I had until recently all but dismissed Tyrod Taylor as a candidate for "Franchise Quarterback" here, due mainly to his 61.7% 2016 completion percentage on 6.9 yards per attempt.
I still don't see him as a franchise guy, either---but he is above average, experienced, and a dual threat, and the Browns could do a lot worse...and have...for awhile now.
Unlike RG3, he was no shooting star, but has been good (and sometimes terrific) since he became a starter. "Solid" is this guy's floor. He has only been a starter for two seasons, so he still has some upside left.
In 2016, he missed Watkins to injury for part of the season, although he had LeShawn McCoy helping him out as a receiver as well as a runner.
Some real analysts have knocked Tyrod for holding the ball too long, which makes him like every other Browns quarterback.
This is kind of a "just in case" post, however, since if the Bills do release him, there will be a bidding war, and somebody usually gets stupid when that happens. Some idiots are libel to offer him 20 mil/year or something, and the hell wit dat!
Moreover, Tyrod is another one of those quarterbacks Rodney Kesslerfield outperformed as a rookie last season. Why is everybody so eager to nip this kid in the bud?
The releases of the venerable Josh McCown and Tramon Williams shouldn't surprise anybody, nor should you be shocked if Des Bryant hops that train either.
I love all these guys, but they're not long for this NFL. Kirksey, Bitonio, Crowell, Pryor et al are, and smart GMs front load guaranteed money on new contracts.
A number of good young veterans will shake loose from other teams, and the Browns can't fix everything on one draft, especially if they cough up 12 or both second rounders for a pretty expensive Jimmy G (I don't know. I said IF).
It's true that building a team through free agency doesn't work, but too many people go overboard with that. Look no further than Bill Belichick, who each and every season nabs him a couple high profile and several more lesser-known "castoffs" from other teams.
For Bill, it's about treading water. He drafts low every year, and he has to look over the younger free agents to stay on top. This works for a rebuilding team, as well.
Did you notice that when the new regime took over, they KEPT the majority of the younger players? (Ok I've said that Schwartze and Gabriel were mistakes don't bug me with exceptions).
As a result, the team wound up with a bunch of second and third year players to go with their bumper-crop of rookies.
I just listed four key players who should be re-signed, and there are at least three others. John Greco is thirty, and could be an exception to the "young" rule, since he plays several positions (he has been a starting right tackle too btw, and offensive linemen tend to last longer) but I digress:
The four or five veteran free agents they might add this offseason apporoximate these guys in age. Our guys are in or coming off their rookie contracts.
A couple of these guys will probably start, and the rest will be solid depth. For this particular team, these guys are core players.
The Browns current core players include Duke, Crow, Bitonio, Kessler, Collins, Haden, Pryor, and umm...anyway starters under 28.
As Jared Mueller overstates, the Browns are not a preferred destination for high profile free agents. Actually, the dumb ones will screen themselves out, which is fine with me. Those who investigate the coaches and roster, and who are critical thinkers, will keep the door ajar as former Division Rival Hue Jackson did.
These guys are likely to extort a premium, of course, but as I've explained to my regular readers, this could be a minor increase in the up front guaranteed percentage, and done in ways that don't create imbalances and conflict.
The Browns could sign only one or two actual starters, but this speeds up the growth of the team in general. The veterans are known quantities, confidently signed to fill specific roles and known weaknesses.
The draft is a crapshoot, even at the top. Odds favor a Myles Garrett, but he wouldn't be the first freak who was on the street two years later. The quarterbacks are even scarier.
The veterans signed this offseason are sure things, and can be reasonably expected to be part of the broader core for several years. Free agency is a big part of rebuilding.
Returning to Tyrod Taylor, I would be surprised if the Browns try to replace Cody Kessler with a guy who might not even be as good as he is.
Garopollo is different. We'll see.
I can't help it I still remember what Watson did to Ohio State, and to Nick Saban TWICE, and don't think first overall is too high dammit. I think his bashers are all crazy.
Don't worry I'll change my mind shortly.
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