John Clayton of ESPN.com details how Boston College’s Matt Ryan – the top rated signal caller in April’s draft – could fall with teams at the top of the draft being gun shy about a young quarterback.
If Ryan falls to Baltimore at No. 8, it would be as perfect a fit as Ben Roethlisberger’s falling to the Steelers at No. 11 in 2004. Of course, if Ryan slips past the fifth pick, don’t be surprised if the Carolina Panthers — drafting 13th — make a phone call to the Patriots to inquire about trading up to the No. 7 pick in hopes of getting the heir to Jake Delhomme’s starting job.
And despite the Bears’ signing of Grossman, it wouldn’t be the worst thing if they tried to trade up from No. 14 to get the consensus top quarterback in the draft.
The Ravens, Panthers and Bears would be better fits for Ryan than the Dolphins and Falcons. They have better rosters. They have the running game. And they have the patience to not rush Ryan until he’s ready.
Teams sacred of making a mistake by drafting a quarterback too high need to look no further than the 2003 Cincinnati Bengals as a positive example. Cincy drafted David Klinger with their first pick in 1991, and Akili Smith with their first choice in 1999. Both were colossal flops – especially Smith. Yet when 2003 came along, the Bengals could have been scared off by the idea of using their first pick on another young quarterback. But they weren’t, and chose Carson Palmer, who turned out to be a franchise QB.
Yeah, the draft is a dangerous minefield, but you can’t be scared of taking a guy you have highly rated because you were burned before.
