The 2020 Offseason | Team Needs

May as well start a State of the Franchise thread as we move into another tumultuous offseason in Cleveland.

 

Here's your 2020 pending free agents:

 

Two weeks ago, I would have said Greg Robinson, Rashard Higgins, Damarious Randall, and Joe Schobert were out. Add in David Njoku as a cut/trade casualty as well.

Today? I think all but one have a very good shot at returning to the team in 2020.

Greg Robinson. Not going to wow anyone but the Browns also aren't in a position to just let him walk. They essentially would void themselves of a left tackle and make their draft intentions very much known if Robinson isn't retained. The free agent class of right tackle is superb. At left tackle, Robinson may be the best available option. I think they have to re-sign to a least a 2-3 year contract.

Rashard Higgins. A year removed from being Baker's favorite target, Higgins amassed just four receptions on 11 targets, 55 total yards and a touchdown in 11 games this season. While there's no rush to sign him, the depth chart is pretty bleak after Beckham Jr. and Landry. Higgins on a team-friendly deal may be worth pursuing unless this team falls in love with some later round draft options.

Damarious Randall. If McCarthy comes in as coach, you can count him out. Randall is definitely one of those mercurial talents and not for everyone, but he's also the Browns' best option in the back end of the secondary. I doubt he returns after the season he just had, however, making range safety a very real need in the offseason to address. May be more of a need signing than anything else if he's retained by the next staff.

Joe "All Pro" Schobert. The only other holdover from the 2016 draft class still with the team. Schobert has a reputation for showing up against inferior talent and disappearing in the big games. The same could be said of the 2019 Cleveland Browns (and even then, not consistently). Banking on Chris Kirksey to return to form after two incomplete seasons from injury is a lot to ask. Sione Takitaki looked completely overwhelmed in his limited time on the field and Mack Wilson had ups-and-downs that looks like he could be a piece moving forward, but they are definitely not in a great position at linebacker. Making this situation worse is Wilks is out and with him goes the 4-2-5 base. Nickel is the NFL default defensive package these days, but having three capable linebackers isn't a problem. Wilson and Kirksey both play the weak side traditionally with Schobert more of a middle/inside guy. Retaining him should be a priority.

Kareem Hunt. As a restricted free agent, he should be back with the team. Tendering him at a first round tender is the prudent move -- you almost guarantee his services in 2020 unless a contender with a late-round pick to burn comes knocking. Nick Chubb is a stud, but injury can derail the position quickly and who knows what offensive philosophy we'll be using next year. Hunt should fit just about any scheme and his value/versatility as a receiver is tremendous.

Everyone else was a "Dorsey patch" after he purged the middle-class of the roster. They should/could be allowed to walk and be replaced with the new HC/GM's guys.

 

@IrishDawg42

 

Nevermind, @IrishDawg42.

 

Tua JAG-ovailoa declares for the draft. Suddenly, sitting at #10 with some QB-needy teams ahead of us is looking more promising. In some order, the board will have to break: Joe Burrow (QB), Tua Tagovailoa (QB), Justin Herbert (QB, maybe), Chase Young (EDGE), WR1 (CeeDee Lamb or Jerry Jeudy), and Jeff Okudah (CB). At least five or six "locks" ahead of us at positions we don't need. Bodes well.

#1 - Burrow
#2 - Young
#3 - Jedrick Wills(OT)
#4 - Lamb
#5 - Tagovailoa
#6 - Derrick Brown (IDL)
#7 - Herbert (if Cam moves on)
#8 - Jeudy (easy to see Fitzgerald hanging it up)
#9 - Andrew Thomas (OT)
#10 - choice of: Grant Delpit (S), Isaiah Simmons (LB), A.J. Epenesa (EDGE)

 

This is our guy at #10, or we should move up to get him;

Andrew Thomas, OT - Georgia

plug and play...

 

I think there is a very reasonable chance that Thomas falls right into our lap and the Browns start the run on OT's in the 2020 draft...

 

Begs the question... what do we need?

In no particular order:

• S (preferably range)
• LT-1
• RT-1
• RG-1
• EDGE-2
• LB-1
• IDL-2
• CB-2
  
• WR-3

You could eliminate the need for LB-1 if you re-sign Schobert and stay with an even front on defense. You can patch-work the left tackle spot by re-signing Greg Robinson for another season to two. Doesn't mean you don't draft a left tackle early, but I don't see LT1 in the Draft dropping all the way to #10, so the evaluation becomes Greg Robinson or the third-best LT in the 2020 Class? Chris Hubbard was a disaster at right tackle... could his contract be salvaged by playing him at right guard (and filling the hole there)? The right tackle crop in free agency, as of this post, is very promising.



Unlike right tackle, safety and cornerback do not look promising in free agency and with Damarious Randall likely out in Cleveland and the spot opposite Denzel Ward not a guarantee, investing early in a corner in the draft makes a lot of sense. I think if the top safety makes it to #10 (Delpit) it's almost a no-brainer where to go with the choice.

A depth receiver behind Beckham and Landry makes a lot of sense.

Ultimately, Jimmy (in his press conference) said they (ownership) talked to the "core group" of team players and gave the range of 25-30 guys. Doesn't mean they're 100% safe, but it would stand to reason those 30 aren't going anywhere anytime soon. That doesn't leave a lot in terms of turnover for the full 53 (23 spots total).

 

Plus, it's a LT named Thomas. How can we go wrong?

 

Because 2019 was such a trash fire of a season, it's very challenging to adequately assess the condition of the roster. Did Baker really regress from #12 overall (#4 over the final eight games of 2018) to #33 in a single season? Did Greg Robinson drop from #5 in LT ranking to #25? Was Odell worst full season of his career due to a nagging injury? Baker? Scheme?

Very tough to get a good feeling about it.

From a metrics standpoint, the much-maligned offensive line held up well. Overall, the Browns were a Top 10 unit, per ESPN's pass-block win rate stat:



This included J.C. Tretter at #2 for centers, Joel Bitonio at #4 for guards, and Wyatt Teller at #9 for guards, the former two obviously safe. By QB hits allowed, the Browns' line was again a Top 10 unit. PFF.com was a bit down on them overall, but not alarmingly so. So what gives? Put on the 49ers game again and you'll see an offensive gameplan that had our fourth-string tight end iso'ed on rookie Nick Bosa multiple times per game. Whoops.

It's easy to blame Freddie, since he's gone, but we've heard through leaks that he didn't change his gameplan, didn't like the ones Monken delivered, and then Monken is caught before games telling opposing teams what's going to happen and how big of a disaster it is (and we wondered why *multiple* defenders told reports post-game that they "knew" what the Browns were going to do).

The Browns' line was #2 in the NFL in 2018 (#1 over the final eight). They replaced exactly one player (Zeitler) with a guy who himself scored higher than Zeitler did at PBWR. Could it really have all been on coaching? If Freddie didn't change his gameplans and didn't adapt to what teams were doing, and people were able to get a read on Baker (confuse the coverage post-snap, he has a tendency to roll right, overload right) -- yeah, it's going to make the whole unit look worse -- especially the line.

Again, I'm not trying to pound the table here for Greg Robinson as the future of the franchise at LT... but just thinking maybe an offensive scheme shift would benefit more than spending heavy draft capital on the next guy up.

 

Make him wear #73 so I can reuse my jersey.

 

It's an excellent point, and one I've thought a lot about already. At the end of the day, I just believe in solidifying the cornerstone positions. QB, Pass Rush and Pass protection...

I think we have a QB, and our pass rush has much potential...Our O-line is a mess.

 

Understatement...How could he have been the best swing tackle in NFL when we signed him? I swear at times it seemed like I could move my feet faster than Chris Hubbard. lol! I know that's impossible but geezus, that dude has lead in his shoes. smh.

Outside of the offensive line, I think our biggest weakness is stopping the run. Thought maybe Sheldon Richardson would help, but it seems like whoever we plug in there, they struggle. Not sure if it's scheme or coaching or just general talent on the field, but we can't stop the run whenever it matters most, and as long as that is the case, we'll never win a championship. We need a beast in the middle of that defensive front that can shut it down..

 

I really do believe the Browns are just a few crafty moves away from having something really special. The talent is in place at many key positions, including QB. We have some holes to fill like most rosters, but if we can find the right leader (HC), I have no doubt that the Cleveland Browns can be a force to be reckoned with in 2020.

 

NICK CHUBB #24
In my opinion, this is the best player on our roster...

 

My pick, if the Draft were held today:

 

Nice to know you have Clemson jersey numbers comitted to memory.

 

Isaiah Simmons, LB Clemson

Edit: *Clemson