The more I consider the Browns QB situation, the more I begin to feel like my original thought of not drafting a QB this year is the best idea. While Browns fans have been clamoring for years upon years to get a QB, it just might not be the right time this year.
Obviously the QB class coming out in this draft does not seem to be as talented as years past. That is the obvious remark against it. If you do not love a guy don’t draft him and set your franchise back a couple years by being committed to him.
Outside the lack of talent, there is another scenario that has been lurking in my mind that I’m surprised nobody has talked about. It also makes a lot more sense behind the possibility of what the front office was thinking with the Brock Osweiler trade. What if all of this was just a setup for 2018? I think that could very well be what the front office was planning all along.
Osweiler’s contract will come off the books for next season once the Browns release him. By shedding his contract the Browns could be looking at about 46 million dollars in cap space for next spring and that is not including the nearly 50 million the team has in rollover from this season currently and that is taking into account signing this year’s draft picks.
It might be possible the Browns could enter next free agency with close to 100 million in cap space, which could be the key to the puzzle. Maybe the Browns are shooting for free agency 2018.
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Percy E.
April 6, 2017 at 2:01 pm
Thank you, thank you, thank you for writing this. I am praying that this is the front office thinking. There’s no QB that I’m certain in this year draft and I understand that there’s no QB pick that you are ever certain. Looking at the people that get paid to do this for a living, they aren’t sold and are all over the place. It seems to me that this year’s crop has more questions than most. My argument is moot if they really like one of these guys, then by all means draft him, but don’t draft a QB just to draft one because every one is saying you should. I have 2 points to add to the article and they both would be considered “break glass” options for most fans. 1) AJ McCarron would be restricted next year and I’m sure Cincinnati will place a 1st round tender on him. If you can’t trade up to be in position for one of the top QBs in next year’s draft, then sign McCarron and use your 1st on McCarron IF coach truly likes him. 2) This is where people will think I’m crazy. Develop Brock! There are several reasons to develop him as well as humanly possible. I’m not saying he is the answer. What I saw in Houston would say no, but can we trust Bill O’Brien ability to develop QBs. He has started 9 QBs in 3 years! Are we sure it’s Brock and not him? If we had signed Brock last year to this contract, I feel most fans (and some Browns coaches) would have been celebrating in the streets. At least he had more starts and film tape than Jimmy (don’t get me started on him) Garoppolo at that point. Here’s the positives for Brock 1) Insurance. We were told to “trust” on Kessler. I didn’t like the pick but the kid played solid. Give him a chance but keep a vet for insurance. If you cut Brock, you have to sign one. Keep the one we have to pay for anyway 2) Trade. Either the closer we get to the season, or maybe next year, you might get something from him if you can develop him by having him show some positive tape in the preseason or season. If he’s awful, cut him at the end of preseason or after the season. You are in no worse shape than you were before. 3) He could be the guy. *whisper voice*. Probably only a 5% chance, but just maybe…
Bob Stalnaker
April 6, 2017 at 3:37 pm
Very well thought out.
Two things: a) give Kessler a bit more credit. What he did last year, being #5 in adj. completion % with a terrrible defense, a bad O-line and Cam Erving at center is phenomenal. Kessler’s NFL Passer Rating exceeded a LONG list of top notch QBs last year, again, how he did that with such roadblocks in front of him like the poor defense and O-line is incredible.
b) as to “numerous rebuilds from this franchise” … this reboot by the Sashi, Paul and Andrew regime is the first true reboot. Those other so-called “rebuilds” were lame, shoddy attempts or worse, such as Inane Ray Farmer’s disaster he laid upon the Browns.
Although Higgins, Louis and Payton were not give any reasonable chance or co chance at all in 2016 as Hue Jackson blew it big by giving Andrew Hawkins snaps I like your idea of adding a WR for reasons you stated. O.J. Howard at 12 would be huge for the offense also, but CLE needs to focus the rest of the draft on S, CB, and perhaps a LB. End of the Tank Carder era.
Dan Y
April 13, 2017 at 3:37 pm
I think the Browns have a real sleeper in Kevin Hogan, the former Stanford QB. No one talks about him…give him a chance. Why not? And he didn’t play all that bad when pressed into action on short notice with very little preparation last year.