He’s going to be a lock for a top 10 selection barring a development out of the Twilight Zone. What we don’t know at this point is who is likely to select former UCLA Football QB Josh Rosen in the 2018 NFL Draft.
With that in mind we here at Go Joe Bruin thought it would be interesting to see which teams he fits the best and where he can have both immediate and long term success.
Of course we need to set some ground rules. While Rosen being drafted by New England could mean the Patriots end up in the Super Bowl for the next 10 years, they’re in no position to select him and trading the entire draft away for him isn’t the Bill Belichick way. Nevermind that Belichick might not be long for New England anyway.
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So here are our rules to make our list.
- The team must be selecting in the top 10. While trades are possible, we will limit to trades inside the top 10 for a more realistic feel.
- The team must not have a firmly entrenched starter at QB. Yes there can be a returning starter but Tampa Bay obviously isn’t going to take Rosen with Jameis Winston still young.
- This is more of a personal belief on how teams should draft. Teams picking in the top portion of the draft should be looking for the best player available. Picking for need and reaching for players often lands teams right back in the top 10 in a few years. But when BPA and need combine that’s the sweet spot. So no, I’m not advocating for reaching, ignoring need or pretending to know the future. This is all for fun.
There are two teams that I personally believe would be a very poor fit for Rosen and they happen to be selecting first and third overall. The Cleveland Browns have both the first and the fourth pick in the 2018 draft. Analysts believe they need a QB but here’s my argument against that. The Browns took DeShone Kizer in the second round of the 2017 draft. Head coach Hue Jackson loved his upside but his roller coaster rookie season had fans clamoring for a change. Depending on which fans you listened to, there needs to be changes at both the QB and HC position.
In my opinion Kizer had enough ups to not throw in the towel just yet. Jackson has shown great ability as a playcaller but as a HC he is showing himself to be less than capable. For me, the Browns should focus on surrounding their young QB with more weapons and protection. They added David Njoku a highly athletic TE in the same draft class as Kizer and Josh Gordon is dynamic on the outside if he can stay out of trouble but the run game needs as much help as it can get and adding more pass catchers or an offensive lineman would go a lot farther than adding another young QB.
As for the Indianapolis Colts, if they’ve squandered Andrew Luck they should never be allowed to draft another QB in the first round again. A much simpler argument than the one against the Browns. Hey at least Cleveland has one win in 2018 already.
Now that we are past that rant, here are the top three fits for former UCLA Football QB Josh Rosen in the 2018 NFL Draft.
QB Depth Chart-Eli Manning, Geno Smith, Davis Webb
Pros:
The Giants will need a QB and the selection spot would be the perfect meeting of need and BPA. They have young talent outside at the WR position in Odell Beckham Jr. and Sterling Shepard. Add in veteran big body Brandon Marshall and the WR group, if it can stay healthy, gives him plenty of solid targets. At the TE position, rookie Brandon Ingram displayed plenty of promise and could be a high upside security blanket for the young QB.
Defensively this team spent big dollars in the 2017 free agency period and it showed as the season wore on. They could use an elite pass rusher and as always for the Giants, an upgrade in the LB group but this side of the ball won’t be a negative.
Cons:
It would seem Rosen left the UCLA Football program only to be cursed with another team with OL questions. The Giants need to upgrade the protection no matter who’s behind center. The run game really fell off last season and if it isn’t addressed it’s going to hamper the young QB’s development. Of course a major part of it is the OL but who’s the bellcow back there? Or at least who gets the majority of the carries? Former UCLA Football Bruin Paul Perkins regressed and was injured in his sophomore campaign but right now the RB group is just a bunch of guys with not a single one taking charge of the position.
Analysis:
This isn’t a stretch at all. In fact if you’re an NFL draft junkie you’ve likely seen this as a landing spot for Rosen for the past few months. The former UCLA Football QB could come in and in a year take over for an aging and, if I’m being honest, a diminishing Manning. Sitting your first round selection, especially at QB, isn’t a popular idea but it would be hard to imagine Rosen beating out Manning at this point in both of their careers. Not because Rosen doesn’t have the ability to do it but because that would mean the Giants have to willingly bench or release Manning. After last season’s debacle, benching him doesn’t seem like a popular idea.
Neither Smith or Webb would be a challenge to Rosen in a head to head competition. Smith has spent his entire career in New York first with the Jets and as a backup with the Giants. Neither stint has been impressive and he’s destined for a low ceiling backup role. Webb, a rookie in 2017, is a big, strong armed QB that had plenty of issues coming out of school including deep ball accuracy and decision making.
If Rosen is taken by the Giants the fit and potential for an early impact is promising for the former UCLA Football Bruin. I’d grade this fit a B+.
QB Depth Chart-Trevor Siemian, Brock Osweiler, Paxton Lynch, Chad Kelly
Pros:
If the Giants have a good defense the Broncos have a great one. Yes they had some injury issues in 2017 but with those guys returning and healthy this defense should have no issue returning to form. The secondary is strong, the LB group is above average and Von Miller is a demon off the edge. The DL missed Derick Wolfe but his return should give this group a major boost.
Offensively there’s a returning veteran presence with Demariyus Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders but the young guys like Bennie Fowler provide stability for the future. The run game is also in good hands with C.J. Anderson and Devontae Booker toting the rock. Add into a GM who knows what it takes for a QB to be successful in John Elway and you have a recipe for success.
Cons:
Offensive line issues are going to be a trend in the top 10, there’s no escaping it. While the RB group is solid it’s far from dynamic and will need help from the QB to force defenses to respect the pass. The TE position needs a big upgrade with not a single one on the active roster last year capable of being a difference maker. This defense, while loaded with talent, might end up losing Aqib Talib if the Broncos can find a partner. Sure the defense might be one of the best in the NFL but you can’t re-sign everyone and there’s not guarantees when it comes to depth. The window for their defensive prowess could be closing.
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Analysis:
Picking in the top 10 often means there were a number of problems on your roster. The main problem on the roster for the Broncos last year was the QB position. Siemian is a low end backup at best. Lynch and Osweiler have both played well below their draft slots and pay grades. Kelly, while intriguing many fans and draftniks, was a seventh round selection for a reason.He’s very strong armed but be Jekyll and Hyde in terms of decision making on and off the field. You don’t try to fight high school students when you’re in college and not have it impact your draft stock.
Yes the TE position right now doesn’t scare anyone but a certain rookie TE didn’t see action in 2017. However Jake Butt should be ready to see the field in 2018 after recovering from a knee injury. The Rosen to Butt connection could become a point scoring machine over the next decade.
Of all of the teams eligible for this list, the Broncos are the most favorable landing spot for the former UCLA Football QB. While the Broncos might have to move up to get him considering how incredibly talented and polished he is and how many QB needy teams there are between one and five, he’d be worth every penny. I’d have to give this fit an A+ grade.
According to the guidelines that we set for this article, the Colts, Buccaneers, Bears, 49ers and Raiders were automatically disqualified from taking the former UCLA Football QB. Plus I’ve already explained why I don’t believe the Browns to be a good fit so if we’ve been paying attention at home then you already knew this move was coming.
QB Depth Chart-Josh McCown, Bryce Petty, Christian Hackenberg, Joel Stave
Pros:
The Bronco’s defense is a unit that could best be described as balancing between sustained success and a potential downfall. The Jets’ defense is clearly headed in the right direction. Yes they’re still melding together but their DB group is young and talented. Both safties, Marcus Maye and Jamal Adams are big hitters with plenty of range. They’re going to help protect the corners in coverage and are only going to improve on their rookie year. The linebackers, led by Demario Davis from his MLB position, are the backbone of this defense and while they lack a game changer in the pass rush department they’re well rounded and strong against the run. Along the defensive line Leonard Williams has joined the elite few DL in the NFL with his play while Steve McClendon eats blocks like they aren’t even there. That side of the ball can help carry any competent offense.
The QB room shouldn’t pose much resistance in terms of playing time meaning the former UCLA Football Bruin could theoretically come in and seize the starting job almost right away. But who is he going to throw to?
Cons:
Robbie Anderson turned into one of the primary threat for the Jets after Quincy Enunwa was added to the injured reserve list in the preseason. Rookies Chad Hansen and ArDarius Stewart flashed. Jermaine Kearse was the leading receiver with 65 catches in his first season away from Seattle. Austin Seferain-Jenkins showed why when his head is on right he’s a big time weapon. So why did all of this end up under the “cons” portion? Because of that list who really scares you? Who’s the “the” guy? Even ASJ, who enjoyed a major comeback season with the Jets, might be on his way out of town.
Receiving options are plentiful but uninspiring. Hows the running game? Matt Forte has hung it up which means hopefully NY will finally have to go to another RB. Bilal Powell is a strong runner but he often absorbs just as much punishment when he takes on contact. Behind him the cupboard is a little bare as Elijah McGuire is the most exciting of the bunch. The offensive line isn’t fantastic but is much stronger run blocking than pass blocking. Something that doesn’t bode well for QBs.
This team needs a pass rusher in the worst way and has needed one for the past five years. While this defense is strong against the run they’ll always have trouble in the backend if they aren’t able to apply pressure. Giving QBs time to throw and score on you when your own passing offense can’t keep up isn’t exactly a recipe for success.
Analysis:
The Jets need a QB badly but they’ve hardly built a friendly environment for a rookie one. Head coach Todd Bowles might not have a stellar record with the Jets but he did just sign an extension. Still, if the team can’t display any signs of progress he’ll be canned. It’s not really the stable situation that young players need.
Provided the Jets take Rosen how should they go about the rest of the draft? Pass rusher, offensive line, pass catcher and running back are all viable options. There are a number of holes across the roster but the Jets have eight draft picks at their disposal this year. In a deep draft the Jets have the potential to add pieces in the draft and have plenty of money at their disposal in free agency. It is going to be a complete offensive overhaul and what better place to start than with a new, high quality QB you can build around for the next ten years?
Still, there’s plenty of apprehension surrounding the Jets as it relates to QB development. They’ll surely draft a QB this year but will it be Rosen? The reign of Tom Brady and the New England Patriots looks to be in it’s twilight. Securing the former UCLA Football QB could be the cornerstone to their own long term success. I’m giving this fit a B- grade.
Next: UCLA Football Spring Practice Preview 2018: Defensive Backs
Of course this is all just an exercise and there’s a chance we might even see a team jump from outside the top ten to snag Rosen. He offers everything a team could want in a franchise QB. The only question now is which franchise will land the stud QB.