Cleveland is a Draft Away from Contention
If you’re a football nerd like me Draft Thursday is the biggest event of the spring. The problem is, everyone’s focused on all the wrong things.
This is what you should be focused on…The Cleveland Browns!
(Yeah, I said it.)
There’s one thing the Browns can do in this draft that should scare you. If the Browns DON’T draft a quarterback with the 4th overall pick, be nervous. This dumpster fire of a franchise has been drafting well and stockpiling talent over the last few years. They are a quarterback away from being a contender in the AFC North.
(Didn’t you just said they shouldn’t draft a quarterback at 4?)
Yes.
If the Browns can show the intelligence and fortitude (despite what the fan base might want) to pass on Manziel, Bridgewater and Bortles early and take Sammy Watkins, it would show that they’re not the inept Browns of years past. The combination of Josh Gordon, Jordan Cameron, and Sammy Watkins could be deadly for years to come.
Last year Josh Gordon went All-World on the NFL catching 1,646 yards while Jordan Cameron caught 80 balls for 7 TD’s. Impressive considering there was no run-game or quarterback.
Who’s going to get the ball to this young trio?
If you’ll remember the Browns won back to back games in September last year with Brian Hoyer under center. A 17-6 snorefest against the Bengals, in which Hoyer went 25-38 for 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. Before that he threw for 321 yards along with 3 touchdowns and 3 interceptions against the Vikings in a 31-27 win. Granted, the 3 interceptions are ugly, but then again why is he putting the ball up 54 times?
The Browns also have the 26th and 35th picks of the draft. Chances are one of the big 3 quarterbacks will fall to them. Teddy Bridgewater has plunged out of most “experts” 1st round mock drafts. Derek Carr’s last name alone is scaring away most teams at this point.
The long shot here would be to give Brian Hoyer one year as the starter and draft Alabama’s AJ McCarron or Georgia Bulldog Aaron Murray in the 3rd or 4th round and let them sit for a year. AJ McCarron has shown the ability to lead a team and has won when it counts. Not to mention he’s willing to be coached. Aaron Murray has displayed he can toss it with the best of them. He’s a 4 year starter and never had a QB Rating under 145 in the SEC. Who knows what a year of learning could do for these two NFL hopefuls.
The fact of the matter is, as much as we all love laughing at the Browns, they could be scary if they get this draft right.
Check out the Matco Sports Network radio show Saturday’s 2-4 on the TuneIn Radio app.
