Cleveland Browns 2022 off-season thread

BimboColesHair said:

Even if they move off some of their vets on 2nd or 3rd contracts, the younger guys on rookie deals who would most likely replace them aren't exactly trash. Trade Cook, he's replaced by Mattison on the last year of a rookie deal who has already shown he could start in this league when Cook is out. Trade Thielen, he's replaced by KJ Osborn who just put up 700/7 seeing like 60% of the offensive snaps. Have a promising LT on a rookie deal, a good young RT on a long term deal, obviously one of the best young WRs in the game, and they get their highly regarded TE back next year who was going to take the next step this year before injury in Irv Smith.

Just hard to see them moving enough talent to truly be bad enough to "rebuild". Can't rebuild in mediocrity.

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So do you believe that whoever is in charge will keep Cousins?

CBBI said:

The Browns hired Kevin Stefanski for many reasons, but certainly in no small part because they liked his play calling, scheme design and play stacking execution in Minnesota.

The Browns had the 9th ranked DVOA offense with Stefanski calling plays in 2020.

The Browns had the 14th ranked DVOA offense with Stefanski calling plays in 2021, only they had bottom 7 QB play all year.

And some people want to replace him as the play caller because the quarterback was bad?

It's some of the most nonsensical bullshit I've ever heard.

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It has nothing to do with KS play calling. It has to do with focusing on other aspects of the team. Such as ST, game management etc. it just frees up KS for other things is the point. AVP is more than capable of doing what KS has been doing as a play caller. So why not free KS up to focus on other parts of the team that truly need it.

Gad that the Browns winning yesterday didn't alter their 13th pick draft slot. Typically, that drops you 3-4 slots. I'm already in an optimistic mood for 2022!

Bkerr02 said:

It has nothing to do with KS play calling. It has to do with focusing on other aspects of the team. Such as ST, game management etc. it just frees up KS for other things is the point. AVP is more than capable of doing what KS has been doing as a play caller. So why not free KS up to focus on other parts of the team that truly need it.

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I think Stefanski manages the game just fine. Special Teams has been terrible for personnel reasons (bad kicking, bad punting, bad returning). Special Teams coverage (which is the biggest coaching impact) has been excellent, though. I don't think KS giving up play-calling would help with Special Teams.

With some nit-picking aside, KS has been pretty damn good for us. The biggest change we could make to improve the offense and overall team is better QB play.

Bkerr02 said:

It has nothing to do with KS play calling. It has to do with focusing on other aspects of the team. Such as ST, game management etc. it just frees up KS for other things is the point. AVP is more than capable of doing what KS has been doing as a play caller. So why not free KS up to focus on other parts of the team that truly need it.

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And we know this how? He had one season where he called plays before coming to the Browns and sucked at it. He's had two games since coming to the Browns where he called plays and one was fine and one sucked.

Stefanski is the play caller. He's done more than fine in the role. That shouldn't change.

Amherstcavsfan said:

So do you believe that whoever is in charge will keep Cousins?

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I don't know, because I don't know whose the GM or coach.

Have to imagine one of the enticements they have going for themselves if they hire an OC to be head coach is the ready made good offense already in place.

I can see a new GM looking at Kirk as either a trade piece that could have some demand with the weak draft class and free agency class (and the fact that I don't think Wilson or Rodgers are traded like some people expect) but someone who you will have to eat a ton of dead cap on to get comparable draft capital back and you'd most likely be replacing him with a bum, or I can see them developing a draft pick or Mond behind him for one more season and then open up ~100 million in cap in 2023 to play with.

They're in a weird spot. Handful of extensions kicking in for their premier talent in 23, aging and expensive key players on defense. Hopefully the new GM keeps Rob Brzezinski around, they've got a cap nightmare this year they have to work through.

Vee-Rex said:

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Please resign him and get rid of hooper

I'm not a big Njoku fan. He's a guy, IMO. In fact AFAIC we can completely empty out and redo the receivers (WR and TE) on this team. There's no one I would worry about losing.

Njoku is the exact type of player that belongs in Stefanski's offense. It should be a priority to keep him if he's open to a reasonable deal. Think our receivers really suffered from the inconsistent QB play, way too many yard lefts on the field which hurts the production of a guy like Njoku.

I would still prefer they find another starting caliber TE in free agency/draft. Not sure how much faith to have in Bryant to be that guy. If they are confident in him handling more snaps, than I suppose they can focus on drafting someone to develop behind those two. They also have Carlson who seemed like an interesting option before his injury.

Might not be possible due to player backlash, but I would release Jarvis Landry to save $15 million and use it on a couple free agents. I think we need a competent veteran offensive tackle because Conklin may not be ready to start the season and our backups are just bad. We will also need a couple defensive linemen. I would opt for drafting a wide receiver at 13 (there will be one there who can produce right away) and maybe even double up in round two. We are way behind our division rivals in drafting wide outs.

DirtyDan said:

Njoku is the exact type of player that belongs in Stefanski's offense. It should be a priority to keep him if he's open to a reasonable deal. Think our receivers really suffered from the inconsistent QB play, way too many yard lefts on the field which hurts the production of a guy like Njoku.

I would still prefer they find another starting caliber TE in free agency/draft. Not sure how much faith to have in Bryant to be that guy. If they are confident in him handling more snaps, than I suppose they can focus on drafting someone to develop behind those two. They also have Carlson who seemed like an interesting option before his injury.

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How is Njoku as a blocker compared to Hooper? Njoku would have done so much more with the routes and targets that Hooper received. Njoku was a top YAC guy at one point this season. Those bootleg/TE drag plays are perfect for a guy like Njoku.

Kiddo said:

If Watson has his legal issues resolved i'd make them an offer.

Baker
Jed Wills
2022 1st Round Pick
2023 2nd Round Pick

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Here is where you have to be careful about all this. I think they would take this trade if he DOESN'T have his legal issues resolved. If he does, his value skyrockets.

So, do we trade for him low and take the chance he doesn't get into any real trouble? It's a risk, because we will have trouble trading for him if he stays out of trouble. He could be had now, but its a pretty high stakes situation.

Hurl Bruce said:

How is Njoku as a blocker compared to Hooper? Njoku would have done so much more with the routes and targets that Hooper received. Njoku was a top YAC guy at one point this season. Those bootleg/TE drag plays are perfect for a guy like Njoku.

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Dunno if it's better or worse than Hooper's blocking. I know he's decent enough to stay on the field.

I really don't underatand how Hooper got as many snaps as he did. He really didn't seem to get open as much as Njoku and I think Baker moving away from checkdowns really cut into his touches. Not to mention drops and other issues. Maybe his blocking was his saving grace, because he sucked ass at everything else.

daddywags said:

Might not be possible due to player backlash, but I would release Jarvis Landry to save $15 million and use it on a couple free agents. I think we need a competent veteran offensive tackle because Conklin may not be ready to start the season and our backups are just bad. We will also need a couple defensive linemen. I would opt for drafting a wide receiver at 13 (there will be one there who can produce right away) and maybe even double up in round two. We are way behind our division rivals in drafting wide outs.

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Landry is a very easy cut/renegotiate.

at 15/year thats top 20 WR pay territory and he isnt close to a top 20 receiver anymore. If he wants to stay he goes in the 8-10 range. If not just cut your losses