Breer: This Draft Has No Prototypes

Albert Breer joins from Sports Illustrated with a theme: this draft doesn't have prototypes.

Once you get past Fernando Mendoza at the top, Breer argues, the premium positions lack the clean templates, no Myles Garrett edge, no Patrick Surtain corner, no Joe Alt left tackle, no Calvin Johnson receiver. The tackles who are great are right tackles, not left tackles. The edge rushers require projection: Arvell Reese needs a plan, David Bailey is weaker against the run. Meanwhile, the best players in the draft sit at non-premium positions, Jeremiah Love at running back, Sonny Styles at linebacker, Caleb Downs at safety.

Rich frames it as a hot take: Mendoza isn't the Joe Burrow of quarterbacks first overall, and the Kirk Cousins signing in Las Vegas confirms it. Breer agrees. Reese could become Micah Parsons. The ceiling is real, but the projection required is higher than in recent drafts.

Breer connects it to the Lions' 2023 draft, Jahmyr Gibbs at 12, Jack Campbell at 18, Sam LaPorta and Brian Branch in round two. The question teams are asking: take the high-floor non-premium player or gamble the ceiling at a premium spot.

On Ty Simpson, Breer is skeptical. Most scouts compare Simpson to Brock Purdy, with Mendoza getting the Jared Goff comp, bigger arm, more starts, 6'5" frame. Teams don't feel comfortable taking a Purdy profile in round one. Breer lands Simpson in round two.

The 2027 class looms. Breer counts roughly 12 quarterbacks with first-round potential: Arch Manning, Dante Moore, C.J. Carr, Julian Sayin, Nico Iamaleava, Brandon Sorrell. He names the Dolphins, Browns, Cardinals, and Jets as teams kicking the can to 2027.

C.J. Stroud's extension: the Texans may wait, particularly since Will Anderson's deal, potentially the first non-quarterback at $50M per year, will complicate the math. Breer's broader point: teams are watching the reclamation-project market. Sam Darnold in Seattle, Baker Mayfield in Tampa, Daniel Jones at $88M over two years. If a cheap veteran solution exists, teams don't have to overpay their own drafted quarterback out of fear.

On Myles Garrett and Cleveland: Breer is on the record that the Browns should explore trading him. The timelines don't match. The Browns are building toward a 2027 quarterback, and by the time that core peaks in 2028, Garrett will be 32 turning 33. Three first-round picks for a 30-year-old Hall of Famer is a deal no GM would laugh at.