Nobody is picking on the Garrett or Njoku picks, so I'll skip those for now.
I had to listen to a very snarky Pat Kirwan, who had concluded that the Browns desperately wanted Trubisky, and that they were "scrambling" after he was drafted second overall. He kept saying "moneyball" over and over again.
Pat is certain that the Browns now regret not trading away their entire draft to get Trubisky at second overall.
It was sad.
The Jabrill Peppers pick at 25th is being attacked from every angle. Even though I personally didn't "get" this pick with guys like Chidobe Awuzie still there, this bashing is so over the top that I have to defend this pick.
First and foremost, Gregg Williams needs a player like this in his unique defense. He couldn't afford Jamaal Adams, and Peppers was the next best option. This wasn't the Geek Squad. This was Williams.
Aim your bashing at Gregg Williams. He can take it.
Second, Peppers is an outstanding kick and punt returner. These guys are nice to have. They come in handy. Peppers has been compared to Josh Cribbs.
Third, this draft is exceptionally deep in safeties and cornerbacks. It is logical to exploit that depth by drafting second-tier players lower, and addressing more needs.
The experts are bashing the pick because Peppers has not been exceptional at any one position. They say that Peppers is a "luxury" pick more suitable for a team with a solid roster, whereas the Browns need to find their set starters.
Skip back several paragraphs. Peppers will nominally start at "strong safety", but will actually be Gregg Williams' starting safety/linebacker hybrid. A starter. At a position.
Peppers has also been compared to Troy Polumalu. He may never become that good, but he has Troy's skill set, and will fulfill a similar role under Gregg Williams.
I remember, when the Steelers drafted Polumalu, making fun of that draft pick myself. He was short and slow. But the Steelers were right, and I was wrong. Peppers blows things up in the backfield and gets sacks. If you don't like Polumalu, try Tyron Mathiews.
There is more to this, as well: Jabrill Peppers averaged over 6.1 yards per carry as a running back. On a different team, he might have wound up being drafted as a running back, and might well have been one of the first 3-5 off the board.
He has rare vision and suddenness with the ball in his hands, and breaks tackles. He could be a better running back than he is a safety/nickel corner/linebacker.
The Browns don't need running backs right now, but Hue Jackson has already been talking about checking him out on offense.
This guy is a swiss army knife. As the Browns acquire and lose players, he might show up anywhere, depending on where he's most needed.
The Browns are still rebuilding. They now have another first round pick in 2018, and five picks in the first two rounds. A Garopollo trade, or moves in 2018 for a quarterback, are not off the table.
Bidding for Kirk Cousins or Garoppolo ahead of the 2018 season are also possibilities.
This first round added a premier passrusher and a Polumalu type safety on defense, an immensely talented and lethal real tight end, and an elite returner on special teams. These, plus another 2018 first round pick, is pretty damn good.
Webb and Dobbs are still out there.
I don't know what the Browns will do today, but suspect they'll try to nab one of these two, a tall cornerback, and a center fielder.
On Trubisky: He may or may not have been an actual target. Clearly, Mahomes and Watson were not targets. Bash Hue Jackson for this.
Hue likes Rodney Kesslerfield. Who wooda thunk it?
Dobbs. Definitely Dobbs.
Or somebody we never heard of again. Or Webb. No Dobbs. Definitely Dobbs. Or...
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