mean we immediately replace Bortles. It means we are actively trying to bring in viable competition for him. Getting a "developmental guy" in the mid rounds is not viable competition. It's burning a draft pick on a guy who's ceiling may be the same as Chad Henne's was. What does that accomplish?

That's a lot of words to say the exact same thing that you've been saying.  I hope you're not trying to convince me of anything.

I'm not. I'm just trying to get you to tell me, why you think he'll be a consistent QB, before our window of opportunity closes? So far, I haven't heard that.

---