AFC North Talent: Where Browns Really Are

How do the other teams compare to the Cleveland Browns talent-wise, and how will that look in game one, 2016? That's mission impossible, given all the changes that will take place, but I've got time, and will prepare an estimate.

My research isn't thorough. I don't know the other rosters as well as I know the Browns', and since I don't get paid for research, I'm not going to do much. 

 Offensive Line: The Browns are likely to replace Alex Mack with Cameron Erving. Reports of Erving's demise are extremely premature, and he'll be pretty good. Just not as good as Mack. 

 Bitonio and Greco will be back from injury, and Bitonio will be improved heading into his third season. Pasztor has proven to be quality depth. There's a decent chance that Mitchell Schwartze will be back, and based on that, this looks like they're sort of in the middle. 

That is, Cincinnati's offensive line is probably the best. Pittsburgh's is similar to the Browns', and Baltimore's sucks. Baltimore has hit a balloon payment due to Flacco's contract, and is in rebuilding mode. They have a high draft pick, and draft as well as anybody, but are actually where dumbasses and permabashers think the Browns are now talent-wise. They need everything, so they might not draft an offensive lineman first. 

The Browns don't need much. 

 Tight End: Barnidge isn't like Eiffert, but is close, and second best. There is (pass-catching) potential behind him, but nothing has been proven. The second-year passcatching candidates behind him are faster, but lack his height and reach. 

 Wide Receiver: This is the fun one, because everybody will laugh at me now but believe me later. 'Nuff said about the twin towers (Gordon/Pryor), and Hartline being a nice possession guy and matchup slot guy (Jackson will pull that sneaky stuff). Benjamin should be retained, and Jackson's old friend Andrew Hawkins stays. It's still a really tough call. Definitely better than Baltimore. Right now, behind Cinci and Pitt (except they match up depth-wise). 

It's all about potential. Gordon was pretty bad the last time he played. I'm banking on his returning to his spectacular early form. No need to belabor Pryor's inexperience. He should make some big plays, but will make mistakes too. So I'll leave it at third best; a close third to Cincinnati's close second. 

 Running Back: Crowell is underrated. He was blamed for poor blocking and predictable scheming and playcalling. Duke was a rookie and will be scary in a Jackson offense. I believe Jackson will force Crowell to quit getting blown over by wind-gusts, as well. 

 Still, I have to put the Browns third at this point. But a close third, again behind Cincinnati's close second. This one is complicated by the blocking. The Browns smurf receivers couldn't help much, and the Pitt and Cinci offensive lines blocked better. 

 Jackson and the bigger receivers should improve this, and make it a closer contest. 

 Quarterback: Third or fourth. I say maybe third because Joe Flacco and Josh McCown had many of the same problems, but McCown handled it better. The Browns will also probably have a rookie. 

Reviewing the offenses, the Browns are kind of in the middle. That means that Hue Jackson should make them competitive. 

 This one-dimensional offense was somehow competitive for most of this season, for all it's issues and injuries, so if you don't get that, you're hopeless. 

Defensive Line: Second. That's right I said second (behind Cincinnati). Shelton was a rookie and the system was overcomplicated. 

 Speaking of complicated, we don't know if this will be a 4-3 or a 3-4. Bryant, Kruger, and Orchard at DE and Shelton, Bryant, Cooper, Hughes etc at DT is interesting. 

Linebacker: Second. Solomon will return. Dansby and Roberts have range and can cover. 

 Pitt linebackers stop the run, but don't cover well and have failed to pressure the quarterback. There is no Shazier here, but the other guys are old/injured or just never were that good. 

This is where Pettine's system screwed a pretty talented group up the most. 

 Secondary: First. The secondary of 2014 best reflects the real talent of this unit. Remember: After the 2014 season, Mike said that the whole defense hadn't been installed yet. He was looking forward to how well they'd play with the whole package in 2015, now that they had the foundation in.

Then they brought in Starks, Shelton, Cooper, Campbell, and three cornerbacks to go with a boatload of second year players, and we saw what happened. 

 Gipson might be gone, but Haden won't be, and there are underrated stars waiting for their chance. 

Reviewing the defense, it's as talented as any in this division. I'm tired of fighting about this. Just remember I said it. 

After Goff (I think), the Browns could draft anybody at the top of the other rounds. I can safely bet against a wide receiver, since they don't need one. Another offensive lineman wouldn't surprise me. There is no pressing need here, but Greco is 30 and Thomas older. Also, Schwartze is far from a lock to stay. Or a tight end. Better chance of that. Excellent ones can be found here, along with linebackers and running backs.

The Ravens draft high, but the other two draft near the bottom of each round.

They all do a great job, which is why (with rare exceptions like the Ravens this season), they usually contend.

As I've harped on to my own detriment with you readers (trying to stop that), Ray Farmer actually did a good job overall...ok forgive me I need to get redundant again here:

I believe he preferred Carr over Manziel, but even Manziel showed great stuff on the field this season.  He's a punk and maybe an alchi, but he showed what he showed.

Gilbert was a Pettine pick who Farmer never interviewed.  Ray made nice picks in the middle and lower rounds, did great with undrafteds, and Shelton and Erving were rookies, for crying out loud!

With that said, he still made some big blunders, and didn't measure up to the Division rivals.

It remains to be proven if DePodesta (NOT BROWN DO YOU UNDERSTAND?) and Hue Jackson's hand-picked personnel guy will do better, but I understand how analytics will apply here, and think they will.

If so, their draft position will let them upgrade more than the rivals this off season.  Especially when the first pick is probably going to be a quarterback.

Further, last off season many of the big name free agents refused to even consider coming to Cleveland.  But Hue Jackson is wildly popular among players, and offers genuine hope.  Sashi Brown is very popular with agents, and this bodes well for the free agent side of things.

I was surprised and pleased to hear how Hue Jackson talked about personnel and his role.  Most pundits had assured me that Jackson would be a typical egomaniacal control freak who would want to make all his own picks.

This is what impressed me the most about Hue.  He is prepared to trust the personnel people to deliver to him the types of players he wants.  He respects them and their turf.

I'm sure that Hue, like every coach, believes he can pick players.  But Hue admits that coaching is what he does best, and maybe, just maybe, the experts know what they're doing, and he will let them do it.

Yep.  He's analytical himself.  The first step is to set aside your own ego.

To clarify: No, DePodesta isn't a football guy yet, but the guy Hue Jackson brings in will be, and Paul will work with him and Hue on free agents and the draft.  I never said DePodesta was an expert on NFL players is that clear?

Hue Jackson inherited a 3-13 team, but not 3-13 talent.  And he should gain ground on his rivals in that area before next season.