247 Sports (CBS) posted an article about the current player every NFL team should re-sign this off season. For the Browns, it was Isaiah Crowell. Granted, the Browns have very few players with expiring contracts this year, but . . . I'm not so sure that Isaiah should be at the top of John Dorsey's to do list. Who do you guys think should the focus be on? (Current roster only!)
I believe that is the reasoning behind Crowell in the article...There simply isn't another option that says "read me". Crowell is gone, there is nothing that can be done about that, short of paying him an exorbitant amount of money, which I don't believe he deserves. The next in line would be...um...well... How about we get a head start on re-signing Joe Thomas to his last contract, allowing him to retire a Cleveland Brown? That is if he doesn't retire this off season of course... and/or Duke Johnson Jr. to a contract extension. We really don't have pressing free agent work until the 2020 free agent class...
Those are my thoughts, as well. Target Joe Thomas and Duke a year early and focus on the balance of our cap space by fixing the QB problem along with adding a veteran WR (who isn't afraid of earning his paycheck!). Then . . . double down in the draft and add another top QB, RB and WR.
The more I dig into this draft class the more I believe this is the one to do exactly that for the Browns. With the first 3 out of 4 picks go after the quarterback, running back and cornerback that are desperately needed. That leaves you with an additional top 40 pick to take a top tier receiver. Then, go back to the well for another quarterback, another defensive back, another receiver and another running back. If you go on the clock at the top of the third and one of the quarterbacks that could have or should have gone in the second are still on the board, why not double down? Even if you sign an aging vet to a 3 year deal, wouldn't you rather be in the position to have more quarterbacks than you need rather than hoping that one player pans out (if I were Dorsey, I'd clear out the entire QB room this off-season for at least one vet and multiple picks at the position)? Look at Washington. Having Kirk Cousins on the roster was never a bad thing for them, even if they end up losing him by playing it to tight with the purse strings. If you take Barkley with that #4, why not take another back with that 97th pick if one is sitting there that probably should have gone a bit earlier? Spend that 65th pick on more help in the defensive backfield and take the last 5 picks to add depth and potential future starters at points of weakness. Of course, none of this matters if you don't hit on those picks, but the odds of landing solid talent at offensive skill positions is definitely there this season. I think the probability of the Browns going with Mayfield is actually pretty decent right now. There are links to Dorsey, he has numbers to back his play and it would be a huge win with the fans, something that Jimmy is sure to take into consideration. Drafting Barkley at #4 makes sense, there's no deal to be made with Isaiah and it would probably make Cleveland Twitter explode. It's a dream scenario for some fans that has a chance at reality based on the circumstances in play. I'm not going on the record with both of those being the right calls. It's still early for me to make that kind of statement, but I do understand why I hear and this scenario often from Cleveland fans. Landing, arguably, the two best offensive players in one draft class after watching this latest rendition of the Browns offense would have to be considered a very large step in the right direction for this franchise. Now, throw in a draft day trade of Hue to the Bengals for another second round pick and the roar from Northern Ohio would be damn near deafening, lol.
Tim, I didn't mean double down on QB in the draft. I meant what I suggested a few weeks ago when I said to go get Kirk Cousins (at whatever cost) and then draft the highest rated QB. If that's Mayfield, then so be it. That would give the Browns a QB room consisting of Cousins, Mayfield (?) And Kizer. Both Mayfield and (obviously) Kizer could use some time sitting behind Cousins and learning. When (not "if") Crowell bolts in free agency, draft Barkley and go from there. That would leave Barkley, Johnson and Dayes in the RB room. If they want to use Johnson as a slot receiver . . . Fine. Draft a second RB in rounds 3 through 7. That still leaves some question marks at WR. Coleman can't stay healthy. Gordon is a urine sample away from a lifetime of selling used cars. So, go out and get the very best free agent WR and then draft another one (or two). That takes us through pick #33. After that, focus on DB and ILB. The Browns are positioned to do something unheard of this year when you consider how much cap space they have combined with the draft capital they have accumulated. They will be 1-31 by this time next week. They have the assets to fix this roster . . . why not go for it without worrying about following some unwritten logic concerning draft value. What do they have to lose? Credibility?
I knew that Lyman. But, I am suggesting it... In fact, the only way I scrub that possibility off of my board for the Browns entirely is if they do take the route that you prefer and sign Kirk Cousins. In any other scenario, including a trade that would bring in someone like Alex Smith or Philip Rivers, I still have a lean towards taking two quarterbacks in this draft with the probability being directly affected by what players at that position remain available at the top of the third. I understand not wanting to press some on getting a running back in the upper middle if they do take Barkley, but I'm all for it even if they do. I'm not convinced at all that Dayes can be a starter or that Duke can be a full time back. I like him as a spell back and a change of pace. I'm approaching running back similar to how I'm approaching quarterback. Sign a vet, go get a franchise guy early and double down with his back-up sooner rather than later. There are some interesting options to be had on the receiver market this season and I fully expect the Browns to add someone for both the slot and the outside. They need to create some flexibility in Coleman's role and to do that they have to add bodies that can play on the perimeter but getting another player that can work from the slot will be a solid way to help out Njoku and a rookie passer, whether he immediately starts or would happen to be forced to start due to injury. After that, grabbing a bigger bodied receiver at the top of the second would by my choice. A bigger possession target to move the chains and a red zone threat would be the favored option.
Tim were you saying go QB with their 2nd pick and not the 1st? There is a good chance guys like Rosen and Mayfield go 2-3. Now I get it if they get Cousins but if it's only at #4 they should just get it at #1 instead of missing out.
What do the Browns have going FOR them? Offensive line - Check Defensive line - Check All they need on both the lines is an upgraded depth chart...the starters are set and ready to roll. That's about it...the TE room seems pretty solid, we would have more information if we had better QB play this year. We need: QB (ABSOLUTE) FS (ABSOLUTE) RB (ABSOLUTE) WR (ABSOLUTE) CB (must) OT (must) WR (another one, in addition to the one above) CB (another one, in addition to the one above) MLB (upgrade/depth) LDE (depth) SSLB (depth) WSLB (depth) Now, here is where it get interesting. You see 11 positions there, and we currently have 12 draft picks (#1, #4, #33, #37, #64, #65, #97, #123, #129, #153, #161, #193), 6 of which are in the top 65...SO, you can make an argument that the draft can help this team out a great deal. I don't want to just help this team out though, I want to compete for the AFC North in 2018. Here is how you do it: Trade #64 to the Kansas City Chiefs for Alex Smith QB, sign Alex to a lucrative contract adding 2 years to his 1 year deal, making it a 3 year deal fully guaranteed...2018 $17M, 2019 $18M, 2020 $19M ($18M per) Sign unrestricted free agents: Trumaine Johnson CB 5 year $85M contract.. ($17 per year) LaMarcus Joiner FS 4 year $43M contract.. ($10.75 per year) Terrelle Pryor WR 4 year $32M.. ($8M per year) Now we are down to this: We need: QB (ABSOLUTE) FS (ABSOLUTE) RB (ABSOLUTE) WR (ABSOLUTE) CB (must) OT (must) WR (another one, in addition to the one above) CB (another one, in addition to the one above) MLB (upgrade/depth) LDE (depth) SSLB (depth) WSLB (depth) 2018 NFL Draft #1 TRADE Browns receive NY Giants #2 overall and #34 overall, NY Giants receive #1 overall, #123 overall and DeShone Kizer QB #1 Giants (Browns) Josh Rosen QB UCLA #2 Browns (Giants) Saquon Barkley RB Penn State #3 Colts Bradley Chubb DE NC State #4 Browns (Texans) Baker Mayfield QB Oklahoma #5 Trade Buccaneers receive #33, #34 and #37 #5 Browns (Buccaneers) Minkah Fitzpatrick FS/CB Alabama #33 Traded to Buccaneers for Minkah Fitzpatrick #34 Traded to Buccaneers for M Tinkah Fitzpatrick #37 Traded to Buccaneers for Minkah Fitzpatrick #64 Traded to Chiefs for Alex Smith #65 Browns Simmie Cob Tbs WR Indiana #97 Browns Tyrell Crosby OT Oregon #123 Traded (Panthers) to Giants #129 Browns (5th)Taron Johnson CB Weber State #153 Browns (Chiefs) (5th) Nick DeLuca LB North Dakota State #161 Browns (6th) Steven Taylor LB Houston #193 Browns (7th) Mike Love DE South Florida Still with #s 129, 153, 161 and 193 to go... After the first 4 rounds of the draft: We need: RB (ABSOLUTE) OT (must) WR (another one, in addition to the one above) CB (another one, in addition to the one above) MLB (upgrade/depth) LDE (depth) SSLB (depth) WSLB (depth)
Not at all. I'm saying I would take a quarterback with that #1 overall, then take another one with that top 3rd round pick if one happens to slide that is worth taking there. Although, it may be a bit of a moot point now as I have multiple people telling me that Rosen, Darnold and Finley will all remain in school making this a much thinner pool in a draft that has many, many teams that will want to snag a signal caller.
Exactly my point. If we sign Cousins (or even Alex Smith - sigh) I would STILL go with a QB at #1. I can see where some would think this the definition of overkill, but . . . I, for one, am sick and tired of failing at the QB position. Sign a competent veteran QB and then double down with the highest rated QB in the draft at #1. Yes, I am fully aware that a veteran QB will require at least a 4 year contract. I am also fully aware that starting QB's in this league get injured. Hell, we've seen it happen right here in Cleveland. So, assume Cousins gets signed and then injured. Does anyone really want D. Kizer as the next man up? If you want to be the best . . . go get the best!
Obviously its not your $ so you can come up w any # you want but T Johnson at $17M yr is absolutely ludicrous...he has 3 INts in the last 2 seasons....there will b better bargains than that guy...what is w the infatuation on Pryor....your gonna give him the same deal he turned down after putting up bad stats in a more favorable situation....also those trades are not happening...like the effort though
Waste of a pick Lym...your banking on your franchise QB you just signed to get hurt? If he doesnt you have the #1 pick sitting for 3-4 yrs...what a waste on a bad team and then you still dont even know what you have w him cause he doesnt have much game experience
WRONG! I'm not banking on him getting hurt. I'm banking on having a suitable back-up in case he gets hurt. The same could be said for every other position on this team.
Just for the sake of clarification, from my first response on I am suggesting that I will take a quarterback #1 overall. But I’m looking to take another one at the top of the third if I sign any veteran other than Kirk Cousins.
How do you know hes suitable if he has never played in the NFL...if your totally against playing a rookie add a vet for a yr w a team option instead of franchise type $ and let the rookie sit...Im all for guys playing early though
