Cat Scratch Reader
In this series, I’ll throw out one random possibility for the NFL Draft and you’ll decide whether or not you prefer that alternate reality
This is a continuation of our previous “What If...” Wednesday series leading up to the NFL Draft. This activity is based on the Disney+ series Marvel’s “What If...” where one tiny change to the timeline results in a vastly different alternate universe. Killmonger befriends Tony Stark, T’Challa becomes Star Lord, weird stuff like that. In these articles, I’ll give you an NFL Draft scenario, and you all will decide if this is an alternate reality you would want to live in.
Our third scenario involves and change in leadership leading to a change of heart.
For this week’s scenario, we have to start by looking at the top of the Draft. The first couple of picks go off like expected, quarterbacks one and two. The third pick gets a little strange as the Patriots decide to decline the Vikings’ offer to trade up and instead select a third quarterback, Drake Maye. The Cardinals field some calls from quarterback-thirsty teams, but ultimately decide to take a wide receiver. The Broncos offer the Chargers a king’s ransom for the fifth pick and take JJ McCarthy. Four quarterbacks in the first five picks isn’t unheard of throughout the multiverse. But the Giants in this universe shock the world. They’re enamored with Michael Penix Jr’s arm talent. They decide to dump Daniel Jones for a late round pick and take Penix to be their quarterback of the future.
Panicked, the Raiders trade up to pick number seven to secure their rookie quarterback, Bo Nix. The Vikings’ front office falls back into their chairs, aghast at the unfortunate turn of events. Until the phone rings, that is. Dan Morgan and Dave Canales like Bryce Young in this universe, but they’re not married to the idea of him being a franchise guy. Dan gets on the phone with the Vikings and offers up Bryce for pick 23 in the first round. The Vikings like Bryce better than any other quarterbacks in this Draft, so they pounce.
With pick 23, the Panthers take Cooper DeJean from Iowa. They like his versatility as a safety/big nickel player who can move outside when Jaycee Horn inevitably gets injured. They still have both second round picks as well, so they use those on Xavier Leggette (wide receiver from South Carolina) and Braden Fiske (defensive lineman from Florida State), respectively. Later on in the Draft, the Panthers decide to take a flyer on the quarterback with arguably the best tools in the Draft, the guy who helped Leggette break out last season at South Carolina: Spencer Rattler. Their plan is to have Andy Dalton run the offense this season while Rattler learns the NFL game. Dalton can win plenty of games with a much improved defense in this scenario and a big/strong/fast receiver to add to an already...
