2015 NFL Draft: Do Cleveland Browns Have What it Takes?

Twas the night before the 2015 NFL Draft, and not a creature in Cleveland was stirring, not even a Raven. OK, OK, I know it’s not Christmas, but I find myself getting just as excited! It’s draft time Cleveland! Right now there are 10 unwrapped gifts, or in this case draft picks, just sitting and waiting to be opened by our Cleveland Browns. I’m having visions of finding the next Tom Brady, or perhaps grabbing that super rugged Adrian Peterson-like running back.

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However, as I get ready for the draft I find myself asking this question, does the Cleveland Browns have what it takes? What I mean is, do the Cleveland Browns have what it takes to make the 2015 draft a cornerstone for this franchise to build from? Do we have the right people making the draft decisions? How about the boldness to decide whether or not to make moves in the draft, and drafting the right players? Is the coaching staff finally set up to develop talent and can the players from this draft and the current roster make the Browns a contender?

Will Ray Farmer find players who get us into the playoffs, or will we get more lumps of coal like Brady Quinn or Trent Richardson who dragged us to the AFC North cellar again? With ten picks, there’s so much potential and so much hope that I don’t want to think negatively. I am not the draft day Grinch!

Jan 28, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Choose Chicago president Don Welsh speaks at a 2015 Draft celebratory reception at Sheraton Phoenix Downtown. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

As I look to answer my own questions, I believe it all starts with the two picks in the first round and GM Ray Farmer. Equipped with picks #12 and #19 (acquired from Buffalo in 2014 trade), Farmer finds himself blessed once again with the opportunity to draft not one, but two of the top 20 rated players in this draft.

Last year he turned a #8 pick (after trading down from #4, then back up from #9) into cornerback Justin Gilbert of Oklahoma State and the #22 pick (after trading up from #26) into Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel.

While the jury is still out, neither pick really contributed in 2014 in the way that one would expect from two top 25 picks. Gilbert struggled defending in coverage and often got beat deep down field, while Manziel took over as QB in the fourteenth game of last season and played a total of seven ineffective quarters before being injured.

Needless to say, I have questions about Ray Farmer’s ability to draft the right players. There are the persistent rumors that Gilbert was Browns head coach Mike Pettine’s pick and Manziel was owner Jimmy Haslam’s of course. However, I still put the onus on Farmer because he made the final call.

Despite all of that though, Farmer found some gems in rounds 2-4. There he found players like offensive guard Joel Bitonio, linebacker Chris Kirksey, and cornerback Pierre Desir who all contributed valuable playing time in 2014. This calms my mind a little, so now I can answer my question… Does Ray Farmer have what it takes? Well, the later round success in last year’s draft shows that perhaps Farmer’s ability to evaluate talent is there, but might have let too many rumored outside sources influence his first round decisions. Thus, I’m left with the thought that the jury is still out, as Farmer needs to make 2015 his draft, and his draft alone. Only then will we know if he has what it takes.

Dec 21, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback

(2) throws the ball during the second quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

So now I’m asking myself if Ray Farmer has to make this draft his own, does Farmer have what it takes to draft the players he wants and/or to trade for the right player or players to bring to Cleveland? Thankfully this one is easy… Yes! Ray Farmer can make an impact on the Cleveland Browns through the 2015 draft. He has set himself up with those two 1st round picks, a 2nd Rounder, a 3rd rounder, two 4th rounders, a 5th round, two 6th rounders, and a 7th round pick.

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The Browns have the ammunition and the assets to wheel and deal in trades to move up in the draft, select ten potential impact players, or make trades for future assets.

Some targets like quarterback Jameis Winston of Florida State or quarterback Marcus Mariota of Oregon are two of the top rated players in this draft and projected by analysts like Mike Mayock of NFL Network to go in the top 10.

If Farmer wanted to make a deal for either, he has some assets he can take advantage of.

For example, if Farmer wants to go bold and package the #12 and #19 picks along with another 2016 1st rounder in a trade for the #2 pick and Marcus Mariota, he can do that! Or perhaps he decides to use those late round picks to trade with teams ahead of the Browns? He could target falling talent like defensive lineman Danny Shelton or wide receiver Amari Cooper and move ahead of teams he knows could be looking at those players too. So do the Browns have what it takes to go bold and make the necessary moves in this draft? Yes, without a doubt.

Okay so the Browns are in decent hands with Ray Farmer, and they have the draft picks/assets to make the moves they need to in the 2015 draft. What about the coaching staff? Do they have what it takes to develop talent from this draft and the players on this roster? Can head coach Mike Pettine, offensive coordinator John DeFilippo, defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil, and quarterbacks coach Kevin O’Connell do the job?

I guess this is perhaps the biggest question in my mind. Mike Pettine and DC Jim O’Neil will be entering their second year on the job, while new OC John DeFilippo and QB Coach Kevin O’Connell are new to their positions. Therefore, there isn’t really much of a track record for any of these coaches. O’Connell hasn’t been a coach at any level, and mostly came to fame by doing coaching work with QB Marcus Mariota in preparation for the NFL Combine and his Pro Day.

The new OC DeFilippo was a quarterbacks coach with the Oakland Raiders before coming to Cleveland, however he has never called plays at any level. No one is sure what his offense will look like, the type of offense he’s going to run, the players who will fit into it, or how he’ll handle things. He did work with Raiders QB Derek Carr who had a pretty successful year in 2014, so he does show a knack for being able to work with young QB’s.

As for Pettine and O’Neil, the two of them worked well most of the time last year, and the Browns defense made strides throughout the year. That was a credit to both as Pettine’s expertise is also on the defensive side of the ball. As a head coach Mike Pettine also seemed to handle the pressure well, made a few mistakes but learned, and overall did a great job of leading the Browns.

All in all, I have to say there is a lot to be desired and seen from this coaching staff. I’m not sure if they have what it takes as a whole, but individually they have all had success that have brought them to their respective positions. Do I think they have what it takes to develop the drafted players and build a team? I think it’s to be determined, but the individual tools and success are there among the coaches.

Now what does all of this mean? Well, does Ray Farmer have what it takes to win the draft? Um, maybe? Do the Cleveland Browns have the assets to make moves in the draft? Yes they do have that! How about the coaching staff, do they have what it takes to build and develop the drafted talent.. kinda, sorta, maybe?

Did I find my answers? No, not directly, but that’s because I’ve realized that the 2015 Cleveland Browns have a lot of growing to do. Whether Ray Farmer is making big moves for QB Marcus Mariota, drafting other impact players like DL Danny Shelton or WR Amari Cooper, the 2015 season is going to be a year of growing.

One of the players drafted today could be the answer, but we are a year away from knowing. Ray Farmer still has to prove himself as an effective talent evaluator and continue to build this team through good drafts, while Mike Pettine and his staff have to spend time developing the roster.

There are already great players on this team like corner Joe Haden, offensive linemen Joe Thomas, and center Alex Mack who are only getting older. The picks Farmer add today need to be the next great players if this team is going to start winning. It all starts with the 2015 Draft, and do you want my honest opinion? My old Browns coach Butch Davis gut feeling? I think it will indeed be a cornerstone draft. I believe that this is finally the right coaching staff, and I believe that Ray Farmer will have a memorable day. Have a Merry Draft Day Browns Fans!

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