Plankton
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http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2016/04/28/nfl-draft-peter-king-mmqb-10-things-im-hearing
The draft creeps mercifully closer ... but first, this, from one NFL GM on Wednesday afternoon, with the start of the first round 31 hours away: “This feels like you’ve got a Monday night game, and you have to sit around all day Sunday and then all day Monday before your game. It’s awful.” You echo America, and America’s sports media, Mr. GM.
1. I am skeptical San Diego will trade down. The Chargers really have the first pick in the draft, because the Rams and Eagles, at 1 and 2, will take the quarterbacks to start the proceedings tonight. The Chargers had a slew of phone calls from teams trying to move up for the third pick before last week’s Browns-Eagles trade that netted Philadelphia the second pick. But the trade market has dried up since then, and I believe it’s unlikely some team will blow the Chargers away with an offer before GM Tom Telesco has to make the pick. “The premium is so high to move up,” said one GM with a pick in the top 20, “that you almost have to be trading for a quarterback to make it worth while.” I think San Diego sits and makes a pick. Throughout the league on Wednesday, particularly with teams choosing in the top 10, football people were talking about Notre Dame tackle Ronnie Stanley here … not the more noted tackle, Laremy Tunsil of Ole Miss. Telesco earned his stripes under former Colts GM Bill Polian, and one thing he learned is to never be afraid to stick your neck out and make a pick that will surprise some people. No one has had Stanley this high until the last day or two. Telesco will be fine with that, if Stanley is the top guy on his board.
2. Stanley is the hot name in the draft this morning. I’m hearing he’s the No. 1 tackle on the Jags’ board too—and though Jacksonville selects fifth, it’s more likely GM Dave Caldwell goes with a front-seven player or a trade down. Why Stanley? Two things I heard on Wednesday: reliability on the field, and a spotless record off it.
The draft creeps mercifully closer ... but first, this, from one NFL GM on Wednesday afternoon, with the start of the first round 31 hours away: “This feels like you’ve got a Monday night game, and you have to sit around all day Sunday and then all day Monday before your game. It’s awful.” You echo America, and America’s sports media, Mr. GM.
1. I am skeptical San Diego will trade down. The Chargers really have the first pick in the draft, because the Rams and Eagles, at 1 and 2, will take the quarterbacks to start the proceedings tonight. The Chargers had a slew of phone calls from teams trying to move up for the third pick before last week’s Browns-Eagles trade that netted Philadelphia the second pick. But the trade market has dried up since then, and I believe it’s unlikely some team will blow the Chargers away with an offer before GM Tom Telesco has to make the pick. “The premium is so high to move up,” said one GM with a pick in the top 20, “that you almost have to be trading for a quarterback to make it worth while.” I think San Diego sits and makes a pick. Throughout the league on Wednesday, particularly with teams choosing in the top 10, football people were talking about Notre Dame tackle Ronnie Stanley here … not the more noted tackle, Laremy Tunsil of Ole Miss. Telesco earned his stripes under former Colts GM Bill Polian, and one thing he learned is to never be afraid to stick your neck out and make a pick that will surprise some people. No one has had Stanley this high until the last day or two. Telesco will be fine with that, if Stanley is the top guy on his board.
2. Stanley is the hot name in the draft this morning. I’m hearing he’s the No. 1 tackle on the Jags’ board too—and though Jacksonville selects fifth, it’s more likely GM Dave Caldwell goes with a front-seven player or a trade down. Why Stanley? Two things I heard on Wednesday: reliability on the field, and a spotless record off it.
