I agree that his impact is beyond debate - it's a failure. Based on where the Browns are, picking Watkins is ridiculously stupid.

Gilbert + a first round OL is much, much better value for that one slot.

The issue is the opportunity cost of what you could have for that pick, not "watkins or andrew hawkins."

@unsympathetic said:

Unless they're absolute fly catching game breakers who when paired with even a decent qb will make him look like a pro bowler. Watkins is that guy now. The routes Shanny could have woven into this offense for Watkins and how that would have opened up other routes that the other guys run, we could conceivably be undefeated. The impact Watkins would have made on this offense is beyond debate...the only thing debateable is whether Gilbert will or will not reach his potential. Frankly I have no idea. The whole defense save a few secondary guys has taken a tremendous step back this year for reasons I can't quite discern.

And I wouldn't hate if our second round was OL also.

WR are shiny hood ornaments good for 2-5 plays per game.

George C said:

These teams will get media run when they are winning. Neither has made playoffs in over a decade. The Bills had no trouble getting media run in the early 90s, did they? And the Browns have been actually getting a ton of media run. First drafting JFF, then Gordon's issues, then winning.

George C said:

Sure, we will. But a fucking Buffalo must have sat on your mother when she was pregnant with you for you to act so high and mighty.

As for picks not doing Cleveland good, what period are you talking about? Just these past years picks? The top two are not doing so well, as they are after all rookies, and rookies really should not be depended on that much, but Joel Bitonio is doing great, as are Terence West and Christian Kirksey. And a couple of others are contributing. Desir and Gilbert will come around. They probably play the second toughest position on the field.

JFF was never meant to be a starter...yet.

George C said:

I'm sure you will use it to draft another stud like Barkevious Mingo..Or maybe maybe really hit the jack pot and draft another Brandon Weeden or Trent Richardson. Possibly another instant contributor like..well. Brady Quinn or Helen Winslow II.

Past regimes made those choices. This current one looks a lot smarter so far. I'd like to think the Watkins draft-trade will be a win/win for both of our teams.

Some people, like the original poster of this thread, are eager to look at the trade as a win for the Browns right now. Can't blame them really, but they need to cool it until we see what we do with Bills 2015 #1 draft pick AND at least a season or two of performance from that pick.

I agree with your QB issues affecting Watkins performance, and others are right that he is taking the heavier coverage, thereby allowing Hogan to "out-perform". That being said, I can't explain why our top WR Gordon dealt with similar circumstances last year yet made history that season...minus two games! Perhaps our GM is a shrewd operator as we all think he is and decided Bills first rounder next year and Gordon coming back at some point was a great plan. So far that's looked to be a good decision, IMO.

Gordon is our Watkins, and he didn't cost us a first round pick, and we know he's a play-maker.

George C said:

We're still on fire, Buffalo Breath. One loss does not a Season make.

The whole "counting chickens" thing ... I didn't see hardly anybody on here taking the Texans game for granted. I know I didn't. In fact I believe I said to you "we are either going to be first place at 7-3 or 6-4 and a half game out at worst" when we get JG back, does that sound like someone counting unhatched chickens, dickweed? I knew they were getting defensive studs back and that they would be a rough matchup for us. it's just a bump in the road. Browns are still going to roll, and we're bringing the Ferrari out of the garage this week.

Zombo

George C said:

And yet, with all those screwups with first rounders, the Browns are still better......and the Bills haven't seen the playoffs longer than the Browns have seen the playoffs.

Neither team can brag about the past decade plus.

@clevfan4life said:

oh hell yeah. farmer decided to go in another direction in the draft. we'll see how it plays out. you have to understand farmer played in the defensive backfield as safety at duke. LB in philly. he and pettine are both defensive guys, they are going to favor the defense every time IMO. believe me, i hope to hell we address the LB position next year PLENTY. DL and OL as well. throw in a big tall WR and TE and i'm good.

George C said:

Your world does suck, because you are a Bills fan.

My Browns, on the other hand, are a half game out of first, with the best WR in football joining the team today.

You sure love to play the "poor pity me, we are in the same division as New England" card. Let me point out some things: Baltimore and Pittsburgh have three Super Bowls since NE won one. The AFC North features four teams that are better than the Bills this year. That's right, all four. There are no Jets in our division. Don't forget, the Patriots basically start out 4-0 every season because they have the Bills and Jets twice.

Zombo

@mudfly said:

Don't be silly, we would have won that game with Sammy Watkins. I hear he's a monster blocker and would have been able to cover Watt for his TD.

George C said:

I agree.

Watt was "as advertised", no surprises there.

And, after 24 little hours, I am more convinced than ever that we need that extra draft pick next year(thanks!). No WR would have made the difference yesterday. But a nice linebacker or D tackle next year just might.

@miktoxic said:

Mack would be nice in a Browns uni right about now. I knew he was going to be awesome and he is, probably be def. rookie of the year. Yeah he can't win games single handedly, especially not on the Raiders. But we could have moved him around the entire LB'ing corp. Him learning under Dansby=perfect.

@opal312 said:

you're a female?

that explains it.

don't you realize one player doesn't make a difference? yeah evans was my fave receiver and yeah he had a great game...how many wins do they have? how about carolina? how did philly look today?

how about mack on defense for oakland. yeah he single-handedly stopped the chargers today...NOT.

exactly.

@opal312 said:

You could have had any one of those receivers for 1 1st round pick, or you could have had watkins for 2. Which would you choose? That is the question,

@clevfan4life said:

OVerall the Ravens but only because they have Flacco who imo is annoying as shit to look at but one of the elite QB's in the NFL. Without Flacco....I go Miami because their defense is better.

I get what you are saying about the defenses, but my only point is that our fourth place team is better than their second place team.

Z

Zombo said:

OVerall the Ravens but only because they have Flacco who imo is annoying as shit to look at but one of the elite QB's in the NFL. Without Flacco....I go Miami because their defense is better.

@clevfan4life said:

You mean who I rather the Browns face?

No ... who do you think is the better football team, Ravens or Dolphins?

Z

Zombo said:

You mean who I rather the Browns face?

Z

Zombo said:

How do you come to that conclusion? I'm not saying you're wrong or you're right...but MIami has the 2nd best defense in the NFL and Buffalo the 7th. Blt is 11th I believe so they're the highest ranked AFC north team defensively. How can you be so sure that if Miami or Buffalo were in our division they wouldn't be a serious problem?