Cleveland Browns: Fans should relax a little following the draft
By Ric McElroy
Following the conclusion of the 2018 NFL Draft, the Voice of the Fan recommends Cleveland Browns fans to relax.
So there may be some that are upset with Cleveland Browns GM John Dorsey and company over the 2018 NFL Draft that just ended. It may not have gone the way you’ve dreamed of or hoped for.
However, I’m sure it could have been worse. Okay, so I joke, but truthfully it may not be as you make it out to be.
I’m sure you’ve read articles on multiple sports websites going over Cleveland’s options regarding which route they should go down during the three-day Christmas event for football fans. It would have been nice to have seen Cleveland get at least one of the top two prospects: Penn State RB Saquon Barkley or NC State’s Bradley Chubb.
Since that did not happen, think about it this way. Cleveland would have only had a shot at one of them. OR, to get both, they would have had to have blown most of their draft capital on a trade to move up from four to try land both!
QB Baker Mayfield may not be the preferred option for some but think about it. He played in a power five conference and increased his completion percentage each year until he was draft eligible. Mayfield also finished with a 131:30 touchdown to interception ratio.
Mayfield is not former Browns QB Johnny Manziel! Sure, he’s done a couple of stupid things in college, but there are very few among us that didn’t. Mayfield deserves a chance to prove his draft status. No one knows he’ll work out or not.
If he were 6’4 and did what he did in college on the field of play, would you be upset or praising the front office?
There has also been plenty of frustration over the fact the Browns haven’t drafted local talent aka a Ohio State Buckeye since they took WR Brian Robiskie in 2009. Well, Cleveland can’t fix that issue any better than selecting CB Denzel Ward, who also plays a position of need!
I’m sure most of you have seen what a good cornerback he is. Yes, Ward will need some work as he adjusts from college to pro ball but he could turn out better than former CB Joe Haden.
Look what Dorsey and company did in Green Bay and Kansas City. Would you have taken either teams’ place over the last few years instead of all those losses Cleveland has accumulated? The answer is clear as day.
Next: 3 ways Browns got the Mayfield pick wrong
So let’s wait and see what happens. Maybe the Browns front office personnel will lead the organization and their fanbase out of the pits? If not they’ll get the same treatment Ray Farmer, Mike Pettine, and the rest got when they failed.