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Last week’s Slack Chat can be found here.
This week on Slack Chat, myself, 3k and BMule touched on a bunch of 2018 NFL Draft topics. The questions ranged from predicting the top three picks, our “cant-miss” prospects, and even a little Los Angeles Rams talk with a potential replacement of S Lamarcus Joyner coming in two weeks’ time.
Aquip Talip (TST user Sosa Kremenjas): Alright welcome back to another episode of Slack Chat! Let’s jump right into it
Question one: Put your GM hats on boys (not those ugly draft one’s the NFL recently released)
Predict the top three picks in the draft: the Cleveland Browns, New York Giants and New York Jets at 1-2-3.
BMule (TST user BMule): Those hats are all very fine btw
Joe McAtee (TST user Joe McAtee): I’ll go USC QB Sam Darnold, UCLA QB Josh Rosen, Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield
Joe McAtee: I really do think it’ll be QB-QB-QB
BMule: And I think the same order as Joe
Aquip Talip: Interesting. I hope it goes like that
It makes too much sense not to, right?
I’m rolling with Darnold, North Carolina St. EDGE Bradley Chubb, Mayfield
Joe McAtee: McShay’s Grade A mock had Chubb going #2
And also didn’t didn’t have the Giants taking a QB in their first four picks
Aquip Talip: I’m not sure why but I don’t feel good about NYG going QB, even though I absolutely think they should
BMule: Browns could Brown it up...but Darnold, Rosen, Mayfield makes too much sense to me
Pat Shurmur really has to endure an offseason of OBJ trade talk and not drafting a QB in a QB-rich draft? Oohhhh weee
Eli Manning stinks
Aquip Talip: Yeah that would really suck for them
Joe McAtee: I’d be surprised if they didn’t go QB, but not like 100% shock
Aquip Talip: I think they make so much sense for a QB. Let him sit behind Eli for a year and then pull a move like the Kansas City Chiefs did by drafting QB Pat Mahomes to replace QB Alex Smith
Joe McAtee: And they have enough draft capital to go BPA elsewhere to build up the roster
Aquip Talip: Any of you guys think the Browns Brown and go Wyoming QB Josh Allen? Or maybe another QB?
Joe McAtee: Oh totally possible
I could see him going #1 overall easily
Aquip Talip: I’m almost expecting it, which is sad
BMule: A team that benches Eli Manning for Geno Smith cannot afford to pass up on a Josh Rosen. End of discussion.
Aquip Talip: Dorsey did draft Mahomes last year too
Word is he likes that big arm guy
Joe McAtee: That #4 pick is the interesting one to me
BMule: Penn St. RB Saquon Barkley is going to make you throw stuff, Joe.
Because we know Joe loves RBs in the top 5
Joe McAtee: Hey, it aint the Rams. I won’t be mad.
It’s just so dumb in general and it’s been proven to be a complete waste of capital but ESPECIALLY in a year like this with so many good RBs
Aquip Talip: Truth
I don’t think it makes sense to me
Joe McAtee: Has Cleveland ever taken a running back in the top 5?
Aquip Talip: But the NFL loooooves guys like Barkley.
BMule: NFL loves instant production
Aquip Talip: A blue chipper on defense at #4 would be perfect
Joe McAtee: Or OL
Shout out to offensive linemen
Aquip Talip: That could work too
BMule: They could come away with one of the two best players in the draft and a QB
Notre Dame OL Quenton Nelson or Chubb and never look back
Aquip Talip: Nelson would be a god send
Joe McAtee: Nelson would be so wise
Aquip Talip: Anyways, onto question two:
Joe McAtee: Why are offensive linemen so great?
Aquip Talip: Got your chance to steak your claim right now: who’s your “can’t miss” prospect?
Nelson anyone?
BMule: In general or for the Rams?
Aquip Talip: General
Joe McAtee: Nelson’s a good candidate. Alabama DB Minkah Fitzpatrick for me.
Aquip Talip: Fitzpatrick? That’s an interesting one Joe
BMule: Florida DT Taven Bryan is mine and I’ll die on the hill if I have to
Aquip Talip: Wow. You boys are coming in with the shockers
BMule: Rutgers EDGE Kemoko Turay was taken...by your scouting report
Aquip Talip: I think it’s easily Nelson for me
But since we’re going all out on the takes here...
Joe McAtee: I’ll throw another easy one for me
LSU Tigers RB Derrius Guice
Especially for the expectation level of Guice
Depending on where he goes, I could totally see him winning OROY
BMule: I’ll also go Mayfield
Joe McAtee: See I dunno if I feel good about any of the QBs as “can’t miss”
BMule: I think he’s great
Joe McAtee: Just going off the numbers, four to five of the six major QBs are going to fail
BMule: You play for singles and I’ll crank these suckers
Joe McAtee: Aight, Giancarlo Stanton
Aquip Talip: I want to go Georgia LB Roquan Smith as well, but that seems like a copout
Joe McAtee: I thought about dropping his name here too
Aquip Talip: He’s so, so, good
BMule: But neither of you are dropping it?
Joe McAtee: Rude
Aquip Talip: Nelson/Roquan for me, I guess
If we want a “later” prospect (someone outside the top 5/10), I’ll say Goergia OL Isaiah Wynn
Joe McAtee: I’m not that sold on Wynn as the can’t miss type
Oh wait, that punter outta Texas
Michael Dickson
BMule: Question 3
Aquip Talip: You’re silly
Joe McAtee: I’m serious!
Aquip Talip: That was our cue Mule
Question three:
Who are the best fits for the big name QB’s (Rosen/Lamar/Allen/Baker/Darnold).
I think most of this ties in with Q one
Joe McAtee: Where do you want Baker to go Mule?
BMule: Realistically, I’d say NYJ
Aquip Talip: Darnold - CLE, Rosen - NYG, Baker - NYJ, Lamar - LAC, Allen - ARI
That’s how I roll
Joe McAtee: Man, Baker could wreck under Jets Head Coach Todd Bowles
Aquip Talip: QB Josh McCown did so well last year
Imagine Baker instead?
Aquip Talip: They don’t have any top tier weapons, but a bunch of guys that can make plays. I would really like him there
BMule: Allen is the biggest wildcard
Joe McAtee: I know I do not want to see Lamar Jackson with the Arizona Cardinals
Aquip Talip: Me too Joe
Ben Allbright is reporting the Los Angeles Chargers have a ton of interest in him, which is super interesting
Joe McAtee: That’d be fun
#FightForLA and whatnot
Aquip Talip: Would be awesome for the Chargers
Nobody is more exciting on the field than him
You guys got any takes for Allen’s best fit?
Like Mule said, he’s the wildcard
Joe McAtee: Cleveland?
Buffalo?
Hamilton, Canada?
Aquip Talip: Hmm, they wouldn’t like him
BMule: Best fit to succeed? Cleveland probably
New Browns Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley is a psycho, but he can put together great offenses
Joe McAtee: Cleveland is gonna get such a haul
1-4-33-35
Aquip Talip: Just take 4 QB’s
Joe McAtee: I can’t wait for the first trade to come in and just completely wreck the draft
Mitchell Trubisky-style
Aquip Talip: God I hate and love the draft
Joe McAtee: I love and love and love the draft
BMule: So the Jets have one more trade is what you’re saying
Joe McAtee: Maybe they do!
Aquip Talip: Onto our final Q for the day:
Should the Rams draft a replacement for Lamarcus Joyner ?
Joe McAtee: Sigh. Probably.
Aquip Talip: I can see both sides to this story
First, I do expect him to leave, unfortunately
Joe McAtee: Me too
Aquip Talip: But I’m really high on Blake Countess. So I would have 0 issue with him starting in ‘19
BMule: I don’t like the way the question is framed but yes they should draft a safety
Joe McAtee: Lamarcus is ya boi, Mule
Any discussion of Lamarcus leaving is going to stir some emotions in you
BMule: I believed very hard last year
Aquip Talip: On the other flip of the coin, like we talked about earlier, the Rams have had a ton of success in the secondary
Would they be smart to take another?
BMule: Absolutely it would be smart at S and CB
It’s one thing that Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips and former Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher teams excel at is identifying and developing DBs from every resource level
Joe McAtee: They’ve done it for years
BMule: And it’s never a bad idea to prep for the future
Aquip Talip: That’s what makes me think Countess could be a stud!
BMule: I love Blake Countess
I love all the Rams DBs
Aquip Talip: You have so many children
Joe McAtee: I name-dropped LMJ in the piece yesterday about the visits
With Dane Cruikshank
Aquip Talip: Very interesting they’re bringing in Cruikshank
Doesn’t mean much, but it at least shows interest in the secondary
BMule: Historically, this plays out one way.
Joe McAtee: He gone
Aquip Talip: Yeah, he gone
BMule: And as much as fans bitch about it, it works out
Joe McAtee: It has so far for sure
BMule: There’s little reason to think it can’t continue to work out. Not ideal, but not the crippling blow we are supposed to believe it is
Aquip Talip: Just as the Rams did this year with CB Trumaine Johnson and WR Sammy Watkins, they’ll play the comp pick game again next year when DL Ndamukong Suh and Joyner leave probably fetching two 3rd’s as compensatory picks
I’m fine with it as of right now
BMule: Did anyone expect the Rams CBs to be what they are now?
Joe McAtee: Hell no
I will say it now that I would like us to actually keep our draft picks next year
BMule: People were terrified Trumaine Johnson was franchise tagged twice (edited)
Joe McAtee: I miss the draft
Aquip Talip: Yeah I think they’ll be fine
To sign an elite CB like Marcus Peters you got to lose somewhere else
Joe McAtee: They gonna re-sign Peters?
Aquip Talip: I hope so
BMule: Who gets signed first?
Joe McAtee: #paytheman
Please please please just effing pay him already
BMule: Peters, WR Brandin Cooks, DL Aaron Donald, Joyner, Saffold, Havenstein,
On and on
Aquip Talip: Uhhhh Donald?
BMule: Not who deserves it...
Who is getting that first deal...
Aquip Talip: Uhhhh Donald?
Joe McAtee: Watch it be Cooks
BMule: I ain’t betting on Donald lmao
Joe McAtee: Sadly I’m not either
Aquip Talip: Spill the beans then!
You got your shot, stake your claim
BMule: I’m with Joe, watch it be Cooks or Havenstein
Aquip Talip: Can’t wait to check back on this, I hope you’re both very wrong
BMule: No ones saying to not sign Donald
Joe McAtee: Maybe I need to squeeze please into it #pleasepaytheman
BMule: Watch it be Gurley
I’d cry
I’d die
I would wear a rams draft hat
Joe McAtee: I do not want to continue this conversation
Aquip Talip: Anyways, I guess that wraps up another Slack Chat! Thanks for tuning in.
Thanks for tuning in. Who are your predictions for the top three? Any prospect you’d pound the table for?
Stay tuned for next week.