Mock Off-Season 2.0
-
Last time I did one of these was when we were in the very early stages of our coaching search. Assuming no more drastic changes, though you never know anymore, this is just what I would realistically try to do this off-season if I were head of the front office based on what has already happened.
Cut/Don’t Re-sign
Brandon Weeden ~ How hasn’t this happened yet is the real question.
Jason Campbell ~ Given what he was thrown into, he could have done worse, however, do to all the snaps he took last year, his contract is too high to be 2nd or 3rd on the depth chart.
Alex Tanney ~ Emergency signing but doesn’t actually deserve a roster spot.
Davone Bess ~ What used to be a sure handed slot receiver has turned to a useless player and the subject of a bad trade.
Willis McGahee ~ Proved to be nothing substantial and should just retire.
Billy Cundiff ~ Did a decent job replacing Phil Dawson this year but it’s time to find a young, long-term kicking solution.
Oniel Cousins ~ Not sure how he found his way on the roster this year.
Shaun Lauvao ~ Solid back-up guard, but if he wants anything close to starter money, no thank you.
Craig Robertson ~ Had a solid rookie season, but was simply a victim of the scheme change this past year and it’s not gonna change next year.
Re-Sign
TJ Ward ~ As one of the best run safeties and a naturally hard hitter, I would have applied the franchise tag to him. That didn’t happen but I would still aggressively pursue him to stay. If the Browns want a truly elite defense, there’s no reason to let him walk with the cap space we have.
Alex Mack ~ Good use of the transition tag. One of the best centers in the league, it makes no sense to open yet another hole on the offensive line and let him walk. Re-sign him to a long-term deal.
Free-Agency
Rex Grossman, WAS QB ~ It’s no secret Grossman is washed-up and should not be counted on to win a team games. That said, with two young guys already competing for the starting job, having a veteran like him to help teach Kyle Shanahan’s playbook would be ideal as long as he realizes his role.
James Jones, GB WR ~ The Browns already have a fairly young receiving core. It’s no secret they could use one more reliable weapon. Instead of drafting a young receiver, adding someone with veteran leadership that can produce at a high level makes more sense to me.
Ryan Harris, HOU RT ~ Schwartz was shaky last year after an impressive rookie campaign. No matter what, we need to add a capable back-up tackle, but Harris may even be able to challenge for the starting RT spot.
Brandon Spikes, NE ILB ~ Spikes clashed heads with Belicheck towards the end of last season, and likely won’t be back. Combine that with the fact that cutting D’Qwell Jackson left a gaping hole at ILB, this should be a high priority signing.
Arthur Moats, BUF ILB ~ The coaching change would not be official until we brought in someone that Pettine worked with last year, and lucky for us, ILB is so thin we could really use him too.
Sam Shields, GB CB ~ The best way to solidify the Browns’ secondary would pair a reliable CB opposite Joe Haden. Combine that with an improved pass rush led by Keke Mingo, and the Browns could be looking at having one of the top defenses.
Malcolm Jenkins, NO FS ~ Jenkins was essentially replaced last year when New Orleans spent a 1st Round Pick on Kenny Vaccaro. Jenkins would be a fan favorite being a former Buckeye star and at only 26 years old he still has a lot of time to grow. Should be able to be signed at a reasonable price.
Trades
Cleveland Browns send 1st Rounder (#26), 3rd Rounder (#83), 6th Rounder (#164) to Baltimore Ravens for their 1st Rounder (#17). The thing that would likely hold up a trade like this is of course the intradivision dilemma. Other than that, this makes plenty of sense for both teams. The Browns go into the draft with 10 draft picks while the Ravens have 4. The Ravens will likely look to move down to gain draft picks, and the Browns should look at adding elite talent in the draft.
Draft
Round 1, Pick #4: Johnny Manziel, QB Texas A&M
Round 1, Pick #17: CJ Mosley, ILB Alabama
Round 2, Pick #35: Carlos Hyde, HB Ohio State
Round 3, Pick #71: David Yankey, G Stanford
Round 4, Pick #102: Yamin Smallwood, ILB Connecticut
Round 4, Pick #123: CJ Fiedeorowicz, TE Iowa
Round 5, Pick #133: Jay Prosch, FB Auburn
Round 7, Pick #195: Anthony Fera, K Texas
Depth Chart
Quarterback
Johnny Manziel*
Brian Hoyer
Rex Grossman*
Halfback
Carlos Hyde*
Dion Lewis
Chris Ogbonnaya
Edwin Baker
Fullback
Jay Prosch*
Wide Receiver
Josh Gordon
James Jones*
Greg Little
Travis Benjamin
Josh Cooper
Tight End
Jordan Cameron
Gary Barnidge
CJ Fiedeorowicz*
Offensive Line
LT- Joe Thomas
LG- Jason Pinkston, John Greco
C- Alex Mack
RG- David Yankey*, Garrett Gilkey
RT- Mitchell Schwartz, Ryan Harris*Defensive Line
LE- Ahtyba Rubin, John Hughes, Armonty Bryant
NT- Phil Taylor, Ishmaa’ily Kitchen
RE- Desmond Bryant, Billy Winn
Linebackers
LOLB- Barkevious Mingo, Jabaal Sheard
ILB- Brandon Spikes*, Yamin Smallwood
ILB- CJ Mosley*, Arthur Moats*, Tank Carder
ROLB- Paul Kruger, Quentin Groves
Cornerbacks
Joe Haden
Sam Shields*
Buster Skrine
Leon McFadden
Julian Posey
Safeties
SS- TJ Ward, Jonathan Bademosi
FS- Malcolm Jenkins, Tashaun Gipson
Special Teams
K- Anthony Fera*
P- Spencer Lanning
LS- Christian Yount
KR/PR- Travis Benjamin
-
Yankey will not even come close to sticking around until the 71st pick. He may not even be there for the Browns #26 pick.
You would be better off switching Yankey and Hyde.
Resigning Ward at this point is problematical.
-
there's nothing about your mock draft that i like at all.
i do agree with the cut and resign list though.
it's when i see these mocks i almost want to ask the people's age.
i don't get adding 'reliable' veteran help via free agency at some of the most key positions but drafting one of the most questionable QBs in the draft and adding a homer at RB.
draft WR, CB and LB. the guards i don't know enough about.
-
Was doing alright until I saw Manziel at #4... smh...
-
I am on board with the bulk of your cuts, resigns and FAs. We drift way apart on the draft. Other than Hyde I really don't like any of the picks. I also would not pick up Hyde any higher than the 3rd. If he is gone there are plenty of talented guys to draft in the 3rd and 4th round at RB. I like Yankey but as others said you would be lucky to score him at 26. There is no way I would roll up 3 picks to get Mosley although I do like him.
To those who constantly rag on James Jones his drops really seem to be a thing of the past. He is a talented guy and could be had for a fair price even if we do draft a WR and I hope we do.
-
Free Agents
RB- T. Gerhart- Downhill runner that should thrive in the zone blocking scheme. Should be bargain if he wins the starting gig.
FB- L. McClain- Older but one of the better lead blockers in the game. Is still a solid receiver and short yardage back.
WR- D. Sanenbacher- Quick with solid hands. He may not be a mismatch but hopefully he can be what Bess was supposed to be.
TE- A. Quarless- Had character issues, but has the talent to be a starter for most teams.
RG- G. Schwartz- Pairing up the brothers could put an end to the issues we have on the right side of the OLine.
ILB- D. Bishop and J. McClain- Both are injury risks, but should come in cheap. Versatile and experienced in the 3-4.
CB- V. Davis- One of the more under-rated CBs in the game. He will be very important in the near future if Haden decides to test FA.
FS- J. Byrd- The price is a bit too much for me, but we really need a ball hawk.
Draft
1a- QB- T. Bridgewater
1b- CB- K. Fuller
2- WR- J. Matthews
3a- ILB- C. Borland
3b- OLB- D. Lawrence
4a- C- T. Larsen
4b- HB- S. Johnson
5- CB- C. Gaines
6- TE- C. Lyerla
7- ILB- Z. Tyler
QB- T. Bridgewater B. Hoyer
HB- S. Johnson T. Gerhart D. Lewis
FB- L. McClain
WR- J. Gordon D. Sanzenbacher G. Little
WR- J. Matthew T. Benjamin
TE- J. Cameron A. Quarless C. Lyerla
LT- J. Thomas R. Fragel
LG- J. Greco G. Gilkey
C- A. Mack T. Larsen
RG- G. Schwartz J. Pinkston
RT- M. Schwartz C. Faulk
DE- D. Bryant J. Hughes
NT- P. Taylor A. Rubin I. Kitchen
DE- B. Winn A. Bryant
LOLB- P. Kruger B. Mingo
LILB- D. Bishop J. Tyler
RILB- C. Borland J. McClain
ROLB- J. Sheard D. Lawerence
CB- J. Haden K. Fuller L. McFadden
CB- V. Davis B. Skrine C. Gaines
FS- J. Byrd J. Aubery
SS- T. Gipson J. Poyer J. Bademosi
K- UDFA
P- S. Lanning
LS- C. Yount
-
I very much doubt we will be THAT active in free agency. I mean, it would be cool and would make a big splash, but it isn't very practical.
-
Free Agents
RB- T. Gerhart- Downhill runner that should thrive in the zone blocking scheme. Should be bargain if he wins the starting gig.
FB- L. McClain- Older but one of the better lead blockers in the game. Is still a solid receiver and short yardage back.
WR- D. Sanenbacher- Quick with solid hands. He may not be a mismatch but hopefully he can be what Bess was supposed to be.
TE- A. Quarless- Had character issues, but has the talent to be a starter for most teams.
RG- G. Schwartz- Pairing up the brothers could put an end to the issues we have on the right side of the OLine.
ILB- D. Bishop and J. McClain- Both are injury risks, but should come in cheap. Versatile and experienced in the 3-4.
CB- V. Davis- One of the more under-rated CBs in the game. He will be very important in the near future if Haden decides to test FA.
FS- J. Byrd- The price is a bit too much for me, but we really need a ball hawk.
Draft
1a- QB- T. Bridgewater
1b- CB- K. Fuller
2- WR- J. Matthews
3a- ILB- C. Borland
3b- OLB- D. Lawrence
4a- C- T. Larsen
4b- HB- S. Johnson
5- CB- C. Gaines
6- TE- C. Lyerla
7- ILB- Z. Tyler
QB- T. Bridgewater B. Hoyer
HB- S. Johnson T. Gerhart D. Lewis
FB- L. McClain
WR- J. Gordon D. Sanzenbacher G. Little
WR- J. Matthew T. Benjamin
TE- J. Cameron A. Quarless C. Lyerla
LT- J. Thomas R. Fragel
LG- J. Greco G. Gilkey
C- A. Mack T. Larsen
RG- G. Schwartz J. Pinkston
RT- M. Schwartz C. Faulk
DE- D. Bryant J. Hughes
NT- P. Taylor A. Rubin I. Kitchen
DE- B. Winn A. Bryant
LOLB- P. Kruger B. Mingo
LILB- D. Bishop J. Tyler
RILB- C. Borland J. McClain
ROLB- J. Sheard D. Lawerence
CB- J. Haden K. Fuller L. McFadden
CB- V. Davis B. Skrine C. Gaines
FS- J. Byrd J. Aubery
SS- T. Gipson J. Poyer J. Bademosi
K- UDFA
P- S. Lanning
LS- C. Yount
Free Agents
RB- T. Gerhart- Downhill runner that should thrive in the zone blocking scheme. Should be bargain if he wins the starting gig.
FB- L. McClain- Older but one of the better lead blockers in the game. Is still a solid receiver and short yardage back.
WR- D. Sanenbacher- Quick with solid hands. He may not be a mismatch but hopefully he can be what Bess was supposed to be.
TE- A. Quarless- Had character issues, but has the talent to be a starter for most teams.
RG- G. Schwartz- Pairing up the brothers could put an end to the issues we have on the right side of the OLine.
ILB- D. Bishop and J. McClain- Both are injury risks, but should come in cheap. Versatile and experienced in the 3-4.
CB- V. Davis- One of the more under-rated CBs in the game. He will be very important in the near future if Haden decides to test FA.
FS- J. Byrd- The price is a bit too much for me, but we really need a ball hawk.
Draft
1a- QB- T. Bridgewater
1b- CB- K. Fuller
2- WR- J. Matthews
3a- ILB- C. Borland
3b- OLB- D. Lawrence
4a- C- T. Larsen
4b- HB- S. Johnson
5- CB- C. Gaines
6- TE- C. Lyerla
7- ILB- Z. Tyler
QB- T. Bridgewater B. Hoyer
HB- S. Johnson T. Gerhart D. Lewis
FB- L. McClain
WR- J. Gordon D. Sanzenbacher G. Little
WR- J. Matthew T. Benjamin
TE- J. Cameron A. Quarless C. Lyerla
LT- J. Thomas R. Fragel
LG- J. Greco G. Gilkey
C- A. Mack T. Larsen
RG- G. Schwartz J. Pinkston
RT- M. Schwartz C. Faulk
DE- D. Bryant J. Hughes
NT- P. Taylor A. Rubin I. Kitchen
DE- B. Winn A. Bryant
LOLB- P. Kruger B. Mingo
LILB- D. Bishop J. Tyler
RILB- C. Borland J. McClain
ROLB- J. Sheard D. Lawerence
CB- J. Haden K. Fuller L. McFadden
CB- V. Davis B. Skrine C. Gaines
FS- J. Byrd J. Aubery
SS- T. Gipson J. Poyer J. Bademosi
K- UDFA
P- S. Lanning
LS- C. Yount
i could live with this draft even though i don't know anything about fuller or matthews and i watched the combine all day long so they weren't stand outs. i agree that i doubt we do that much in FA. sanzenbacher makes sense as a slot receiver but i'm still saying we need a TALL sure-handed guy for jump balls and corner routes. but i see you've addressed (IMO) the major concern areas in the draft. i guess if they WERE to take a QB @ 4 bridgewater would be the one i'd be most comfortable with. still don't like it though, especially if mack is there. love storm johnson.
-
Anyone but Johnny
-
hey it's texas A and M's pro day today.
let's see what the kid can do. watch evans save his ass all day.
if anyone doubts evans makes the most sense for the browns at WR hopefully there minds will be changed today.
hell johnny might change some minds as well, including mine. i think it will be all over espn in highlight format but i believe nfl network will switch live between schools.
-
Not gonna lie, I don't spend much time on here, but I did not know that many people were so opposed to drafting Manziel. I am a big fan of Hoyer, but there's no way in hell I go into next season banking on him being a franchise guy that could lead the team to the playoffs. With Manziel, he would bring a new kind of attitude that the Browns haven't seen at QB in a real long time. He would not settle for losing and would bring a whole new kind of leadership to this team. I would love to see his fire in a offense that should suit him well. So those that opposed my selection in this mock, I'm guessing you either believe Bridgewater, Bortles, or Hoyer is the answer??
And as for the trade, was the problem that it was with the Ravens or just a bad trade in general?? If it's the fact we're trading with our archival, I understand that. It just seemed like too perfect of a scenario to pass up considering Mosley is the top player at arguably our biggest hole and the Ravens will likely look to trade down.
-
Yes Phillip Gaines, Louisville has a cb named Charles Gaines so I probably just typed the wrong name. Gaines has good size and great speed so he is a very good late round pick with high potential. With a good pro day he may go 2nd or 3rd. Admittedly I haven't done too much homework on him, but the physical potential is definitely there.
-
You were doing so well until I saw "Trade!"
And with the Ravens? C'mon.
And then picking Manziel at #4 and making him the starter ... you have a lot of confidence in that guy ... more than Farmer, Pettine or most reasonable NFL minds I would say.
Zombo
Zombo said:
You were doing so well until I saw "Trade!"
And with the Ravens? C'mon.
And then picking Manziel at #4 and making him the starter ... you have a lot of confidence in that guy ... more than Farmer, Pettine or most reasonable NFL minds I would say.
Zombo
Anyone but Johnny
Mike, I proudly wear the colors anywhere I go- and no one, and I mean no one I've talked to that's on the high side of 40 wants anything to do with Johnny Football.
It's damn universal- us geezers all want Watkins. He impacts the D as much as Football- and unless you have Wee-don't tossing the rock-between Sammy, Gordon and Cameron- someone is going to be open.
-
Still not sold on Manziel. At all. I'd say, the Browns won't draft him. At least not in the first round, eh?
But making that trade? You have one of the deepest drafts in positions of need for the Browns,
and you trade a third?
The ratbirds won't drop that far, anyways....
I see Watkins or a trade down to maybe 8 with the Vikings and taking Mosely early.
but those two thirds are gold in this draft.
-
I think Ward will sign with another team. So we are going to have way to many holes to fill on D not to address it late 1st round.
Hello! It looks like you're interested in this conversation, but you don't have an account yet.
Getting fed up of having to scroll through the same posts each visit? When you register for an account, you'll always come back to exactly where you were before, and choose to be notified of new replies (either via email, or push notification). You'll also be able to save bookmarks and upvote posts to show your appreciation to other community members.
With your input, this post could be even better 💗
Register Login