BROWNS OFF-SEASON 2020

UDcleveland said:

Lies. Everyone knows Brandon Weeden was 36 when we drafted him.

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Who is the bigger liar about their age? Brandon Weeden or Fausto Carmona / Roberto Hernandez?

One could argue the Browns got the top OT, TE and Safety in the draft. Also the DL and C they took are also ranked right at the top. All in all a very solid draft by Andrew Berry.

This NFL off-season has been very unique, especially with the second wave of NFL free agents still available post NFL Draft.. I can't remember the type of veteran talent still out there post-NFL Draft...

Couple of developments to keep an eye on for the Browns:

-- Could the Browns revisit the Clowney sweepstakes? The Browns didn't take an edge and Seahawks took two edge players, on top of their free agent signings, all but closing the door of Clowney returning to Seattle... The Titans remain as the other suitor for Clowney, and they did not pursue an edge player in the draft... The Jets are another team that could jump in due to their pass rush need post-draft and cap space, but it's hard to find too many suitors for Clowney.. I would mention Everson Griffen as well, as the Browns were in on him, but have to wonder if Clowney is the one guy they'd drop Vernon for...

-- One player that the Browns really need to circle back on: Nigel Bradham... I just can't feel too comfortable with Takitaki, Phillips, Goodson and Wilson as the top-4 LBs, particularly with their deficiencies in coverage, which has historically been his strength... Rumor had Bradham asking for a high figure, but also several injuries might need to be checked out before a team is comfortable with him.. Regardless, Bradham really would produce on the major weak link of the Browns defense currently..

-- Despite taking Donovan Peoples-Jones, the Browns WR depth chart behind Landry and Beckham: Taywan Taylor, Damion Ratley, KhaDeral Hodge, Jojo Natson, DJ Montgomery... Yes the Browns plan to operate out of 12 personnel more, but depth is still needed.. Perhaps the Browns look back into Higgins or another veteran flier, but some deep speed is still needed (Ted Ginn would be fun)...

-- The available DBs still out there is very strong... Terrance Mitchell might be on the trade block, so there could be some feelers put out on a veteran CB replacement... Also, if the Browns can't get something done with Bradham, you have to wonder if they go after another depth safety signing who can play LB in sub-packages and passing situations..

Way too early 53

I'm going with 2 QBs for now, and I would expect some fringe dudes to be replaced by guys Stefanski and Berry prefer.

There is almost always one or two UDFAs that make a team and we still might sign a vet or vet cut obviously as well.

I wouldn't rule out a bigger addition still at DE, WR, or LB.


QB : Baker Mayfield, Case Keenum

RB : Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, D'Ernest Johnson

FB: Andy Janovich

WR : Odell Beckham, Jarvis Landry, KhaDarel Hodge, Damion Ratley, Donovan Peoples-Jones, JoJo Natson

TE : Austin Hooper, David Njoku, Harrison Bryant, Pharaoh Brown

T : Jedrick Wills, Jack Conklin, Chris Hubbard, Kendall Lamm

G : Joel Bitonio, Wyatt Teller, Drew Forbes,

C : JC Tretter, Nick Harris,

DE : Myles Garrett, Olivier Vernon, Chad Thomas, Adrian Clayborn,

DT : Larry Ogunjobi, Sheldon Richardson, Andrew Billings, Jordan Elliott, Daniel Ekuale

LB : Sione Takitaki, Mack Wilson, BJ Goodson, Jacob Phillips, Willie Harvey

CB : Denzel Ward, Greedy Williams, Terrance Mitchell, Kevin Johnson, Donnie Lewis, Robert Jackson

S : Karl Joseph, Grant Delpit, Sheldrick Redwine, Andrew Sendejo, JT Hassell

K: Austin Seibert

P : Jamie Gillan

LS: Charley Hughlett

Soar said:

Way too early 53

I'm going with 2 QBs for now, and I would expect some fringe dudes to be replaced by guys Stefanski and Berry prefer.

There is almost always one or two UDFAs that make a team and we still might sign a vet or vet cut obviously as well.

I wouldn't rule out a bigger addition still at DE, WR, or LB.


QB : Baker Mayfield, Case Keenum

RB : Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, D'Ernest Johnson

FB: Andy Janovich

WR : Odell Beckham, Jarvis Landry, KhaDarel Hodge, Damion Ratley, Donovan Peoples-Jones, JoJo Natson

TE : Austin Hooper, David Njoku, Harrison Bryant, Pharaoh Brown

T : Jedrick Wills, Jack Conklin, Chris Hubbard, Kendall Lamm

G : Joel Bitonio, Wyatt Teller, Drew Forbes,

C : JC Tretter, Nick Harris,

DE : Myles Garrett, Olivier Vernon, Chad Thomas, Adrian Clayborn,

DT : Larry Ogunjobi, Sheldon Richardson, Andrew Billings, Jordan Elliott, Daniel Ekuale

LB : Sione Takitaki, Mack Wilson, BJ Goodson, Jacob Phillips, Willie Harvey

CB : Denzel Ward, Greedy Williams, Terrance Mitchell, Kevin Johnson, Donnie Lewis, Robert Jackson

S : Karl Joseph, Grant Delpit, Sheldrick Redwine, Andrew Sendejo, JT Hassell

K: Austin Seibert

P : Jamie Gillan

LS: Charley Hughlett

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Good pre-53-cutdown current depth chart:

I keep forgetting about some of our free agent signings.

Billings, Clayborn, Kevin Johnson, Janovich, Sendejo, and Karl Joseph are all really good signings for really cheap--especially the first four.

Once again: the team looks good on paper. Strength across every starting position on offense except RG - only area lacking depth on offense is WR. Defensive holes are at LB and Safety, but strength and depth at every other position.

Season will come down to Mayfield and Stefanski. Which is usually the case, but there’s nowhere else to point on paper for failure.

I am really liking the off-season so far. I feel like we have done a great job adding depth through the team, and also building the team best suited for the system we want to run. Its a huge difference then under Dorsey who tried to make home run/splashy signings or trades. My only concern has been at the LB position. But when I stop and think about it, if there is one spot you want to be weak at, it is the LB position. You don’t need true 3 down LBs anymore unless they are elite. If you build a solid front 4, and secondary, you can rotate LB in based on down/distance. My only worry is by not having a true 3 down LB, you put more pressure on One of the safety’s to be the defensive leader. While we have great young guys in the backfield, my biggest worry is going to be leadership.
On offense, the only gaps I see is at RG, and a third WR. I think the RG will be less noticeable with the improvements across the line, and opens up a spot for completion in camp. For the WR, I don’t think it is as big a deal with the system we will run, I see a lot of 2 TE sets, plus you have Hunt who can be flexed out of the backfield if needed. The worry is more depth for injury.

prf100 said:

Once again: the team looks good on paper. Strength across every starting position on offense except RG - only area lacking depth on offense is WR. Defensive holes are at LB and Safety, but strength and depth at every other position.

Season will come down to Mayfield and Stefanski. Which is usually the case, but there’s nowhere else to point on paper for failure.

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Agreed.

There will be no excuses for Mayfield this year. Our team will go as far as he will take us. He has the protection (we think), he got rid of one of the worst coaches we have ever seen, he has all the weapons. He is in the best position for a QB to succeed since the Browns have been back other than possibly 2007.


Now he just has to put it all together and get back to and improve upon what he accomplished as a rookie.

I still really want to improve at right guard.

I know, new scheme, new coach, different QB, and the best RT we've had in a long time... but I still remember how much Shaun Lauvao hurt our entire offense, when we had studs surrounding him.

Out of the Rafters at the Q said:

I still really want to improve at right guard.

I know, new scheme, new coach, different QB, and the best RT we've had in a long time... but I still remember how much Shaun Lauvao hurt our entire offense, when we had studs surrounding him.

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Nick Harris can, no doubt in my mind, day one be a successful guard in our blocking scheme.

Out of the Rafters at the Q said:

I still really want to improve at right guard.

I know, new scheme, new coach, different QB, and the best RT we've had in a long time... but I still remember how much Shaun Lauvao hurt our entire offense, when we had studs surrounding him.

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I'd say give Forbes a chance. He's extremely athletic and could provide a shock. Even Teller isn't a Corbett level of bad, he's just not great.