Potential Crazy NFL Draft Scenarios Affecting the Browns
Dec 29, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) against the Baltimore Ravens at Paul Brown Stadium. Bengals defeated the Ravens 34-17. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Crazy Scenario: Bengals draft QB in first round and trade Dalton
Why It Could Happen: I’ve already discussed the reasons why the quarterbacks might slip. A little under talented for the top 8 picks with those teams having other needs, plus it’s usually a quick fall. You only need 1 quarterback so if you have one, you’re most likely not taking one in the first round. Meaning once they get passed 8, it’s an easy fall to 20 to the Cardinals. And if Arizona is thinking more now than in the future, all 3 quarterbacks could be available to the Bengals where Andy Dalton has been very Andy Daltonish. In the regular season he’s performed ok. His rating is 85.7 which is alright but it’s hardly can’t replace quarterback stats…especially when you have AJ Green as your top wideout. He’s been in 3 NFL Seasons and been in 3 NFL Playoffs. But in those games, he’s been awful. Only 1 touchdown in 3 games with 6 Ints! This is a team that hasn’t won a playoff game since 1990! (For those keeping track, that means as bad as the Browns have been they have the most recent playoff win) The Bengals are definitely a talented football team but you can only go as far as your quarterback will take you. The Bengals also aren’t helping themselves by being a talented team. Very much similar to my 8-8 future of the Browns, the Bengals won’t be in a very good position to replace Dalton if they continue to make or come near the playoffs, this might be there only chance to grab a 1st round talent quarterback.
How It Affects the Browns: In a few ways. The Browns could be the team they trade to, again very similar to the Bradford scenario. The Browns passed at #4 going Watkins, hoping to grab one of the quarterbacks with #26. Now Andy Dalton comes available for a 2nd or 3rd round pick (something the Browns have 2 of), would they grab Dalton and continue to surround him with talent with #26 and #35? This situation becomes more real if Raiders went Manziel, Vikings went Bortles (or something similar involving them or Arizona) leaving Bridgewater, someone who came into the offseason as the potential #1 pick, as the last remaining 1st round grade talent quarterback. The Browns would have a chance at none of them. Worse yet, Dalton goes to another team, Bengals draft Manziel, Browns end up with Murray. Murray never amounts to a starter, Manziel and his personal vendetta he claims he’s going to have against all the teams that didn’t pick him, gets to face the Browns twice a year. Much like Roethlisberger we get to be beaten up by a player we skipped over twice a year. I used Manziel because of the vendetta he said but it would be just as devastating if it was Bortles or Bridgewater.
Why It Won’t Happen: The Bengals seem set with Andy Dalton, at least publicly, and are giving him the opportunity to grow as a playoff starter. The picks go quarterback heavy and none of the top 3 prospects fall to #24. Cincy can, and probably will, take a quarterback later in the draft to push Dalton and potentially take his place if he continues to stumble.
Chances of It Happening: 7/10. It’s very possible Bridgewater falls to #24 and if he does the Bengals are at least tempted to make this trade. Now if Bortles falls to #24, I would expect Dalton to be on the trading block and Bortles the new quarterback of the Bengals, maybe even Manziel but I think there’s a real dilemma that sprouts up when Bridgewater falls to them.
Sorry for these being quarterback heavy but it is the most important position on the field, you can really only have 1 and each one is typically the face of the franchise. So if any big crazy scenario is going to happen it’s more than likely going to involve a quarterback. And I don’t really see the 49ers trading up to the teens as a crazy scenario or Atlanta trading up to the #1 or #2 spot as being crazy or having too much of an impact on the Browns as the order would probably still go Clowney, Robinson and Mack. Or even Clowney, Watkins, Mack, or Clowney, (trade up could be Atlanta after Clowney went to Houston and wanting to be in front of Jacksonville), Mack, Watkins. Either wouldn’t be a crazy scenario to me, it all seems very real. If you can think of any potential crazy scenarios, leave them in the comments. I would love to hear what you have to say.
Also this article is (unofficially) brought to you by the new Black Keys album, Turn Blue (and Folgers). It’s fantastic and helped me write this article at 7:30am, I’m a 10am earliest. It comes out Tuesday but you can stream it free on iTunes right now. So amazing and a real throwback to the better types of raw music (please don’t judge it on the single “Fever.” It’s an old school front to back full album that needs to be in your ears). Enjoy the album and enjoy your draft day!