I've been curious about that too. Since everyone else has you on ignore, I'll ask the question. Where did the Fitz love go? I'm not asking to troll, I'm asking because I'm curious. @SAS I am 100% on board with the first 2 rounds as projected above.
NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah reports that "people familiar with the Browns' thinking" expect them to take Josh Allen with the first-overall pick. "Just in talking to people around the league. It really picked up in the last week. A lot of people telling me, 'Hey, I think it's going to be Josh Allen.' It's either guys that have worked with John Dorsey or guys that are familiar with that room." The first-overall hype for Allen has faded since the Combine, but he fits the profile of quarterbacks Dorsey has drafted more than Sam Darnold. Allen's playing style is also a better scheme match for OC Todd Haley, who coordinated Ben Roethlisberger for six years. After trading for Tyrod Taylor, the Browns may be leaning toward Allen's upside over Darnold's floor.
For me it hasn't gone anywhere. But you have to recognize the off season moves and adding 4 DBs to the room certainly subsides the need aspect on draft day. That more than anything is why I have moved to Chubb, away from Fitz and Barkley(after Hyde addition). They have set this draft up to have multiple options no matter what pick is on the board. They can draft from a standpoint of best available...that may very well reamain Fitzpatrick in my mind. He is still the top defensive back option in this draft, just as Chubb is the top defensive line option and Barkley is the top RB option by a long pace. It comes down to who they think fits their locker room best at this point. Before, the glaring need in the DB room was overwhelming..I mean overwhelming with an exclamation point...it isn't any longer.
I can agree with all of that. The reliance of the DB on the DE and vice versa is interesting. I’m of the opinion that a stellar pair of DEs can make pedestrian DBs look better than the other way around.
I think it goes both ways, but I do agree it is much easier to make 4 DBs look better with 2 GREAT DEs, and you need at the very least 3 great DBs to make average DEs look good. At the same time, with great DEs, you usually need really good DTs to pick up the running game slack. DEs can set an edge on obvious run downs, but they can also be a liability on 50/50 downs when the opposing team runs. Garrett needs to grow in that aspect, and I suspect he will. I would actually love to see what the Browns defense could do with Garrett, Ogbah and Chubb on the field at the same time. I think both Ogbah and Chubb could move inside on stunt plays.
As @IrishDawg42 said, the addition of secondary help already this offseason plays a part in the decision, but the other thing is that people are looking at Fitzpatrick as perhaps an interior corner only. By his own admisssion, he feels most comfortable playing slot cornerback which simply isn't a premium and while he showed the versatility to play both safety spots, he did not demonstrate the ability to play perimeter corner at a high level. I think if you're looking at the best pure cornerback, the pick is either Denzel Ward or Jaire Alexander. And likewise, if you're looking for the best safety choice, at "free" it's Derwin James and at "strong" it's Justin Reid. I also think we might have something in Damarious Randall. The guys who were in that front office when they spent a first round pick on him (Eliot Wolf and Alonzo Highsmith) are now here and by Mike McCarthy's own admission, they had him playing out of position in Green Bay. I love the Landry and Taylor trades, but the move to get Randall may yield the largest payoff next season. The last component of Fitzpatrick's drop has to be his athletic testing, which was about average and historical precedent. Only Eric Berry and Sean Taylor have been safeties drafted in the Top 4. Both were world class athletes and broke the mold - both were also dedicated safeties, not hybrid defensive backs.
One more thing to consider as a wildcard is Howard Wilson. He has plus speed and length. I think the possibilities of drafting a corner will depend on 3 things: status of Wilson's knee, Dorsey/Highsmith/Wolfe's evaluation of Wilson, and if what they think about EJ Gaines. If the idea was to get EJ in the door on a 1 yr deal to see if he can stay healthy and lock him up then that would free up options for similarly rated players (barring someone free falling a la Mathieu).
That's good news indeed. Especially in case if Gordon has a "slip-up" and gets the boot forever. At least they'll have one worthwhile WR still on the roster if Coleman can't stay healthy.
"Lots of money for a slot receiver." Also the Browns: Kenny Britt - $10.5 million in cash Dwayne Bowe - $9.1 million in cash Total combined receptions: 23 Total combined yards: 186 Total combined touchdowns: 2 Annual $$$ per reception: $426,000 Annual $$$ per yard: $52,688 Annual $$$ per TD: $4,900,000 Landry season averages... Receptions: 100 Yards: 1,010 Touchdowns: 6 Annual $$$ per reception: $159,000 Annual $$$ per yard: $15,743 Annual $$$ per TD: $2,650,000 *Those numbers are a FULL value ($15.9 million a season, not his guaranteed dollars).
People who put this out here: ... clearly didn't see the Browns lead the league in third-and-nine situations last year. Or the year before that. Or the year before that. Or the year before...
So the Miami offensive scheme is now completely Landry's fault? I love the internet. As Sammie said, when you lead the league in 3rd and 9, when you add a guy who on average catches the ball 4.5 yds down field, and gets 8 ypc, you are then much less likely to be in said 3rd and long. With his volume of catching and sure hands you will be in 3rd and short more often then you are not.
