What they need is an equally significant pass rush signing to take ALL pressure off of that #13 pick. As of now, we would have to lean towards an edge.
Reports that Landry wants to stay with the Browns and is willing to re-work his deal but wants to add years to the contract which the team doesn't want signifies to me a desire to add a receiver at #13. Not saying we won't go DE at #13 ultimately, but I think there are 2-3 wide receivers more talented than the top DE options and if they make it there, the F/O would lean that way over an edge rusher. The Browns have an elite secondary and the league's best pure pass-rusher in Myles Garrett. They should be able to plug in a guy at the opposite spot of Myles and get some decent output. They should have some options in free agency and it's been rumored that Emmanuel Ogbah would not return to Miami. A reunion here could be awesome.
I agree they may be looking at upgrading the WR position in the draft, however, I also think they will be looking at complimentary pieces in the draft.. 1a) Compliment to Myles Garrett, 1b) Compliment to Amari Cooper. Neither of which may be more important than replacing Jack Conklin at RT or replacing/upgrading Malik Jackson on the Dline. Personally, from the outside looking in, Conklin "seems" like he is going to be ready for the start of the season. I think Elliot and Togiai are promising to be ready to take a step forward as starters on the D-Line. I'm not as comfortable with Odenigbo taking over for Clowney full time. For me, it really does come down to WR and Edge rusher as the most important positions currently, assuming Jarvis is gone in the next week or so. If Jarvis stays, then we are having a different conversation. Regardless... it will come down to the front office feelings on position importance. They have not shown WR as a priority until this past weekend trading for Cooper... Was this initiated by our owner? If so, do they think that is enough to satisfy HIS needs? Making an extension a priority when it comes to Myles, as well as signing Clowney last season, has shown a past priority on pass rush. Losing Clowney, I think they will press that position more than WR, unless they find a veteran replacement soon. I agree... I personally would still love to see WR as the priority pick at #13 overall. In today's NFL, offense has a lot of advantages that can be taken advantage of in the passing game...which we are currently not doing with our personnel. Having weapons on offense is what will propel us to the Super Bowl over another defensive talent..imho. Taking a Chris Olave over a Justin Jefferson, again imho, will show us higher dividends in the points department which is what we will need going forward. I just fear that this regime would value a DE in the first, feeling they can get a compliment WR in the 2nd round. I think the top two tiers of WR are going to be gone by pick #44 and that 3rd tier will be closer to DPJ.
Honestly, I think they're going all-in with Baker in his last year of that rookie deal. I think they know they've screwed up the wide receiver position and probably allowed too much deferrence to Stefanski's system that proclaims the value in "spreading the ball around". Amari Cooper will be the most talented wide receiver Baker has ever worked with (Odell post-injury is a shadow of his earlier form) and even at that, Cooper's best season was 79 receptions, 1,189 yards, and 8 touchdowns. That's basically Jarvis' line from 2019 (83/1,174/6). Cooper's also basically a one-year trial version. He's got a fully guaranteed $20 million this season but nothing guaranteed later on. I'm hoping for a veteran replacement because I don't love the draft options, to be quite honest.
Yes. If we add one of those top WR's to go along with Cooper, Njoku and our running game, how will defenses be able to stop it?
FTR, if we do decide to go EDGE in round 1, then I'd be looking for this guy in the 2nd round; Christian Watson Prospect Info COLLEGE North Dakota State HOMETOWN CLASS Tampa, FL R-Senior HEIGHT WEIGHT ARMS 6' 4" 208 lbs 32 1/2" HANDS 10 1/8" 40 yard dash: 4.36 Vertical jump: 38.5
Christian Watson accounted for 35% of the Bisons passing yardage and TDs. Don't judge a book by it's statistical cover. He has all the tools and played for a school that had 1000 yards rushing and only 2500 yards passing from their QBs. He could be an unpolished gem in this draft. (edit Not sure he makes it to #44
I'm a big fan of Alec Pierce (Cincinnati). I think he may be available in the third round and offers some big receiver chops to a team that is otherwise lacking on the roster (6'3" 211 pounds with a 4.41 forty-yard).
Mary Kay Cabot is working abnoramlly hard today!! She tweeted out The Landry news 4 minutes after Schefter reported it!(and the same time I brought it to you guys here, for the record). She is going to be riding his coattails all day long.
CBS Sports, Pro Football Network, Bleacher Report, Dawg Pound Daily, and Tampa Sun times are all reporting Browns fielding trade calls for Baker Mayfield... I'm hoping there's nothing to it.
I'm sure they are fielding calls on a LOT of roster'd players. They are going into 2022 with Baker as the starter. Someone would have to knock their socks off to trade him and I don't see anyone doing that. Based on outside reports of the Browns being interested in Watson, I am sure anyone in need of a QB is calling AB to see if Baker is available. This is no news...
Well I hope you're right. I believe in Mayfield, but I think that puts me in the minority among Browns fans, which is pretty sad. Surely that directly correlates with why there's so much smoke on this. Why do we get linked to every QB on the planet then? It can't just be all Browns media. Publicly the Browns have declared Baker is their guy this year, but behind closed doors, I'm not 100% sure anymore. They haven't denied any of the trade talks, so I just don't see how any of this, rumors or not, can help the relationship we have with our QB on the final year of his deal.
Can't it? That is usually the source to the national media reports.. Baker know this is a business better than most. I don't think he will hold it against the Browns THIS year, but even when he balls out in 2022, he will most likely test free agency with that giant chip on his shoulder. The Browns will need a new QB in 2023 and it might not be because Baker failed, like many have already called him out on.
