What’s more valuable for the Cleveland Browns; DeAndre Hopkins or a 2nd round pick?

What should the Cleveland Browns prioritize more, DeAndre Hopkins or a 2nd round draft pick?

Should the Cleveland Browns prioritize draft picks or assumed upgrades? That was the question on the minds of the morning hosts for 92.3 this morning. The Arizona Cardinals are looking to move on from DeAndre Hopkins, and are just asking for a second-round pick for the receiver. Now, at 30 years old and three years removed from his prime, Hopkins may not be worth a second-round pick when it’s all said and done. A team in a healthy financial situation, with the draft picks to spare could justify making a move for the receiver.

As Ken Carmen and crew pointed out, the Browns seem to have a short window to try and win in, with Carmen himself thinking that the Browns would be wise to chase after Hopkins; an assumed commodity. Hopkins was a known commodity, but in recent years he’s declined. Maybe it was the system, the suspension, some minor injuries, or the quarterback he played with. Maybe he could come to Cleveland and become the same target he was during his tenure in Houston.

He could also get worse. It’s entirely possible. We’re not sure what Hopkins’ ceiling and floor are anymore. So he’s not so much a known commodity.

As for the draft pick, there’s even less certainty around what that player could become. As the 92.3 morning crew pointed out, Browns’ GM Andrew Berry doesn’t have the best track record of drafting players. That’s something you need to do well if you want prolonged excellence. It’s something the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have done during the Tom Brady era. It’s something the Kansas City Chiefs have done during the Patrick Mahomes era and it’s something that the New England Patriots have done before, during, and after their Brady era.

The Browns have not had the same success drafting players. They’ve found some nice options, but the team needs more than a couple of good, inexpensive players if they’re going to compete for more than a season or two.

So the question comes down to this; do you think Berry can finally start hitting on draft picks and extend the window the Browns have, or do you think the Browns should make use of the time they have currently?

The Cleveland Browns should just purge their draft picks at this point

If you read my Guardians pieces, you know I prefer keeping a healthy farm system over trading away our better prospects for aging veterans. There are always exceptions but that’s my general rule of thumb. For the Cavaliers, it’s more nuanced, as the sport is vastly different. One or two players can in fact carry an entire franchise to success.

The Browns, and the NFL in general, are more akin to the Guardians and Major League Baseball, in the sense that no one player can truly carry a team. That means you have to prioritize the whole and plan beyond one year.

Normally, I would say you need draft picks and that should be the priority. However, with the state of the Browns and broadcast sports, there are no guarantees anymore. The Browns’ roster is expensive and aging, with no real young talent to speak of to build around. The NFL revenue is going up and up, but that could always change in an instant. There are no guarantees.

The Browns may still be a great team in three years. More than likely that’s not going to happen. The team has two very solid years to compete in 2023 and 2024 and while normally I’d be against this practice as a general rule, the Browns have to trade picks for players.

Berry isn’t great at drafting, so the goal should be to bolster the next two seasons with veteran talent and make a real run at the Super Bowl. A long, drawn-out rebuild is coming in a few years no matter what, and you might as well go into like the LA Rams are about to; with a recent Super Bowl, as opposed to how the New Orleans Saints are doing it; without a recent Super Bowl.