I'm sure we will need a thread to discuss position battles, roster estimates, hard knocks, media-narrative, etc for the pre-season. We can utilize this thread to avoid overloading other more general threads.
Biggest Questions (for me): 1. How far off the line of scrimmage will Damarious Randall play? It may not be hyperbole to say that how Randall performs this season will be the make-or-break for the defense. Sure, there's a lot of cornerback bodies on the team that will need to learn to gel and the development of rookie Denzel Ward will be key, but if Gregggggg Williams is intent on playing a safety super-deep, Randall will have to do it better than any other safety in the NFL. The offense doesn't concern me. The defense will determine how the 2018 season goes. 2. Wherefore art thou, Seth DeValve? David Njoku is getting a ton of preaseason hype - warranted, he was a first round pick the Browns moved up to acquire and comes with a fantastic athletic profile. Didn't stop Seth DeValve from being a better tight end in 2017. He's one of the best receivers on the team (I would argue behind only Gordon, Johnson Jr., and Landry) and should have a role beyond "backup" or "goal line". Getting two tight ends on the field (and removing a full back) seems prudent. 3. Will they/won't they? Rumors about the Browns and Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. have been around since the 2017 offseason. It hasn't been made better by Jarvis Landry's open overtures to him and their constant working out together (with QB of the future, Baker Mayfield). If Josh Gordon isn't ready to go by preseason, Dorsey could offer the picks and sign him to an extension and still have more cap space than any other team in the NFL. What would the cost be for a premier NFL wide receiver? 2019 first round pick?
I don’t know why you would want Beckham? He is asking for QB money. That dude has seriously lost his fucking mind. He is a member of the me only club.
I'm with Gid on this one NO THANKS... Why would I want a guy who goes out and parties it up just a few days before a BIG playoff game?
The most interesting battle for me will be who takes over at LT, and are they capable of doing a competent job?
Oh yeah... Ward and Mayfield need to get their signatures on paper by midnight. We need them in camp tomorrow!
Rest assured SOMEBODY will take over at LT. The bigger question is: regardless of who it is, will they be capable? To me, the biggest question marks are at LB and WR. Not necessarily in that order. Something just tells me that, once again, our WR corp is going to be woefully short on production.
Are you twitter stalking me? Bro, have you seen Dan Vitale? (ok, maybe he's just the first guy off the bus) Literally everyone does. Its a few days, these guys aren't making the national median income, they don't play by the same rules. If it's not the night before he should be fine physically. It's only an issue because they lost. I like the possibility of Coleman/Corbett. I think Coleman will show up on the left side. He was a fish out of water on the right side. What about the WR battle? Is there a stipulation to how long you must be put on the NFI list? If Gordon is not accounted for do they roll with 5 or 6. They could stay with 5 and try to sneak someone on the practice squad plus utilize Devalve and maybe keep a better overall player on the roster at a different position. I think they have to keep Landry, Coleman, and Jannis (ST stud). I would think Calloway and Rattley and/or Louis.
maybe he takes a 1 yr "show me" deal that is team friendly. If he is on the team and Flash comes back, can he handle being a #2 or #3? I don't think so. Also, if he getting pushed down the depth chart he would need to contribute on special teams and I don't see that happening.
He's also one of the most talented receivers in the NFL. And his reported $20 million a year demand might not be that ludicrous. Antonio Brown is signed for $17.5 million and he's just above average without a HOF quarterback. Julio Jones should be worth $20 million. Todd Gurley - a running back - just made $11.25 million per year guaranteed. The Browns signed Jarvis Landry (a slot receiver) to $15 million a year. The cost of talent is going up in the NFL and there are no fully guaranteed (save one) contracts, so a $20 million per year deal, maybe only 2/3rds of which are guaranteed - and front-loaded - isn't going to hamstring a franchise with the most cash among all teams.
I have to think Austin Corbett was drafted to fill that role. Either that, or he was drafted to replace Joel Bitonio who would slide out to that left tackle spot. Shon Coleman can probably "hold it down" until Corbett is ready, but that's about it. Donald Stephenson retired and Greg Robinson is on his proverbial last chance to make it in the NFL.
I don't care about the $$$ he is one of the more talented WR in the NFL. I don't think that this team needs an undisciplined Diva like him. If the guy is more how much $$ he can make rather than about dedicating himself to being the best WR and winning championships I could care less about how many yards or TD's he scores in a single season. If he's going to disappear, rather than step up in playoffs, I don't want him around. My $0.02
