Factory Of Sadness
FanSided

Cleveland Browns: Pre-Draft Moves Not Without Controversy

By Nick Dudukovich

Feb 25, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Cleveland Browns executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown speaks to the media during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Cleveland Browns executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown speaks to the media during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 4
Next

The Cleveland Browns go on the clock soon, but before Sashi Brown leads his first NFL Draft, Factory of Sadness writers Joe Russo and Kristopher Grimes debate the team’s pre-draft moves.

Feb 25, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Cleveland Browns executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown speaks to the media during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Cleveland Browns executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown speaks to the media during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /

1) Did the Browns make the right move trading down to 8th overall?

JOE: Absolutely this is the right move. I was not sold on either of the top quarterbacks and honestly, there are more holes to fill on this team. The extra first rounder in 2017 as well as the bevy of additional picks this year help put the Browns in a position to add real depth to the roster.

There were far too many players on the active roster last season that were cast offs and undrafted free agents. Instead, the Browns will actually build through the draft in the mold of the Packers, Ravens, Patriots, and Cardinals, among other top teams. I know it’s not as flashy as picking at 2nd overall, but there is quality in quantity in this case for this draft and the next.

KRIS: See I tend to disagree on this one. While the extra first rounder can help next season, we’re constantly always focused on next season and more draft picks. Why not draft for today? Why not take the #2 overall pick and draft a player who can make an immediate impact on this team in 2016? While I’m not completely sold on either Jared Goff or Carson Wentz either, two teams did just mortgage their future drafts for them.

There has to be something there right? Also, I do believe there were playmakers the Browns could have taken at No. 2. What about a potentially elite cornerback/safety in Jalen Ramsey? We cut Donte Whitner and let Tashaun Gipson go, while Joe Haden‘s best fellow corner is Tramon Williams who’s best days are behind him. We couldn’t use Ramsey? Or how about a dominant defensive player like Joey Bosa? He might not fit the 3-4 defensive scheme purely, but he has shown the ability to be a force on defense.

The Browns couldn’t find someway to use him? Or how about DE Deforest Buckner? LB Myles Jack? Or dare I say Tunsil? The Browns do have a lot of holes to fill on the roster, but why not fill it with high quality prospects? The Browns had the opportunity to take anyone they wanted aside from one player. It was their draft to control. Now at #8 they’ll let seven other teams pick before them. Will Sashi Brown get an impact player at #8? It might take some luck to see his guy or one of the elite guys in this fall that far.

More from Factory of Sadness

Joe: This team is bad. Very bad. The Browns are going to seriously challenge for the top overall pick in next year’s draft, which features a much higher impact player like Deshaun Watson or Leonard Fournette at the top of the board. There’s still plenty of impact at #8, as I think Myles Jack might still be there, but so will Ronnie Stanley, Leonard Floyd, Vernon Hargraves, and even Ezekiel Elliot. Given the number of misses at the top of the draft in recent history for the Browns, I’m all for taking the more prudent approach, grabbing as many picks as possible, and actually building, not just scrambling to make headlines. It’s tough to warp your head around trading down in the short run, but the long run gets a huge boost by the move. Like our friends in Philly are used to saying, Trust the Process.

KRIS: I agree, this team is very bad. That’s why aside from just a bunch of players, I’d like to see the Browns fill the roster with some elite talent. In sixteen seasons since returning to the NFL, the Browns have the worst win-loss record. Yet despite the worst record, the Browns are rarely at the top of the draft. In fact, having the #2 overall pick is the highest pick the team has had since drafting Courtney Brown #1 overall in 2000. So perhaps part of the reason for the Browns mediocrity is due to not taking advantage of the higher picks when they have them? Sure, Trent Richardson was a bust at 3rd overall in 2012, but almost every analyst and scout had him ranked as a sure thing in the 2012 draft. So it’s not fair to knock that pick.

Outside of that, the Browns have either traded out of or been outside the top-5. Yes, the guys making the picks might not have done the team any favors. I get that, but it still makes me wonder if it’s because the Browns keep trading down and giving up their top-5 or top-10 picks. The elite franchise changing players typically reside at the top of the draft. The fact is the Browns haven’t taken enough of them since 1999. There are holes to fill on this team, but sacrificing elite talent for more “guys” shouldn’t always be necessary.

Next: Did The Browns Get Enough Value To Move Down To 8?

Home/Cleveland Browns