Looking forward to 2019, Browns NFL Rookie Draft

None of us knows for a fact what Baker can/will do in 2019. But . . . What we DO know are the shortcomings of the Browns' defense in 2018.

I am under the OPINION that John Dorsey went out and signed Kareem Hunt, not because Dorsey is such a nice guy that believes giving a player that he originally drafted a second chance, but because Hunt is part of Dorsey's overall plan to improve the Cleveland Browns' roster to the point where they become a consistent contender for the NFL title. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

I agree with this, but I do think TD has a point that if your favorite targets in the first round include a WR who happens to be higher on your board than the defensive players available, you pull the trigger.

I'm not sure what you are referring to here.

All apologies if I missed something obvious, but this part of the conversation appears to have popped up out of nowhere.

 

I'm not worried that defenses will catch up to Baker, assuming we at least go into the season with the group we had in 2018. Just look how fast Baker progressed in year one. He will have another offseason of learning under his belt as well, only this time, not in the shadow of Tyrod Taylor.....I absolutely do believe that Mayfield could take this offense up to another level if we had a true #1 though. No question about it...

If you asked me today, who would be my starting WR's on my "all-time" team? I'd say Megatron and Randy Moss without hesitation....That's the type of presence I see with Metcalf. He's not to where those guys were, coming in, but I think the potential for greatness is high with him.

 

You didn't miss anything. I simply inserted that it is my opinion that Dorsey added K. Hunt because he saw an opportunity to improve the Browns' offense (in two position groups) without spending a single draft pick.

 

That was derived from a circumstance that would not have existed without there being a situation that drove a quality talent into the open market.

Kareem Hunt should have never been available.

That kind of opportunity is rare for many reasons, some of which are playing themselves out in the media cycle today.

 

No one can antiquate what will change or not change. Baker will also be evolving, the opponents he faces will be changing, some for the good some for the bad. We don't know what Baker will learn by watching, both his own film AND that of his 2019 opponents to make himself better. This kid has only played 13.5 games...that's the ONLY work he had with the starters as well. What happens when you give someone with his ability time to get better? Some QBs never stop growing and evolving, I think that is what we hope will happen.

To try and show a trajectory of growth based on the names of the teams on the 2019 schedule though is an exercise in futility that we will all try at some point. But certainly, for me, not ready to play the game just yet. I think the defense that gets put on the field will help Baker more than a single player added to the offense, IF we retain those that he had at his disposal in 2018. Giving him more opportunities will help the team overall, imho. Not playing from behind will help the team overall. Not having to drive the last two minutes to tie/win in 90% of the games will help the team overall. That is what I am looking for this off season.

I haven't said a true #1 receiver wouldn't help, it's the level of help for the team as a whole that I am debating.

I still contend that I haven't found a receiver I am convinced will become that true #1 in this draft either. Until I personally can uncover one, it is a moot point on my argument.

If the defense doesn't make a marked improvement, then the offense will continue to have limited opportunities. Limiting what their opponents can/are doing will help the game plan that was put in motion the previous Monday to continue to play out. Working on a game plan all week and having to improvise constantly because the defense doesn't limit the opponents offense consistently, does not make for an offense that will show a vast improvement.

I have uncovered so many defensive players that I feel would contribute immediately to this defense, that it is hard for me to even consider a WR in the first round.

I am under the mindset that Baker's development is paramount. With this understanding, personally, I want him to be prudent in developing in every aspect of his game.

Now, having 5-7 targets that are evenly distributed SHOULD develop more of that skill set, than if there were one receiver that he would attempt to give the ball to at a higher percentage due to the perception that he had a higher skill set than others on the field. If we are just talking about development, I would think that he would benefit more by trusting in the plays, his progressions and using all assets to develop those skills.

But, who knows, maybe ONE WR would elevate him to super stud status.. show me the consensus WR with that skill level/set of skills that gives him an unjust advantage on the defense and I could easily be swayed.

 

Nothing is guaranteed based on a players first season.

Like I said, I'm not suggesting anything one way or the other. I'm only stating that there are unknowns involved with young players and having a legitimate killer at WR would help to lessen and kind of lull that may happen in 2019.

I don't see Randy Moss, but I do think that the Calvin Johnson comp may be a decent one.

I always hesitate to compare player to all-time greats, but I would agree that Metcalf potentially has that kind of upside.

 

For me, it's more about tangibles than intangibles in this draft. Where is the film showing DK dominating a top talent across from him? I know he was, or at least could have been, held back by poor QB play. I definitely take that into account. But, I haven't seen a complete game yet that shows me, even with Baker, he would come into the NFL and dominate a NFL caliber secondary. Add to that a neck injury and I cannot justify even considering him in the first round.

Get me excited about guys that could be available in the second round and let's start talking bacon! Hell, if DK is still there starting around pick 24-25, I would be open to trading up. We certainly don't need 11 draft picks. Use the assets given to you by Sashi and go get your #1 receiver if you find one.

 

This is a legitimate concern.

 

I agree...But I feel comfortable that we will continue to see Baker escalate, provided that we protect him and keep him stocked with weapons.

 

Point taken and understood.

I have not put together a completed draft board yet, but I do know that I have at the very least a baker's dozen of players that I will have ranked ahead of every WR prospect I have seen. That is why it is so hard to argue for a WR at this point of the discussions. Again, I haven't seen all the tape yet, it could change, but it would have to be something drastic to change my mind.

That's been my contention all along, I will not pass a legitimate defensive player that I have rated higher than a receiver based on non-football film. I would have to see it on the field to make it something that would make me argue to the contrary.

 

Won't argue that...I've said more than once, Metcalf's production doesn't match his projection.

I think we really need to see how he looks at the NFL Combine...

I'm not real worried about the neck...I think he's good to go there.

 

Imagine being a Jaguars fan and your team drafts - and forces you to watch - in succession: Blaine Gabbert, Blake Bortles, and then Drew Lock.

Gabbert + Bortles + Lock is at least as bad as Manziel + Weeden + Quinn.

 

Projected first-round pick Jeffery Simmons tears ACL

http://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2019/s...first-round-pick-jeffery-simmons-injures-knee

 

Maybe this should be in the bold prediction thread, but I think Marquise Brown is the WR that the Cleveland Browns will target...Not just because he played a year with Mayfield either. He's just a really solid WR, and I think he'd be a great fit.

 

So here is our exact picks...I'm not sure what happened, but it's 10 total now, instead of 11. Evidently we only have one 7th round pick...

 

We gave one 7th rounder back to New England in the Josh Gordon trade

 

Oh...Okay. Did this happen recently?

Somebody should alert the mock draft sites. Every time I've done a mock, the Browns get two 7th rounders...

 

Originally they reported it was contingent, but then released it was not contingent it was just part of the trade...but many sites didn't pick that up. They will get it corrected in due time.