Cleveland Browns 2022 off-season thread

[buzzdog]

I think people need to read between the lines on the exit interviews. It's pretty clear that not only has Baker lost the locker room but he divided the locker room when we released OBJ. All the talks about the team chemistry being off and needing to be better fall right in line with that.

The dude already disrespected the fans, media, and his teammates when he walked off the field after the win against DET and peaced out. The way he threw James Hudson under the bus after the PIT game was real fucked up. Taking shots at KS and the play calling. To my knowledge I don't think any players including OBJ have come out and talked negatively about KS. Odell had nothing but positive things to say about KS and vice versa.

Of all the players on the team Baker is the only one who has taken shots at KS.

Of all the players who have been injured or out due to COVID, Baker is the only one who has caused a fuss. There's no drama with any other players injuries except for Baker. Nobody else is getting into media spats and let's be honest for a sec. Baker has been getting into with the media here since day one. This is supposed to be the leader of the team yet he continues to show his immaturity.

Just from listening to the exit interviews (which Baker did not partake in btw) and going off of Baker's media sessions this season I think it's clear that the biggest chemistry issue on the team is with our underperforming selfish QB.

Long story short, Baker has already poisoned this locker room and I think it is beyond repair. I don't think AB and DePo are going to bring this into next season.

At minimum Baker could've participated in the exit interviews today. His last statement was him dragging a reporter over a story she wrote and throwing the entire local media under the bus. Then he just dipped out again? That's your leader? That's your QB?

Get this dude out of here.

All this, coming from a guy who constantly claims he actually likes Mayfield.

 

[DirtyDan]

I think Njoku has all the tools to be a star TE. Once they brought Hooper in, combined with the number of players on offense that needed the ball, he hasn't had as many opportunities to show it. He was able to show some of it this season because Hooper sucked.

They lined him up as the slot WR in the redzone and #1 WR at the goal line and results were good. He has versatility as a pass catcher.

Think he's capable of having a pro-bowl season or two if he can stay healthy, get more consistency from the QB, and cut out the mental errors. He's 25 though and has been in the league for 5 years, thought his breakout would come much sooner and here we are. I like him because he's a good baseline for the type of TE that this scheme needs to be effective. Anything more than that would be wonderful, but I have learned to temper expectations when it comes to Njoku.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Think he's capable of having a pro-bowl season or two if he can stay healthy, get more consistency from the QB, and cut out the mental errors. He's 25 though and has been in the league for 5 years, thought his breakout would come much sooner and here we are. I like him because he's a good baseline for the type of TE that this scheme needs to be effective. Anything more than that would be wonderful, but I have learned to temper expectations when it comes to Njoku.

Njoku looks...stiff to me when he runs. No real fluidity, and that applies to almost all of his movements. Maybe he isn't, but that's the best way I can describe how there's something about his movements that just doesn't look right to me.

 

[Beanie4Heisman]

Some potential development within the front office front:

Bears Have Reportedly Asked to Interview TWO Browns Front Office Execs for Vacant GM Job

These Bears might not rush through the process, but they are certainly racking up candidates at a dizzying rate.

www.bleachernation.com

Just shows that the minds we have in place are well regarded by some others as far as scouting & talent evaluators.

 

[Beanie4Heisman]

Seeing now that @CBBI had mentioned items involving front office, I'll add this for those of us who are visual when it comes to outlining finances going forward

Via OBR:

 

[MirORich]

Crazy to me that Njoku is still only 25.

I am wondering if we should trade one of Hunt or D'Earnest.
D'earnest is really good. Say we traded Hunt for a 3rd or 4th, saved 6M and then used 2M of that savings to add a suitable 3rd RB behind Chubb and Johnson.

Net gain would be a mid round pick and 4M in cap room to use elsewhere
Loss would be Hunt's talent, but Chubb is so good and Johnson had a revelation of a year.

Not something I'm hell bent on, just something I'm surprised to find myself considering

 

[Beanie4Heisman]

OBR's reasoning regarding Hunt being a potential cap casualty was that D'Ernest has proven that he may well be a viable #2 RB here going forward or even a starter in this league in another offense which operates using a lot of the Power run blocks & outside zone reads we run.

The other option touched on was the thought of tendering Johnson...

Wasn't certain of the rules therein of restricted free agency within the NFL and the inner workings therein so did a quick glance into the matter.

For reference, their thought was potentially a 2nd round tender for D'Ernest

 

[DirtyDan]

MKC is bad, but I'm suprised no one is talking about her reporting Higgins won't be back next year. I guess it's a foregone conclusion at this point anyway.

What happened there? He's a serviceable receiver that normally had chemistry with Mayfield. He signed a one year deal to stay when other teams had interest, then they opted to keep him over Hodge. All of that to just to bench his ass without explaination, same as any other season.

 

[MirORich]

MKC is bad, but I'm suprised no one is talking about her reporting Higgins won't be back next year. I guess it's a foregone conclusion at this point anyway.

What happened there? He's a serviceable receiver that normally had chemistry with Mayfield. He signed a one year deal to stay when other teams had interest, then they opted to keep him over Hodge. All of that to just to bench his ass without explaination, same as any other season.

I feel like when he played he wasn't that good this year. Like some bad drops.
There's got to be something missing with his story. Even with his connection with Baker, across multiple regimes now, no one has ever felt 100% comfortable relying on him as a key guy.

Does he have a bad attitude? Does he practice poorly? Does he live up to his "Hollywood" nickname and act selfishly? Im not accusing him of these things, just trying to grasp for why he's always sort of a last resort.

 

[Beanie4Heisman]

If I remember right.... Higgins was sat for a game this season that was neither Covid nor injury and moreso a disciplinary or attitude thing.

This seemingly was not the first time that something of this sort had come up involving said player dating back to prior coaches, hence him continuously being on the potential chopping block during training camp dating back to Freddie & Hue.

His production this season obviously did not warrant such levels of Ego or potential for distraction going forward.

 

[DirtyDan]

Crazy to me that Njoku is still only 25.

I am wondering if we should trade one of Hunt or D'Earnest.
D'earnest is really good. Say we traded Hunt for a 3rd or 4th, saved 6M and then used 2M of that savings to add a suitable 3rd RB behind Chubb and Johnson.

Net gain would be a mid round pick and 4M in cap room to use elsewhere
Loss would be Hunt's talent, but Chubb is so good and Johnson had a revelation of a year.

Not something I'm hell bent on, just something I'm surprised to find myself considering

Hunt's injuries are what make me skiddish about his future here. Can his body hold up when Chubb is out and still give them an 100 yard game like D'Ernst? His receiving and ability to spell Chubb has been important in past, but availability is what makes this situation work and well... this was a rough season.

I'm willing to ignore Hunt only playing 8 games this season and the potential for more injury problems, because finding a replacement for DEJ shouldn't be difficult. Finding what Hunt can give the offense when healthy? It's tough, that's why (imo) he's a more valuable player, even though DEJ can go a start for another team next season. Our offensive line, coaches, scouting, and the nature of the RB position make someone like DEJ replaceable.

 

[MirORich]

Hunt's injuries are what make me skiddish about his future here. Can his body hold up when Chubb is out and still give them an 100 yard game like D'Ernst? His receiving and ability to spell Chubb has been important in past, but availability is what makes this situation work and well... this was a rough season.

I'm willing to ignore Hunt only playing 8 games this season and the potential for more injury problems, because finding a replacement for DEJ shouldn't be difficult. Finding what Hunt can give the offense when healthy? It's tough, that's why (imo) he's a more valuable player, even though DEJ can go a start for another team next season. Our offensive line, coaches, scouting, and the nature of the RB position make someone like DEJ replaceable.

Even though Hunt and Johnson run differently, I think what Johnson showed this season goes beyond "shouldn't be hard to find a replacement"

I was really impressed with him this season.

Then again, I was really impressed with Hunt when he was healthy too

 

[DirtyDan]

Even though Hunt and Johnson run differently, I think what Johnson showed this season goes beyond "shouldn't be hard to find a replacement"

I was really impressed with him this season.

Then again, I was really impressed with Hunt when he was healthy too

I should have used better wording. I mean finding someone to be the third back and still give decent production when called upon. DEJ gave the Browns more than that and his style of play is graceful for a running back. I'll really miss watching him on the Browns if they decide to let him go.

Both Hunt and DEJ were hyper efficient with limited carries this season. This offense is just so good at running the ball and turning good/great runners into monsters. All three guys were floating around 5 yards per carry which is just insane.

 

[Beanie4Heisman]

Also, down the line Felton may replace them both as RB #2 and the third down back and out of the backfield pass catching threat if all development really shook out well for him... Time will assuredly tell.

But in the business where every asset matters losing Hunt or Johnson this off-season for nothing doesn't seem like a move Berry would make. That is unless those funds were desperately neeed for signings at other pivitol slots within this roster.

Each of them should net a pick or decent player should a trade come about.

 

[Surge]

Also, down the line Felton may replace them both as RB #2 and the third down back and out of the backfield pass catching threat if all development really shook out well for him... Time will assuredly tell.

But in the business where every asset matters losing Hunt or Johnson this off-season for nothing doesn't seem like a move Berry would make. That is unless those funds were desperately need for signings at other pivitol slots within this roster.

Each of them should net a pick or decent player should a trade come about.

Not sure where I see Felton in the pecking order but people talking about getting rid of him or Schwartz seems unwise.

How can we possibly judge our rookies based on what turned out to be a complete grease fire of a season. I've seen film of Schwartz beating DB's deep without being thrown the ball. Felton showed glimpses of what he can be in his limited opportunities on offense. Not sure about him as a punt returner though with his couple of muffed catches.

Both should show marked improvement next year and I'm not willing to write them off yet.

That being said I'd love to keep D'Ernest as well. Covid/injuries can wipe out a RB room as we saw this season.