OH BOY! We are going to build thru the DRAFT! So that means we MITE WIN 3 games this year while we "develop" The rookies. FUCK THESE FUCKING FUCKS.

I know, I know.... it's MKC, but one of the most coolly "analytical", least inflammatory MKC articles I can remember.

Thought it deserved it's own thread for a bit then perhaps merge into the FA thread...

================================================================================

What happened with Mitchell Schwartz, Alex Mack and the Browns on 1st day of free agency

By Mary Kay Cabot, Cleveland.com on March 09, 2016 at 11:01 PM, updated March 10, 2016 at 10:16 AM

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- On the first day of free agency, the Browns lost two-fifths of their offensive line in center Alex Mack and right tackle Mitchell Schwartz, their starting free safety in Tashaun Gipson, and their speedy receiver and returner in Travis Benjamin.

Along the way, the front office, led by Executive Vice President Sashi Brown, got hammered from coast-to-coast for botching the day. NFL Network analysts blasted them all afternoon, and words like "debacle" and "disaster" described them on social media. In addition to losing some of their own free agents, they also failed to land any of the big-name players they had been linked to, such as Bengals receiver Marvin Jones.

But Brown and coach Hue Jackson had made it clear that they wouldn't panic, that they'd be disciplined and that they'd build through the draft. Jackson went so far as to say "it will not be disappointing" if we lose the big-four free agents.

Here's a behind-the-scenes look at what happened on the challenging first day:

1. Mitchell Schwartz: The Browns made Schwartz an offer shortly before the NFL Combine that was far below what he felt he could get on the open market. Sources said it was somewhere in the $7 million a year range. His agent, Deryk Gilmore, told the Browns that the former second-round pick would test free agency. Schwartz' goal was about $8 million to $10 million a year, taking into account the growing importance of the position against the Von Millers of the world. When Schwartz opted to test the market, the Browns assumed he was gone and turned their attention to other players.

On Wednesday morning, a source told cleveland.com that Schwartz' best opportunity still appeared to be with Cleveland, and that he might be headed back there. But when they approached the Browns about the pre-combine offer, they were told it no longer stood. It may have been posturing on the Browns' part, but hopes of reaching a deal were apparently dashed when NFL Network reported that the Browns had pulled their offer.

Feeling Cleveland was no longer an option, Schwartz opted to sign a five-year, $33 million deal with the Chiefs, including about $15 million guaranteed. His brother, Geoff Schwartz, congratulated him on the deal after the "nonsense'' he endured during the day, presumably from the Browns, and NFL Network's Mike Silver reported that the Browns didn't negotiate in good faith.

Instead, they had moved on before Wednesday when it appeared Schwartz did the same.

The $6.6 million a year average makes him the second-highest paid right tackle in the NFL, but it's short of the payday he was hoping for. The Browns now have to hope that Austin Pasztor can step in, or they need to find a replacement. Bottom line: It probably didn't have to come to this. The Browns probably would've coughed up $6.6 million a year for Schwartz if things hadn't gone south on Wednesday.

So, in other words, when Schwartz said initially "I don't want your deal", then the Browns said "OK, you can't have it now".

Not sure how the Browns are to blame there.

2. Alex Mack: The Browns wanted to keep Mack, but only at the right price, and he knew he could make more on the open market. Peter King of Sports Illustrated reported that Mack will average $9.5 million a year, and that he turned down $500,000 more per year from the Browns to join Kyle Shanahan in Atlanta. I'm told that the $9.5 million represents the maximum value of the contract, with every incentive being hit and that the actual average is more like $9 million a year.

As for Mack taking less money to play for the Falcons, the Browns never actually made him a concrete offer after he voided the final three years of his contract (at $8 million a year) last week. Mack's representatives agreed to keep the Browns in the loop, but it was generally assumed that Mack, 30, would make more than the Browns wanted to pay. As for the Mack team, they found the Browns to be extremely professional and easy to work with and they look forward to doing business again in the future.

So...in other words, Mack got more elsewhere than he was being offered by the Browns....and reports otherwise were bogus?

3. Travis Benjamin: The Browns wanted Benjamin back and made him an offer, but it wasn't close to what he could get in free agency. The Browns viewed him more as a situational player and returner, and didn't want to go as high as the Chargers did: four years, $24 million, $13 million guaranteed and $18 million over the first three years. The Chargers paid him like a No. 2 receiver, and will likely use him as such.

4. Tashaun Gipson: The Browns did not aggressively pursue Gipson and basically let him walk. He signed a five-year deal with the Jaguars worth up to $35.5 million, including all incentives. The Browns made him a multi-year offer before last season and he opted to play out his $2.356 million tender. He also skipped some voluntary workouts in an apparent contract statement, and then missed three games because of a sprained ankle. Gipson never seemed to recover from the contract issues of last year. The Browns will likely count on Jordan Poyer to replace him.

So, they decided they didn't want him and could possibly do better? If that is their evaluation, so be it....not that I agree with it.

5. Marvin Jones: The Browns threw out a number for Jones, but it wasn't competitive and they weren't viewed as serious contenders. A source said if Jackson had really pushed it, the Browns may have gone after him harder. But Jackson probably knew the Browns wouldn't match what Jones got from the Lions: five years, $40 million including an $8 million signing bonus and $20 million guaranteed.

Right.....the Browns didn't overpay for a #2 or 3 WR at best. Can't fault them for that.

The Browns will have to keep looking for receivers, because they don't have nearly enough weapons. They can't count on Josh Gordon coming back from suspension to save the day, and they're not. If he's reinstated, they'll go from there. But hanging out with Johnny Manziel is not the way to make a good first impression.

They will draft one high I suspect.

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2016/03/what_happened_with_mitchell_sc.html

How many draft picks do the Brown have?