Well, if Stopper is the in the minds of all GMS, then we just got lucky, we can get Barkley with the Texans pick that will likely be 4-10 now without Watson... Do you really think the last two games prove anything against Barkley's skill set? Did you watch the games and how the defense was focused solely on shutting him down? OSU gave Sparty the blue print. They nearly photo copied the game plan from the week before and Penn State couldn't adjust. Good for the Buckeyes and Spartans to recognize that. Too bad the Buckeyes didn't game plan for the Hawkeyes with the same intensity. Either way, this draft is shaping up to become one of the most interesting in years...the top ten is littered with teams (not named Browns) that are not looking for a QB. Latest mock draft based on week 9 results: 1. Cleveland Browns: Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA 2. San Francisco 49ers: Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State (Acquired Jimmy Garoppolo) 3. New York Giants: Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama (May take a QB to replace Manning, but I doubt it) 4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Arden Key, DE, LSU (Franchise guy Jameis Winston) 5. Indianapolis Colts: Bradley Chubb, DE, N.C. State (Andrew Luck, although, is his career over with shoulder injury?) 6. Cincinnati Bengals: Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State (IF they change coaching staff, this could be the first team not named Browns looking for QB) 7. Los Angeles Chargers: Derwin James, S, Florida State (Eventually will replace Rivers, but he still has 3-4 years left) 8. Chicago Bears: Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson (Just drafted their franchise guy) 9. Cleveland Browns (from HOU): Malik Jefferson, LB, Texas 10. Denver Broncos: Connor Williams, OT, Texas (This is where the bidding begins for QBs) 11. Detroit Lions: Derrius Guice, RB, LSU (Just made Stafford a richer man than he already was) 12. Baltimore Ravens: Vita Vea, DT, Washington (Flacco isn't going anywhere with that contract) 13. Oakland Raiders: Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame (Have their franchise guy in Carr) 14. New York Jets: Harold Landry, DE/LB, Boston College (The second highest need at QB not named Browns) 15. Arizona Cardinals: Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma (And the line starts getting longer at this point, Major need here) 16. Miami Dolphins: Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson 17. Washington Redskins: Sam Darnold, QB, USC 18. Atlanta Falcons: Chukwuma Okorafor, OT, Western Michigan 19. Green Bay Packers: Lorenzo Carter, DE/LB, Georgia 20. Tennessee Titans: Carlton Davis, CB, Auburn 21. Jacksonville Jaguars: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma 22. Dallas Cowboys: Tarvarus McFadden, CB, Florida State 23. Seattle Seahawks: Martinas Rankin, OT, Mississippi State 24. Buffalo Bills: Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan 25. Buffalo Bills (from KC): Joshua Jackson, CB, Iowa 26. Carolina Panthers: Austin Bryant, DE, Clemson 27. Pittsburgh Steelers: Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, DE/LB, Oklahoma 28. Los Angeles Rams: Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU 29. New Orleans Saints: Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia 30. New England Patriots: Isaiah Oliver, CB, Colorado 31. Minnesota Vikings: Jamarco Jones, OT, Ohio State 32. Philadelphia Eagles: James Washington, WR, Oklahoma State In this scenario, Both James and Fitzpatrick are gone at #9 where the Browns would be picking...however, if everyone is convinced that we must have a QB in this draft what would you rather do here? Stay status quo with this mock: #1 Josh Rosen QB UCLA #9 Malik Jefferson LB Texas OR #1 Saquon Barkly RB Penn State #9 Baker Mayfield QB Oklahoma Which scenario do you believe would help this team on offense in the 2019 season the most? The defense is coming along as planned, the offense needs something major to happen in order to improve... We are still early in the process and as stopper mentioned, Barkley MIGHT lose some of his luster going into the draft, at which point the Texans pick (which may be getting higher with each week) could be a landing spot for Barkley...and a possible trade down out of #1 overall could be a prudent way to go depending on the offers... Imagine this scenario come April: Browns #1 overall Texans #4 overall (a lot needs to happen, including the Texans losing out..they just lost to the lowly Colts yesterday...) BUT, how about this scenario Browns trade #1 overall to the Broncos for #7 overall, 2019 first round draft pick and 2020 second round draft pick 1 Broncos Josh Rosen QB UCLA 2 Giants Sam Darnold QB USC 3 49ers Arden Key DE LSU 4 Browns (via Texans) Saquon Barkley RB Penn State 5 Colts Bradley Chubb DE NC State 6 Bengals Denzel Ward CB OSU 7 Browns (via Broncos) Take your pick Minkah Fitzpatrick or Derwin James 33 Browns Baker Mayfield QB Oklahoma (which is about where Mayfield should begin to be ranked in reality) 37 Browns (via Texans) Equanimeous St. Brown WR Notre Dame 64 Browns (via Eagles) Orin Burks MLB Vanderbilt 65 Browns Mark Fields CB Clemson Off season pick up of Kirk Cousins would be huge in my humble opinion to the future success of this team, but he isn't the analytical poster boy, so that is most likely not happening. I simply am not impressed with the 2018 crop of QBs...I would rather have someone proven.
The only problem with an approach like this is the number of rookies you're continuing to acquire and therefore, be forced to start. At some point, the Browns need to start bundling these picks for proven players or moving up in the draft to target impact rookies. If you came out of a draft with Barkley, Fitzpatrick, St. Brown, Burks, and Mayfield... you may be starting all five of them - at least four depending on the QB situation. You're forcing the youngest team in the NFL to get younger. This was great in Year 1, but thus far we haven't seen squat out of this coaching staff that they're able to develop these players. Almost no one is going to argue the team got worse from 2016 to 2017 but this team is way behind the 2016 squad and looks like a lock to go 0-16. One more loss and we tie the worst record ever in the history of the NFL (expansion Buccs went 1-24 in their first 25 games).
I disagree, at some point they have to be learning rookies behind veterans, not forced starters. I would still want Jarvis Landry in here along with Kirk Cousins and I wouldn't change that draft at all... Cousins starter, with Kizer and Mayfield his backup Barkley, yes he would be a starter...duh...major improvement over the outgoing free agent Crowell Landry, Coleman and possibly Gordon starters St. Brown backup, get some reps, but not asked to do much year one Fitzpatrick, yes, immediate starter, which would allow Peppers to move into the spot he was drafted for Burks would be rotational, I am hoping Schobert continues to grow, but if not, they could be situational players so that they could be utilized to their fullest throughout. In my off season scenario, I would only be drafting two 2018 starters as I would be utilizing free agency to the best of my ability. There is absolutely NO reason why the Browns cannot go out and get two viable starters for this team in the off season...One of which being a starting QB, the likes of which never hit free agency. Take advantage of Kirk Cousins banking on himself and the fact you have hoarded cap money for the past several seasons. Maybe this was the plan all along....
I want to play, too! Here's a Hall of Fame QB who goes 6'0" and 209 pounds in college: Here's a prospective college QB who goes 6'1" and 220 pounds: #GiveMeMayfieldOrGiveMeDeath
I'm all for opening the checkbook this offseason, but if you're the top free agent QB - and a highly-regarded one at that - why in the world would you want to come to Cleveland? Hue Jackson has proven to be the worst head coach in NFL history (not hyperbole). Sashi Brown has proven to be a very below average GM and/or the F/O's plan has been a bad one. The owner has been meddlesome and wishy-washy throughout his tenure, firing most people after only one or two seasons. What's the allure to come here? If you're Kirk Cousins, you're telling every team Cleveland is offering $140M (even if they're not) but you'll take $120M to go to a contender.
I don't think he played out two franchise tags and turned down multiple long term offers to turn down $20M... Who are the "contenders" rushing in to scoop him up with a $120M contract? The one's with the cash, are not contenders...
Haslem is at the end of his rope, he is pulling their NFL credentials if Sashi and company don't do something drastic. I don't think he is going to keep that a secret with them either. I actually like what they have done with the drafts...I don't like how they are managing veterans. That needs to change quickly or they will not be welcome back into the football world. We need some veterans and we need them NOW. We have the money to force said veterans to come here, use it.
You mentioned yourself in the draft post... how many teams out there could be looking at the QB position? Jacksonville - Bortles hasn't been awful, but we'll see what happens when they get to the post season (if they get there) New York (Giants) - Eli getting old, no one behind him New York (Jets) - McCown getting old, young guys behind him are stinky San Francisco - traded for Garoppolo, but Shannhan and Cousins have history Tampa Bay - Jamies Winston regressing... sign him to $100M deal or pursue Cousins? Washington - could re-sign him to stick around, they have nothing behind him Miami - Cutler and Moore are not long-term solutions, Tannehill two season-ending injuries in successive seasons Cincinnati - not their MO, but not going anywhere with Dalton and a familiar offensive system Baltimore - Flacco is a bum, do they go full rebuild or try to capitalize now? Pittsburgh - if Ben retires, does the team go into the toilet? Indianapolis - is Andrew Luck's career over? Denver - one quality QB away from a Super Bowl win, one high-quality QB away from a dynasty Arizona - no one behind Palmer and he's bad New Orleans - on a current 6-0 tear, so it's looking up... but if Brees leaves there's a huge void Minnesota - needs to figure out what to do with their own situation, but Bradford isn't a long-term answer and Bridgewater is uncertain due to injury Cleveland - dumpster fire in need of a massive coaching overhaul Really begins to underscore the disgusting state of QB's around the NFL, doesn't it?
Only teams ^^^ with tight cap space are Jacksonville, Baltimore, and Steelers. If Ben retires, that clears up their cap. If Flacco is cut, ditto. Jacksonville would have to re-structure some dudes to get the deal done. Everyone else can afford a $100+ million QB deal for Cousins.
That's the case every year...there is always a laundry list of teams in need... The top contenders in my opinion are: The Jets, they already have the money to spend and are playing above their heads already. Going to a big market is always an allure for players. The Steelers, if Ben retires, then they have an influx of money to spend and really would just be replacing one franchise guy with another one. The Redskins, if he doesn't want to leave, but wants the market to push up their price tag, then this is easily the most likely scenario. Thus far, I think their top offer was about $22M per year long term, the Browns could easily push that way over the edge AND give him more guaranteed. In order to make a splash, this team will need to take a huge leap of faith that he stays healthy throughout the contract. The least contendable: Broncos, don't have the cap space and it isn't close. Ravens, Flacco's contract doesn't have an out for another couple of years. Jaguars, believe it or not, they are one of the top cap strapped teams in the NFL.
It's not JUST about tight cap space, it's what is needed to be used with that cap space. I would need to study every team to see who the free agents are for each team that need payed..If a team isn't "cap strapped" but pay a QB and lose 4 guys to free agency because they can no longer pay them, then they are no longer "contenders". The Browns don't have any major pending free agents (because they have already parted ways with all their veterans). What they have in cap space is real money and why they could get creative in using up front money to Cousins to lure him here, while keeping the back end palatable for future needs.
All well and good, but do you want to throw him to the wolves as a rookie and watch a repeat of 2017? I know Haslem doesn't...
I don't disagree with you that Cleveland is in the best cap position (outside of San Francisco) but it goes back to - why does a well-regarded, franchise QB in the prime of his career come to a team that's either just completely over-turned its coaching staff and front office or is pending that and has gone a projected 1-31 over two seasons?
^^^ Hue Jackson must go. He got his guy in Bob Griffin and failed to develop him He failed to develop the F/O's guy (Kessler) and gave up on him after eight weeks He got his guy in DeShone Kizer and has failed to develop him He appears to have given up on Kizer after only five weeks He pulled sway to involve the owner to try and complete one of the worst trades in recent NFL memory He whined to the media through his family and personal mouthpiece (Mike Silver) when the deal fell through He abandons the run He does not make in-game adjustments He is incapable of calling four quarters of a competent game I heard someone else say this, but think about point #6. Mike Pettine was saddled with Justin Gilbert, Johnny Manziel, and an F/O who was texting him during games to start someone and he handled it professionally. Hue Jackson doesn't get a franchise-crippling move to trade major draft capital for a back-up QB who's not a long-term solution and he takes to the airwaves to smear the front office.
Question for anyone (not you, @showstopper)... Trade a couple of the picks that we have extras of (two seconds, perhaps) for Jamies Winston? Allows Tampa Bay to move on and give the Browns a stop-gap (at worst) while they groom a rookie taken in the first round of the 2018 Draft?
