The biggest fear is pretty obvious to me, and that's to overdraft a QB and throw him into the fire. There is nothing, and I mean NOTHING that can destroy a team like taking an early QB and then have him NOT work out. First, it means that you used a pick on a player that basically doesn't have any value, as a backup QB or even 3rd stringer can't provide ANY other duties like other positions can (i.e. special teams). Next, you whiff on an early QB, and that generally means you're searching for a new coach, new GM, and lord knows what else. It basically means hitting the damn reset button, and it's something we know ALL too much about. The good news for us is, we have two first round picks. As long as we DON'T take a QB first overall, we aren't going to be "overdrafting" a QB. We could take Trubisky, Watson, or even Mahomes at 12, and it wouldn't be overdrafting because we already used our first round pick on a player that we expect to drastically impact the game. Would I RATHER draft a QB a bit later? Yep. I'd rather try to trade back into the first round, or even wait later to nab one. In short, my biggest fear is taking a QB #1 overall, and then that guy falling flat on his face. It would signal the end of maybe our best coaching staff in quite some time. We have a coach that other teams ACTUALLY wanted (shocker!), and a DC that has Super Bowl experience. This is a step in the right direction. Must I remind everyone of Mike Pettine and Jim O'Neil?

As a "side fear", I will also say that I'd be terrified of trading the #1 pick for a QB. Listen, I DON'T think this will ever happen, but I've read it a few times during the past few weeks. And I hate to say it, but it actually makes a bit of sense. The name tossed around is of course Kirk Cousins, who doesn't want to play for the Redskins. Has he FIRMLY entrenched himself as a "franchise QB"? I'd say probably not, BUT he's definitely better than anything WE'VE had in the past how many years, AND he's somewhat comfortable in the offensive scheme that Hue wants to run. So here's the question: If there was a QB who was almost unanimously considered to be a franchise starter, would we pick him at #1? The answer is HELL YES. So, NOW the question is, if the Redskins traded Kirk Cousins for the #1 pick, would you do it? At first I was like, "OMG NOOOOOO!", but then I thought about it...and I was like, "Ehhhhhhhh...I guess I probably would." Before you get all crazy on me, I realize the trade would be COMPLETELY dependent on Cousins signing a long term deal with us, and there's zero chance we'd do the deal unless a contract was inked. Cousins has publicly said he wants to play for San Fran and nobody else, so this is a sizable hurdle. It's something to think about. I have this listed as a "fear" because I'm not sold on Cousins 100%, but man...if we could get our QB...

I don't really think anybody needs to list what their greatest hope is, as it's pretty obvious when you're the Browns. Simply put, we NEED impact players. The hope is that we don't whiff on any of our first four picks, and that virtually all four of our day 1 and 2 picks start and impact our team in a positive fashion. The ONLY caveat would be if we drafted a QB after the #1 pick, and that guy needed a bit of seasoning before taking over. If we take Garrett at #1, we need him to be THE MAN. If we take a WR at #12 or OJ Howard, we need him to produce IMMEDIATELY. If we're taking a CB or safety in the 2nd round, we need that guy to start and show he belongs on the field. Our single biggest hope is we draft guys that make our team better, and they do it QUICKLY. Our front office and our coaches DO NOT have the luxury of "waiting three years to see how the draft truly looks."

Biggest Fear: Browns get into trade silliness and keep talking about "the future" while missing the reality that the future has to be now or it will never come.

@texasag1969 said:

When you use the letters D and W together, it brings up a whole other connotation for me. Ask Westside Steve how it applies to a mutual friend.

@westside-steve said:

More likely Browns have to trade up if they want Trubisky and don't take him with #1.

I mean, a lot of mock drafts by so called "professionals" have him going either #2 to the Niners or #3 to the Bears or #6 to the Jets.

Since you are a mini-Jets fan.....he could be the QB that team has been looking for since Joe Namath.

@westside-steve said:

We only go 2-14 if we take Trubs #1. No D, no W.

Biggest fear?

We go 2 and 14 and Jimmy fires everybody again.

WSS

@furious-styles said:

Yep

@suomi said:

Biggest fear: that the Browns brain trust can't select the players that they want because they keep getting selected before Cleveland is on the clock.

Browns are selecting earlier and more often than anyone else. If your fear happens........... that's on them.

Biggest Fear- not getting Fournette...

Hope??....the Browns dont screw it up....AGAIN....

Fear??......they will.....

@texasag1969 said:

Cool that the original national lottery results are still around...

I misremembered my number... it actually was 303, but the draft still missed me by a mile.

I can still remember watching the "drawing" live with my two best buds from HS... one of whose Birthday was the day after mine. When I got 303 he thought he was surely screwed, but ended up with 243. Other bud also ended up safely in the bottom one-third.

@texasag1969 said:

I don't know, but feel free to start one. And it would be of interest to me.

And your reply reminds me of this:

@the-gipper said:

There needs to be a new word...........Hopefearohshit!

Much easier to say this far removed from that experience. Canton Mike can attest to that.

PS-I posted on your America thread in the barbershop. Is there a world spots thread there too?

@texasag1969 said:

So, you mean you have proper perspective on this Hope and Fear thing, fair to say?

@tour2ma said:

Oh the Humanity! Look at March 21 of the first draft lottery in Dec 1969 for 1970------------334

https://www.sss.gov/Portals/0/PDFs/1970.pdf

I was in Ft. Benning, Ga. just finishing up Infantry School. Who says God has no sense of humor?

A year later at about that same date, I'm ducking down during a mortar attack thinking, "Oh shit don't land right here!" 🥷

Seriously? There is often more interesting stuff in there than in here.

And can I assume that because of your intolerance for varying opinions, that you do not participate in the Political Forum?

(I do not because: A. If someone wants to discuss politics with me...they have to pay me to do so...as it is a part of my profession, and B. Because of that profession there are certain ethical restrictions on me associated with that area.

@canton-mike said:

I knew I was here way too late to be the first...

@comeonman said:

Gip, we would have to change the thread to "Kids: hopes and fears".

Not to mention moving it to The Barbershop... Has anyone even been in that section?

@the-gipper said:

My biggest hope was fulfilled: I pulled a 292. That is like the only lottery I have won in my life.

Ha! Beat ya... 332 here... IIRC

@texasag1969 said:

Oh, OK, the topic was the Draft.

My biggest fear for the "draft" was that I would get drafted to go to Vietnam.

My biggest hope was that I would draw a high draft lottery number.

My biggest hope was fulfilled: I pulled a 292. That is like the only lottery I have won in my life.

Biggest fear: Browns start the 2017 off shitty, and this board turns to 2018 draft talk in late October

Biggest fear: that the Browns brain trust can't select the players that they want because they keep getting selected before Cleveland is on the clock.

@the-gipper said:

As "someone" once said on another thread, stick to the topic.

@the-gipper said:

Biggest Hope: That my kids lead long healthy happy successful lives.

Biggest Fear: That they don't

This football stuff is not worth enough to worry about hopes and fears about it.

Hope: draft two non-busts in first round (or more). Take Garrett.

Fear: draft two or more busts and not taking Garrett. Trading down again and getting fucked by yet another team.

@darren15 said:

Lets trade the number 1 to Denver for Paxton Lynch