Open Rants by Rcjames253


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Rcjames253
Logical Browns Offseason Plans
Published at 3/1/2017
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As a beginning, I think Hue Jackson is a guy who can be built around and should stay in Cleveland until the end of the 2020 season. I feel like that's a long enough time to be allowed to really implement plans and personnel changes and see how your drafts worked out. I also think there are players already on the roster who can be cornerstones/quality starters if they're in the right system and are allowed to thrive. Players they have now who deserve to stay include: 

TE Gary Barnidge
OT Joe Thomas
DT/NT Danny Shelton
LB Jamie Collins
LB Christian Kirksey
DE/OLB Emmanuel Ogbah
DE Carl Nassib
WR Corey Coleman
WR Terrelle Pryor
RB Isiah Crowell
CB Briean Boddy-Calhoun
WR Rashard Higgins

Barnidge is 31 and Thomas is 32 so I recognize that these guys are over the big 3-0 and won't be looked at the same, BUT they feel like Cleveland icons and they should be there because they bring a good work ethic to the new players, as well as an appreciation and hunger to win. They're committed to the organization (Joe Thomas will be in the HOF and has spent his entire career in Cleveland, only having a winning season his rookie year with QB Derek Anderson). 

Where FAs are concerned, I think Cleveland should do some strategic targeting. Tyrod Taylor would be my number one offseason target. I know I'm biased because we share an alma mater, but I've been watching Tyrod a long time, and the man just knows how to get it done. I think he would be a phenomenal addition and he would thrive with Hue Jackson. If that doesn't happen, I'd really like to see the Browns target the Packers backup QB Brett Hundley. I don't care about Jimmy Garoppolo and think he'll be yet another back-up Patriots QB who will do nothing on any other NFL team. As far as Brett Hundley, I liked him coming out of college, and I've loved him the past two preseasons. I really think the Browns should trade a draft pick for him (nothing higher than a 3rd rounder, as Hundley was a 5th rounder in 2015), the Browns have a bevy of draft picks so they could do it, and I don't think Hundley would be expensive. I know Hundley isn't a free agent, but I think that guy shows more promise and potential than any QB in this draft class and he'll come with a cheap contract.

FAs they should target include: 

DT Nick Fairley
SS Tony Jefferson
CB A.J. Bouye
T Riley Reiff
OG Kevin Zeitler
DT Brandon Williams
OLB Nick Perry
ILB Zach Brown
WR Kenny Britt (I know Britt has had an up and down career, but I think Cleveland could benefit from a big, experienced WR who could be the 3rd or 4th option on a 1 year contract) 
CB Prince Amukamara 

I have no expectation Cleveland will get ALL of these FAs, but the Browns have a LOT of cap room and would benefit greatly from some veteran defensive help. I think just the top 4-5 players on this list would improve the team significantly. 

Joe Haden, also a committed Brown, needs to be traded or cut because he's injured too often and ineffective on the field. I like him a lot, but the team needs to get some kind of value for him because right now, he's a liability more than anything else. He will add some cap room to an already huge budget. 

As far as the draft is concerned, I'll give my first 3 rounds, fingers crossed, barring any trades, goals for the Orange and Brown squad: 

1(1): DE Myles Garrett
1(12): CB Marshon Lattimore
2(33): RB Christian McCaffrey (I don't think McCaffrey will still be here BUT I hope so and I think the Browns could use a versatile RB to pair with Crowell)
2(51): OL Dan Feeney
3(65): S Budda Baker

Based on the draft right now, the Browns should come out of it with 11 new rookies, and then add some more via Rookie free agency. Anyways, these are my thoughts for a Cleveland offseason that is perennially filled with hope that next year can't be worse...right? 



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