Peter King, Sports Illustrated: 

I GET THE SAQUON BARKLEY HYPE. I DON’T GET PICKING A BACK THAT HIGH

The recent history of rookie running backs suggests to me that picking Barkley, the Penn State star and very highly rated running back, in the top five would be … well, I won’t call it a mistake. Because a great player is a great player. But I am saying the history of this position shows a team might be much better off solving its needs at another position and getting the back later in the draft. 

2017: Offensive rookie of the year Alvin Kamara was the 67th overall pick, the fifth back selected. NFL rushing champion Kareem Hunt was the 86thoverall pick, the sixth back taken.

2016: Jordan Howard, the 10th back chosen and 150th overall pick, finished second in rushing as a rookie. The 13th back picked, Alex Collins, has developed into the Ravens’ number one and a stalwart back.

2015: Seventh running back picked: David Johnson (86th overall), who led the NFL in yards from scrimmage in 2016 with 2,118 … Thirteenth running back picked: Jay Ajayi, 149th overall.

2014: Devonta Freeman (ninth back picked, 103rd overall) is the Falcons’ franchise back.

And so on.

ESPN’s Todd McShay has Barkley as his highest-rated player in the draft. “Adrian Peterson is the last back I gave a higher grade to,” McShay told me. “But I hear you. The question I would ask is, say I needed a pass-rusher—really needed one. Would I pass on [North Carolina State’s] Bradley Chubb to take Barkley in the top five, then try to get a rusher near the top of the second round? If you’re picking 33, 35, 38 [overall], I can tell you that you’ll have a chance to get a running back with a first-round grade who will be very productive for you. But the pass-rushers may be gone by then.”

I’m not ignoring the greatness of Ezekiel Elliott, Leonard Fournette and Todd Gurley, all of whom were top-10 picks and have played great. But the average overall pick for Kamara, Hunt and David Johnson—each of whom are either franchise backs or verging on that title—was number 80. I just think smart teams can solve franchise-player needs high in the first round elsewhere, and get a very good back down the line. History backs it up.

@calfoxwc said:

I have to admit, I will not be surprised if they take Barkley with the first pick, because surely he will not be there

at 4.

  My guess is, it's a deep draft in rb's, but the two picks have to be immediate impact players...

or a face of the franchise qb. I think that is Allen or Mayfield. or Darnold. nobody else. In that order.

My expectations are, that the Browns, whoever they draft high, they will be two players that will scare the hell out

of the division opponents and make them know that the Browns are a far more dangerous team because of those top five picks.

   But Barkley is that, bigtime. It's going to be a wild draft. We could all be wrong. That would be funny.

Just once I would like to see a draft turn out really well and a year there with no major pieces getting injured at the wrong times. 2017 had that potential, but one injury after another never allowed them to be a complete defense or offense. The Browns were just always off kilter that way every single week. 2018 has even greater potential if everyone is back (including Wilson at top speed) and the draft picks turn out as well as we hope. I think I smell Kool-Aid. Sept. can't come too soon.

at 4.

  My guess is, it's a deep draft in rb's, but the two picks have to be immediate impact players...

or a face of the franchise qb. I think that is Allen or Mayfield. or Darnold. nobody else. In that order.

My expectations are, that the Browns, whoever they draft high, they will be two players that will scare the hell out

of the division opponents and make them know that the Browns are a far more dangerous team because of those top five picks.

   But Barkley is that, bigtime. It's going to be a wild draft. We could all be wrong. That would be funny.

Football is supposed to be fun! I can promise you it'll be as fun as watching Josh Cribbs run back Kick Returns every time Saquon touches the ball. 

It's not a bad thing, most aren't opposed to taking him at #4 if he was still available. The issue being the position AND the need for a QB. 

The HB is just as important as the QB. They are a duo, two means to the same end. At the end of the day you either have to run it in- or throw it in. The defense can only really keen in on one or the other, it's very difficult for one defensive scheme to stop everything... I guess it would depend the talent of the defense to some extent. But generally, strengthening one will weaken the other, that's why football is so beautiful a sport. It's a team game, with many moving pieces, exploiting weaknesses and protecting the ball. Working in sync from one phase of the game to the next, one vision, one goal. 

@dutch-oven said:

I'm guessing in 36 pages it's been pondered once or forty three times. 

Obsessions never die a natural death.

@hoorta said:

FIFY. Haven't we already discussed this scenario several times? 

I'm guessing in 36 pages it's been pondered once or forty three times. 

@poeticg said:

Which lends him to the first overall pick, except for one fact: he plays running back. The position has become devalued in the NFLIf Barkley were the pick, the Browns would then be assured of getting either Sam Darnold, Josh Allen barf Josh Rosen, or Baker Mayfield with the fourth pick. 

If they are ranked closely, it wouldn’t matter. “None of them are perfect,” Kiper said. “They all have some red flags.”

FIFY. Haven't we already discussed this scenario several times? 

But Kiper readily admitted that Barkley could be the first overall pick, with the Browns taking a quarterback fourth.

“It depends on how they stack the board on the quarterbacks,” Kiper said Wednesday on a conference call with the media.

Kiper’s reasoning: If the Browns have close grades on two or three quarterbacks, they could easily take Barkley first. Kiper already has gone on record saying Barkley is the best player in the draft.

“He’s got great lower body strength,” Kiper said. “Powerful kid in the lower body. That’s why he breaks tackles. He can stop on a dime and make people miss. (He) catches the ball out of the backfield.”

Which lends him to the first overall pick, except for one fact: he plays running back. The position has become devalued in the NFL.

However, if the Browns want a back to pair with Duke Johnson, they’d have a hard time finding anyone better than Barkley.

If Barkley were the pick, the Browns would then be assured of getting either Sam Darnold, Josh Allen or Josh Rosen with the fourth pick.

If they are ranked closely, it wouldn’t matter.

“None of them are perfect,” Kiper said. “They all have some red flags.”

@gunz41 said:

I think you need to change your name to something with Barkley. I have NEVER seen someone in love with a player the way you are, that won't listen to ANYONE and will forget things he says to bolster his point, and make negatives into extreme positives.

So now, we should take suggestions on new names ?????

Were you not here during the season to see his love for a shitty 3rd string QB Shane Hogan??    Apparently this Hogan cat who completed nearly more passes to the Texans than he did the Browns in his one start is a franchise HOF QB if only given the chance to start.  He would've turned this entire season around.  

@poeticg said:

I'm finally able to run for president in 2020! Let's do this!

I think you need to change your name to something with Barkley. I have NEVER seen someone in love with a player the way you are, that won't listen to ANYONE and will forget things he says to bolster his point, and make negatives into extreme positives.

So now, we should take suggestions on new names ?????

@poeticg said:

Today was a good day. I can't get into it right now but hopefully soon I'll be making moves like Barkley!  

This is a link to a really great story and a good video. Saquon Barkley now has his own day? 

http://www.mcall.com/sports/college/psu/mc-spt-saquon-barkley-coplay-parade-20180221-story.html

"Saquon Barkley was celebrated nearly every Saturday during the season by Penn State fans.

Now, he'll be celebrated by the entire state on March 14, as it has been officially declared "Saquon Barkley Day" in Pennsylvania."

Also, be sure to watch the video midway down the page. What an amazing young man.

Barkley, Barkley, he's the man! If Saquon can't save Cleveland, no one can. 

Been hearing A LOT of chatter today about the Browns taking SB #1. Keep believing guys!~ Keep the faith! Good things are coming! 

Maybe he should skip football and run for congress in a year or two. You have to be 35 to get elected President.  

This is a link to a really great story and a good video. Saquon Barkley now has his own day? 

http://www.mcall.com/sports/college/psu/mc-spt-saquon-barkley-coplay-parade-20180221-story.html

"Saquon Barkley was celebrated nearly every Saturday during the season by Penn State fans.

Now, he'll be celebrated by the entire state on March 14, as it has been officially declared "Saquon Barkley Day" in Pennsylvania."

Also, be sure to watch the video midway down the page. What an amazing young man.

Barkley, Barkley, he's the man! If Saquon can't save Cleveland, no one can. 

Been hearing A LOT of chatter today about the Browns taking SB #1. Keep believing guys!~ Keep the faith! Good things are coming! 

@mjp28 said:

Holy smokes, even with R2 of this topic:

323 replies 3,012 views

Geeezzzus. Looks like there's going to be some disappointed people on April 26. 

I'll make it round three the day before the Combine, this is more just beating a dead horse.  I'm open to suggestions for the new thread title.  I had hoped Po would take the hint- keep it new. I won't go back and count, I'm sure it's in the dozens, but all he's into is posting more videos of how wonderful Saquon is. Regardless there's several valid reasons for the Browns to not take a running back #1. Add in there's plenty of stuff in his game tape and game logs suggesting he's not the Superman Po makes him out to be. 

I'll borrow something out of Gunz's post:  "Then there is one that falls because of character issues or injury concerns." What if his dreamboat pulls a hammy running his 40 at the Combine? Can't happen? 

April 26th can't get here fast enough. 

@mjp28 said:

Holy smokes, even with R2 of this topic:

323 replies 3,012 views

Geeezzzus. Looks like there's going to be some disappointed people on April 26. 

Nope.  Mostly just one guy.

323 replies 3,012 views

Geeezzzus. Looks like there's going to be some disappointed people on April 26. 

@poeticg said:

Crowell - 191 attempts. Duke - 81 attempts. 

Let's round it up some to imagine an offense actually moving the chains consistently. Let's say 333 carries. 

Receiving

Crowell - 28 catches. Duke - 74 catches. So add in another 120 catches. 

333 carries and 120 catches. Roughly 453 touches. Is that the answer you were looking for? 

We can break that down per game 453 divided by 16 games(not counting the post season) to around 28 touches per game... although It think it could amount to more, I guess it would depend on what the defenses decide to do. 

But even you yourself was advocating another back to keep your boy fresh, and moving Johnson to slot. So your carries would go down with your other back you advocated for, and Duke would still get his catches in YOUR scenario.

Do you think people on here dont remember things that you say?

It's just like you saying how great it would be to get QB at 1 and Barkley at 4, but your taking Barkley 1 no matter what, so IN YOUR VIEW, you can't get QB at 1.

We all know you want Barkley, you crave that. But you somehow think that EVERYTHING should and will work out the way you want.

Like saying you think there are all these great QBs in the draft, of course not at 1, but you would be perfectly fine with the 3rd ranked one. So you are fine with a "Paxton Lynch" just to get Sa Sa.

Here's what usually happens. Combine/Pro Day some QB starts to fall. Then there is one that falls because of character issues or injury concerns.

So what YOU are left with at 4 IF QB go 2 and 3, is Josh Rosen with character AND injury issues, Josh Allen who it seems like A LOT of people are down on, or Lamar Jackson who a lot of people think should move to WR.

But hey, the Browns will have Saquon. 

Here is the Browns needed moves for the off-season.

Trade to Washington for Colt McCoy. Resign Trent Richardson. Then give Barkley 30 carries and 10 catches, Richardson 20 carries, and throw the ball to Josh Gordon 30 times a game, 15 for McCoy and 15 for Hogan.

TBE. GOAT. PERFECT SEASON. 10 YEAR UNDEFEATED STREAK. OVER 10 YEARS, EACH WILL WIN 2 MVPS, AND BARKLEY WILL WIN 5 NOBEL PRIZES. 

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/02/14/draft-will-be-televised-by-fox/

......Last year, a separate source told PFT that the league already had the ability to place the draft on a broadcast network, hinting that it would be the next logical step in making the draft a bigger and better event. The league drew rave reviews for choosing Philadelphia as the destination, with more than 70,000 fans showing up for the first night.

This year, the draft will be held in Dallas, and the crowd surely will be even larger. The TV audience definitely will be; events carried on channels available through the public airwaves always do better than events televised on cable.

@mark-o said:

I was never a Kiper fan anyways.   I much prefer the NFL network gang of scouts/draft experts.

I used to like Mel Kiper Jr  way back because he was the first one to really get into the draft business when ESPN was the only show in town. Now it's a big primetime event.

@tiamat63 said:

13 pages in this thread and nobody has brought up that I charted RB 1's in a Hue offense (going back to Oakland) average on 14cpg.  

My personal belief on Barkley aside - whomever would advocate for him being a top 5 pick...  can you justify the Browns taking him knowing how criminally underused running backs are under our current HC?

The same thought process should be used regarding Josh Allen... How can anyone justify this organization taking a QB who even supporters admit needs to sit for a season or two, when rushing QBs onto the field has been what this team (sans Brady Quinn) has done time after time?

@poeticg said:

What amount of touches did Crowell get? Then add in Dukes touches, and their combined catches and you'll get the answer. 

I'll check it out. 

Crowell - 191 attempts. Duke - 81 attempts. 

Let's round it up some to imagine an offense actually moving the chains consistently. Let's say 333 carries. 

Receiving

Crowell - 28 catches. Duke - 74 catches. So add in another 120 catches. 

333 carries and 120 catches. Roughly 453 touches. Is that the answer you were looking for? 

We can break that down per game 453 divided by 16 games(not counting the post season) to around 28 touches per game... although It think it could amount to more, I guess it would depend on what the defenses decide to do. 

I'll check it out. 

My personal belief on Barkley aside - whomever would advocate for him being a top 5 pick...  can you justify the Browns taking him knowing how criminally underused running backs are under our current HC?