Grading all of the trades and picks made within the film ‘Draft Day’

“C’mon, Tom. Say it with me, you pancake-eating motherf***er.”

If there have been ever a means for a basic supervisor to flaunt that that they had all of the leverage in commerce negotiations, it could sound one thing like that. That is the road that fictional Cleveland Browns basic supervisor Sonny Weaver Jr., as performed by Kevin Costner, drops when he is attempting to get a commerce with the Seattle Seahawks over the end line within the climactic scene of the 2014 film “Draft Day.”

Within the movie, Cleveland swings three main offers on Day 1 of the draft as Weaver tries to revitalize the group whereas additionally conserving his job protected. Weaver can be coping with the current dying of his father, Sonny Weaver Sr., who had beforehand coached the Browns. On high of that, he learns earlier within the day that his girlfriend and Browns cap guru Ali Parker (Jennifer Garner) is pregnant. 

If these developments weren’t one way or the other emotionally taxing sufficient, Weaver can be in an organized working marriage along with his head coach, Vince Penn (Denis Leary). Drawing parallels to Barry Switzer, Penn is in search of a return to glory after an unceremonious exit because the Cowboys‘ head coach regardless of main them to a Tremendous Bowl title. Penn’s previous success has him pondering he is aware of higher than his basic supervisor, and he is speaking to GMs from different groups behind Weaver’s again. When the 2 have a disagreement, Penn goes into Weaver’s workplace on the day of the draft and burns a scouting report as the top coach threatens to stop on a number of events.

Regardless of all of that drama, Weaver is ready to pull off a couple of strikes which are portrayed as a heist, with Browns followers chanting, “Tremendous Bowl! Tremendous Bowl!” in one of many film’s ultimate scenes. Had been Weaver’s maneuverings all that nice, although? 

Let’s grade the trades and draft picks made within the film “Draft Day.”

Browns land No. 1 total decide from Seahawks for 3 first-round alternatives, together with No. 7 total decide

Within the opening scene, Seahawks basic supervisor Tom Michaels (Patrick St. Esprit) senses that he has the chance to make the most of Weaver, calling the Browns basic supervisor to attempt to make a commerce involving the No. 1 total decide. 

Michaels’ instinct is right. Weaver, who’s depicted as a fearless chief (he fired his father as Browns head coach!), is in a state of vulnerability when Draft Day arrives. Along with mourning the lack of his father, Weaver is implored by Browns proprietor Anthony Molina (Frank Langella) to do one thing monumental within the draft.

“Protection would not make a splash. Sonny, individuals pay to get moist,” Molina tells Weaver when the 2 are at an empty water park (symbolism!).

That quote leads Weaver to name again Michaels, who initially supplied to surrender the No. 1 total decide for the No. 7 total decide, a future first-round choice and a third-round decide. With reigning Heisman winner Bo Callahan (Josh Pence) being the presumptive No. 1 decide, that does not appear to be a foul haul in change for a possible franchise quarterback.

Kevin Costner (left) portrayed Sonny Weaver in “Draft Day,” which was directed by Ivan Reitman (proper). (Photograph by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Photos for Summit Leisure)

Nevertheless, after telling Weaver that he’d “save soccer in Cleveland” if he will get the Browns the No. 1 decide, Michaels ups the value. He now desires three first-round picks, together with the No. 7 total choice, for the highest total decide within the 2014 NFL Draft.

Weaver, who’s negotiating the deal whereas driving to the Browns’ services, agrees to the provide with out consulting anybody. He provides up his staff’s future draft capital similar to that, making a transfer for a quarterback though Cleveland is not in want of 1 (though present starter Brian Drew missed a great chunk of the earlier season). The Seahawks, in the meantime, preserve that they are content material with their quarterback scenario regardless of presumably ending with the league’s worst file the 12 months prior. 

A lot of the commerce decide worth charts recommend that the Browns received fleeced on this deal. OverTheCap.com’s Fitzgerald-Spielberger draft chart has the Browns surrendering 4,502 factors in draft picks, whereas the No. 1 total decide is price 3,000 factors. However the value to leap up and safe a attainable franchise quarterback with the No. 1 total decide has sometimes value that a lot through the years. In 2023, the Carolina Panthers despatched the No. 9 total decide, a future first-round decide, two second-round picks and huge receiver DJ Moore to the Chicago Bears for the No. 1 decide, which they used on quarterback Bryce Young.

Nonetheless, why are the Browns giving up a lot once they insist that they like their quarterback? What a coup by the Seahawks.

Grades

Browns: C-

Seahawks: A

Browns safe No. 6 total decide for 3 second-round picks

The Browns make a decide that will’ve been considered as one of the beautiful in NFL historical past at No. 1, choosing Ohio State linebacker Vontae Mack. The decide makes Molina so irate that he one way or the other will get from New York Metropolis to Cleveland by the point the Jacksonville Jaguars, who’ve the No. 6 decide, are on the clock. 

With the Jaguars up and Callahan falling, Weaver will get his swagger again. He takes benefit of inexperienced Jaguars basic supervisor Jeff Carson (Pat Healy), who’s hesitant and would not need to make the decision on drafting Callahan. 

Weaver determines that he’ll take the choice out of Carson’s palms for 3 second-round picks. Carson counteroffers with 4 second-round picks, however settles for 3 as Weaver is beginning to show the machismo that loads of different Costner characters have. 

The Fitzgerald-Spielberger draft worth chart says that the Jaguars received this commerce, receiving 3,279 factors in draft capital in comparison with 2,092 factors for the Browns. However transferring out of a top-10 decide and never getting a first-round choice in return is type of brutal, particularly with a expertise like Callahan nonetheless on the board. Carson did not even open up commerce negotiations, which appears to be a standard prevalence within the “Draft Day” universe. 

Grades

Browns: B

Jaguars: D

Browns get No. 7 decide, their two future first-round picks again and “David goddamn Putney” for No. 6 total

Bear in mind when the Seahawks indicated that they did not want Callahan? Effectively, it seems they need him, and Michaels thought he almost pulled a quick one on Weaver. 

As an alternative, Weaver flips the script on Michaels and holds all of the leverage. He is aware of it, too. Weaver fires again with the identical traces that Seahawks basic supervisor used towards him earlier that morning. When Michaels would not conform to Weaver’s provide to get his first-round picks again for the No. 6 choice, the Browns basic supervisor tells him, “We stay in a distinct world than we did simply 30 seconds in the past.”

Weaver asks for “David goddamn Putney,” who appears to be a standout punt returner, on high of his request for the return of his first-round picks. The Seahawks oblige to allow them to get their quarterback. 

By the point the commerce is finalized, Weaver’s three trades have landed him the No. 1 total decide and Putney for 3 second-round picks. Even with out figuring out the place these second-round picks will fall sooner or later, that is a powerful haul. The Seahawks, in the meantime, gave up Putney whereas transferring again six picks from the No. 1 spot. Congratulations, Michaels, you performed your self. 

Grades

Browns: A+

Seahawks: F

Chadwick Boseman performed Vontae Mack in “Draft Day.” (Photograph by Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic)

Grading the picks

LB Vontae Mack

Weaver reveals an affinity for Mack, and understandably so. The Ohio State product, performed by the late Chadwick Boseman, was a star for the Buckeyes, recording 4 sacks once they took on Callahan’s Wisconsin staff. The Browns’ scouts marveled at Mack’s capability once they watched his movie, whereas his solely flaw appears to be that he’ll tweet his ideas on a whim. 

Nevertheless, Mack would not seem like in play because the No. 1 decide previous to the Browns buying and selling for the choice. Earlier than Weaver lands the decide, Mack pleads with the Browns basic supervisor to draft him at No. 7 or else he may fall into the late teenagers. The Houston Texans additionally present curiosity in Mack, with their basic supervisor calling Weaver to get extra background information on him. The Texans weren’t on the board till No. 15, although.

So even when the No. 1 decide was purported to be “Vontae Mack it doesn’t matter what,” this was an unbelievable attain.

Grade: F

QB Bo Callahan

We do not study a lot about Callahan’s quarterback capability in “Draft Day,” however the little we see is spectacular. Whereas he received rattled on one play after getting sacked by Mack within the Wisconsin-Ohio State sport, Callahan made a terrific throw on the run after escaping a sack to throw a landing. That play led considered one of Cleveland’s evaluators to check him to Ben Roethlisberger. 

However Callahan has a little bit of an ego. It is rumored that none of his teammates attended his most up-to-date celebration. Nevertheless, there are different character issues past that. He wants his agent to inform him find out how to communicate to Weaver over the telephone, and he storms out of the inexperienced room when he is not chosen with the No. 1 total decide. We additionally discover out he lied about studying one other staff’s playbook earlier within the draft course of. 

The expertise actually appears to be there with Callahan. Who is aware of if he’ll be capable of put all of it collectively, although. Good on Michaels for initially buying and selling out of the No. 1 decide, however the choice to nonetheless draft him at No. 6 at the same time as they preferred their quarterback scenario was questionable.

Grade: C

RB Ray Jennings

Just like Callahan, we do not know a ton about Jennings (Arian Foster) as a participant. The Florida State product apparently took a toss play on a fourth-and-26 and turned it right into a landing, which might make him one of many sport’s finest operating backs. He additionally had over 2,000 whole yards in his ultimate season of school, serving to him grow to be a Heisman finalist. 

Former Texans RB Arian Foster performed Ray Jennings in “Draft Day.”  (Photograph by Ray Tamarra/Getty Photos)

Nevertheless, Jennings additionally has a personality concern. He was arrested on an assault and battery cost as he was concerned in a brawl previous to the draft. Jennings defends himself in a telephone name to Weaver when the Browns basic supervisor questions his position within the struggle.

In the end, the Browns decide to draft Jennings. It is implied that Jennings, who’s the son of Browns legend Earl Jennings (Terry Crews), is chosen partly due to his household ties to the group. Penn and Weaver’s father wished Jennings, too. 

Nonetheless, are these good causes to select a participant within the high 10? Most likely not, however Jennings is certainly a playmaker.

Grade: B

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