Bucky Brooks Suggests Ravens Should Pick Fields

[Coach Tuesday]

Per PFT:

 

"They [could] take a collegiate approach to the quarterback position,” Brooks said on NFL Network’s Path to the Draft. “They cash in on a Justin Fields. And then maybe they operate like a college team. One quarterback graduates, the other quarterback steps into the starter’s role. You now have the opportunity to keep a starting quarterback potentially on a young deal, build up the rest of the assets, and then play smash mouth football the way that they play, and continue to build a better team around the quarterback. It’s something to think about."

 

That's actually kind of brilliant and it's super-creative.  Why not maximize your salary cap space by going another 4 years with a QB on a rookie deal?  Their roster is set up to win without elite QB play, and if they think Jackson has hit his ceiling as a passer, it's not crazy.  I'm sure they won't do it but I love outside-the-box ideas like this one.

[GunnerBill]

3 minutes ago, Coach Tuesday said:

Per PFT:

 

"They [could] take a collegiate approach to the quarterback position,” Brooks said on NFL Network’s Path to the Draft. “They cash in on a Justin Fields. And then maybe they operate like a college team. One quarterback graduates, the other quarterback steps into the starter’s role. You now have the opportunity to keep a starting quarterback potentially on a young deal, build up the rest of the assets, and then play smash mouth football the way that they play, and continue to build a better team around the quarterback. It’s something to think about."

 

That's actually kind of brilliant and it's super-creative.  Why not maximize your salary cap space by going another 4 years with a QB on a rookie deal?  Their roster is set up to win without elite QB play, and if they think Jackson has hit his ceiling as a passer, it's not crazy.  I'm sure they won't do it but I love outside-the-box ideas like this one.

 

And Fields is a seriously underrated athlete. He isn't Lamar but they could still run some of their offense.

[Greg S]

They are going to continue to build around Jackson.

[Don Otreply]

Well, unless LJ has taken the necessary steps to be a markedly better passer, doing what Brooks said can be as viable plan. 
 

What’s the under over LJ has spent this off season working on being a more complete QB, and actually gaining those skills...?

Edited April 27, 2021 by Don Otreply

[CincyBillsFan]

As someone who has watched Fields play a lot the one thing he's missing compared to Jackson is that he takes some huge hits.  It's freaky how rarely Jackson ever takes a decent hit.  I seriously doubt Fields would last a season running the Ravens offense.

 

 

[The Jokeman]

2 minutes ago, Greg S said:

They are going to continue to build around Jackson.

What have they added this offseason? An OG and Sammy Watkins To me it's telling they haven't gone after other WRs etc. 

[LeviF]

18 minutes ago, Coach Tuesday said:

 

 

That's actually kind of brilliant and it's super-creative.  Why not maximize your salary cap space by going another 4 years with a QB on a rookie deal? 

 

 

This general idea has been floating around for a few years and the obvious flaw is that very few QB prospects have been sure things, historically speaking.  

 

Opinions on whether Lamar is a "franchise QB" aside - if the Ravens see him as one then they will pay him because a QB in the hand is worth five in the draft, and realistically you can only get one.

As it stands Lamar is a better athlete than Fields and hasn't made it past the divisional round - why would the Ravens think Fields could get them more?

Edited April 27, 2021 by LeviF91

[HOUSE]

The Ravens need and deserve Matt Barkley

 

..

Edited April 27, 2021 by HOUSE

[Coach Tuesday]

12 minutes ago, LeviF91 said:

 

 

This general idea has been floating around for a few years and the obvious flaw is that very few QB prospects have been sure things, historically speaking.  

 

Opinions on whether Lamar is a "franchise QB" aside - if the Ravens see him as one then they will pay him because a QB in the hand is worth five in the draft, and realistically you can only get one.

As it stands Lamar is a better athlete than Fields and hasn't made it past the divisional round - why would the Ravens think Fields could get them more?

 

It's an asset allocation issue.  Are they gonna give Lamar a $150M contract if he's already hit his ceiling?  They might be able to get the same baseline production out of a guy like Fields at a fraction of the cost, allowing them to stock up in other areas. 

[GunnerBill]

21 minutes ago, The Jokeman said:

What have they added this offseason? An OG and Sammy Watkins To me it's telling they haven't gone after other WRs etc. 

 

They were in on Golladay too. Obviously he ended up elsewhere. I do think they will go WR with one of their two 1sts though. 

[DCOrange]

4 minutes ago, Coach Tuesday said:

 

It's an asset allocation issue.  Are they gonna give Lamar a $150M contract if he's already hit his ceiling?  They might be able to get the same baseline production out of a guy like Fields at a fraction of the cost, allowing them to stock up in other areas. 

I don't think there's really any chance whatsoever that Fields can do what Lamar does as a runner. Fields is a significantly better passer though.

 

At any rate, they already found an MVP caliber QB; I can't imagine they'll move on from him.

[GunnerBill]

16 minutes ago, LeviF91 said:

 

 

This general idea has been floating around for a few years and the obvious flaw is that very few QB prospects have been sure things, historically speaking.  

 

Opinions on whether Lamar is a "franchise QB" aside - if the Ravens see him as one then they will pay him because a QB in the hand is worth five in the draft, and realistically you can only get one.

As it stands Lamar is a better athlete than Fields and hasn't made it past the divisional round - why would the Ravens think Fields could get them more?

 

Because Fields is a better passer would be the reasoning. He is a lesser athlete (compared to Lamar almost every NFL player is) but he can still do some of those things while offering higher upside as a passer. I don't think it will happen but it isn't mad. Lamar's contract negotiations will be fascinating. His regular season record is insanely good but his ceiling as a passer gives the team limitations. When he is costing more money where is the line? I genuinely don't know. 

[LeviF]

10 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Because Fields is a better passer would be the reasoning. He is a lesser athlete (compared to Lamar almost every NFL player is) but he can still do some of those things while offering higher upside as a passer. I don't think it will happen but it isn't mad. Lamar's contract negotiations will be fascinating. His regular season record is insanely good but his ceiling as a passer gives the team limitations. When he is costing more money where is the line? I genuinely don't know. 

It really hangs on the evaluation of Fields. The implied suggestion upthread was that the Ravens could run a similar offense with him, if they are utterly convinced that Fields is a better passer and a good enough athlete they would undoubtedly change their offense. 

[Mr. WEO]

Fields can't move like Jackson.  It's a hot take, that's all.

 

How does Brooks say the Ravens move up to get Fields?

[BillsShredder83]

25 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

They were in on Golladay too. Obviously he ended up elsewhere. I do think they will go WR with one of their two 1sts though. 

Theyre gunn have to draft one, cause no decent wrs are going to voluntarily sign up for a run happy offense, with a very limited passer

[Captain Hindsight]

52 minutes ago, The Jokeman said:

What have they added this offseason? An OG and Sammy Watkins To me it's telling they haven't gone after other WRs etc. 

They tried. No WR wants to run block 40 times a game 

[H2o]

3 minutes ago, H2o said:

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2021/04/27/bucky-brooks-suggests-the-ravens-should-take-justin-fields-let-lamar-jackson-graduate/

 

But just a couple of weeks ago on Speak For Yourself (4:40 mark of the video) he was saying that Lamar was clearly the better young QB, not named Mahomes, over Josh.

 

If you are the Ravens, and you have the 2nd best QB in the AFC according to Brooks, then why are you even considering drafting a Justin Fields and letting Lamar Jackson "Graduate"? What if the QB you draft ends up being a bust or worse in general than the one you had? To me it just proves the guy is a clown even more so than I originally thought. 

Sorry, didn't see this thread first and created one. Bucky is a clown. 

[LeviF]

9 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

Fields can't move like Jackson.  It's a hot take, that's all.

 

How does Brooks say the Ravens move up to get Fields?

 

He doesn't.  But in theory, if Fields lasted to pick 8, they could give Carolina both of their firsts and a couple other picks.  This assumes that Carolina doesn't have a competing offer and doesn't mind moving down that far, both of which seem unlikely.

[No_Matter_What]

37 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

They were in on Golladay too. Obviously he ended up elsewhere. I do think they will go WR with one of their two 1sts though. 

 

Well the thing is that if they want Fields they likely need to give up both first to do so.

[GunnerBill]

Just now, No_Matter_What said:

 

Well the thing is that if they want Fields they likely need to give up both first to do so.

 

Yes it won't happen. 

[PromoTheRobot]

1 hour ago, Greg S said:

They are going to continue to build around Jackson.

 

That might be their downfall. Jackson is an elite athlete but will he ever become a complete NFL QB? All the knocks on Josh Allen apply to him as well.

[glazeduck]

This means 2 things to me, neither of which have anything to do with Lamar Jackson or Justin Fields...

1. The media has run out of legitimate talking points to discuss pre-draft. 
2. The media (or at least NFLN) is convinced the 49ers are now taking Mac Jones.

[LeviF]

Just now, glazeduck said:

This means 2 things to me, neither of which have anything to do with Lamar Jackson or Justin Fields...

1. The media has run out of legitimate talking points to discuss pre-draft. 
2. The media (or at least NFLN) is convinced the 49ers are now taking Mac Jones.

 

Based on the comments about Jimmy G I'm convinced they're going with Jones too.  Drafting Lance guarantees Jimmy sticks around and Fields, though he has more experience at a higher level, isn't exactly a day one guy either.

[OrtonHearsaWho]

I'm going to go ahead and say that this is one of the dumbest things I've read about the draft this year.  I'm not a Lamar fan, but come on.

[Mr. WEO]

45 minutes ago, LeviF91 said:

 

He doesn't.  But in theory, if Fields lasted to pick 8, they could give Carolina both of their firsts and a couple other picks.  This assumes that Carolina doesn't have a competing offer and doesn't mind moving down that far, both of which seem unlikely.

 

 

Carolina is taking Fields at 8 in that scenario.  No question.

 

Regardless, "Graduating"  Jackson for the next Tua doesn't make much sense, Bucky.

[BaaadThingsMan]

I've heard this more than once. 

[DCOrange]

55 minutes ago, LeviF91 said:

 

Based on the comments about Jimmy G I'm convinced they're going with Jones too.  Drafting Lance guarantees Jimmy sticks around and Fields, though he has more experience at a higher level, isn't exactly a day one guy either.

It really shouldn't. Lance is more pro-ready than anyone outside of Lawrence IMO, particularly for what Shanahan wants to do with his offense.

The team that really should have tried the graduating QBs idea was the Rams. McVay really just needs a robot that will make the throws he tells them to make; that isn't all that hard to find. They screwed the pooch giving Goff the contract they did.

 

If the Ravens were to try it (which they won't), it would mean rebuilding the entire offense around the new QB's skillset. Nobody can replicate what Lamar does for better or worse and that includes Fields.

[YoloinOhio]

Fields is not a great fit for Roman’s offense ... Lamar is a great fit. They really need to think these things through.

[ExWNYer]

In his final mock draft released today, he has the Bills taking CB Caleb Farley. ♥️ 

 

https://www.nfl.com/news/bucky-brooks-2021-nfl-mock-draft-3-0-49ers-pick-trey-lance-najee-harris-to-cardi?icampaign=nflweb-push-webnotification

 

 

[YoloinOhio]

2 minutes ago, ExWNYer said:

In his final mock draft released today, he has the Bills taking CB Caleb Farley. ♥️ 

 

https://www.nfl.com/news/bucky-brooks-2021-nfl-mock-draft-3-0-49ers-pick-trey-lance-najee-harris-to-cardi?icampaign=nflweb-push-webnotification

 

 

I don’t see it. Beane was pretty upfront that guys with medical red flags pose a concern for them since they could not physically examine them. Maybe they think 30 is an ok spot even with that piece in mind.  but I would be surprised. 
 

 

[ExWNYer]

Just now, YoloinOhio said:

I don’t see it. Beane was pretty upfront that guys with medical red flags pose a concern for them since they could not physically examine them. Maybe they think 30 is an ok spot even with that piece in mind.  but I would be surprised. 
 

 

 

It's one man's mock and it only takes one GM to fall in love with the player. Despite his medicals, I would be more surprised if Farley actually lasted until 30 than I would if Beane took him at 30.

[YoloinOhio]

8 minutes ago, ExWNYer said:

 

It's one man's mock and it only takes one GM to fall in love with the player. Despite his medicals, I would be more surprised if Farley actually lasted until 30 than I would if Beane took him at 30.

I think he will either be taken ahead of 30 or after 30 but not at 30... if he’s there at 30 I think if would be a red flag on top of the red flag and validates the medical concern Beane already has because other teams passed too. He just seemed so uninterested in the medically flagged group. 

[ExWNYer]

1 minute ago, YoloinOhio said:

I think he will either be taken ahead of 30 or after 30 but not at 30... if he’s there at 30 I think if would be a red flag on top of the red flag and validates the medical concern Beane already has because other teams passed too. He just seemed so uninterested in the medically flagged group. 

 

I don't disagree with your last sentence. I'm just not completely buying 'hook, line, and sinker' everything being said or intimated at this time of year. We may never know for sure as there is a good chance that Farley is gone by 30. If he's there and they pass, then that is at least a better indicator that Beane was being truthful. I just don't believe that they'll summarily dismiss the option at 30 for a player at a premium position who could potentially end up being the best CB in the draft. Regardless, if he's there, they'll trust their own medicals and vetting processes when the time comes.

[Straight Hucklebuck]

This idea has been proposed before, wondering if any Quarterback is worth the $40M - $50M it takes to keep elite QBs under contract. 

 

No one has done it because if it doesn't work, and you kick aside a starting QB, you have no job.  

[Hapless Bills Fan]

1 hour ago, YoloinOhio said:

Fields is not a great fit for Roman’s offense ... Lamar is a great fit. They really need to think these things through.

 

This.  When the Ravens drafted Jackson, Harbaugh has commented they made a strategic decision, they would have to build around him.  And they did.

So now what, they're going to un-build around him and build around someone else?

[stinky finger]

If this were ever implemented, it would be out of necessity not creativity. This is only done because they don’t believe LJ is the answer. 

 

This would be a way to let their “MVP” QB down easy. 

 

No way this works and keep all participants happy. 

[Coach Tuesday]

11 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

This.  When the Ravens drafted Jackson, Harbaugh has commented they made a strategic decision, they would have to build around him.  And they did.

So now what, they're going to un-build around him and build around someone else?

But they’d have the money to do it.  Plus coach salaries don’t count against the cap.  Paying the best passing game coordinator on the market is far cheaper than paying top dollar to a QB.

 

Again, I don’t think anyone seriously expects this to happen but it’s a cool idea and it’s far more interesting than most of the draft-related takes the media is spitting out this week.

[CNY315]

Interesting he says this when just a couple weeks ago he scoffed at the idea that Allen was the 2nd best AFC QB over Jackson

Edited April 27, 2021 by CNY315

[Gordio]

3 hours ago, LeviF91 said:

 

 

This general idea has been floating around for a few years and the obvious flaw is that very few QB prospects have been sure things, historically speaking.  

 

Opinions on whether Lamar is a "franchise QB" aside - if the Ravens see him as one then they will pay him because a QB in the hand is worth five in the draft, and realistically you can only get one.

As it stands Lamar is a better athlete than Fields and hasn't made it past the divisional round - why would the Ravens think Fields could get them more?

 

 

There is a theory on this.  With second contract top qbs are pushing $30 million + per year.  Try to draft a top qb every 3 - 4 years and let the starting qb walk.  The cap savings is enormous and you could build up and keep intack the rest of your team.  It is not a coincidence that the seahawks have not made it to the super bowl since they gave Wilson the big contract.   There is two thing though where that theory goes to crap.  First, it is so hard to hit on a top tier qb & 2 if you already have a top tier qb chances are your not picking in the top 10.  It is an interesting theory though but I doubt any gm/coach would have the stones to actually do it.  

[DCOrange]

It's an interesting idea and one that I've argued for in the past, but Baltimore is pretty much the last team that should consider doing it. You should do this when you have a coach that basically does the pre-snap work for the QB (like Shanahan and McVay) and a QB that is easily replaceable (like Garappolo and Goff). You don't do it when your QB is maybe the most difficult player in the league to replace as is the case with Lamar.