(03-25-2018, 08:11 PM)Sneakers Wrote:

(03-25-2018, 06:17 PM)NYC4jags Wrote: I keep seeing 6' 5/8"  for Mayfield when I dig around. 

If I recall correctly Brunell was almost dead on 6'1" in his playing days.

No question that height is an advantage, but......................................Drew Brees is 6'0".

I'm not saying vertically challenged guys can't have success in the league, but QBs under 6'2" that actually have the skill and mental toughness to overcome some of the limitations that their height presents are few and far between.  Under 6'1" is going to make it even tougher.  All the defensive linemen and linebackers are bigger and faster than the guys they might have been beating in college.  Obviously there are currently guys in the league who are short and really good like Brees and Wilson which I guess makes some fans think that height of the QB isn't a big deal any more.  If you go back through history though you just won't see really anyone else at their height that's had much of any sustained success.   Mayfield is taller than both of those guys, but he's in this height range that really doesn't usually produce a lot of success at the next level so would a team overlook that and select him in the top 10?  I have my doubts.

There are enough guys at 6'1" that have had success, but again, how many were taken in the 1st round?  Brunell was a 5th rounder.  Brees was about as close to being picked in the 1st round as a sub 6'1" guy can get that has actually ended up having success in this league as he was selected 32nd overall which was the 1st pick of the 2nd round that year.  Manzier is 6'0" and was selected at pick 22 by the Browns, but I think all bets are off when it comes to conventional wisdom when the Browns are on the clock.  It wouldn't shock me if the Browns go Barkley at 1 and come back for a QB at 4 that Mayfield might be the pick there.  Anyone else taking him in the top 10 would be a surprise to me though.  And again, it's not an indictment on whether he'll be a success or not.  There are a lot of factors that go into it, but if you're playing the percentages on height he probably won't be.  Do you play that game if you're a team holding a top 10 pick or maybe even top 15 pick?  I doubt it.

Beyond that range?  It's a lot easier to justify the selection if you miss and a lot more forgivable.  I guess the counter argument would be that if you miss on a QB in the 1st round you're probably done anyway as a GM.

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