Looking forward to 2019, Browns NFL Rookie Draft

The questions I asked are:

• Are Carrie and/or Gaines lock down CB's ? (No)
• Is Denzel Ward a lock down CB ? (Yes)
• Is Greedy Williams a lock down CB ? (Yes)
• Would a pair of lock down CB's improve the pass rush ? (Yes)

 

My bad, I forgot Higgins is a RFA....Still not a #1 though.

 

I agree 100% that there isn't a #1 receiver on this team, we just have a different philosophy on need... I think Baker can break records with 5 potential #2 type receivers, rather than trying to cater to a #1.

If we can get 5 guys to that 750-1000 yard range, that's where I think this offense excels...and I also think it is very possible..

The ones currently on staff:
Jarvis Landry
Antonio Callaway
David Njoku


I believe Rashard Higgins gets re-signed as soon as the RFA are eligible, then it will be a matter of matching any other teams offer if any in fact come. Otherwise you have him for another year on the RFA tender.

The next body is of paramount importance...
Possibilities include:
Current roster player - Duke Johnson, I don't think like some that he gets traded this season. I think he is going to be utilized in a different manner, which is why they signed Hunt to begin with.
Free Agency - Tyrell Williams or Golden Tate
Draft - There are a dozen names I could list that would be capable of getting you that 750-1000 yards in 2020, when/if Higgins moves on after his RFA tender.

This team is in good shape, BECAUSE we have Baker Mayfield who is capable of spreading a ball around to 10 different receivers in any given game.

 

I was gonna mention that...IMO we are in a great spot to just let the draft fall to us.

I would be happy with any of these guys at #17 -
DE- Rashan Gary
LB- Devin White
DT- Q. Williams, Ed Oliver, Christian Wilkins or Dremont Jones.
WR - D.K. Metcalf
CB- Greedy or Baker

And probably a couple others I'm just not thinking of....Somebody is gonna fall right to us...I wouldn't trade up with that first pick.

 

Agree with all of the above, and I agree on paper it would elevate the team immensely. However, it isn't the only way to get there.

Another solid pass rusher makes Carrie a better CB. Another thing to look at is, Briean Boddy-Calhoun is also a RFA and he is an excellent CB when put on the slot position. So, if you have a solid 4 defensive front rushing the passer, their first option will be the quick hits to the slot, where Boddy-Calhoun will most likely be, not a Greedy Williams. It's all about personnel obviously, but there are many ways to skin this cat. The GREAT NEWS for Browns fans?

Edge Rusher, we have one of the best developing in Myles Garrett
Inside Pass Rusher, we have a very young one that gave us extremely positive glances into the future in Larry Ogunjobi
Shut Down CB, Denzel Ward when healthy showed the skill set that made him the #4 overall pick of the draft

In short, we have all the pieces for a great defense. Now, adding two more pieces is what will actually get you into the top 5 defense category...

We need any combination of 2 from DT, DE or CB and we will be right there.

Here's the thing... every rookie is a crap shoot, so no matter who we choose, they may or may not be one of those pieces...including Greedy Williams

That is why I was looking so closely at free agency, because I believe we need two players to bolster this team to playoff status...year 4 expectancy in the plan..

As for the "conservative approach", Bradley Roby, imho, gives you the better option at filling one of those pieces. I think Roby has had a roller coaster career so far, but I think it is a motivational problem. He has shown flashes of being a shutdown CB, I think playing opposite of Ward full time will make him that type of player.

Then you only need to find one more.

Giving up two high assets for one player worries me about ever filling the needs you currently have...that's the major downside to taking two first round draft picks and turning them into one, A) It's definitely boom or bust and B) what was the other piece given up in 2020 that could have helped solidify the Super Bowl roster you are ultimately trying to get to?

 

I would think any "franchise" QB could break records with five #2 WR's....

The best offenses in this league have a #1 guy....Steelers, Saints, Rams, Chiefs, Eagles, Vikings, Chargers.

What about all-time best? 70's Steelers had two #1's....80's 49ers had Rice....90's Cowboys had Irvin.....The best Patriot offense we've ever seen was the one with Moss and Welker....The greatest show on turf had two #1's (Bruce and Holt)...

Why short change Baker Mayfield? Get him a #1 and look out!

 

Couldn't agree more, I would be happy with our first round if any of those players were on the roster entering day 2 of the draft...and at least one of them will be available to us, I will guarantee that on this day 02/12/2019.

Since you mentioned Q. Williams, I will add other couple names that I think will be gone top 5, but in reality anyone can drop. As well as, a couple other pass rushers you didn't:
DE- Nick Bosa, Josh Allen, Clelin Ferrell, Montez Sweat

That's 13 names of players that I would be happy with from this draft...and we pick #17 with no QBs, offensive line, safeties or TEs mentioned yet...

I will add, my #1 WR is still N'Keal Harry. I know I am in the minority here, but I love the way that kid fights for balls. If "rankings" stay true, Harry could drop to us in the 2nd round...but I don't think he makes it out of the first.

 

1. Baker has already broken a record without a true #1 receiver.
2. Baker doesn't play defense.

 

Do the Patriots have a #1 receiver now? It might have been the best one you have ever seen with Moss and Welker, but they still won 3 of the last 5 Super Bowls without a #1 receiver.

Moss never won a Super Bowl....Food for thought

 

Who is the Eagles #1 receiver?

The only (2) teams to win the Super Bowl in the last 10 years on that list is the Eagles and Saints...and I would argue the Eagles don't have a #1 guy like you are looking for on the Browns. The Saints was 10 years ago and THAT season their best receivers were Marques Colston, Devery Henderson and Robert Meachum.

 

Are you just being a smart ass or what? I don't get it...

I don't need reminded what Baker Mayfield is.....I'm on record saying he's the best rookie QB I've ever seen.

 

Let me clarify what I said also...because you twisted something here.. I stated five #2 type receivers, not strictly WRs. Weapons will win Super Bowls not a single WR, imho.

If we have a WR(or two) reach 1,000 yards (Jarvis Landry and Antonio Callaway are capable)
a TE reach 750 yards, David Njoku (639 in 2018) is very capable
a RB reach 750 yards, Duke Johnson is capable (693 in 2017). He's had more receiving yards than rushing yards in all 4 of his seasons, despite being used exclusively as a RB that sometimes motions into the slot.

That would be 3,500 yards out of 4 players.

What we need is speed to loosen coverage, re-signing Perriman would help that cause...drafting someone in the 2nd round like Perris Campbell or Marquise Brown would also take that to another level.

 

Sorry I brought it up...Way to nitpick like I'm just not making any sense with this #1 WR nonsense...

You guys are right. Baker could win with a couple of guys from the local gym...

 

I think he is just trying the same thing I am, #1 receiver isn't a major necessity for the offense to be successful, in our opinion. Defense on the other hand is MUCH farther away from being successful right now.

 

We aren't arguing, we are debating. You need two people on opposite sides of the fence to be able to make a point. I'm not trying to badger you, I am merely pointing out inconsistencies.

Please don't take it personally, I am absolutely not trying to make it personal!! In all sincerity!

 

I never said that either...I just said it's the one piece we don't have.

 

Obviously our offense was successful without a #1 WR....

FTR; There are a number of WR's in this draft that I'm hoping will be available to us in rd 2...I just mentioned a couple days ago, Devin White is now the top of my list....

 

I am trying to show my side of the argument that we don't just have guys from the gym, they are legitimate receivers in the league. While not a #1 caliber player like you are asking for, we still have a number of guys you could argue are #2 caliber receivers. With multiple choices, I think we could all agree Baker could work magic. I'm just not convinced a #1 guy would make up that much of a difference. I simply think what he would garner would take away from the other weapons on the team. Doesn't matter how it's distributed, as long as it ALL gets distributed.

 

To mirror a bit off of @TopDawg , and as a question to the group, how much of Baker's success in his first season can be readily replicated in the second considering the potential differences in quality of competition, the fact that defenses will have an off-season to work with tape of Baker in Kitchen's offense and the unknown factor of what exactly will be Mayfield's growth trajectory?

You can mitigate some of those question marks by implementing a serious weapon at wide receiver.

And, again, before the gunpowder is the only thing you can smell after my bullet ridden corpse hits the floor...

I'm not saying that any of these issues will actually slow down Baker.

I am saying that they are an unknown that could impact on what Mayfield may or may not achieve in 2019.

 

I'm not arguing that a bigtime #1 WR is a must, and I never was. One of the things that's so intriguing about this draft for Cleveland is the fact that we don't have the glaring holes we are used to seeing on this roster...I just look at a guy like D.K. Metcalf, and think, holy shit. What Freddie and Baker could do with D.K. outside the hashes...But I could just as easily get excited about what Devin White or Christian Wilkins or DeAndre Baker could do for our defense....Believe me.