Let's Play President/GM for the draft
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I think it's pretty obvious we'll be going QB with our first pick.
I hope you are wrong. Hoyer proved he could be a serviceable to very good NFL QB to me anyway. First round QB picks are like Powerball tickets, odds aren't so good they work out as planned. I would most definitely rather see a 2nd to 4th round QB or even two with other picks to bolster the oline and d in general.
I hope you are wrong. Hoyer proved he could be a serviceable to very good NFL QB to me anyway. First round QB picks are like Powerball tickets, odds aren't so good they work out as planned. I would most definitely rather see a 2nd to 4th round QB or even two with other picks to bolster the oline and d in general.
I hope I'm wrong as well but I doubt it's the case.
There's too much to risk by passing up a QB.
Hoyer may be our next franchise QB but if we decide not to draft a QB and then we find that he's not franchise material, we'll have missed our boat.
We have the ammunition to conceivably add a franchise QB, a talented ILB, a solid RB, a starting RG and then still have a third round pick to take BPA.
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I think it's pretty obvious we'll be going QB with our first pick.
I think it's pretty obvious we'll be going QB with our first pick.
Nah, Hoyer needs another WR to complement Gordon. All the atrocious teams are going to pick the Bridgewaters up before CLE, anyway.
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It's amazing the Browns are above .500 for the first time in 6 years and we are talking about the draft in Week 6. I do, however, love talking draft so I will have to jump in. The Browns WILL BE drafting a quarterback OR 2 this year. Brandon Weeden would haveto do nothing short of making a Pro Bowl this year and leading the Browns atleast 1 round into the playoffs. Let's get real. And why do I see so many suggested picks on defense? I'd be shocked if the Browns don't use atleast both 1st round picks and their 2nd on offense. Possible even 2 receivers.
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Don't forget. You don't need to find a franchise quarterback in the first round.. and you don't need to give up a bunch of picks to get one.
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Don't forget. You don't need to find a franchise quarterback in the first round.. and you don't need to give up a bunch of picks to get one.
Don't forget. You don't need to find a franchise quarterback in the first round.. and you don't need to give up a bunch of picks to get one.
You don't have to, but the odds drop spectacularly once you get outside of the first round.
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I haven't posted on here for a long while. More of a lurker and have been hesitant to commit to this team due to cautious optimism. But this is the kind of question I just love to think about. So here's my thoughts on what we should do with the offseason. I didn't get too specific on contracts for free agency because we should be able to afford what I suggest below. And I didn't address our own players in the free agency section, so if a player shows up on the depth chart just assume that we resigned his contract. I didn't feel like explaining why we should keep those players as we all watch the Browns so I think we all would know why. Also I didn't make any trades as they're just too hard to predict. Anyway, here's my way to early thoughts on what I would do in terms of player development for the offseason (after we win it all this year, of course):
The Draft:1. Marqise Lee, WR - USC: Probably will be available in the middle to late round because of the knee injury and USC's unproductive QBs, but make no mistake this guy is a stud. Perhaps a little short for a Norv Turner wide receiver, but he definitely can get open and (here's the most important part) catch the ball!!! Josh Gordon and Greg Little are great, but isn't anyone else tired of the dropped catchable balls? Davone Bess can't be the only guy with sure hands, especially if we're going to throw the ball this much. Our defense has identity, this firms up the offensive identity.1. C.J. Mosley, LB - Alabama: Inside linebackers aren't usually drafted high so this stud should fall right into our laps, and lets not split hairs this guy is a stud. The middle of the best defense in college football is already ready to lead an NFL defense and soon, the keys of our defense will be handed over to him. D'Qwell is the unquestioned leader here, but he's 30 and honestly hasn't always been the pinnacle of health. Behind him we have Robertson (an undrafted free agent who has shown promise in his young career) and.... right. C.J. Mosley firms up the future of what looks to be one of the best defenses in the NFL for years to come.2. A.J. McCarron, QB - Alabama: In one of the deeper QB drafts, our quarterback of the future is found in the second round. All the QBs rated ahead of him have serious questions. Bridgewater (competition), Mariota (accuracy), Hundley (consistency), Boyd/Manziel (size), all give you reasons to worry about how they would translate to the NFL. But what about McCarron? He's got the size (6'3 214lbs), accuracy (70% completion), arm (I don't know what stat to put here but just watch him, he can push the ball up the field). He may not look like the new age quarterback and he'll never rush for 100 yards in a game but do you know what? I don't want my quarterback getting hit 10+ times a game. Call me traditional but I like a tall, strong armed leader who can read and conduct an offense. After all, are RG3 and Kaepernick showing us anything besides you better have a backup if you're going to run? Oh and he wins. A lot. Not just winning games but winning championships. In the toughest conference in college. When he faces adversity he rises those around him. (See 2013 A&M game after they take that first quarter punch). That's who I want as a leader.3. Justin Gilbert, CB - Oklahoma State: Did you know that we only have 4 corners on the active roster? 4... Only 4. If the other team goes 5 wide we have to bring up a safety or play zone. If someone gets injured we have to pull someone from the stands. Point being, I think we need some corners. Gilbert has been up and down in college but the one thing that is undeniable is his promise. And I'd say he's been more up than down with a ton of experience. He's got the speed that you like in a corner, and I'm talking game speed. (He's actually an All-American kick returner). And my favorite part about him is that he brings some size to the position. (6'0" 200 lbs.). So a big and fast corner that can develop into a starter and contribute on special teams? Sounds like a good third-rounder to me.3. C.J. Fiedorowicz, TE - Iowa: We have to give Chud and Norv a TE right? You know they want one. Fiedorowics is a guy that probably isn't utilized as much as he should be at Iowa, but he can split out and catch a ball. And he can block (6'7" 265 lbs and he plays at freaking Iowa). Watching him he actually reminds me of Jason Witten. Could be a legitimate compliment to 2 TE sets with Cameron. Probably the TE that stays in to block more but can gash em'.4. Jack Mewhort, OT - Ohio State: I actually liked Ryan Miller but he's not here any more and we don't really have any true tackles behind Joe and Mitchell. Well here's a true blue tackle and he's an Ohio boy. I don't want to find myself where the Steelers are. Piece of mind for a 4th rounder? Sign me up.4. Xavier Su'a-Filo, G - UCLA: Again, I don't want to find myself where the Steelers are and our interior line could be improved. I don't think Gilkey is going to cut it. (When we had that run of injuries at the beginning of the season and he wasn't even considered, that tells me what I need to know.) Here's a really good article about Xavier: http://espn.go.com/blog/pac12/post/_/id/55776/uclas-xavier-sua-filo-quietly-a-pac-12-force. Sounds like a guy that I'd put on my team.5. Carlos Hyde, RB - Ohio State: I don't know if he's going to last this long in a relatively weak RB class, but NFLdraftscout has him listed as a 5-6 rounder. We don't have a guy on the roster that we know can pick up a yard. Hyde at worst is our bruiser (6'0" 245 lbs.) and I think all you Buckeye fans know he has the chance to be more. If he's there he'd be great value in the 5th and will fill a very big void here in Cleveland.6. Larry Webster, OLB - Bloomsburg: This guy could be special and no one knows it yet. He was a 4 year basketball starter and had one year of eligibility remaining so he said screw it, I'll play football. And he hasn't been blocked since. Granted, having 4 sacks against Kutztown (yes that is his real stat line and that is a real opponent) isn't something that is going to make the front page of USA Today but it shows he's got ability. He's playing DE but as you can guess from his basketball background he'd be moved to OLB and he certainly looks to have the measurables to fill in there (6'6" 240lbs. 4.67 40). And yes, he's the son of THAT Larry Webster. Can't hurt him, right?7. Demonte McAllister, DT - Florida State: I'm going straight on measurables here. He's a quick 6'2 290lbs. and he plays on one of the better defenses in college ball. Sounds like he could take some reps as a 3-4 DE. At the least he could be practice squad fodder.Free Agency:Ben Tate, RB - Houston Texans: Alright, I know that RB isn't going to be a priority on this team. The front office is prioritizing certain positions over others and truth be told early results of that philosophy look good. (I'm liking the Richardson trade more and more as the weeks pass). Still, we have to have a running back. I LOVE the attitude that McGahee has brought but I don't think even he would tell you that he's the answer. Our running game has been poor (to be polite) and Tate has shown he can do it in the NFL. If the Texans didn't have Foster this probably wouldn't even be an option. I wouldn't spend the moon for him but I think he'll be available for the right price and if so, I think it's a no-brainer. And he's young (25 years old).Aqib Talib, CB - New England Patriots: This is probably going to fall on deaf ears and he may not even be available in the off-season, but if he is this guy to me is my absolute must-get. Did you know that you have more fingers on your right hand than we have corners? (Hopefully. If not look at your other hand. If still not......... I'm sorry). Listen, this guy is a STUD corner. If it wasn't for him the Patriots wouldn't even have a defense. He had some character issues in the past but he hasn't been in the police blotter for quite some time. The conversation here is really about prioritizing positions and I get that. This FO doesn't prioritize corners, but you still need em'! And it's not like they're an unaffordable luxury. Yes, we can't pay 4 high profile corners. But how about 2? It's not like we don't have the cap room and I guarantee you that Talib will have more INTs the rest of the year than our cap space. He was freaking BORN IN CLEVELAND! If we make a splash in free agency, this is where I'd do it. And he's young (27 years old).Jairus Byrd, FS - Buffalo Bills: Unlike Talib this would be kind of a luxury, but injuries, position, and malcontentedness may push the price tag on this pro-bowler down. If it does, we should use that cap space to snag a player who is undoubtedly at or near the top of his position. Like with Tate I wouldn't break the bank here, but with all this cap space we need to act like a poker player with a ton of chips. Lets play some big stack poker with the rest of the league, set the market, and grab a top-end player. And you guessed it, he's young (26 years old).Josh Bynes, LB - Baltimore Ravens: Undrafted linebacker who is showing promise at the NFL level. I trust (and miss) Ozzie Newsome's eyes. Probably can be had for cheap and it hurts a division rival. And... young (24 years old).Emmanuel Sanders, WR - Pittsburgh Steelers: Speaking of hurting your division rivals, lets go grab the Steelers best receiver. He's not suited to be a team's #1 option but here he wouldn't be. He's super quick and has good hands and the Steelers are too thumbs-up-their-arses with their cap situation to keep him. Lets go get him. And, wait.... there was something else I was going to say here. What was it? I know there was something. Um.... uh.... ermm..... I don't know. (26 years old).The Depth Chart:QB: Brandon Weeden A.J. McCarron Brian HoyerRB: Ben Tate Carlos Hyde Dion LewisFB: Chris OgbonnayaLT: Joe ThomasLG: John Greco Jason Pinkston
Alex MackRG: Shawn Lauvao Xavier Su'a-FiloRT: Mitchell Schwartz Jack MewhortTE: Jordon Cameron C.J. Fiedorowics Gary BarnidgeWR: Josh Gordon Davone Bess Greg LittleWR: Marqise Lee Emmanuel Sanders Travis BenjaminDE: Athyba Rubin John Hughes Armonte BryantDT: Phil Taylor Ishmaa'ily KitchenDE: Desmond Bryant Billy WinnOLB: Barkevious Mingo Jabaal Sheard Larry WebsterILB: C.J. Mosley Craig RobertsonILB: D'Qwell Jackson Josh BynesOLB: Paul Kruger Quentin GrovesSS: T.J. Ward Johnson BademosiFS: Jairus Byrd Tashaun GipsonCB: Joe Haden Buster Skrine Leon McFaddenCB: Aqib Talib Justin Gilbert Chris OwensK: Billy CundiffP: Spencer LanningLS: Christian YountJust a quick conversation about the quarterbacks because I feel like that can't be presented without comment. Listen guys, I love Hoyer. I hope he's on the team for the next 8 years, but in a backup role. I look at him and I just think, this is why we got into a problem with Colt. While he commands a huddle and does a lot of things well (and that's why you keep him here to light a fire under the starter), there are fundamental QB traits that he doesn't have. We all saw that comeback win against the Bills. Weeden looked inaccurate a times but he also made some throws that Hoyer just can't make. And for craps sake he did lead the team to a victory when the home crowd wasn't exactly behind him on national TV. Did you see Weeden post-game? They gave him a chance to rip the crowd and he didn't. Lets give this guy his due. He's the best QB we have for the rest of this year which means he'll have 2 years of NFL experience with more raw talent than Hoyer going into 2015. That makes him the best placeholder until McCarron acclimates to the NFL. And that's all we're talking about here, a placeholder. Weeden is 30 and soon to be out of the NFL. Our depth chart for years to come would be McCarron then Hoyer. But this year? Weeden gets the nod.Practice Squad:Demonte McAllister, DL: Our 7th rounder gets time to develop.Chris Faulk, OL: Talented but injured. Lets keep him around to see if he can lose the latter attribute.Jamoris Slaughter, DB: Ditto.Tori Gurley, WR: He's got the size Norv likes. And we are going to be a passing team.Kenny Guiton, QB: C'mon, just admit you like this idea. If there ever was a developmental NFL quarterback it's Guiton. You know he won't be a lockerroom problem. Lets bring him in here.Asante Cleveland, TE: Chud and Norv love TEs. He's got the right name. And he reportedly runs a 4.68 40.Ciante Evans, DB and Stanley Jean-Baptiste, DB: This duo both comes from the Nebraska secondary. They're both likely to go undrafted but Nebraska's D isn't THAT bad. (Don't push me on this position. I don't want to defend it). Anyway, I like the idea of these two developing chemistry on the practice squad to keep our QBs honest. And it is just the practice squad. Go Browns.1. Marqise Lee, WR - USC
1. C.J. Mosley, LB - Alabama2. A.J. McCarron, QB - Alabama3. Justin Gilbert, CB - Oklahoma State3. C.J. Fiedorowicz, TE - Iowa4. Jack Mewhort, OT - Ohio State4. Xavier Su'a-Filo, G - UCLA5. Carlos Hyde, RB - Ohio State6. Larry Webster, OLB - Bloomsburg7. Demonte McAllister, DT - Florida StateReally like your write up, RD. Well written with plenty of well-reasoned depth... especially for as early as it is for such an effort.
Love your Bama conection. I still am not thrilled with DQ against the run and think AJ is a nice fit for a Defense oriented team.
After seeing him spin Roby like a top most of the nite, I fell in love with Jared Abbrederis (WR, Wisconsin). I know it's bad to fall in love with a player, but... JA is a nfldraftscout.com projected 3rd rounder at present, but stock is rising.
One area where I think it is time to spend a high pick on is interior line. "Common wisdom" 'round here is you don't spend a 1st on an OG. I think our 2nd #1 or our #2 goes there this year. There are five OG's in that range at present, with Gabe Jackson (Ms St.) squarely in the mix.
Evans has great speed for a guy that's 6'5", very good hands and I don't think he's as unpolished as you make him out to be. He's Johnny's bailout guy, and we've seen that all year, he goes up and gets all those terrible throws made by Manziel.
A lot of those "terrible throws" are by intent, if not design. Manziel trusts Evans to "rebound" them...
That said, at the next level it is not Evans' speed that will be in question, it's his agility.
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first post on here, be easy! Would think the Browns take a QB in the first and would have to say I would also. Then look at maybe a WR or somebody on D. If we were to draft a QB im not a fan of the dual threat QBs, much rather a pocket passer, not clued in much for college football so who are the top Qbs?
Bridgewater
Boyd
McCaron
Hundley
Anybody else?
What are your thoughts on Manziel?
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Welcome, Welsh... Stayed and played a round in your countrside a decade+ ago during the last Mad Cow scare...
We have a whole QB prospect thread here:
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Bridgewater and Boyd will surely be gone...
I don't think McCarron is the answer, and Hundley, while terrific in college,
I don't know that he is the guy who has "it" and sees the field.
There's Mariota, who I would think fits the bill for the Browns,
and the kid from Miami. But it's so early, I can't bring myself to work up
a stupid mock draft right now. There's the kid from Stanford...but...
I think Mariota is the qb I'd draft with one of the two first round picks.
Manziel is too short for my liking, (by the way, I'm confused, some have Bridgewater at 6'3" and Boyd at 6'1",
some have them reversed I think...?) and his arm strength isn't all that. And, he's a nutjob. He doesn't fit
the Browns' lockerroom.
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first post on here, be easy! Would think the Browns take a QB in the first and would have to say I would also. Then look at maybe a WR or somebody on D. If we were to draft a QB im not a fan of the dual threat QBs, much rather a pocket passer, not clued in much for college football so who are the top Qbs?
Bridgewater
Boyd
McCaron
Hundley
Anybody else?
What are your thoughts on Manziel?
What are your thoughts on Manziel?
People are kidding themselves and are NCAA honks if they think that kid is gong 2nd round. I LOVE the fact he tells the NCAA to go fuck themselves I'll sign 7k autographs if I feel like it cause I got damn well earned it. That kid is Drew Brees with way more wheels and maybe even a stronger arm.
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first post on here, be easy! Would think the Browns take a QB in the first and would have to say I would also. Then look at maybe a WR or somebody on D. If we were to draft a QB im not a fan of the dual threat QBs, much rather a pocket passer, not clued in much for college football so who are the top Qbs?
Bridgewater
Boyd
McCaron
Hundley
Anybody else?
What are your thoughts on Manziel?
first post on here, be easy! Would think the Browns take a QB in the first and would have to say I would also. Then look at maybe a WR or somebody on D. If we were to draft a QB im not a fan of the dual threat QBs, much rather a pocket passer, not clued in much for college football so who are the top Qbs?
Bridgewater
Boyd
McCaron
Hundley
Anybody else?
What are your thoughts on Manziel?
Are you from Wales? Are you familiar with our Cotswald cronies?
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first post on here, be easy! Would think the Browns take a QB in the first and would have to say I would also. Then look at maybe a WR or somebody on D. If we were to draft a QB im not a fan of the dual threat QBs, much rather a pocket passer, not clued in much for college football so who are the top Qbs?
Bridgewater
Boyd
McCaron
Hundley
Anybody else?
What are your thoughts on Manziel?
Are you from Wales? Are you familiar with our Cotswald cronies?
Are you from Wales? Are you familiar with our Cotswald cronies?
yep I am from Wales, place called Llanelli, no can't say I am familiar sorry
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first post on here, be easy! Would think the Browns take a QB in the first and would have to say I would also. Then look at maybe a WR or somebody on D. If we were to draft a QB im not a fan of the dual threat QBs, much rather a pocket passer, not clued in much for college football so who are the top Qbs?
Bridgewater
Boyd
McCaron
Hundley
Anybody else?
What are your thoughts on Manziel?
first post on here, be easy! Would think the Browns take a QB in the first and would have to say I would also. Then look at maybe a WR or somebody on D. If we were to draft a QB im not a fan of the dual threat QBs, much rather a pocket passer, not clued in much for college football so who are the top Qbs?
Bridgewater
Boyd
McCaron
Hundley
Anybody else?
What are your thoughts on Manziel?
Greetings to you, Welshman! McCarron is one of most mediocre QBs in the draft. Mariota, Mettenberger, Manziel and Hogan will all be drafted before him. Maybe Murray and Carr, too.
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