The NFL Draft is the NFL off-season event of the year. It also produces the highest number of Freezing Cold Takes of any sports-related event on earth. Every year, analysts, commentators, scouts, coaches, fans, players, random people on the street, and the girl next door are among the folks who publish quotes, analysis, and any other commentary regarding how the draftees will perform in the future.
Take an adventurous trip down memory lane with this long list of NFL Draft–related Freezing Cold Takes.
QUARTERBACKS
“The Giants’ first-round choice of… Phil Simms of Morehead State drew a chorus of boos from the packed gallery at the Waldorf, and the cat-calls continued—‘Put down the phone and try praying!’ and ‘Phil Who?’”
—From an article by Larry Fox in the New York Daily News (1979)
“I don’t understand it… I don’t know who is going to work with him down there. Where is the great quarterback coaching genius? I don’t see where he is going to get this great coaching that’s going to overcome the problems that he’s had… I think they need help in other directions.”
—Paul Zimmerman (“Dr. Z”), writer for Sports Illustrated and analyst on ESPN’s Draft coverage, after the Miami Dolphins selected Dan Marino with the 27th overall pick (1983)
“After this draft is history, ten years from now, [Tony] Eason will be the one player remembered. Even more so than Elway.”
—Chicago Bears general manager Jim Finks to Paul Zimmerman, during a pre-draft conversation between the two; Dr. Z told viewers about the exchange during ESPN’s coverage of the 1983 Draft
“I feel any team that needs a quarterback and bypasses John Friesz will be making the biggest mistake since the five teams that bypassed Danny Marino.”
—Dave-Te Thomas, NFL Draft analyst and founder of NFL Draft Report (1990)
“[With Andre Ware at quarterback], the [Detroit Lions will] drive better than anything that’s ever come out of a Ford, Chrysler or GM plant.”
—Bob Sansevere, staff columnist, St. Paul (Minnesota) Pioneer Press (1990)
“If I was New England, I would take Rick Mirer. The reason I would take Rick Mirer is because I think that he could sell tickets in the New England area to the Notre Dame fans.”
—Joe Theismann, ESPN NFL broadcaster and draft analyst, just before the start of the 1993 Draft, explaining why he believed the Patriots, who owned the No. 1 overall pick, should pick Rick Mirer over Drew Bledsoe (1993)
“Everybody should have drafted Jake Plummer. He’s another Joe Montana… Potentially, he’s a Hall of Famer.”
—Bill Walsh, Hall of Fame and former San Francisco 49ers head coach (1997)
“[Danny Wuerffel’s] a winner. What else could you want? If a team needs a quarterback, they better take him.”
—Mike Holovak, Houston Oilers director of scouting (1997)
“I say it’s a no-brainer for the Colts to take [Ryan] Leaf… The name of any big-time professional game is still talent, and Leaf clearly has more of it than [Peyton] Manning will ever dream of.”
—Vic Carucci, columnist Buffalo News (1998)
“Without a doubt, Peyton Manning will be [the 1998 Draft’s biggest flop for] whoever has the misfortune to draft this overrated collegian.”
—Kevin Flowers,New Castle (Pennsylvania) News (1998)
“He is the quarterback we clamored for, the potential savior cut in a city’s battling image… He’s daring. He’s poised. He’s a clever playmaker, a mobile thinker who will turn Soldier Field into Sunday at the improv… Already, [Cade] McNown sounds like a folk hero in the making.”
—Jay Mariotti, columnist Chicago Sun-Times (1999)
“Obviously, [Tom Brady] has a great future in New England—as a practice squad quarterback.”
—Alan Greenberg, Hartford Courant columnist (2000)
“I see Brett Favre in this group [of QBs in the 2004 Draft class]… That’s who [J. P.] Losman is going to be… 100 percent.”
—Charley Armey, former NFL general manager (2004)
“Will [‘draft project’ Ben Roethlisberger] help this year? No. Will [he] help next year? Probably not.”
—Rick Green, writer,Erie (Pennsylvania) Times-News (2004)
“In five years we will talk about Kellen Clemens the way we talk about Tom Brady.”
—Ron Jaworski, ESPN NFL analyst (2006)
“Dolphins could have had their next Dan Marino if they had selected Brady Quinn.”
—Pete Prisco, CBS Sports NFL writer (2007)
“Mike Greenberg can’t contain his excitement about the Jets & [Mark] Sanchez. He really believes Broadway Joe has met his match.”
—Official Twitter account of the ESPN TV show SportsCenter (2009)
“If you are betting against this [Pat White] being a big-time quarterback, don’t… I want the ball in his hands.”
—Mike Mayock, NFL Network Draft Analyst (2009)
“I love, love, love this pick for Carolina. Jimmy Clausen. Man, teams are going to be sorry…”
—Ian Rapoport, Boston Herald reporter (2010)
“If [Tim] Tebow isn’t a [Jacksonville] Jaguar by tonight, it’s my opinion the franchise is gone within three years.”
—Tim Brando, CBS Sports NFL broadcaster, on the day of the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft (2010)
“I love [Jake] Locker. I’m a ‘Locker Stocker,’ man!”
—Jon Gruden, ESPN television analyst and former NFL head coach, during ESPN’s coverage of the 2011 Draft
“LOVE IT. Christian Ponder to the Vikings. He will have a long successful career in Minnesota. Sleeper of the draft.”
—Barrett Sallee, Bleacher Report college football writer (2011)
“The Cardinals should give up the [fifth overall pick in the draft to trade] for [veteran NFL quarterback] Kevin Kolb.”
—Charley Casserly, NFL Network analyst and former NFL general manager (2011)
“I don’t see Russell Wilson being anything more than Seneca Wallace. I’m higher on Josh Portis as a prospect.”
—Hugh Millen, 950 KJR-AM, Seattle (2012)
“Dak Prescott is a backup in [the] NFL. At tight end.”
—Colin Cowherd, host of The Herd on ESPN Radio (2014)
“Johnny Football will bring a buzz to Houston. And that buzz is good. There will be a lot of excitement. I’ll buy two tickets if he goes to Houston… I don’t feel like I’m overdrafting… If I’m a quarterback coach, this is what I want to mold for my future in the modern-day NFL.”
—Jon Gruden, during ESPN’s coverage of the 2014 Draft, arguing why the Houston Texans should draft Johnny Manziel first overall (2014)
“The Jets just got the steal of the draft, their future starting QB, Bryce Petty.”
—Skip Bayless, host of First Take on ESPN (2015)
“[DeShone] Kizer… is going to make millions and millions of dollars. Multiple time Pro Bowler.”
—Dan Wolken, USA Today sportswriter (2016)
“HACKENBERG TO THE JETS!!! YES!!!!… I’m 100% all-in on Christian Hackenberg… A steal, so pumped… I’ve knocked down every single ‘Hackenberg sucks’ argument.”
—Jason McIntyre, Fox Sports 1 personality (and big New York Jets fan) (2016)
“Chiefs are STOOPID.”
—Tony Massarotti, sportswriter and host of Felger and Mazz on 98.5 the Sports Hub (Boston), after Kansas City traded up from pick No. 17 to No. 10 in the first round of the 2017 Draft, and then used the No. 10 to select Patrick Mahomes (2017)
“It is unprecedented to see a player like [Patrick Mahomes], a first-round player, who has so many flaws and different things that you try to fix. I don’t know how you fix this.”
—Bucky Brooks, NFL Network analyst (2017)
“[The] Chiefs just made the dumbest move of the draft. Mahomes has a cannon, but he freelances way too much.”
—Mike Farrell, Rivals.com, national recruiting director (2017)
“It won’t happen, but if Louisville were really thinking about Lamar Jackson’s future, they would move him to WR. That’s where he will play in the NFL.”
—Booger McFarland, ESPN college football analyst (2017)
“I would consider any team that used a first-round pick on Josh Allen to be the biggest loser of the first round. No good NFL quarterback has ever had statistics as bad as Allen’s in college.”
—Rodger Sherman, writer, The Ringer (2018)
“Cincinnati should keep veteran Andy Dalton and trade back to get more quality picks.”
—Michael Robinson, NFL Network analyst and former NFL wide receiver, when asked what the Bengals should do with the No. 1 pick in the 2020 Draft, which they eventually used to select Joe Burrow (2020)
RUNNING BACKS
“The… Bears chose Walter Payton [with the fourth overall pick], and a man in the front row [at the draft] booed… He identified himself as a Chicago businessman… He was disappointed that the Bears had not grabbed a lineman.”
—Excerpt from Red Smith’s New York Times article from the 1975 Draft
“[Emmitt Smith will] be a good player in this league, but it’ll be a short career. When he loses a step, that’ll be it.”
—Ray Perkins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach (1990)
“[Emmitt] Smith should be a solid, productive player, but he’s no game-breaker. He’s what Herschel Walker has slumped into—a plodding, straight-ahead type who won’t outrun anyone.”
—Kevin Lyttle, columnist, Austin American-Statesman (1990)
“Blair Thomas will be a hero in New York. He has no holes as a player or person.”
—Joe Mendes, New England Patriots director of player development, after the New York Jets selected Thomas No. 2 overall (1990)
“Meet Curtis Enis. I admit to Enis Envy… he’s exactly what the good doctor ordered [for the Bears].”
—Jay Mariotti, columnist, Chicago Sun-Times (1996)
“Ten years from now, I can almost guarantee that this gaffe will rank alongside Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan as one of the worst draft picks ever.”
—Elliott Smith, columnist, Odessa (Texas) American,after the 1999 Draft, referring to when the Colts, with the fourth overall pick, passed on Ricky Williams to select Edgerrin James
“Brandon Weeden and Trent Richardson in the same backfield next year? That’s pretty freaking cool.”
—Stewart Mandel, Sports Illustrated college football writer (2012)
“Anyone else thinking Trent Richardson is the next truly great NFL running back? Like, Adrian Peterson good?… If I’m wrong on [Richardson], I’m ‘Dewey-beats-Truman’ wrong.”
—Gregg Doyel, CBS Sports writer (2012)
“Wayne Gallman >>>> Derrick Henry when it comes to their careers at the next level.”
—Todd Fuhrman, CBS Sportsline gaming analyst (2012)
“I would rather have Kenneth Dixon than Derrick Henry.”
—Matt Miller, NFL Draft analyst, Bleacher Report (2016)
WIDE RECEIVERS
“[Dolphins third-round draft pick] Larry Shannon [is]… probably a step faster than Randy Moss… He’s bigger, he’s taller, he’s faster [than Moss].”
—Miami Dolphins head coach Jimmy Johnson (1998)
“[The] Colts reached.”
—Warner Hessler, writer (Newport News, Virginia) Daily Press, on the Colts using the 30th overall pick in the 2001 Draft to select Reggie Wayne (2001)
“This was the easy part. Charles Rogers was the right pick, such an obvious pick, even the Lions couldn’t miss the can’t-miss guy. Lions fans should enjoy this. It’s their reward for the 5–27 penance of the past two seasons.”
—Bob Wojnowski, Detroit News columnist (2003), after the Lions selected Charles Rogers with the second overall pick in the 2003 Draft just before the Texans selected wide receiver Andre Johnson with the No. 3 pick (2003)
“I’ll see you at his Hall of Fame induction.”
—Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN lead draft analyst, to colleague Merril Hoge about University of Southern California wide receiver prospect Mike Williams, who was selected by the Lions with the 10th overall pick in the 2005 Draft
“Matt Jones, a WR-TE hybrid freak of nature, was a great first round pick. He will become a great weapon for [Jags starting quarterback] Byron Leftwich.”
—Walter Cherepinsky, NFL draft analyst & creator of NFL website WalterFootball.com (2005)
“Jay Cutler says THANK YOU. Kevin White will be a BEAST. Extremely confident and backs it up. Big/strong/fast/tough.”
—Skip Bayless, host of First Take, on ESPN, after the Bears selected Kevin White with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2015 Draft
TIGHT ENDS
“[Rickey] Dudley will be a factor [for the Oakland Raiders] for 12 years.”
—John Marvel, writer Contra Costa (California) Times (1996)
“People are high on Arizona TE [Rob] Gronkowski? I don’t see it. At all.”
—Greg Bedard, Boston Globe NFL reporter (2010)
“The thought of the New England offense plus [C. J.] Spiller is scary—the thought of the New England offense plus Rob Gronkowski is something defensive coordinators can live with.”
—Gregg Easterbrook, writer, ESPN.com’s here, questioning why New England, before using the 42nd pick to select Gronkowski, didn’t try to use the pick to trade up for an “impact player” like Spiller or Derrick Morgan (2010)
DEFENSE
“[Buffalo Bills]: Worst Pick: Bruce Smith DE, Virginia Tech: Smith is a happy-go-lucky guy who tends to be lazy. He also likes to eat.”
—Joel Buchsbaum, NFL Draft analyst, in a newspaper feature where he chose the best and worst pick each team made during the 1985 Draft
“[Chris Doleman] is a projection… He’s a down lineman that is projecting to linebacker, and there used to be a rule of thumb, when you are drafting this high [fourth overall] you take sure things not projections.”
—Paul Zimmerman (“Dr. Z”), writer for Sports Illustrated, and analyst on ESPN’s draft coverage (1985)
“Should the Panthers use the second overall pick on North Carolina DE Julius Peppers?… I say trade down in the first round with the intention of selecting [defensive tackle] Ryan Sims.”
—Dan Arkush, executive editor, Pro Football Weekly (2002)
“Charles Woodson… won’t have the impact short-term [of running back Curtis] Enis, nor the impact long-term [of quarterback Brian] Griese.”
—Kevin Flowers,New Castle (Pennsylvania) News (1998)
“Let’s face it: [Ed] Reed is a pick without pizazz.”
—Mike Preston, columnist, Baltimore Sun (2002)
“With [defensive tackle Vernon] Gholston now in New York, [Jets head coach Eric] Mangini has hit another one out of the park. Excellent selection.”
—Matt Sohn, Pro Football Weekly (2008)
“[The Houston Texans] will rue the night they took Pizza Boy J. J. Watt over Nick Fairley, Houston lover.”
—Chris Baldwin, CultureMap Houston (2011)
“Luke Kuechly at No. 10 to Panthers is not going to work out well.”
—Andrew Perloff, producer, the Dan Patrick Show (2012)