#19: Cameron Erving, C/G, Florida State

[Soda]

If the Browns intend to control the line of scrimmage and keep the QB upright, I'm welcoming it.

 

[Mr. Orange]

My argument about value doesn't so much involve Erving as a prospect, because he's a damn good prospect.

It's more or less frustration with the fact that it all but seals Mack's departure from the organization after 2015. Not being able to retain the guys they HAVE hit on through the draft, in part because of organizational ineptitude, it a frustrating thing to watch.

In summary, I just WISH this pick didn't have to be made. I hoped it wouldn't have to be made.


But I guess I've got to come to terms with the fact it had to be made.

Mack wants to get the hell out of dodge and I can't really blame him. Browns at least were realists with this pick. That is a huge improvement.

 

[caf]

My argument about value doesn't so much involve Erving as a prospect, because he's a damn good prospect.

It's more or less frustration with the fact that it all but seals Mack's departure from the organization after 2015. Not being able to retain the guys they HAVE hit on through the draft, in part because of organizational ineptitude, it a frustrating thing to watch.

In summary, I just WISH this pick didn't have to be made. I hoped it wouldn't have to be made.


But I guess I've got to come to terms with the fact it had to be made.

Mack has been unhappy for awhile. It appears his departure is because of the past ineptitude of the Browns.

And can you blame him? I think this says more about how committed Thomas and Haden are than it does about Mack's lack of commitment. All we can hope for is that the past ineptitudes don't become future ineptitudes.

Games are won in the trenches. The drop in offensive efficiency was apparent when mack got injured. Finding a suitable replacement for him is more important than drafting a skill position in my opinion.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

At first I wanted a skill position player because we really dont have many. Then I remembered the last 3 first rounds that we've had and hell, I'll take 2 guys that can just start all year, and it seems we've accomplished that.

What kills teams over the long haul is not drafting OL too high. It's whiffing on first round picks.
Every prospect has his fans, but the reality is that the consensus blue chip edge rushers/no. 1 WR's just weren't available at 19. And the odds on drafting a Pro Bowl interior lineman at 19 are a hell of a lot higher than drafting a Pro Bowl skill guy or pass rusher.

As for the whole concern about Erving's value being for "next year" if/when Mack leaves, rookie WR's usually take development time anyway.

After seeing how our offense collapsed completely last year after Mack got injured, I just don't understand how drafting a starting OL who can take over that position if Mack leaves isn't a smart pick.

Finding a suitable replacement for him is more important than drafting a skill position in my opinion.

I'd take the top WR in the draft over the top C every time, but that's not the choice that's available when you're drafting at 19.

 

[Amherstcavsfan]

Theory: Mack stays, the Browns put Erving at guard...and the Browns have 4 pro bowlers on their offensive line if Erving pans out.

 

[caf]

I'd take the top WR in the draft over the top C every time, but that's not the choice that's available when you're drafting at 19.

Really? AJ Green and Calvin Johnson, two of the top WRs drafted in the last decade, have literally zero playoff wins between the two of them.

 

[I LOVE YOU ABBY]

Theory: Mack stays, the Browns put Erving at guard...and the Browns have 4 pro bowlers on their offensive line if Erving pans out.

So long as it doesn't go: Mack leaves, Thomas retires, Erving doesn't pan out, and Bitonio gets injured.

In all seriousness, our line is looking quite promising.

 

[CBBI]

Can anyone provide the PFF grades of Thomas, Bitonio, Mack, Greco and Schwartz for their tenures as Browns?

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Really? AJ Green and Calvin Johnson, two of the top WRs drafted in the last decade, have literally zero playoff wins between the two of them.

And future HOF Joe Thomas and Pro Bowler Alex Mack haven't even made the playoffs. Does that mean those positions lack value? It's a team game.

My point is that I'd have taken Amari Cooper over Erving -- best WR over best OC. But once you get down to the late teens, you're choosing between the best OC and the 4th best WR. At that point, if you have the need, I think the OL is the better choice.

 

[Pick6]

Really? AJ Green and Calvin Johnson, two of the top WRs drafted in the last decade, have literally zero playoff wins between the two of them.

I didn't know they win games by themselves. Imagine the Bengals or Lions without Green or Johnson.

 

[elcheato]

Point is drafting the OL high has worked well. I'm happy with it. Not a wildcard that finds a way to not work out over and over again like Richardson, Weeden, Manziel, etc.

So should the Browns never draft a skill position in the first round now and take an offensive lineman every year?

 

[Amherstcavsfan]

It's unfair to say Erving is just the top center. He's probably the 2nd best guard in the draft, and probably around Clemmings as a tackle prospect.

He's one of those rare offensive linemen who can literally play anywhere on the offensive line because he's got amazingly quick feet.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

It's unfair to say Erving is just the top center. He's probably the 2nd best guard in the draft, and probably around Clemmings as a tackle prospect.

He's one of those rare offensive linemen who can literally play anywhere on the offensive line because he's got amazingly quick feet.

He's also a fast learner, first converting from DL to OT, then from OT to OC. He's a guy you can reasonably project to improve as he learns more about playing on the OL. Also like that both of the guys we drafted are intelligent, high-character guys.

Unless Manziel manages to emerge as our QB of the future, we're going to need to draft another one next year. So what would we do if we both lost Mack, and needed to draft a new QB? We'll have only one first round pick, and you'd rather not pair a rookie QB with a substandard OC. This pick sets up McCown/Manziel/other QB with a solid running game and stud in the pivot even if Mack leaves.

 

[AZ_]

I have a hard time valuing wide receivers in the first round without elite skill-sets like AJ Green or Calvin Johnson.

Kevin White had that, I'm not convinced Amari Cooper or anyone else in the first round does.

When you're drafting a WR, a position which only affects maybe 7-10 plays per game, you should be damn sure the person you're drafting has enough talent to justify that selection.

I struggle to find the value in that with alot of guys.

 

[Pick6]

So should the Browns never draft a skill position in the first round now and take an offensive lineman every year?

Clearly not what I said.