Evidently, Dorsey was getting the impression that for some strange reason, high-profile free agents did not want to come to the Browns.
So he decided to "prime the pump" using trades.
You'll hear a lot of people (notably local permabashers) knocking these moves in various assorted ways, but everybody on NFL Radio (especially Pat Kirwan, who fairly gushed as these deals were coming down) loved them (and felt the Browns got great deals).
A note on this:
Please try to comprehend that Sashi Brown might have tried these moves, had he remained. Signing veteran free agents in year three was absolutely part of DePodesta's plan. Pat keeps repeating "football guy" in re Dorsey, as if Brown would not have the same strategy in 2018, and that's just plain prejudice.
However, Dorsey is more knowlegable and forceful. He came to the Browns with the gravitas to win all personnel battles with Hue Jackson.
And, as Kirwan points out: "Don't ever hire a GM who doesn't have relationships with other GMs".
Sashi Brown was a cap guy. None of the other GMs knew him. And he's a lawyer. He no doubt talked like a lawyer when he called people.
Dorsey is on a first name basis with the people in Miami, Buffalo, and Green Bay. You can't underestimate the importance of that.
Also, I must admit that using these relationships, and making trades to build credibility with pending free agents on the eve of free agency, might not have occurred to even DePodesta (ergo Brown)...(on the other hand it might have been DePodesta's idea).
But Brown might have had to give up more compensation, and been forced by Haslam to pursue Hue's guy AJ McCarron.
No doubt, Hue lobbied Jimmy again, but Dorsey is "a football guy", and Jimmy had to listen to him, see?
Anyway, Landry caught 119 passes last season, and 400 over the course of his four-year career. He's THE most dependable receiver in the NFL, and he hasn't missed a start.
Yeah, he only averaged 8.8 yards per-catch last season. He's not a big run-after-catch guy or deep threat. He's small. He's not explosive or fast (as I myself pointed out when I argued against pursuing him for the money I knew he'd cost).
Full disclosure: My other objections were that Duke Johnson could play the slot as well, and IS a big run-after-catch guy, and Corey Coleman could be a lethal weapon out of the slot, so I considered Landry (while an upgrade dependability-wise), redundant for this team.
However, he is about as high-profile as it gets, and this influenced Dorsey. He's telling all the veteran free agents that he means business. Whoever is the Browns quarterback will have Gordon, Coleman, and THE most reliable receiver in the NFL to throw to.
Then Dorsey (God bless him) derailed the McCarron train with Tyrod Taylor. My pal Waittilnextyear texted "NOOOOOO!" (repeatedly), and GMan said he was a National Anthem kneeler (unconfirmed).
I get GMan's objection. Tyrod might be brainswashed into believing a manufactured lie, and feel guilty about making so much money, but a lot of NFL players are social justice
Tyrod Taylor is almost like Landry. He's efficient as hell (and a dual threat).
He IS A POCKET PASSER. He does not throw only short passes. He had a decent tight end and LeShaun McCoy and not much else; certainly no deep threat. Buffalo wide receivers in 2017 were even worse than Browns wide receivers.
Taylor made the most of what he had. He is super-solid. He has an arm, and will use it, just as soon as he gets a Gordon or a Coleman.
Tyrod is a proven top 15 quarterback who rarely screws up.
While Dorsey is trying to sign the 26-year-old Landry long-term, Taylor might be a one-season "rental". As I hear it, he makes 16 mil in 2018 (his last contract year). Team Taylor will not accept backup money. Team Taylor intends to earn starting money in 2019, and if the Browns drafted quarterback pans out, the budget won't let that happen in Cleveland (but never say never! Taylor is only 28, and could surprise everybody. Don't count him out).
The (top) third round pick stings a little, but the 16 mil is dirt-cheap for a starting quarterback in this market.
The picks traded for Landry are almost painless, and Dorsey would not have made this trade if he wasn't confident of nailing him down long-term.
By the way, Landry is worth that franchise tag, and the Browns are NOT going to have to pay 25% more to sign or retain players (anymore).
Some of YOU guys might think Tyrod Taylor sucks, but NFL players beg to differ.
But I digress:
The Kizer for Demarius Randall trade (the swapping of lower-round picks was not as meaningless as it sounds) was really smart.
I don't do gossip, but I know that Randall really, really pissed off Mike McCarthy in some sort of argument, and was highly inconsistent in his first two seasons after being drafted in the first round.
He was listed as a safety in the draft, but the Pack used him at cornerback. He was relatively inexperienced when drafted; he's not fully developed yet.
Randall can play every secondary position. The Pack used him at corner partly for his man skills (he's got the tools).
After getting benched and stuff, he closed out 2017 with four interceptions.
This guy is not only a potential starting cornerback, but a potential starting free safety for the Browns. At the very least, he's a guy Gregg Williams can use all over the place. Entering his third season, with a change of scenery, Randall could make an immediate and significant impact for the Browns in 2018 which Kizer, of course, wouldn't.
Now, there goes Danny Shelton!!! (for the Pats 2019 third round pick; likely to be low, as usual).
That's okay with me...in fact I like it (nothing personal Danny good luck). Danny has a weight problem. He is a good athlete for his size, but has never lived up to his draft status.
The Browns current interior defensive line is stacked with Brantley, Coley, Ogunjobi (maybe more). Danny has no place in a nickel or dime, which is on the field 69% of the time in today's NFL.
Shelton (a Ray Farmer pick by the way) was never a fit for a Gregg Williams defense. The Sith Lord got him dirt-cheap, and will use him situationally on obvious running downs. Give Lord Insideous (Belicheck) credit for balancing his checkbook and digging up guys like this. Neither team lost on this deal.
Pat Kirwan must read my blog too! Pat estimates that moving from fourth to second in the draft would cost the top second round pick, period (or else the sec...nevermind it's in a previous post).
Pat thinks this is the way to go to nail down Barkley and to make sure they also get "their" quarterback (assuming they have only one: To my amazement, Pat Kirwan considers it possible that Dorsey could possibly rate more than one equal! Congratulations, Pat!).
And I concur.
The moves Dorsey has already made back up what he said about competing for the Division Title in 2018. He's going for it, right tf now.
This in turn makes Barkley at first overall likely. No other player in this draft could have the same kind of immediate impact. Not Chubb. Not Fitzpatrick.
The Joe Thomas factor matters here too: As he tweeted/said, he's thrilled by Taylor and Landry. He is excited. I now think he will come back for one more season.
I guarantee you, Big Joe matters to Dorsey, and he's "selling" him on sticking around at least as much as he's selling the other league veterans on signing here.
I give John Dorsey an A++ so far (in context).
This could (especially if Barkley is on his way here) put Duke on the block. As I've mentioned, Dayes is a similar player, Landry/Dayes are slot guys too, and of course Barkley does that and more. Duke has a year left, and real value.
I know you love Duke. So do I. But business is business. Duke could turn into a third round pick (or edge-rusher or safety or something) shortly.
Maybe A+++. We'll see.
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