With the fifth pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, the Oakland Raiders select...

[Crow]

Sadly, no. I don't think it's too soon.

 

[Crow]

Why Jadeveon Clowney won't be the No. 1 NFL draft pick
Oakland Raiders need a quarterback—they need Teddy Bridgewater

Jadeveon Clowney, arguably the most dominant NFL draft prospect in a decade, won’t be the No. 1 pick.

Take a breath. Collect yourself. And now consider this:

The Oakland Raiders will be the worst team in the 2013 NFL season. While Clowney, who’ll be one of the most devastating forces to ever enter the league, can send the Raiders’ sack attack to a different stratosphere, a surefire elite edge pass rusher cannot turn around a modern NFL franchise mired in mediocrity.

Only an elite passer can do that. Enter Louisville quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater.

Last season, eight of the top 14 NFL teams in sacks didn’t make the playoffs. The Indianapolis Colts and Washington Redskins (tied for 24th in the league) both did. Other than their low sack total of 32, what else might they have in common? The Colts and Redskins each drafted their franchise quarterbacks—Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III—in 2012.

The 2013 draft class didn’t offer a worthy QB option at the top. Bridgewater will be one next April. In addition to his great physical attributes of arm strength, accuracy and mobility, he has Luck- and Griffin-like intangibles as a smart leader and winner. Scouts have noted that Bridgewater makes the game look easy, and in that regard, has drawn comparisons to Eli Manning and Russell Wilson.

In other words, he has everything the Raiders don’t possess in starter Matt Flynn.

Carson Palmer looked the part with his strong arm, but his season and a half brought familiar, inefficient results. Along with 36 turnovers in 25 games, the team went 8-16 when he started. It’s on to Flynn, the new veteran stopgap who isn’t likely to fare much better.

The Raiders just lost their starting left tackle and most reliable offensive player, Jared Veldheer. He’s out at least three months after undergoing surgery to repair a torn triceps. Even with Veldheer, the Raiders’ offensive line was already among the league’s worst. Without him on the blind side, it could be disastrous for Flynn.

There’s also the matter of Flynn’s inability to push the ball downfield. Despite having a cast of young, speedy receivers, Flynn doesn’t have the arm and won’t have the protection behind a shaky line to get the ball to them. Flynn won’t even benefit from Palmer’s favorite bailout target, as tight end Brandon Myers is now with the New York Giants.

The Raiders will trail often, and defenses will tee off on Flynn. What it adds up to is Flynn taking a lot of hits and dumping the ball off often to running back Darren McFadden.

When the eventual struggles of Flynn come, going with what’s behind him in midseason will offer no relief. Terrelle Pryor is a trendy project and rookie third-stringer Tyler Wilson has shown he needs a lot more development.

It all sets up for a first-pick upset.

What’s made Luck and Griffin so good so early is their knack for raising the play of everyone around them, and not being dragged down by it. It’s what separates special NFL QBs from average ones such as Flynn. Bridgewater will allow the Raiders to solve many of their biggest problems in just one move.

Last season, the Raiders finished No. 31 in the league with just 25 sacks. Considering the players who produced 16 ½ of those sacks are no longer on their roster, it will look like there’s good reason to draft Clowney.

The Raiders must resist that temptation.

In the past, a player of Clowney’s ability would have been a no-brainer. But in the current quarterback-driven NFL, if you don’t have a good passer, you have little chance to be on the playoff radar. There are fewer have-not teams at that position than ever before. As long as the Raiders are stuck in that group, they will be far removed from competing for anything in the AFC.

The Raiders still are reeling from the JaMarcus Russell bust at No. 1 just six years ago. They were enamored with his physical gifts and ignored the red flags surrounding him.

They can redeem themselves with Bridgewater, who has more overall talent than Russell and no off-field concerns.

It’s now been a decade since Oakland enjoyed top quarterback play from one-time NFL MVP Rich Gannon.

It’s been 11 years since the Raiders finished above .500, their AFC title year of 2002 with Gannon. Since then, four- and five-win seasons have been the standard, including 2012.

If the Raiders, as a franchise with a proud winning past, want to be relevant in the league again soon, they need to embrace a passer-first mentality. When the Raiders are faced with the Clowney question in ‘14, Bridgewater is the right and only answer.

 

[DonkeyKilla]

i wonder if there is a scenario that we trade down and still get Bridgewater. or Clowney... we need to make the most of the top pick if thats what we get

 

[007]

Clowney.

I'll change my minde if Bridgewater gets into Luck/Manning/Elway territory as far as prospects go.

 

[Crossbones]

Bradley Roby, CB, The Ohio State University

Fuck you McKenzie.

 

[hawaiianboy]

Clowney.

I'll change my minde if Bridgewater gets into Luck/Manning/Elway territory as far as prospects go.

Pretty much where I am as well...

Right now IMO Clowney is a 10 vs Bridgewater who is an 8 but on the come...

If it's a 10 vs 10, I think you always take the QB...

If it's a 10 vs 9, you look at your current QB situation and the QB's that will be available in second round the draft... If there's someone you really, really like there, you take the DE but otherwise I think you still take the QB...


But Teddy Bridgewater just sounds like a tea bagging Brit name... Couple that with the Nick Kasa thing he has going on and he just seems like a natural McKenzie pick...

 

[007]

Same here. If we are lucky enough to have Teddy establish himself in the Luck/RGIII category...fuckin eh.

If our consolation prize is the best defensive prospect since Lawrence Taylor, I'll be OK.

 

[DonkeyKilla]

Same here. If we are lucky enough to have Teddy establish himself in the Luck/RGIII category...fuckin eh.

If our consolation prize is the best defensive prospect since Lawrence Taylor, I'll be OK.

or some kind of RG3 like bounty to trade down would be good too

 

[Crow]

Pretty much where I am as well...

Right now IMO Clowney is a 10 vs Bridgewater who is an 8 but on the come...

If it's a 10 vs 10, I think you always take the QB...

If it's a 10 vs 9, you look at your current QB situation and the QB's that will be available in second round the draft... If there's someone you really, really like there, you take the DE but otherwise I think you still take the QB...


But Teddy Bridgewater just sounds like a tea bagging Brit name... Couple that with the Nick Kasa thing he has going on and he just seems like a natural McKenzie pick...

Average QBs are false currency. I think most 'nik type people would argue that in this 10 vs 8 scenario, if the 8 is a QB, 8 > 10.

If Bridgewater grades out similar to Matt Ryan, do we really even have a choice but to take him? Good QBs are hard to come by, let alone 2nd tier (very good) passers like Ryan.

I'm both a BPA guy and a "build from the inside out" guy. I have long argued that putting a rookie QB in a shitty situation ultimately gives you a shitty QB. I could cite numerous examples. But, that being said, I fear the game has evolved (devolved, more like) to a point where my old "Build the roster up, then plug in a veteran QB" philosophy may no longer be sound. I don't know if you can still win in this league with a Trent Dilfer or Brad Johnson, and I don't envision us lucking our way into another Rich Gannon.

If we land the top pick, and Bridgewater grades out in the top 10 on our board and projects like a more mobile Matt Ryan, would it not be our best move to draft this guy?

I mean, next season we're going to have money for free agents and would hypothetically have Clowney at RE giving the defense a puncher's chance. It's entirely possible that we could win just enough games in 2014 that we play ourselves out of contention for a QB who's worthy of a top pick. Then what? Hope that Wilson finds his way out of the doghouse and becomes the QB people expected him to be after his junior year? Keep trying to turn an athlete (Pryor) into a starting caliber passer? Take the 3rd best QB in the 2015 draft? I gotta tell ya, these options don't excite me.

I've been a Tyler Wilson guy, but something is going on with this kid, and I can't help but think it's something more than simply being outplayed by McGloin. Dude got blackballed this past week. I'm concerned about that.


An RGIII trade down scenario doesn't work for me. This team has enough humiliating draft history. I don't want to add to that "The team that could have had Clowney, but traded him away for a couple middling-to-good linemen/receivers. The only reason to pass on Clowney, assuming he maintains his demigod status for another 9 months, is to try to land that ever elusive QB.


Right now, as painful as it is to watch this defense, and as hopeless as any QB would be behind this O-line, my early pick is to go QB with the first pick, and maneuver for a TE with the second pick. Then hope for a fucking guard in Rd3-4. I'm not liking any of our current interior OL options right now.

 

[Crossbones]

Cluster fuck. And let's add that if we go 4-12 it's a moot point anyway. Wallow in the mud Oakland...

Average QBs are false currency. I think most 'nik type people would argue that in this 10 vs 8 scenario, if the 8 is a QB, 8 > 10.

If Bridgewater grades out similar to Matt Ryan, do we really even have a choice but to take him? Good QBs are hard to come by, let alone 2nd tier (very good) passers like Ryan.

I'm both a BPA guy and a "build from the inside out" guy. I have long argued that putting a rookie QB in a shitty situation ultimately gives you a shitty QB. I could cite numerous examples. But, that being said, I fear the game has evolved (devolved, more like) to a point where my old "Build the roster up, then plug in a veteran QB" philosophy may no longer be sound. I don't know if you can still win in this league with a Trent Dilfer or Brad Johnson, and I don't envision us lucking our way into another Rich Gannon.

If we land the top pick, and Bridgewater grades out in the top 10 on our board and projects like a more mobile Matt Ryan, would it not be our best move to draft this guy?

I mean, next season we're going to have money for free agents and would hypothetically have Clowney at RE giving the defense a puncher's chance. It's entirely possible that we could win just enough games in 2014 that we play ourselves out of contention for a QB who's worthy of a top pick. Then what? Hope that Wilson finds his way out of the doghouse and becomes the QB people expected him to be after his junior year? Keep trying to turn an athlete (Pryor) into a starting caliber passer? Take the 3rd best QB in the 2015 draft? I gotta tell ya, these options don't excite me.

I've been a Tyler Wilson guy, but something is going on with this kid, and I can't help but think it's something more than simply being outplayed by McGloin. Dude got blackballed this past week. I'm concerned about that.


An RGIII trade down scenario doesn't work for me. This team has enough humiliating draft history. I don't want to add to that "The team that could have had Clowney, but traded him away for a couple middling-to-good linemen/receivers. The only reason to pass on Clowney, assuming he maintains his demigod status for another 9 months, is to try to land that ever elusive QB.


Right now, as painful as it is to watch this defense, and as hopeless as any QB would be behind this O-line, my early pick is to go QB with the first pick, and maneuver for a TE with the second pick. Then hope for a fucking guard in Rd3-4. I'm not liking any of our current interior OL options right now.

 

[Crossbones]

Oh, I dug this up from last season when I was looking for a new team to follow...has possibilities.

Some of you may want to jump on that wagon if the Hawk idea is just too distasteful.

 

[celticraider]

The only reason it is too soon is because we haven't properly evaluated the incoming class. Clowney is definitely the odds on favorite. Having the best pass rusher in the league would be great. Make no mistake though this is the single worst Raider team in my lifetime and #1 is a fucking lock.

 

[Crossbones]

The only reason it is too soon is because we haven't properly evaluated the incoming class. Clowney is definitely the odds on favorite. Having the best pass rusher in the league would be great. Make no mistake though this is the single worst Raider team in my lifetime and #1 is a fucking lock.

Wait, the one clown has us beating the Redskins + three other teams.

With our luck that is exactly what will happen.

 

[cruedi]

The way LT helped turn around the Giants, I say Clowney all the way

 

[eleven]

Drama Queens.

 

[DonkeyKilla]

We just going to have to see how this college season plays itself out. One thing is for sure: we will have the top pick.

 

[Raidervinny]

Average QBs are false currency. I think most 'nik type people would argue that in this 10 vs 8 scenario, if the 8 is a QB, 8 > 10.

If Bridgewater grades out similar to Matt Ryan, do we really even have a choice but to take him? Good QBs are hard to come by, let alone 2nd tier (very good) passers like Ryan.

I'm both a BPA guy and a "build from the inside out" guy. I have long argued that putting a rookie QB in a shitty situation ultimately gives you a shitty QB. I could cite numerous examples. But, that being said, I fear the game has evolved (devolved, more like) to a point where my old "Build the roster up, then plug in a veteran QB" philosophy may no longer be sound. I don't know if you can still win in this league with a Trent Dilfer or Brad Johnson, and I don't envision us lucking our way into another Rich Gannon.

If we land the top pick, and Bridgewater grades out in the top 10 on our board and projects like a more mobile Matt Ryan, would it not be our best move to draft this guy?

I mean, next season we're going to have money for free agents and would hypothetically have Clowney at RE giving the defense a puncher's chance. It's entirely possible that we could win just enough games in 2014 that we play ourselves out of contention for a QB who's worthy of a top pick. Then what? Hope that Wilson finds his way out of the doghouse and becomes the QB people expected him to be after his junior year? Keep trying to turn an athlete (Pryor) into a starting caliber passer? Take the 3rd best QB in the 2015 draft? I gotta tell ya, these options don't excite me.

I've been a Tyler Wilson guy, but something is going on with this kid, and I can't help but think it's something more than simply being outplayed by McGloin. Dude got blackballed this past week. I'm concerned about that.


An RGIII trade down scenario doesn't work for me. This team has enough humiliating draft history. I don't want to add to that "The team that could have had Clowney, but traded him away for a couple middling-to-good linemen/receivers. The only reason to pass on Clowney, assuming he maintains his demigod status for another 9 months, is to try to land that ever elusive QB.


Right now, as painful as it is to watch this defense, and as hopeless as any QB would be behind this O-line, my early pick is to go QB with the first pick, and maneuver for a TE with the second pick. Then hope for a fucking guard in Rd3-4. I'm not liking any of our current interior OL options right now.

Amen...this is what I've been saying for a while.

 

[Raidervinny]

The way LT helped turn around the Giants, I say Clowney all the way

LT was a great player...but he didn't turn that franchise around. Parcells did. Plus they had an excellent running game and a very very accurate QB. That team was a hell of a lot more than just LT and a bunch of stiffs.

 

[hawaiianboy]

Average QBs are false currency. I think most 'nik type people would argue that in this 10 vs 8 scenario, if the 8 is a QB, 8 > 10.

If Bridgewater grades out similar to Matt Ryan, do we really even have a choice but to take him? Good QBs are hard to come by, let alone 2nd tier (very good) passers like Ryan.

Ryan was a 9 coming out IMO... Taking 8's because you value the QB leads to teams taking Blaine Gabbert, Tannehill, Sanchez and Jake Locker in the top 10...

If JJ Watt and Von Miller are 10's, do you really want to take an 8 level QB in the top 10 of a draft? If I can't get a QB that rates a 9 there, then I take the impact 10 defender or you trade down and get a 7 at QB later in the draft...

 

[DonkeyKilla]

Ryan was a 9 coming out IMO... Taking 8's because you value the QB leads to teams taking Blaine Gabbert, Tannehill, Sanchez and Jake Locker in the top 10...

If JJ Watt and Von Miller are 10's, do you really want to take an 8 level QB in the top 10 of a draft? If I can't get a QB that rates a 9 there, then I take the impact 10 defender or you trade down and get a 7 at QB later in the draft...

^^ I totally agree with this. The last thing we can afford is to reach for a QB with a top pick just because we need one. If one isn't there take the BPA.