Grading all the trades and picks made in the movie ‘Draft Day’

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

If there have been ever a method for a basic supervisor to flaunt that that they had all of the leverage in commerce negotiations, it will 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 retaining his job secure. Weaver can also be coping with the latest demise 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 someway emotionally taxing sufficient, Weaver can also be in an organized working marriage along with his head coach, Vince Penn (Denis Leary). Drawing parallels to Barry Switzer, Penn is looking for 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 pinnacle coach threatens to give up on a number of events.

Regardless of all of that drama, Weaver is ready to pull off a number of strikes which might be portrayed as a heist, with Browns followers chanting, “Tremendous Bowl! Tremendous Bowl!” in one of many film’s ultimate scenes. Have 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 general choose from Seahawks for 3 first-round alternatives, together with No. 7 general choose

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 general choose. 

Michaels’ instinct is appropriate. 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 provided to surrender the No. 1 general choose for the No. 7 general choose, a future first-round choice and a third-round choose. With reigning Heisman winner Bo Callahan (Josh Pence) being the presumptive No. 1 choose, that does not appear to be a foul haul in alternate 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 Photographs for Summit Leisure)

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

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

Many of the commerce choose worth charts counsel that the Browns obtained 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 general choose is price 3,000 factors. However the value to leap up and safe a attainable franchise quarterback with the No. 1 general choose has sometimes price that a lot through the years. In 2023, the Carolina Panthers despatched the No. 9 general choose, a future first-round choose, two second-round picks and large receiver DJ Moore to the Chicago Bears for the No. 1 choose, 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 general choose for 3 second-round picks

The Browns make a choose that might’ve been considered as one of the beautiful in NFL historical past at No. 1, choosing Ohio State linebacker Vontae Mack. The choose makes Molina so irate that he someway will get from New York Metropolis to Cleveland by the point the Jacksonville Jaguars, who’ve the No. 6 choose, 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 arms 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 gained 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 choose and never getting a first-round choice in return is form 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 incidence within the “Draft Day” universe. 

Grades

Browns: B

Jaguars: D

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

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 a substitute, Weaver flips the script on Michaels and holds all of the leverage. He is aware of it, too. Weaver fires again with the identical strains that Seahawks basic supervisor used towards him earlier that morning. When Michaels would not comply with Weaver’s supply to get his first-round picks again for the No. 6 choice, the Browns basic supervisor tells him, “We dwell in a special 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 general choose and Putney for 3 second-round picks. Even with out understanding the place these second-round picks will fall sooner or later, that is a formidable 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 exhibits 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 group. The Browns’ scouts marveled at Mack’s potential 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 choose previous to the Browns buying and selling for the choice. Earlier than Weaver lands the choose, 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 data on him. The Texans weren’t on the board till No. 15, although.

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

Grade: F

QB Bo Callahan

We do not study a lot about Callahan’s quarterback potential in “Draft Day,” however the little we see is spectacular. Whereas he obtained 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 one in every 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 considerations past that. He wants his agent to inform him how you can converse to Weaver over the telephone, and he storms out of the inexperienced room when he is not chosen with the No. 1 general choose. We additionally discover out he lied about studying one other group’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 choose, however the choice to nonetheless draft him at No. 6 at the same time as they favored their quarterback state of affairs 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 greatest working backs. He additionally had over 2,000 whole yards in his ultimate season of faculty, 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 Photographs)

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 combat.

Finally, 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? In all probability not, however Jennings is unquestionably a playmaker.

Grade: B

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