NFL draft: DBN workers debates the Browns choice at #2

The Cleveland Browns went into 2024 with excessive hopes after successful 11 video games and a post-season look the season earlier than.

Nevertheless, these hopes have been dashed in Week 1 once they have been taken to the woodshed by the Dallas Cowboys who had developed three straight seasons with 12-4-0 information. Because the season rolled round, it turned clear that the Cowboys weren’t staff as anticipated. So, for Cleveland to be spanked like that by an equally horrible staff was an early indicator of dangerous issues to come back.

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And are available they did. Losses to the New York Soccer Giants, Las Vegas Raiders, and New Orleans Saints have been towards horrible golf equipment. If the Browns couldn’t defeat the underside feeders, what would the rest of the schedule be like?

By the midseason mark, it turned obvious that Cleveland was in bother. Although half of their video games remained, everybody knew that the Browns had a nasty squad and that their season wouldn’t finish nicely. The tip end result was 14 losses. The one silver lining was that they’d decide second in April’s NFL draft behind the Tennessee Titans.

This 12 months, the Deshaun Watson commerce circumstances ended which suggests Cleveland can have their first and second-round picks again this 12 months. Groups that succeed construct their roster with draft picks who’re paid considerably lower than seasoned veterans who’ve already proved their price.

For 3 years the Browns have relied on Day 2 and three draft selections to construct their roster. It’s no secret as to why the franchise has tanked whereas the Houston Texans received their division two years in a row and made consecutive playoff appearances. They used their very own first and second-round draft picks plus Cleveland’s.

That’s including up a variety of little bits into a terrific complete.

So now, what positions are the best want for the Browns? Who ought to they choose with that helpful second decide?

Our Dawgs by Nature workers writers all acquired collectively (any individual forgot to ask the bosses – oops) and requested those self same questions. What if, and why not, and perhaps this or maybe this different is best. You understand, over a sport of pool (or three) with some chilly brews whereas loud music is enjoying.

That is our debate: what positions ought to the Browns concentrate on, and who ought to they take second total with out buying and selling out of the spot.

Let’s debate!

Matt Wilson

While you take a look at the speedy worth to the staff and positional want, it’s not exhausting to say that Cleveland ought to goal a quarterback in Spherical 1. The one drawback with that line of pondering is that it’s a reasonably weak QB class on the high and the Browns could not worth Cameron Ward or Shedeur Sanders sufficient to pick one that prime.

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If I have been Cleveland, I might goal CB/WR Travis Hunter at #2 primarily based on his extremely uncommon skillset. Nevertheless, I’ll say that they need to goal a quarterback within the first spherical in April. My reasoning could be primarily based on the easy proven fact that it’s the “safe” choice for the staff. If they will’t discover a respectable veteran “bridge” quarterback to usher in and begin in 2025 and so they don’t draft one of many high two guys, then they’d be in a really, very dangerous spot.

That being mentioned, I imagine Shedeur Sanders could be one of the best match at QB for Cleveland primarily based on his total accuracy and pocket consciousness. A profitable quarterback in Kevin Stefanski’s offense additionally must have nice anticipation and the power to scan by means of his reads shortly, which I feel Sanders does a bit higher than Ward.

Curtiss Brown

With the Cleveland Browns choosing 2nd total on this 12 months’s draft, there are various choices Cleveland can go in. At one level, I used to be on staff QB (primarily drafting Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders) however as of now I’m additional away from that and I’m leaning in the direction of BPA (finest participant obtainable).

Sure, Cleveland wants a quarterback. Deshaun Watson won’t be suiting up for the Browns anymore, Jameis Winston is simply too unstable in the case of his turnover issues, and Dorian Thompson-Robinson is QB3 at finest. Cleveland’s finest wager (for my part) is to discover a quarterback in free company. Both Sam Darnold or Kirk Cousins works.

So far as the quarterbacks on this draft class, it’s in all probability the weakest it’s been shortly. To me, Colorado’s Sanders is the one quarterback that’s price taking within the first spherical however he’s not a franchise changer. So far as Miami QB Cam Ward, he’s nearer to a second-round decide than the primary spherical however somebody will swing on him and that staff shouldn’t be Cleveland.

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For me, Cleveland ought to draft Penn State EDGE Abdul Carter. While you take a look at the highest defenses within the league, edge duos are beginning to develop into extra of a sample, simply to call a number of:

Houston Texans: Will Anderson, Jr./ Danielle Hunter

Pittsburgh Steelers: T.J. Watt/Alex Highsmith

Dallas Cowboys: Micah Parsons/Demarcus Lawrence

Carter could be the perfect operating mate reverse of Myles Garrett. When it comes to pace, he has the power to beat tackles off the sting along with his fast get-off. He’s somebody who’s a bit uncooked when it comes to his cross dashing however with the precise teaching, he can develop right into a Prime-5 edge rusher sooner or later, to not point out he advantages from enjoying with somebody like Garrett (who’s one of the best edge rusher within the league). So many choices Cleveland can go however BPA is one of the best wager, and Carter is sensible.

Damon Wolfe

It’s nonetheless early however after my preliminary learn, I really feel there are a handful of true difference-makers on this class. Two actually stand out as nice suits for the Browns with the second total decide.

I do know quarterback is the largest want however I really feel that each Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders include considerations. To me, if the Browns keep at quantity two, they’ve to decide on both Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter.

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All of us witnessed the affect that Carter can have on a soccer area throughout Penn State’s playoff run. He was dynamic as a cross rusher and created havoc regardless of not being totally wholesome.

Pairing him with Myles Garrett could be an absolute dwelling run decide for Cleveland. It could additionally permit the Browns to maneuver on from Ogbo Okorowonko and his wage.

Hunter is one of the best total cornerback prospect the league has seen in a number of years and oh, by the way in which, is perhaps top-of-the-line huge receivers on this draft. Pairing him with Denzel Ward on the skin may give the Browns one of the best protection unit within the league. Permitting him to play 15 snaps a sport at receiver may give them a weapon to enhance Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman within the passing sport.

Thomas Moore

The Browns are again to needing to repair the quarterback situation. That a lot is evident to anybody who watched the staff for even brief durations of the 2024 season.

Deshaun Watson is finished by means of a mixture of traditionally poor play and consecutive season-ending accidents. Jameis Winston will not be an choice for any group that desires to be taken critically. Dorian Thompson-Robinson has proven that he’s finest suited because the emergency third quarterback.

The issue, because it pertains to the upcoming NFL Draft, is that there aren’t any “consensus sure picks” on the quarterback place, which is problematic for a staff with the #2 total choice and the aforementioned established want on the place.

It’s not a stretch to see the Browns deciding that the reply lies in Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, Mississippi’s Jaxson Dart, or Miami’s Cam Ward. What’s much less probably is the odd rising thought that the Browns would by some means commerce the No. 2 choice to a “quarterback-needy team” in alternate for a stockpile of future picks. There isn’t a staff extra “quarterback-needy” than the Browns, and if the quarterback class will not be spectacular how they will flip that to their benefit is…puzzling.

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At the moment’s train, nonetheless, is to place collectively an informed guess on who the Browns ought to truly choose. So let’s go together with the concept they don’t like, or don’t speak themselves into, one of many obtainable quarterbacks, however as a substitute choose Penn State defensive finish Abdul Carter.

Cleveland has been looking for a gifted defensive finish to pair with Myles Garrett for years, going with one or two-year leases like Olivier Vernon, Jadeveon Clowney, and Za’Darius Smith with varied ranges of success.

Carter represents one of many high, if not the highest, choices at defensive finish after incomes Huge-10 Defensive Participant of the Yr honors in his first full season as an edge rusher with 12 sacks and 24 tackles for loss. He would probably be thought of the #1 edge rusher on most groups, making him a probably deadly participant to pair with Garrett, the precise #1 edge rusher within the NFL.

Choosing Carter within the first spherical implies that Carter and Garrett get to spend the subsequent 5 years terrorizing opposing quarterbacks. It additionally takes them by means of Garrett’s age 34 season. If every part goes as deliberate, Carter will likely be coming into his prime simply as Garrett will likely be slowing down and able to take over the position because the membership’s high defensive finish.

EZ Weav

Clearly, the quarterback place is the best want, and any probability for development requires as a pre-condition, our getting that state of affairs resolved. Method simpler mentioned than executed after all.

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On the one hand, the 2 major prospects presently thought of on the high of the heap, Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, should not extremely regarded by the so-called draft consultants.

Alternatively, no person has any concept how any of those QB’s will translate to the NFL as a result of they don’t know what to search for and even when they did, it may’t be seen till the fellows are going up towards NFL defenses. That’s how a prospect like Brock Purdy can slip virtually utterly out of the draft.

Thus, it’s all a crapshoot, and the query we now have to ask ourselves is whether or not or not we like one in every of these guys sufficient to make that type of dedication. Whereas Andrew Berry and Kevin Stefanski presently benefit from the favor of their boss, that dynamic transferring ahead WILL be outlined by how nicely (or poorly) they do with the DeShaun Watson alternative.

Due to this fact, you must actually love the man as a result of your future is determined by his success. Presently, and until I see some further tape that drastically adjustments this, Shedeur seems far much less able to dealing with actually any type of superior strain. Ward is under no circumstances an ideal candidate however he does appear to be head and shoulders above Sanders, albeit with an obvious degree of nonchalance that is perhaps (will certainly be) off-putting to a variety of followers.

So, to me, Ward is basically the one viable QB choice at #2, and he doesn’t actually match with us and can also be probably going to get snatched up by Tennessee.

If that have been to transpire, then hopefully we can have executed job pretending we actually need Shedeur, in order that we are able to confiscate some draft picks from a staff (Las Vegas Raiders) that desires him to be the face of their franchise (and can probably begin him Yr 1). That appears just like the play to me, as issues stand at this second.

Barry Shuck

The Browns have so many holes that it’s troublesome to pick only one. Personally, I wish to work on each side of the road and make them each nice. The offense will solely go so far as the offensive line will take it, and you’ll’t have too many cross rushers.

I might like to see GM Andrew Berry commerce out of the #2 spot simply sufficient in order that they will seize OT Will Campbell out of LSU who’s graded close to the #8 spot. He could not play this 12 months, however with the harm historical past of Jack Conklin and in addition Dawand Jones, we now have to stop the behavior of throwing in second-tier guys and act like they’re beginning offensive tackles on this league. That’s killing this offense.

However this text is about who to take if the Browns sit at Quantity 2. I imagine that there are conditions the place you possibly can seize a generational participant whether or not you want that place or not. Would you are taking Lamar Jackson despite the fact that your QB state of affairs is nice? Would you cross on Barry Sanders since you are pleased along with your operating again?

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That’s the reason it simply is sensible for Cleveland to nab Travis Hunter. The Browns need assistance at huge receiver, and there could also be points at cornerback. This man would remedy each.

I really like DE Abdul Carter and DT Mason Graham and both would fill wants. Let’s simply draft one of the best participant on the board. This one simply occurs to fill two wants.

Ballot
Put in your GM hat. The Browns are selecting second and can preserve the decide as a substitute of buying and selling. You’ve got heard from the DBN writers. Who do you are taking?

3%

QB Shedeur Sanders

(5 votes)

50%

DE Abdul Carter

(69 votes)

30%

CB/WR Travis Hunter

(41 votes)

9%

One other participant not profiled

(13 votes)

136 votes whole

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