Pre-Draft Coverage
(aka "Told You So" Coverage)
1999 NFL Draft - April 17, 1999
Latest Updates:
See team updates below!!
McNown:
Too small, but not for Bill Walsh - The Oregonian
(4/15/99)
"If I had to rate the quarterbacks
overall, Donovan McNabb would be No. 1,'' he said. ``Then I like Cade McNown,
Tim Couch and Akili Smith. I don't think anyone will go wrong picking Couch,
but he doesn't have a very strong arm.'' - former Buffalo Bills quarterback
Jim Kelly. (4/15/99)
"The quarterback most likely
to make the quickest impact in the NFL won't be in the top three picks, according
to former Chiefs head coach Marty Schottenheimer. Schottenheimer, who will
be working for ESPN during the NFL Draft this weekend, says that UCLA quarterback
Cade McNown has the best shot at making an immediate impact for the team
that drafts him. Schottenheimer told users that his former team will probably
go after one of the top two cornerbacks and that he has no plans to get back
into coaching."
Football Fan Man: What do you
think of Cade McNown, and do you think he'll be available when the Saints
pick at No. 12? If so, do you think they would pick him?
Schottenheimer: McNown is really
the only quarterback in this draft that appears ready to play immediately.
He is extremely bright, a playmaker and he has the one quality of positive
decision making that is important to any team. I believe that those concerns
about a lack of arm strength will not show up when he gets into the league.
Quarterback stock had ups and downs - Philadelphia Online
(4/16/99)
McNown's
draft
profile by Pro Football Weekly
Raiders interested: "The
quarterback the Raiders are eyeing is UCLA's Cade McNown, whose mobility,
poise under pressure and accuracy make him a good fit for the Raiders' offense.
The Raiders don't draft until the 18th pick, but they're looking for ways
to move up in the first round so they can get McNown." - SF
Gate
More teams showing interest
in Cade. See below.
(3/18/99)
News from the combine: Cade
ran the 40 in 4.74 at the Indianapolis combine last month, faster than two
thirds of the quarterbacks now starting in the NFL. He was measured
in at 6'1, 213 pounds.
McNown's workout scheduled
for March 22. Several team representatives to be in attendance.
McNown's stock has increased
considerably. Now likely to be drafted in first round. (See below
for more details).
On the record and in the rumor mill:
Chicago Bears (#7)
McNown a Bear? - The Chicago Tribune
(4/16/99)
QB-hungry Bears have tough decision to make - CBS Sportsline
(4/15/99)
"Erik Kramer is an aging veteran
coming off the latest in a series of serious injuries. The Bears would love
to get a young player to develop behind Kramer and won't keep that guy off
the field if he's ready to play. But wanting and getting are two different
things, and if Couch, Smith and McNabb are gone at No. 7, the Bears are unlikely
to take Culpepper or McNown (whom they prefer) with that high a pick. So
the choice becomes trading down--but not beyond No. 12, where Mike Ditka's
New Orleans Saints might take McNown if they can't trade up for a running
back--or taking a defensive player at No. 7 and waiting until the second
round to take a quarterback. Either way, the Bears are certain to end the
first day with a new quarterback. It just might not be the one they really
want." - Chicago Sun Times (4/16/99)
Serious talk about Chicago
taking McNown.
Click
here for the story.
New Orleans Saints
(#12)
There has been some serious
talk going around about McNown being a likely pick by the Saints.
"The Saints, picking 12th,
might make a move up to draft either [Culpepper or McNown]."- Newsday
3/21/99
New Orleans Saints coach Mike
Ditka: "I really like this kid. He's a winner."
Tampa
Bay Buccaneers (#15)
The Sporting
News: Bucs Team Report (2/28/99)
Seattle Seahawks (#17)
"...it's unlikely that Holmgren
will draft another receiver in the first round. His choice might be UCLA's
Cade McNown, who could be a perfect fit for his short-passing game, if McNown
is still there at 17. If the Seahawks get him, McNown would compete
in Seattle with Jon Kitna and Glenn Foley at quarterback. Holmgren kept Kitna,
the team's starter the last five games last season, and released Warren Moon
and John Friesz, its other two quarterbacks. He traded a seventh-round pick
to the New York Jets for Foley." - AP (4/16/99)
Seahawks: Seattle taking McNown
in the first round (#17) has been mentioned in rumors.
Baltimore
Ravens (#10)
"The Chicago Bears and Baltimore
Ravens, picking seventh and 10th, respectively, have quarterback needs and
will choose between Culpepper and McNown." - Newsday
3/21/99
San
Francisco 49ers (#27)
Sacramento Bee:
"The early buzz is that the 49ers also covet UCLA quarterback
Cade McNown, a left-handed scrambler who was recruited by Terry Donahue,
now the 49ers director of player personnel."
(3/18/99)
CBS Sportsline reports:
"Walsh is high on Cade McNown of UCLA, but he might not be around
when the 49ers pick 27th."
CBS Sportsline's Dan
Pompei - " Alot of teams like McNown, so I'd be surprised if he made it to
the 49ers at pick No. 27. Let's list the teams which are a threat to take
a quarterback and draft before the 49ers: Browns, Eagles, Bengals, Bears,
Saints, Ravens, Vikings, Steelers, Bucs, Seahawks, Raiders and Dolphins.
That's a dozen. And teams like the Jets and Falcons could try to leapfrog
the 49ers to get a quarterback. I don't think McNown makes it past the 15th
pick, and he might not make it past the 10th.
St.
Louis Rams (#6)
The Sporting News:
"Even with the recent $16.5 million investment in free agent
QB Trent Green, the Rams haven't quit thinking about trying to draft UCLA
QB Cade McNown. Several members of the organization love his competitiveness
and play-making ability. However, the Rams are hardly alone in their high
regard of McNown. His stock rose at the combine, and the Rams' hopes of grabbing
him with one of their early second round picks are long gone. If they're
serious about McNown, they now may have to trade into the middle of the first
round."
[Rams Team Report (2/28/99)]
The Rams looked hard at McNown
during the scouting combine.
Other talk about McNown:
Bengals: There is talk the
Bengals (#3) could trade down and pick up Cade McNown. (The Sporting
News).
Dolphins: If McNown is still
around when they pick #24, he might be grabbed to be Dan Marino's successor
(The Sporting News).
The Falcons, Patriots, and
Carolina also all looked at McNown during the scouting combine. Carolina
is said to like McNown. Cincinnati has also shown some interest in
McNown.
"UCLA's Cade McNown
is the fifth-rated quarterback because he doesn't have prototypical size
and arm strength. What he does have, however, is a knack for making big plays,
which is why some personnel people think he might actually turn out to be
the best quarterback of them all."
"He's different physically
and size-wise. I think he will be a tremendous quarterback in the NFL. I
think he will come in and win a lot.'' - Eagles' coach Andy Reid
(Associated Press)
From Sportsline wire reports:
Dwight Clark, Cleveland's director of football operations, thinks McNown
has a certain intangible that can't be measured or timed. "Cade McNown
has got something magical about him," Clark said. "He's a winner. He certainly
has the demeanor. I think out of all the interviews he had the best. He's
very confident in his ability."
From
The
Sporting News: (Evaluation of McNown) "A winner. Is the quarterback
who is most ready to step in and play in the NFL. Clutch performer. Great
intangibles and leadership. Shows awareness. A football player. Arm strength
is a question. Has a side armed release that hurts his accuracy. On the short
side. Lefty. Would fit in a West Coast offense. Could be another Jake Plummer
. . . or another Ty Detmer."
When will Cade be drafted?
Draft selection predictions place McNown anyone from the first round to the second round.
Predictions I have heard and the source (other than above):
Round 1:
| #12 - (New Orleans Saints), Mel Kiper's Mock Draft & Dan Pompei's Mock Draft |
#15 - (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Associated Press Report & Springfield Draft Publications Mock Draft |
#17 - (Seattle Seahawks), OurLad's Scouting Services (as of 4/6/99) |
| #18 - (Oakland), The Sporting News Mock Draft |
Top NFL Prospects Lists
#21 - Great Blue North Draft Report (previously #45) (as of 3/1/99) |
#23 - Joel Buchsbaum's Top 50 (April issue) |
#30 - Mel Kiper's Top 50, ESPN.com (as of 4/7/99) |
#31 - Top 300 Prospects, Springfield Draft Publications (as of 4/14/99) |
#42 - Top 200 Prospects, CBS Sportsline (as of 3/31/99) |
#45 - Top 50 Prospects, DraftInsiders.com (as of 4/7/99) |
#46 - Frank Coyle's Top 50, CBS Sportsline (as of 2/1/99) |
Useful Links:
Top Quarterback Prospects for the 1999 NFL Draft - The BS Sheet
Springfield Draft Publications