More Browns Draft Mockery

Jim Miller and Pat Kirwan did a fun mock draft on Kaepernick Radio last week.  They had the Browns drafting Wentz at number two, then peddling Joe Thomas to the Seahawks for their first rounder.

I didn't hear the entire show, so I don't know if more was involved.  I know that Pat would rate Joe as worth only that one pick, simply because he's a Brown. But if he could pretend Joe was a Steeler,  he would understand the following:

True analysis has a lot to do with value. 

Joe Thomas's value can be summed up in several categories, some of which weigh more heavily than others.

In order, and in the context of a contending team as the "buyer", these might be

1: Immediate impact: That's a nine. It might be a ten, but Russell Wilson is very mobile, and a big play wide receiver or great passrusher could mean more to this team.  (It's still a nine because Wilson gets sacked a lot).

2: Fit: Seattle zone blocks a lot, so that's a ten.

3: Dependability: Ten.

4: Salary: Ten.  Joe is extremely cheap in today's market.  

5: Longevity: Five.  Joe will turn 31, but has never had a serious injury, is not a fat tub who carries too much weight for his back, knees, and ankles. By the time he turns thirty four, he might have declined all the way to merely really good.  He might achieve "average" at 36.

In 2016, he may well remain the best left tackle in football, so Seattle better have coughed up some more picks in this hypothetical trade.  Maybe a third rounder this season, or a second rounder in 2017.  Or both.

Miller/Kirwan had the Browns draft a small wide receiver and I think a defensive lineman with Seattle's first and the Browns second.

This is getting old.  I could see Thomas from Ohio State, or Treadwell if he slid that far, but not another little guy.

In addition to Hawkins, Darius Jennings is on the rise on the current roster.  Injuries put him into games late last season, and he did a great job.  As a bonus, he is a skyscraper smurf at all of 5'10" tall!

And once again, Miller/Kirwan avoided Braxton Miller like the plague.  What's up with that?  Does he HAVE the plague?

Thomas and Treadwell are a whole 1.5" taller than Miller.  Oh I see.  The fact that he can jump over them doesn't matter I guess.  

Pryor is 2-3" taller than both of them.  Gordon is the same size...But I digress:  If you draft a Thomas or a Treadwell over a Miller, you might not look dumb in 2016.  But you will look dumber and dumber every year thereafter.  Neither of these guys has anywhere close to Miller's talent.

For that matter, Miller is already quite capable of running the ball, playing the slot, running the wildcat, and at least part of the route tree outside.  It's not that complicated for an ex-quarterback!

Aside from pattern discipline, they have to learn nuances, like hiding the "tells" which pro defenders learn to read. Example: Many receivers flare their elbows out prior to making a break.  Some glance at the area they plan to go. They extend their arms too soon, announcing that the ball is on it's way.

But many experienced college wide receivers have to put these bad habits away---Miller (and Pryor) haven't even had time to ingrain any such bad habits c'mon man!

The NFL Radio guys think the Browns are lying about a rebuild and will only draft experienced, refined players who can make an immediate splash.

They perceive a sense of urgency which does not exist.  It's based on Hair Trigger Haslam's history of impatience, and ignores the fact that this is the first time he got his top target as head coach, and the first time he himself said he expected a "several years" long project.

Terry Pluto is welcome to my party, despite being late and not bringing any beer:

Terry says the Browns will trade down, but not from second overall.  

The top pick in the second round is extremely valuable now.  The draft now starts over again on day two.  Thirty one players will be gone, and all the teams will have a lot of time to reset their draft boards and make phone calls.

A bunch of players projected to go in the first round will be surprise survivors.  Several teams will consider trading up for that new top pick.

Especially if, by some miracle, Paxton Lynch is still there.  Certainly, some quarterback will be, and more than one team will have been left standing when the music stopped.

Tony Grossi and others will, of course, oppose any trade down, and lobby for a wide receiver of some sort.

But what I wrote earlier about the consensus perception of Braxton Miller makes the trade -down more likely.  The Browns could move down a few spots and still get a Miller, a Hunter Henry, or a Stringer (left tackle).

An additional third or fourth round pick could turn into a Jerell Adams, an athletic SC tight end who can play inside or move...I still can't figure out why he's ranked this low.  But I digress.

Pat Kirwan and Gil Brandt back me up here: If you have three players you would be happy with, then why wouldn't you trade down three slots duh?  Why on Earth would you insist on NOT getting more than just one of your targets?

With the number of needs the Browns have, as of Day two, they might have six or seven players who could help them a lot.

Terry is right: On the morning of day two of the 2016 Draft, Sashi Brown is driving to work in a Brinks truck.