I'm a big Jake Burns fan, and try not to miss any of his "Film Room" articles. In this one, he's come up with seven Day Three (projected) players who could probably help the Browns.
As Jake reminds us, Genard Avery and Antonio Callaway were both Day 3 picks by John Dorsey last season, so this GM has a decent chance at coming up with a couple winners.
In general, the best players in the lower rounds are the best players. They've been injured, played for small schools, bloomed late, lack refinement, got in trouble--whatever; but they have the physical tools to play in the NFL.
Antonio Callaway got in trouble and has limited experience. I can't explain Avery, but (undrafted) Desmond Harrison was a very raw physical freak (who was not READY to start Y E T in 2018).
Let's see Jake's 7 dudes:
SS Khari Willis can't be trusted in deep coverage (for now), but Jake says he fits Steve Wilk's preferred scheme, in which he'd play zone and cover tight ends and bigger slot guys.
(I have to defer to Jake on the Derrick Kindred issue; if Jake says he can't cover well, then I stand corrected).
Jake says this guy reads plays really well and gets in the right place. He's also got nice speed and explosion and (like Kindred) is very tough on the run.
It doesn't sound like Willis would be a project, either: He could probably see some snaps as a rookie, and upgrade overall coverage.
CB Sean Bunting is a tall corner (with nice speed and athleticism who Jake likes specifically for how he would fit in Wilks's scheme.
Bunting plays every type of coverage well, but needs to improve in run-support. He's not ready to start (especially over the highly rated Rodney Mitchellfield), but should upgrade special teams and contribute situationally as a "matchup" guy (he's much taller than every other corner on the current roster).
Linebacker Cole Holcomb is a little over 6'1" and 233 lbs. Jake analyzes his tape (including the East-West Shrine Game/practices) expertly, and says he needs to work on his recognition, as he gets fooled sometimes.
He'd be an instant special teams star, and probably a situational player early-on.
But I included that last link on purpose, as Holcomb is THE strongest player, pound-for-pound, in the UNC. He would instantly challenge Nick Chubb in the weight room.
I deduce here that Holcomb is all pumped up with actual muscles, and has a great work ethic.
Jake says that he played MIKE, but other scouts say that he started all 13 games in 2016 at outside linebacker (once in a great while I catch Jake overlooking something haha).
Jake isn't sure that Holcomb can play SAM, but likes him at WIL or in the middle. But I think Jake missed those weightlifting numbers too: He can play SAM, alright!
DT Cortez Broughton is really impressive, at least on-tape vs lower-level competition. Jake got one tape in which he rushed from a wide-nine DE slot and got the sack in (I think) under two seconds.
Jake says he's raw, and doesn't use his hands well, but Jake seems to think he could help as a rotational player quickly.
Remember how incredibly deep this DT class is: Most likely in 2018 or 2020, Cortez Broughton might be a third round pick or higher.
OT Chuma Edoga sounds good (that low) as well. Jake likes him a lot as a pass-protector and zone-blocker (including at the Senior Bowl, where he faced some elite competition).
There are way too many Offensive linemen on the roster already, and I still think Des Harrison has been "interred" prematurely, but this guy is talented, and a practice squad candidate.
Edoga played Right Tackle, but Jake describes a guy with the physical talent to play on the left side.
Jake is da man!
Rufio's film room offers a glimpse of one element of Steve Wilks' defense (based on one play from his Cardinals in 2018).
I feel a ton smarter now. I had not previously understood how the "Fire Zone" blitze worked as well as I had thought.
With Avery, Garrett, Kindred, and Vernon (or Ogbah, for that matter) Wilks can absolutely pull this crap any time he wants.
The tape shows only three down linemen, but a linebacker is standing up just outside the left tackle, unmistakeably in a passrush stance. This could be Avery, Vernon, or Ogbah---and it's really a four-man front if you can skip the labels.
The play is very hard for the running back and offensive line to read or anticipate. The standup edge-rusher and the linebacker showing blitze inside both back up into coverage, and that linebacker goes right to where the "hot read" slot guy is going (with the Free Safety on top)...
Nevermind just click the link if you have Browns OCD like I do.
I wouldn't expect a whole lot of blitzes from Wilkins in 2019, though: He didn't have a Defensive Line like this in Arizona, so he had to "manufacture" pressure at times.
Nice change-up, though!
I can't find the article that said that Austin Corbett's transition to right guard would be more difficult that most of us expect, but it's a legit issue:
Moving from left tackle to left guard isn't hard, but moving from left to right of center (or vice-versa) is very hard, as Goeffery Schwartze and LeCharles Bentley tell us.
Everything is "left-handed", so to speak (if you the reader are left-handed just substitute right-handed).
Intellectually, you "get it" instantly, but your body does not. Your instincts all tell you to do the exact wrong thing.
Schwartze did say that "some guys" could manage the switch more easily than others, but did not include himself as one of those (and I really respect his honesty).
Fortunately, Corbett will have the entire offseason and preseason to re-map his entrenched neural pathways, but there will be problems at Right Guard, and Zeitler will be missed, at least early-on.
Salary cap-wise, the Browns will carry around 34.5 mil into 2020 with the rollover as-is, but (unless I'm missing something---which I could be), this is before they release at least four offensive linemen (including two newly-signed free agents), and (nothing personal) DE's Zettel and Smith...and a whole bunch of other guys.
Dorsey has overloaded some positions with second and third-tier veteran free agents, and the majority of those new players will not make it through preseason.
Any "dead" money lost in 2019 is irrelevant in 2020...then there's the "inflation" factor: the cap will be raised next season (by at least 5%).
Rumors of Beckham demanding an Antonio Brown salary are premature, unless he's prepared to hold out for it. And if he does, Dorsey should call his bluff.
OBJ won't be to Mayfield's Browns what he was to Manning's Giants. He should get over 1,000 yards, but so should Landry, and maybe Njoku too.
Holding out now, with his currently really good contract, on the eve of the trade, would be unwise.
The 2019 Browns can win the AFC North without OBJ. Dorsey would call his bluff. He probably told Rosenhaus that before the trade.
I'm not the one poisoning the well here: Why do you people insist on stirring up trouble? Jeez OBJ just signed his lucrative new contract, and already you think he's going to gouge for more because the Raiders bribed Antonio Brown?
OBJ is immature and emotional, but he's not a mercenary asshole like Antonio Brown.
Drew Rosenhaus can be an SOB, but he has other clients, and 31 other GMs to deal with. He's smart enough not to pick this fight...I hope.
OBJ should play out his contract, as is.
Stepping into my Time Machine here, I can tell you that Baker Mayfield is like Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Big Ben, Peyton Manning, Rivers, etc:
Baker will "distribute" his passes liberally to any who are open, deepest. He will WIN, and OBJ will share in that; indeed be a big part of it (when he's not injured, as he has been a lot, over the last two seasons)... ..........
Anyway OBJ should be ok with that, and somehow manage to scrape by financially.
...poor guy...
This Jared Mueller guy (do NOT click this link unless you have a half hour to burn) says that John Dorsey should go for all the marbles right now, even if it burns up all his cap space.
The guy is kinda smart, but also kinda not.
Jared seems oblivious to how talented the current roster already is. It's sufficiently talented (and coached) to be the consensus favorites to win the AFC North.
While Dorsey has upgraded this roster a lot this offseason, the main reason for all this optimism from Jared et al is one Baker Mayfield.
Baker enters his second season after 13.5 games of a rookie season under two Coaching regimes.
Let's not spazz out here, Jared! Why are you in panic-mode here!?!
AHEAD of the 2019 draft, PFF, Numberfire, and everybody else recognizes the Browns as a top-five most talented team in the NFL.
WHY, Jared, do you think that the Browns should "sell out" to buy a Superbowl in 2019?
Jared is not a dumbass, but he is a bit of a spazz:
The fact that until now the Browns have sucked is irrelevent. Your frustration and impatience are irrelevent. Your emotions are irrelevent.
You're also kinda delusional, Jared: You think Dorsey can buy a Lombardi trophy with more free agents?
That NEVER works!!!
And WTF you'd trash the future for the chance to win a Superbowl in 2019 (read: "and then collapse").
Jared, take a pill. The 2019 Browns are expected to win the AFC North this season, and a top five candidate to win the Superbowl.
They STILL have a generally young and emerging roster...why are you spazzing out?Where does this panic come from?
I think Jared is superstitious, or perhaps has Stockholm Syndrome. He expects Mayfield, Kitchens, Wilks and company to become losers or something.
Irrational.
Jared: Lord Insideous (Belichick) has rote havoc over the NFL for over a decade with a LOT less talent than that on the current Browns' roster.
With all due respect, you, sir, are a spazz.
I HAVE SPOKEN
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