First, OBJ isn't one of them, which is dumb.
Next, he lists Greedy Williams.
While most of the team could be traded for a high enough offer, Frank picks out a second year man cornerback who had a rough rookie campaign. Isn't that kind of spastic?
And Frank is hoping maybe somebody would trade a mid round pick for Greedy, who was drafted in the second round.
Williams needed to add more muscle to his frame when he was drafted, and needed some refinement. Niether of those happen before game 1 of a player's inaugural season.
Frank might think that since Williams is a "Dorsey guy", new GM Andrew Berry will act like Dorsey did, and purge players he didn't draft.
That's foolish (to put it mildly). Williams has the tools (and background) to become an elite NFL cornerback, and Andrew Berry knows it (and is an adult).
But Frank is on the money with Chris Hubbard and Kareem Hunt. Hubbard's new salary makes him a lot more attractive, and Hunt (well see a bunch of my earlier posts.)
Except Hunt signed his second round tender. He's an awesome weapon, and I really doubt that DePoBerry would accept less than a second round pick for him, off-the-field issues or no.
Frank could have included David Njoku on this list too. I know I've been defending and predicting a big year for David, but I would still trade him for a high enough offer.
Njoku's contract expires after the 2020 season. Ask Lord Insideous in New England about this:
You either extend a player entering the final year of his contract early, or else listen to any/all trade offers for him.
If Njoku does kick ass in 2020, his agent will be looking to top Austin Hooper's contract. (If he's mediocre, well?)
Locking up maybe a 2020 2nd rounder and 2021 3rd rounder takes all that off the table, and reduces the cap costs for 4-5 more years, see?
And that 2nd round pick could be a really good WR or safety or LB or a decent edge-rusher or a third offensive tackle or even another Tight End, see?
Andrew Berry is being as honest as he can afford to be about the current Browns' draft philosophy, which is mostly to take the best available player, and not draft for need.
Simpletonians take that to extremes: It doesn't mean that if they think a Defensive Tackle is slightly better than a Left Tackle, they'll take the DT.
If any two (or more) players are deemed to have roughly equal merit, you take the player you need. Duh.
When Berry talks about being "pidgeonholed", I'm pretty sure he means they don't care what Mel Kiper or everybody else thinks they should do.
DePoBerry is talking about talent, for example. Not "pro readiness" or "immediate impact".
That is why, for all we know, Berry rates Tristan Wirfs and Josh Jones as the two best Left Tackles in this draft, and Ezra Cleveland higher than Becton, Wills, or Thomas (long term, and for this offensive system).
You do want your rookie Left Tackle to be an adequate starter right away, of course, but when you make this pick, you want the best player 3 years from now (or get real: the 2nd or 3rd best would be ok if you get enough value in a trade-down).
If you keep drafting this way year after year (and of course are correct more often than not), you accumulate more talent and depth than most of the rest of the NFL.
They're all looking for the best players right now, while you are going for the best players period.
1: You get to draft these players lower, and pay them less.
2: Your NFL coaches polish them up, so they have fewer bad habits to "un-learn", and so that they are trained for the system they will be playing in.
3: Drafting for talent over readiness is more reliable.
I'll just screw around and fantasize here and do my own slipshod sorta mock draft. It's a work of fiction, but should illustrate how (IMO) the current Browns' brain-trust thinks.
Before I start, the Browns have addressed specific needs via free agency, including both safety slots, RT, DT, LB depth, a second TE and FB.
Ok here we go:
I won't attempt to predict the first 9 picks, beyond 2 QBs, 1 CB, Simmons (dammit), Young, 1 DT, at least 1 OT...
Anyhow 2-3 OTs, DT Kinlaw, and a QB are there when the Browns are on the clock. Nobody is dumb enough to trade up to 10 for a WR, but teams are chasing Kinlaw or that QB, and the Falcons trade #16 and their 2nd round pick so they can nab Kinlaw (in a draft short on disruptive DTs).
By pick 16, the sky is falling, as only one of the top 4 OTs is left.
Berry ignores Chicken Little and wants to move down some more. I'll just throw a dart and hit the Dolphins at 18, who happen to need Becton or Wills or whoever is left, because everybody knows that the Browns are going to draft him, and the rest of the OTs all suck right?
Berry ("What a rube he fell for it!") settles for the 'Fins 24th 2nd round pick (56th overall) to let them steal the stud Left Tackle from him (Boooo! Boooo!)
And he drafts Josh Jones at 18th (wait what about Cleveland? They coulda had (insert name here_____.))
The Browns now have Josh Jones and (overall) picks 41, 47, and 56 (3 second round picks).
TRADE ALERT: The Rams trade 52 overall and a 2021 3rd round pick for Kareem Hunt.
*Zero cap research here, but he's like Gurley was when he was healthy. He's really worth more, but his one-year contract and off the field stuff factor in--for DePoBerry this is a "bird in the hand" deal*
NOW, the Browns have FOUR SECOND ROUND PICKS (41, 47, 52, and 56) (along with 2 third rounders; 6 picks left in the top 100 see?)
Players who could go in that range include Chinn, Delpit, Ashtyn Davis, Uche, Taylor, Ezra Cleveland, WR Tre Higgins, Duggar, 3 more big tall WRs and just a TON of great talent, ok?
While Berry would stick to most talented 3 years down the road within reason with these 3 picks...
Safeties Winfield, Delpit, and Davis could ALL be there, along with Chinn and Duggar.
Most of the top Linebackers will be there, and they're inexplicably being undervalued in 2020.
Anyway you got Josh Jones and 6 top 97 picks (instead of one of the "big 4" Offensive Tackles and 3 top 97 picks), see?
Top 100-ranked players tend to become at least journeyman NFL players, and if you put a blindfold on and throw some darts, you should do ok if that's all there is on the board.
I still also think that some
"But you said you would never trade OBJ!"
"No I didn't."
...and he didn't. (You guys really need me. English is my first language! I can translate English into English for you!)
Berry on Truth Serum:
"He's missed one out of 3 games with injuries. He's not a vertical deep threat. He is already breaking down physically. He costs 15 mil/year. This might be the deepest WR draft class in history. Aside from Damion Ratley, there are NO true X-recievers on the current roster. Jarvis Landry is more reliable and durable, isn't a distraction, and is in Berea even when he's unable to practice. Baker Mayfield needs OBJ like he needs a hole in the head. I have more but...what was I...oh shit I said that out loud?" (Sodium pentathol wearing off here)
Andrew Berry never said that the Browns would not trade OBJ. He never even said that they didn't want to trade him (for reasonable compensation).
...so how do all you professional writers hear him saying these things? And even if you did understand english, why would you expect any NFL GM to be honest?
I really want to play poker with you guys!
In Dan Labbe's latest mock draft, he takes EDGE Jabari Zuninga in the 3rd round.
Zuninga got hurt a LOT in college (nothing major), but has elite passrushing tools. 6'3", 264 is smallish, but 29 bench press reps and a 4.64 40 are really good.
He was kicking ass in 2019, but a high ankle sprain held him to 6 games/5 starts.
He's never racked up a ton of sacks, but does have the tools to do more.
All those niggling minor injuries are scary, and he's specialist/project as a rookie, but in the third round you consider taking some risks.
That's all I got okbye
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