Cleveland Browns: Pre-Draft Predictions Of What The Offense May Look Like In ’17

The next Cleveland Browns game is multiple months away. They will look different in the fall, but how exactly?

Major changes will occur regarding the Cleveland Browns‘ roster this offseason. With a few months to go prior to the 2017 NFL Draft, there are a number of options they will consider in hope of improvements.

Some of those decisions may dictate what they do during the draft. Plenty of what ifs still has to go through the process before we see the organization making any significant changes.

Since a lot still has to be worked out, the hypothetical game is intriguing right now. So, prior to the draft, how could the offense look like come the fall?

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Quarterback: There are so many reasons why this position gets the attention it does. Some are warranted, while other times may be due to again the what ifs.  If Cleveland had to name a starter now, who would it be? It would be Robert Griffin III.

However, New England Patriots’ Jimmy Garoppolo and Buffalo Bills’ Tyrod Taylor are exciting external options. Things could change (in terms of their respective team’s plans for them, which I hope does not happen), but as of now I expect both external players to not end up in Cleveland. Griffin starts Week 1.

Running back: No major changes will be seen prior to the draft and in the offseason in general. Another back may be drafted late, but the duo of Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson will share the duties in 2017.

Wide Receiver: After a complete overhaul last offseason at the position, could more changes actually occur? An under the radar veteran may be signed to possibly be the Browns’ third or fourth wide receiver, but outside of that don’t expect anything else.

Terrelle Pryor is going to end up staying in Cleveland. There’s still high hopes for Corey Coleman; Why wouldn’t there be? An injury-riddled season has a disappointment, but that is behind him now. The results starting Coleman and Pryor in 2017 will be much better than expected.

Tight End: Gary Barnidge‘s 2016 season is one to forget, but that for the most part was not his fault. His stats were not horrible by any means, but they did take a pretty big drop from his 2015 Pro Bowl season.

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This past season, Barnidge had 55 receptions on 82 targets. He also finished with 612 yards and two touchdowns. There are other critical needs elsewhere Cleveland must address first before adding to the tight end position.

With a healthy and better offensive line, along with a stable quarterback, Barnidge’s numbers should be better in 2017. If he does not end up back as one of the better players at his position next season, Cleveland should look to add to the position next offseason.

Offensive line: The left side has been and will continue to be stable with Joe Thomas and Joel Bitonio at left tackle and left guard respectively. As far as the rest of the positions goes, anything and everything needs to be on the table.

One may assume Shon Coleman cracks the lineup at right tackle. He very well could, but there are better players who will be available in free agency and in the draft.

Austin Pasztor (a pending free agent), Alvin Bailey, and Anthony Fabiano also are not great options, and Cleveland will have to work with what they have in the meantime. Remember, veteran lineman John Greco is on the mend and it is unknown when he will be ready to play again.

Cleveland is going to need to go after linemen early in the draft and it would not be surprising to see a rookie start next season. Just prior to the yearly event however, among the various linemen who could be signed to play important roles are Riley Reiff, Byron Bell, Menelik Watson, and Kevin Zeitler.

Depending on how much Cleveland is willing to spend on linemen in free agency will dictate whether they are more likely to sign a player like Watson and Zeitler, compared to someone like Reiff. That said, my pick would be Zeitler.

Like with many other recent decisions, the dollar amount will determine the type of player who ends up in Cleveland. Once the draft comes and goes, the line’s starters will change. Until then, the combination of Thomas, Bitonio, Fabiano, Zeitler, and Bailey is a very realistic, yet undesirable offensive line.

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Overall, not many changes are made to the offense’s lineup.. for now. Once the season is over for all of the NFL, a better understanding of how Cleveland will conduct business could change things, for better or worst heading into the draft.