(12-13-2017, 11:08 AM)TheO-LineMatters Wrote:

(12-13-2017, 08:09 AM)Caldrac Wrote: Mayfield may not even be in the discussion if Bortles does everything in his power over the next three weeks to help the team finish 12 - 4. If he wins 1 play-off game or at least has a winning performance in a losing effort he's not going anywhere. Coughlin will keep building around him. Because if he DOES pull that off the biggest argument will be that he did it with no Allen Robinson, really no Allen Hurns, an inconsistent Marqise Lee and then two rookies in Cole and Westbrook.

Honestly I don't want to have to draft a QB at all in RD1 next year. We should be eye balling either a quality offensive lineman or a balanced tight end late in RD1 next year. Not a QB. I don't see Mayfield going in the top five either. He's a great college Quarterback. He's a Heisman trophy winner. He could potentially win the National Championship game. That all looks fine and dandy on paper. Buuuuuuuuut. He's also shown tremendous lack of responsibility, a lack of respect for authority, and a a few classless acts on the field whether it was before, during or after a win.

All of these characteristics will be considered come draft day. Is he going to be the next Wilson or Wentz? Or is he going to be the next Manziel or Couch? He's got a lot of work to do. And he's going to be heavily scrutinized by any team interviewing him. Just don't know if you can completely trust the kid. And that's why I don't see him as a top five pick. I think the slot will be anywhere from the 10th spot and down in all honesty. And that's being generous because we have so many teams entering next year with HUGE questions at QB whether it's a matter of teams trying to fill a void now or in the future. He'll more than likely be selected out of desperation.

And for me personally this QB class is starting to dwindle down to where it feels more like 2011 and not 2004. You might get one star QB out of 2018 instead of three like most people were hoping for. I don't see an Eli Manning, Philip Rivers or Ben Roethlisberger QB class of prospects this year. A lot of draft hopefuls that flaked out.

If we are content to sit back and keep Bortles, I think I'm going to have to take some time away from football. This is the best team we've ever had, but the weak link is still QB. Bortles will never have a ceiling any higher than serviceable and we all know how low his floor can go. Personally, I see this as a very deep first round QB class and we could possibly find an improvement in round 2 as well. Do I wanna have to draft another QB? No, but I believe it's necessary. If we pass up a QB from this class and Bortles reverts to his 2016 form, we're screwed for years to come. Other than improvements on the O-Line and a starting TE, I see no other glaring needs. It would be nice to add another receiver and depth at LB and CB, but those aren't "must haves." We could realistically find the pieces in this draft to form a dynasty for years to come, but we have to be willing to take a risk and draft a QB. If we don't, I believe all the money we spent on defense, will be for nothing, if the ultimate goal is a Superbowl.

I am with you. But I don't see them moving up from more than likely anywhere between the 26th - 32nd position in the first round to position themselves inside the top 5 to land Mayfield. You would have to give up a TON to get him and that's a HUGE risk this team doesn't really have to take right now because of the ground game, because of the defense. 

I think they could address the position not once but twice next year. Get yourself a veteran QB that you know for a fact is better than Henne with recent starting experience. And then go after another QB prospect towards the bottom of RD2 or RD3 or maybe consider moving up from RD3 with your RD2 selection to come up early on RD2 and get your coveted passer while you still can. 

That's a low risk/high reward decision IMHO. We could use more depth in the offensive line just based on the injuries this year alone we should be looking to beef it up with quality talent. Which a lot of successful teams tend to do when they're consistently winning and picking late anyways. I am going to hold out and see what Bortles does though. Three games left to really shine like he's done the last two weeks. And then he's going to be leading a play off team for the first time in his career. If the team wins because of his play. Great. If the team loses because of his play. Well, we know what we should do.

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