I don't really know where to start. The 2014 NFL draft has come to an end. Months of anticipation have culminated into a 3-day event that had many rejoicing, some lamenting, and most people wondering. In a lot of ways, the Browns took some steps back. There were some positions that got some depth added to them. Going into the draft, the Browns had 11 picks. At the end they ended up with 6 draft picks taken this year and 2 additional picks next year.
Here are the draft results:
Many thought the Browns did great the first day and slowly slipped over the course of the next two days. I don't think they did well at all on any day. Their best pick was Desir on the third day, but that was after they had gone after Gilbert with their first pick. What would have made this draft really great was to take Watkins (solving your WR problem) and then picking up Desir who could be good enough to start at CB. Bitonio is also a nice pickup, but I'd give up all the other picks made. Manziel is a horrible pick up. The Browns I think have their reservations as well since they didn't take him in the top 10 when they had 2 chances as well as picking up two more undrafted free agent QB's on Saturday.
So in light of this busy week, here are both the mistakes made during the draft as well as some positives Browns fans can take away. Sadly, due to some mismanagement as well as circumstances beyond their control, the Browns have taken a step back from where they were last Sunday.
Mistakes made during the draft:
Trading down from #4 to #9 and not taking Sammy Watkins in light of the Josh Gordon incident. This was bad. Due to the new CBA that was reached, management can't even inform coaches of things like failed drug tests. Farmer and Haslam knew 2 weeks prior to the draft (however, Pettine did not) that Josh Gordon failed his 2nd random drug test, which will probably result in a year suspension from the NFL. Also, Nate Burleson is injured. He'll probably be back in time for the season opener, but there's no telling what a guy his age who's had multiple injuries now will look like when he comes back from it. So with Burleson and Gordon out, the Browns have lost two receivers they were going to depend on, especially Gordon, this season. Watkins and Evans are the only receivers who can come in and start as true number ones this year. If Gordon ends up not playing another down for the Browns, they will no longer have a standout receiver. Little, Cooper, and Benjamin aren't good enough as 1's or 2's, but until Cleveland picks up another receiver, that's exactly what they'll be.
Trading up to get Johnny Manziel with the 22nd pick. We now have yet another quarterback controversy. With the circus that Manziel brings, most people are going to want him as their starter instead of Brian Hoyer. You can't being in Manziel without the fans wanting him to play. What we've done is drafted Tim Tebow. How many people want that?! Given Manziel is a better QB than Tebow, but that's not saying much. Against the best defenses Manziel faced in college, he went 1-4. He also gets worse throughout the course of the game. Nobody wanted Tebow when he was a free agent. A lot of it was his ability as a QB, but a lot of it was also the fanfare that came with him. Manziel has that, too. So even if Hoyer starts, the second he does something wrong or loses a game, fans will be shouting for Manziel. Then when Manziel realizes he doesn't have the same magic as he did in college and starts to erode, fans will turn on him and want him out. Vince Young probably thinks he's good enough to start, too. No matter what, there's a QB controversy in Cleveland...again.
Not picking up Marqise Lee with the 35th pick. A first round talent, arguably one of the three best receivers in the draft, was available to the Browns at the start of the second round. I like Bitonio, the guy they picked up, but with Gordon out receiver is much more of a need than offensive lineman. Plus they'd be able to get someone in the third round. This could have been a great pickup for Cleveland.
Taking Chris Kirksey with the 71st pick. The player is okay. He has some skills as a pass-rusher. He's got great speed and can be disruptive. He's inconsistent in his tackling, run instincts, and anticipating the snap count. We're also loaded at OLB with Kruger, Sheard, Mingo, and Groves. Inside linebacker, however, is a point of weakness in the Browns D with Robertson. Chris Borland was available as was Shayne Skov and Max Bullough. By trading out later picks earlier in the draft, Cleveland missed out on filling this hole and added another player to an already-deep OLB group.
Trading up to get Terrance West with the 94th pick. By trading up to this spot, the Browns not only gave up another draft pick, but they didn't fulfill their need at receiver. Not to mention West could end up being the 4th of 5th string RB behind Tate, Ogbonnaya, Lewis, and Whittaker. Yes, Tate could get hurt as he's had injuries in previous years. But to give up another draft pick to grab a RB with everyone you already have on the depth chart wasn't the best move.
Not taking a wide receiver. Cleveland ended up taking three undrafted free agents on Saturday, but missing out on a more elite receiver in the draft could really end up hurting the Browns this year. As it stands, Gordon looks to be out for at least a year. Burleson has re-injured the same arm. They cut Davone Bess and Brian Tyms. They now have Hawkins in the slot, Benjamin who's not in the 3-receiver set, Little, Cooper, Gurley, Johnson, and Vernon. There were only 8 receivers last year on the Browns who had more than 100 yards for the season: Gordon, Cameron, Little, Bess, Ogbonnaya, Whittaker, Barnidge, and Benjamin. Two of those are tight ends, two are running backs, and two won't be with the team next year. That leaves Cameron with 917 yards and Benjamin with 105. That leaves 3,098 yards to make up for. We don't just need bodies, we need quality WR's.
Positives to take away:
Trader Ray isn't afraid to shake things up if he feels it's best for the team. He made a lot of moves, not necessarily wisely. In years past, though, the Browns have just sat by and watched things happen. I believe once Ray gets used to the system and doesn't have so much to prove, he will be a really great GM. There's just a learning curve and this is his first year at this job. As a former coach, I know how difficult it can be that first year.
Two good corners and an offensive tackle were taken to fill some holes. Even though Gilbert was taken too high, he will probably be a solid starter. Desir was a great value pick who should've went in round 2. However, with Haden, Gilbert, and Skrine all competing for spots (Haden has his spot locked up though), the CB position now has some depth to it. Pettine will probably go nickel package a lot, which is why he wanted some good DB's to throw in there.
The Browns are now getting some good free agents. I don't think Farmer is the best drafter, but I give him all the credit in the world for bringing in free agents like he's done. The Alex Mack deal went really well. Cleveland can now pay him less than he really wanted due to the market determining his price tag. Nate Burleson was a nice addition at WR. Andrew Hawkins is a great slot receiver and also took something away from a division rival. Paul McQuistan came out of nowhere to help solidify the O-line, and he came all the way from Seattle. It's nice to take a player from the team who just won the super bowl. His best addition may be Ben Tate, who other teams were also after. Donte Whitner and Karlos Dansby were signed to replace the players lost, but they were still great free agent signings. Chris Pressley and Isaiah Trufant round out the list. That's a very nice group of players.
Making less headlines this weekend are the undrafted free agents Cleveland picked up. Here they are:
Southern Illinois FB Ray Agnew; Cincinnati LB Greg Blair; Alabama State RB Isaiah Crowell; Oklahoma State TE Blake Jackson; San Jose State WR Chandler Jones; Vanderbilt WR Jonathan Krause; Troy QB Corey Robinson; South Carolina QB Connor Shaw; Florida State WR Kenny Shaw; Ball State WR Willie Snead
The Browns have added some nice pieces, but they also now have a QB controversy and a WR problem. With a defensive-minded coach, I don't know how much the offense improves. The defense was a top-5 defense last year so I don't think it needed much tweaking. By bringing in who they did, they have more talent on paper, but we have yet to see how it will play out.
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