Season over early again, time to start focusing on 2012. I think the Browns are close to becoming a playoff team. They are still a young team and the rookies were pretty solid. Thomas, Gocong, and Ruben signed contract extensions during the year so that's one less thing to worry about. I see just three players that the Browns NEED to re-sign. The biggest one is probably Hillis, who may test the FA market only to find out he's not going to get the $$$ he wants. I think if the Browns make him a decent offer, he'll be back. The Browns NEED to bring him back, otherwise they create another hole on offense (I'm not quite sure what I'll do if Hardesty is the starting HB next year). The next is D'Quell Jackson, who played well and will be re-signed without much of a problem. And finally, Phil Dawson. Dawson is money and a Cleveland favorite. Expect him back next year.
That leaves the biggest needs to be addressed in the FA/draft as WR (a number one receiver, we have enough 2nd/3rd receivers), the right side of the O-Line, another DE, and the secondary (another CB most importantly). I have mixed feelings with the QB situation. I do NOT think the Browns can/will succeed with McCoy BUT I don't want them to draft one with their first pick either (RG3). Trading for Manning would cost way too much and probably unlikely anyways. The best solution short-term may be to give Flynn a look and see what he can do. I wouldn't hate keeping McCoy as the starter, but I would rather see what Flynn can do.
Eh Jackson would be nice in Cleveland but how many more good years does he have left? He's also been a distraction for SD in the past and $13+ million??? I would still prefer Blackmon.
The thing i took from the 2nd article was H&H have had very little success drafting with a top 40 pick... Not a good sign since the Browns have three picks in the top 40.
The thing i took from the 2nd article was H&H have had very little success drafting with a top 40 pick... Not a good sign since the Browns have three picks in the top 40.
Really? Haden, Ward (jury still out), Taylor & Sheard were pretty good hauls if you ask me.
I think I'd rather have Blackmon and a bit cheaper FA wideout. The question is do they draft a QB or take a chance on Matt Flynn who will have a pretty high asking price.
Flynn worries me as being the next Matt Cassel or Kevin Kolb. If Green Bay franchises him, how much would the Browns have to give up to actually get him?
Also as much as I'd love to land Blackmon, he likely won't be around at #4.
Really? Haden, Ward (jury still out), Taylor & Sheard were pretty good hauls if you ask me.
I agree but they only listed the picks for Heckert while he was in Philly and Holmgren when he was in Seattle. Most of those players have turned out to be busts. I do agree with you about Haden, Ward (if he can stay healthy), Taylor and Sheard. Haden is a beast and I really really like Sheard. Ward will be fine if he can stay healthy and I think Taylor will be a solid player soon.
Flynn worries me as being the next Matt Cassel or Kevin Kolb. If Green Bay franchises him, how much would the Browns have to give up to actually get him?
Also as much as I'd love to land Blackmon, he likely won't be around at #4.
I agree with you about Flynn there is always a chance he doesn't succeed BUT I would much rather the Browns spend a high draft pick on another position (WR!!!) than a QB. Honestly, I think a team who needs a QB (Jets, Redskins, Dolphins) are going to trade into the 2nd or 3rd pick and select RG3. That leaves either the Rams or Vikings selecting between OT Matt Kalil (projected to go number 2 according to most mock drafts I've seen), WR Blackmon (projected to go number 3 according to most), and CB Claiborne (projected to go top 5 and I've seen him going as high as #2). All three would fill a hole the Browns have, so I wouldn't be too upset with any of them, but if Blackmon is available at #4, you have got to take him.
I don't understand the sudden hype around Matt Flynn. The guy had one good game and now there are talks about Green Bay giving him the Franchise Tag, Browns going after him, etc. I just don't see why the Browns would want Flynn when someone like RGIII may be out there in the draft.
I agree with you about Flynn there is always a chance he doesn't succeed BUT I would much rather the Browns spend a high draft pick on another position (WR!!!) than a QB. Honestly, I think a team who needs a QB (Jets, Redskins, Dolphins) are going to trade into the 2nd or 3rd pick and select RG3. That leaves either the Rams or Vikings selecting between OT Matt Kalil (projected to go number 2 according to most mock drafts I've seen), WR Blackmon (projected to go number 3 according to most), and CB Claiborne (projected to go top 5 and I've seen him going as high as #2). All three would fill a hole the Browns have, so I wouldn't be too upset with any of them, but if Blackmon is available at #4, you have got to take him.
If this happens I take Claiborne or try to trade down.
Listening to 92.3 this morning they were breaking down Holmgren's press conference. They both agreed that Holmgren basically said that McCoy's days are numbered as the starter without actually coming right out and saying it. This says a lot for Booms to admit this because he swings on McCoy's nuts like he's a future Peyton Manning.
If I could have one FA from Green Bay, I would pick Jordy Nelson over Matt Flynn.
I'm not a fan of using a high draft pick on a WR but I would be ok with them taking Blackmon ONLY if they've already secured Matt Flynn as their starter. Not a huge Flynn fan by any means but by looking at Holmgren's history he's the one that makes the most sense.
I don't like taking WRs with high picks. I know the Browns have been burnt by all these 2nd rounders but Blackmon is no Larry Fitzgerald and he does have character issues. OL, DBs and RBs are the safest top of the draft picks and of the three the Browns really could use a solid RB once they loose Hillis. I know it is not the trend in the NFL to take RBs high but to wait and hope for the next Maurice Jones Drew to fall into their lap, only issue is the Browns went that route in the past and it didn't work out. Trent Richardson may be the best RB to come out in the past couple drafts and may be worth the pick because of the Division the Browns play in. A couple things to think about: 1) He is a low mileage guy because he split so many carries with Ingram early in his career. 2) Great between the tackle runner which is needed in the bad weather days. 3) Solid blocking RB on blitzes 4) Can catch balls out of the backfield. 5) Good Character guy. Fits the west coast system perfectly if that is what they want to do.
This is how I can see the draft playing out at the top: 1) Colts take Luck 2) Rams take Kalil because they need LT and it is the safest pick. Could swing a trade here if they rate the top LTs in the same range. 3) Vikes deal pick to whoever is most desperate for RG3. 4) Browns have big fight between Heckert, who want to take best player Claiborne, and Holmgren/Shurmur who see need for offensive weapons. In the end they try to make a deal to move down just a bit but cannot; in the end they take Blackmon.
BTW if the West Coast offense is the route for Cleveland RG3 is not their guy. Touch on the short routes is not his strong point; he needs to be put in a wide open deep ball type offense, he would have been perfect for the Raiders.
I don't understand the sudden hype around Matt Flynn. The guy had one good game and now there are talks about Green Bay giving him the Franchise Tag, Browns going after him, etc. I just don't see why the Browns would want Flynn when someone like RGIII may be out there in the draft.
Before that game, he was probably the most desired QB free agent by NFL people[especially after the GB/NE game last year] this year, all that game did was make him known to the general fans and get him more money.
Franchising Flynn would be a gamble, that's a $14 million salary cap hit if they don't trade him and what team would take that much of a gamble?
The Redskins are probably the favorite to get Flynn, but if Peyton Manning is available, they will do everything to get him.
I don't know how impressed you can be with Flynn. The sample size is too small to determine if it's the system or him. If the Browns want RGIII, they let Washington go after Flynn.
Mike Holmgren wasn’t quite so direct in his marathon talk today.
An interesting exchange from an ESPN chat with the head of an NFL draft empire:
David from Cleveland:
What’s your assessment of Colt McCoy after his 2nd season? Do the Browns draft RGIII or go for Blackmon and try to build around Colt? Peter King leans towards the latter.
Mel Kiper:
The league is about what you’re doing now. This league doesn’t develop QBs. Green Bay is the only team that’s developed a QB. They did that with Rodgers and see what happened. What you have to do with McCoy is do that. He doesn’t have the talent around him to do that. His top receiver was Greg Little, who didn’t even play football last year. He was in the top 3 for NFL WRs for drops. I think Colt McCoy won’t be the starter for next year. He’ll be reduced to No. 3 behind Seneca Wallce. The QB that starts next year for Cleveland is not on the roster right now.
I don't like taking WRs with high picks. I know the Browns have been burnt by all these 2nd rounders but Blackmon is no Larry Fitzgerald and he does have character issues. OL, DBs and RBs are the safest top of the draft picks and of the three the Browns really could use a solid RB once they loose Hillis. I know it is not the trend in the NFL to take RBs high but to wait and hope for the next Maurice Jones Drew to fall into their lap, only issue is the Browns went that route in the past and it didn't work out. Trent Richardson may be the best RB to come out in the past couple drafts and may be worth the pick because of the Division the Browns play in. A couple things to think about: 1) He is a low mileage guy because he split so many carries with Ingram early in his career. 2) Great between the tackle runner which is needed in the bad weather days. 3) Solid blocking RB on blitzes 4) Can catch balls out of the backfield. 5) Good Character guy. Fits the west coast system perfectly if that is what they want to do.
This is how I can see the draft playing out at the top: 1) Colts take Luck 2) Rams take Kalis because they need LT and it is the safest pick. Could swing a trade here if they rate the top LTs in the same range. 3) Vikes deal pick to whoever is most desperate for RG3. 4) Browns have big fight between Heckert, who want to take best player Claiborne, and Holmgren/Shurmur who see need for offensive weapons. In the end they try to make a deal to move down just a bit but cannot; in the end they take Blackmon.
Linear Mode
