Bold Half-Assed Browns Predictions for the Offseason and Draft and Stuff

1: The Browns will release Hubbard and Pegleg Vernon, Chris Kirksey, and trade OBJ---inceasing their salary cap to EIGHTY NINE MILLION or so.

2: I will wildly guess that Trader Gruden in Las Vegas, who has 53 mil in cap space and the 14th and 18th overall picks in 2020, coughs up 18, his 4th round 2020 pick (mid-round) and some other stuff for OBJ.

Gruden is a West Coast guy and loves veteran players who make big plays.

Mike Mayock might sqwawk about this, but probably not too loud, because he's not likely to find an equal or greater talent at that point, and they do need wide receivers.

Despite being stuck in the same Division with the KC Chiefs, the Raiders are close to contending.

...or they might use both those 1st round picks to move up and get a Quarterback...

Hmm...what if...nevermind

3: The Browns use some of that new cap money to re-sign Joe Schobert, Rodney Randallfield, and maybe Rashard Higgins (if he's not too pist off, and can accept that Damion Ratley is still in front of him).

The contracts will, of course, be for 3+ years with the guaranteed money front-loaded, so the cap in 2020 might drop to around 70 mil (Randall and Higgins lack leverage, and DePodesta will ruthlessly seek to exploit that, sweetening it with performance incentives.  Schobert has more leverage, and will cost the most---or price himself off the team---DePodesta won't let the bidding way get the best of him).

4: They will use some more of that money to sign several free agents, including 2 high profile ones.

No offensive tackles, but maybe a safety and situational edge-rusher.

5: They draft a LEFT tackle at 10th overall.  Team needs cooincide with talent here, and they are almost certain to get a top 9 overall and top 3 Tackle here.

6: At 18th overall, they get another Offensive Tackle, or EDGE defender.

(Quick review: Free agency and the draft have now brought in up to 2 safeties and/or EDGE guys, and a stud Left Tackle...regardless of how things work out with Randall and Higgins.)

There are lots of young Browns players who are being ignored by you people here, like Sheldrick Redwine, Mack Wilson, Sione Takitaki, and Drew Forbes.  These guys are due to make a big leap in their second seasons.

You people shouldn't be disregarding Redwine or assuming that the new regime will have no interest in one very talented Damarius Randall at a discount.  The "position of need" you see at safety may not even materialize.

Takitaki can't cover like Schobert, but Mack Wilson can, and Takitaki doesn't miss tackles (long story there--they're very different from eachother, but a smart DC can adapt to either...Takitaki will miss tackles on cutbacks because he's aggressive.  Schobert misses them because he's on his heels and lacks the leverage to close the deal.)

But I digress

7: Wilson, Redwine, and Forbes will be starters and play great.  Takitaki will at least rotate in (or start if Schobert gets too rediculously expensive).

8: The 2020 draft will produce 4 or more new starters or rotational/situational players.

Way too many variables here, but let me try to simplify it:

There are TWO really good free safeties (in addition to Randall) who may be available (one a Viking and the other a Niner), and the Browns have a decent shot of nailing down that position ahead of the draft.

Most project Redwine as a Strong Safety, but he can play free (or cover the slot) too, and Burnett is quality depth at both spots, so unless a draftable safety jumps off the spreadsheet, this will probably NOT be a position of need by the time the draft comes around.

The EDGE thing might be mitigated as well.  "Full-spectrum" vets don't shake loose often, but situational young guys do (especially if they're undersized).

...oh but now we're back to the 4-3 vs 3-4 thing and what Woods said, and the fact that I don't buy it (see last 3 posts).

The Offense is easier to predict, however:

The Shanahan Offense protects Quarterbacks, OTs, and RBs.  While everybody (including me) is calling for an elite passblocking Left Tackle in this draft, the Shanahans (and Kubiaks) don't need that...

It's last call.  I'll have to conclude this dissertation in a later post okbye.