NFL Draft Q and A With Mockingthedraft’s Dan Kadar: Do The Browns Need a Franchise Quarterback

Every week Dan Kadar and I have a question and answer session. This week I sent some questions for Dan about franchise quarterbacks and play a little game I call Take your pick.

1). There are some teams with an obvious need at quarterback in the 2012 NFL Draft (Seahawks, Redskins, Dolphins), but which of these teams do you think are still without a franchise quarterback: The Cleveland Browns, the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Buffalo Bills, the Denver Broncos, the Chiefs, the 49ers?

For the Browns, it’s completely up in the air. As most saw Thursday night, Colt McCoy is still prone to making bad throws and not doing enough to keep the Browns out of getting a high enough pick to draft a quarterback. It’s hard to say with Jacksonville. You’d hope they’d give Blaine Gabbert more time, but given the new rookie wage scale, they might not hesitate to look in a different direction.

Buffalo, considering the contract they gave Ryan Fitzpatrick, probably thinks they have a franchise quarterback. What they have is a solid starter, but maybe not a premier player. The Chiefs thought they did, but Matt Cassel has done enough to prove otherwise. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them go quarterback in the second round and do what Minnesota did this season. They’ll start next year with Cassel and if he falters, they could bring in the rookie. San Francisco is tough. They’re having a great year, but not because of Alex Smith. They may love rookie Colin Kaepernick and think he can be a franchise quarterback. I’d expect them to give Smith a two-year contract this offseason and eventually replace him with Kaepernick.

2). How would you compare the senior class of prospects to the last two or three draft classes?

It seems to be about the same as previous seasons. The first round will be predominantly juniors with a small percentage being seniors.  

3). If you had to pick the three players who need the biggest bowl performances who would they be?

Every time I think “who needs a good game,” the first name that comes to mind is Landry Jones. He’s been so off this year. I really hope he doesn’t enter the draft. But if he does, a good bowl game is going to be critical. Along the same lines, Ryan Lindley desperately needs a good game. Given the season he’s had, I don’t think he’ll get invited to the Senior Bowl, so he needs to get some good senior tape out there. Georgia cornerback Brandon Boykin can really help himself with a good bowl game. Georgia plays Michigan State and Boykin could match up with B.J. Cunningham, arguably the hottest wide receiver in the nation. If Boykin has a good game, his stock could really be on the upswing

4). I value your opinion and like this game so take your pick:

Vontaze Burfict or Luke Kuechly?

At this point, Kuechly. These are are so different. You know exactly what you’re getting with Kuechly – a dependable, smart linebacker who can tackle. With Burfict, all of those things are unknowns. Burfict’s upside is so much higher than Kuechly’s, but you don’t know what you’re going to get with him.

Michael Floyd or Justin Blackmon?

This is one I go back and forth on. My rankings currently say Blackmon is my choice, but that may differ on the next update. Blackmon is the more dynamic of the two, but Floyd is more dependable. Blackmon’s hands have been shaky at times this season, and Floyd’s really haven’t.

Brandon Jenkins or Vinny Curry?

Curry, only because he’s a more proven commodity as an end. I think Curry can line up in a 4-3 end spot while Jenkins may not be able to. So you’d be taking a chance on Jenkins hoping he can convert full time to the outside.

I hope you enjoyed this weekend’s Q and A. Be sure to visit www.mockingthedraft.com to check out Dan’s work.

Follow him on twitter @mockingthedraft  and follow us on twitter @NFLmocks

Also we’ve updated our scouting report page. Check it out.