[BillWunkle]

ASK WUNKLE: 2018 PRE-DRAFT EDITION

Greetings again from The Padded Cell! By week’s end we’ll be inside of two weeks before the 2018 NFL draft, and I just know that our viewership and contributors alike have a boatload of questions. I like to take this time to try and give my take on what those questions would be, so let’s get started.

Dan from Oberlin: long-time listener and first-time caller, pays the long distance fees to ask a few questions.

Would you prefer a trade-down at four (assuming we take a QB at 1) or would you stay put? And if we stay put, do you take Bradley Chubb or Saquon Barkley at #4, if both are still available? 

First off, there’s no assuming about it. The Browns are going to take the quarterback first overall that they think has the highest upside potential and will be the best pick for the long term – even if they have to wait up to two seasons before he takes over the offense. They’re NOT going to allow any of the other 31 teams to dictate who their quarterback of the future will be.  That said, depending on who’s still on the board and what offers are presented to them, I wouldn’t necessarily be opposed to Cleveland trading down a little and still get one of the top players with another first round pick. My previous mock has the Browns moving down one slot and still getting Bradley Chubb. Now, if the Browns stand pat and both Barkley and Chubb are still on the board; I think that the Browns will take Chubb because of GM John Dorsey’s history of acquiring quality running backs later in the draft.

Dan also asks: What flowers do you recommend planting now that spring is here? We just bought a new house and are first-time landscapers. Do you recommend perennials?

Congratulations on the new house. While I’m not an expert on landscaping, I can tell you what Mrs. Wunkle does now and has done in the past.  Along the front, between the driveway and our front porch, we have some miniature (in terms of the size of the blooms) rose bushes mixed with some annuals in between for the front row. Behind them, she has day lilies lined up. She also has a heart shaped garden where she plants annuals as well. Tulips are also an excellent choice, but you need to plant them early in the spring and dig out the bulbs early in the fall so that the bulbs don’t split. In short, I’d recommend a mixture of perennials and annuals for a nice variety of colors, sizes and shapes.

And finally: What are your thoughts on that WR out of New Mexico State, Jaleel Scott and the WR out of Maryland, D.J. Moore?

DJ Moore would be someone the Browns could consider with the 64th pick . . . end of the second to start of the third round pick. Nice size/speed ratio with good size hands. Jaleel Scott appears to be a red zone match-up nightmare when you look at all his measurements. I don’t know how disciplined a route runner he is because most of what I see from him are fade routes, some of which are of the back shoulder variety. I also see him doing a number of bubble screen routes, but not much else. His hands are good, though. He could go as early as the third round and as late as the seventh round, depending upon what teams are looking for.

MDP Sack Attack has a multi-part question.

Which quarterback in the draft: 

A) Has the highest ceiling
B) Is most ready to play day one
C) Is best FIT for the Browns. Not most likely to be drafted, but the best fit for the team.

D) Which team likely to draft a QB in the first round will give that QB the best chance to succeed?

A: Josh Allen because of his physical gifts B: Josh Rosen because of his intelligence, throwing mechanics and accuracy C: Josh Allen because of answer A or Mike White (Western Kentucky) because of their physical size and intelligence. And finally, D:  Either Arizona or New England . . . assuming the Pats draft a quarterback in the first round so that they have an heir apparent to Tom Brady in the building.

GABrownsFan asks: What’s your opinion of Derrius Guice?

Arguably he’s the second best running back in the draft, but I don’t know if he’s an every down back. I’m concerned about pass protection ability.

Also: Will the Bills continue to try and move up for a QB or will they give that up with all the holes on their o-line now?

Depending upon whom the Browns pick, I could see them moving up to the Giants’ spot to get a franchise quarterback. From what I understand, they’re pretty high on both Darnold and Allen. If they don’t move up, they may take still a quarterback at twelfth overall. If the Giants trade out of #2 and the Browns trade out of #4, we’ll probably see four quarterbacks go in the top four picks. A scenario like that would have a Christian Ponder-esque feel to it, though with teams going into panic mode early and often.

Brandon from Canton texted me with: At #4 do the Browns try to build and elite pass rush with Chubb or go for offensive play making with Barkley – assuming they’re both available?

Depending upon whose internet draft board you want to believe, either of these two players could be at the top. However, you have to take into consideration John Dorsey’s history of drafting players. He’s never (and I mean EVER) taken a running back in the first round, much less in the top ten. That said, I think  – assuming that the Browns keep the pick and both players are available – they’ll take Bradley Chubb at #4 and address the running back position later in the draft.

Dave in Barberton wants to know: What are your thoughts on HR5087 (the latest version of the “assault weapons” ban)?

Quite frankly, I think that the political elitists who sponsored this bill need to be hung for treason because they’re violating their collective oath of office to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States simply by introducing this piece of legislation. These leftist socialist bastards are not going to stop at taking away our right to keep and bear arms. Once they finally accomplish that, they’ll be out to eliminate our remaining rights and keep us in line by strong-arming us into submission – turning our own military and law enforcement against us law abiding citizens. That’s been the objective of every socialist/communist regime from Adolf Hitler, Josef Stalin, Benito Mussolini, Mao Zedong and Pol Pit just to name a few.

He also wants to know: Who will be looked at ten years from now as the best player from this draft that was taken in the first round?

I think, because of his consistently high level of play and the projected longevity of the position, it’ll be Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson.

And that wraps up our latest edition of Ask Wunkle. Thanks to all who submitted their questions. Until we meet again, so long from The Padded Cell!

Am I going mad, or did the word THINK escape your lips? You were not hired for your brains, you hippopotamic landmass!

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