Bademosi was one of the worst DB's I've ever seen when he was playing here. Good special teamer. Awful in coverage....I just thought that was funny to hear from Collinsworth. Just another ex Cleveland Brown finding success elsewhere...
Update! Priority one has to be signing one of the top free agents at quarterback in the offseason - either Kirk Cousins or Jimmy Garappolo. Even if San Francisco somehow ekes us out for first overall, I suspect the Cousins/Shannahan reunion is all but done. In this case, Cleveland has to make Jimmy Garappolo the highest-paid player in the NFL. 1.1: Saquon Barkley, RB Penn State I might feel better about Barkley being the top pick and top player in the class than I did about Myles Garrett last season. This guy is a complete beast and with a big game against Ohio State this weekend, should make the choice to take him even easier. This pick gives the offense a tier-one playmaker who can take pressure off of the quarterback and be the focal point of an offensive attack, much like LeSean McCoy in Buffalo. No change. 1.14 (f/Houston): Connor Williams, OT Texas The pall of the Joe Thomas injury really exposes two things, (1) Joe Thomas is human and his clock is ticking, and (2) the already awful offense was even worse without him. He's the best player on offense and even if he comes back at full strength, he doesn't have another 10 years in him. Williams is a finesse-style tackle who can play on the right side until Joe retires while soaking up all the knowledge the vet can pass on. He is elite in pass protection. Previously: Minkah Fitzpatrick, CS/FS Alabama 1.25 (f/Buffalo): Equanimeous St. Brown, WR Notre Dame St. Brown is a receiver with plus size (6'5" 203 pounds) who has the look and feel of a Joe Jurevicius - a solid receiver who moves the chains and sustains drives. We'll assume for a moment that Kenny Britt gets cut, Corey Coleman enters a make-or-break season, and the rest of the wide receivers are put on notice... the team needs that chain-moving weapon. Given his size, he's got the ability to become a target in the redzone as well where the Browns' offense has been pitiful. This is a suspect wide receiver class and St. Brown hasn't exactly put up huge numbers, but the size and reliable hands make him a first round target here. Previously: Baker Mayfield, QB Oklahoma 2.34: Adonis Alexander, CB Virginia Tech Jason McCourty has been terrific as a free agent pick up and Briean Boddy-Calhoun is a great nickel option. Jamar Taylor has been exposed a bit this season and the Browns could stand to upgrade the position overall. Alexander is a tall corner (6'3" 195 pounds) who's a willing tackler. Browns run defense took a major step forward in 2017, now it's time for the pass defense to catch up. Previously: Courtland Sutton, WR Southern Methodist 2.45 (f/Houston): TRADED 2.63 (f/Philadelphia): TRADED 3.65: Mike Gesicki, TE Penn State While tight end may not seem like a major need, the selection will depend heavily on the next coaching regime. Gesicki is a more traditional in-line tight end whereas Seth DeValve is a bit more hybrid h-back and David Njoku is a seam-busting big receiver. Given the issues in the passing game and with the receivers, it's quite possible that the next regime could determine Njoku's better in the slot as a match-up nightmare and DeValve/Gesicki are better as in-line guys. At 6'6" and 257 pounds, Gesicki is lined up as TE and H-back for the Nittany Lions and is used heavily as a blocker for the best running back in college. Previously: Matthew Thomas, LB Florida State
No QB this time, SAS? What are you're thoughts on off-season FA acquisitions to go along with your latest projected draft? Hopefully a WR (or three) and an LB and maybe a DB. And does a possible 2018 Josh Gordon return play into any of this (not holding my breath but would be a nice addition)? BTW: Saw Penn St./Mich game this weekend and have to say that Saquon Barkley was phenomenal. Beast is not a strong enough word. He's decisive and quick and can bowl people over if he has to. Has a nice second gear too when he finds the opening.
Top priority in the offseason has to be a quarterback - as I mentioned, either Cousins or Garappolo. It's easy to poke fun of Cleveland as a bad spot to land and say people don't want to be here, but handing out five-year, $140 million dollar deal to Jimmy G. should work. Browns are projected $117.2 million under the cap for 2018. The target can - and will - changed based on the new head coach. For example, if we can somehow land Sean Payton, Drew Brees (a potential 2018 free agent) comes into play. Other potential QB free agents include: Sam Bradford, Jay Cutler, Josh McCown, and Teddy Bridgewater. One of those guys must be a Browns QB in 2018. Potential wide receivers: Sammy Watkins Terrell Pryor Alshon Jeffery Mike Wallace Kendall Wright Marqise Lee Jarvis Landry Davante Adams Problem is, none of these guys are coming here unless or until we grab that quarterback first. Potential linebackers: Demario Davis Wesley Woodyard Zach Brown Preston Brown In the secondary, top target would have to be Trumaine Johnson but there's also: Vontae Davis Jonathan Joseph Brent Grimes Prince Amukamara T.J. Ward (SS) Morgan Burnett (SS) Reggie Nelson (FS) I still think, even in the event of a wholesale regime change, that free agency is only going to be used to supplement and not completely fill needs.
I'm not sure that you and I have actually discussed Jimmy G in the past. I have in depth with Irish at different points before and after the draft. I know you are not real big on him being successful post-NE but I think this would be a very solid option for the Browns. In full disclosure - he was my top rated passer in that draft class and I still think he will be that player when given the chance to start. However, I don't expect the Patriots to give him up for less than multiple, high picks that would probably include one first and one second round selection. I see New England franchise tagging him as Brady insurance unless Tom retires at the end of this season. The Payton/Brees scenario is an interesting one. I might have to do some more examining on that. I don't think Bridgewater gets out of Minny but Bradford may. I'm hard pressed to believe that Cutler would sign for anything less than ridiculous money and if the Browns were to make that investment I can't see a good enough return to justify it. 100% agreed. If you could throw in some more detail, I'm just curious to see what your potential alignment would be with any of these guys as part of the package. Ideally, I think Cleveland would be best served getting the best available talent on no more than two year deals. It gives the new coaching staff time to adjust and compete while continuing to stock the cupboard without the potential damning burden of long term/big money deals that start working the cap in the wrong direction.
Super-tough to project what happens between now and offseason. My preferred outcomes, in order, would be: Sign Sean Patyon. Sign Drew Brees. Draft young QB. Sign Teddy Bridgewater. Sign Kirk Cousins. Sign Jimmy Garappolo, without spending draft picks. Sign Jimmy Garappolo, spending draft picks. He's definitely not my first choice and I'm still very much in the "concerned" camp when it comes to his ability to have success out of the New England nest. There are plenty of football people who believe he can be a franchise QB guy and the Browns aren't in the position to be too picky. Ideal situation as he's a proven head coach who knows offense, is QB-friendly, and can develop QB talent. Brees could be a very highly-paid veteran QB to bridge the gap, allowing the team to take a QB-in-waiting in the 2018 NFL Draft. More to play out this season, so we'll see. Minnesota chose not to pick up his fifth year option, so it becomes a bidding war at that point. Obviously, the tag and trade option exists here but Spielman isn't the same shrewd negotiator that Belichick is and Bridgewater's career stats - combined with serious injury - should drop the asking price. Sorry, that was more of a potential free agent market and not necessarily potential Browns targets. I personally think they're set at linebacker. Especially if they take my advice and move Jabrill Peppers to weak-side linebacker, kick Chris Kirksey inside, and leave Jamie Collins alone on the strong-side. I support bringing in vets from where ever the new head coach comes from in order to support him and help the young players acclimate to the new playbook, coaching style, etc. I think teams who spend heavily in free agency ruin themselves in the long run - this isn't a team who's one or two guys away from a Super Bowl - and runs counter-intuitive to the approach the Browns and many shrewd franchises use.
And yes, if Payton and Brees rebuff the Browns, I'm okay bringing in this guy if it helps convince Jimmy Garappolo:
It seems to me that somebody else said this just the other day... if I could only remember who? Spoiler
Cleveland's biggest needs in the upcoming draft: Quarterback Wide receiver Free safety Where this upcoming draft is weak: Quarterback Wide receiver Free safety
Also, I want what this sport's writer is drinking/smoking/eating: USC Blown Out by Notre Dame, Should Make Sam Darnold-to-the NFL Decision a Done Deal I mean... wow. I thought they were going to talk about how he needed to return to school to try and salvage a draft stock that should be, if we're being honest with ourselves, well outside the Top 50 spots. Darnold is garbage.
And people wonder why it's hard for teams to find a good quarterback. Darnold is a fringe second round pick in my book.
