Play along.. PRETEND you are a pure analytics / moneyball guy and tell us what happens.. FA / Draft.. don't tell us what you want or what you think.. tell us what the moneyball says.
Long post ahead, but I post only once or twice a year.
If I’m an analytics guy, I accumulate draft capital. I don’t offer opinions on drafting specific players or specific positions. Instead, I provide the football guys the most flexibility to do what they want in the draft. So what actions do I take and why?
#1 Make the Brock Osweiler trade. It starts by paying $16MM for a QB and a 2nd round draft pick.
Plan A: Cut RGIII and trade BO
• With RGIII’s contract off the books, the draft pick cost us only $8MM net.
• If the trade of BO is made before the draft, I ask the trading partner to pick up some or all of BO’s contract. If they balk, I make the trade for a draft pick. After the draft, it’s all about the money. What am I left with? A 2nd round pick, (and maybe more) for less than $8MM, possibly way less.
Plan B: Cannot trade BO. Offer him to football guys. If they want him in camp then you have a potential starter, backup or placeholder until another QB (Kessler, Hogan, or draft pick) is deemed ready. If they don’t want him, analytics says release him and then you’ve paid $8MM for a 2nd rounder (capital) that can be used to trade for a QB (JimmyG?) or draft, hopefully, a potential starter.
Yeah, yeah, yeah—old news, I know. What’s next?
#2 Consider Trading Down from #1
While the football guys may have a strong opinion that you take the consensus best player available with the #1 pick and don’t look back, analytics acknowledges there are a variety of opinions ranging from Myles Garrett being a game changer to something considerably less. Analytics also says always consider alternatives and look for the option with the greatest value. Since this is a draft class very strong on the defensive side should you consider the following?
Trade #1 and 2018 3rd round pick to SF for #2 and #34
Trade #2 and 2018 2nd round pick from Houston to Chicago for #3, #35, and #67
If you were able to pull off both trades, the Browns have #3 #12 #33 #34 #36 #52 #65 and #67. Think of the possibilities.
• There is a decent chance either SF or Chicago drafts a QB #1 or #2 leaving the (slim) possibility of Garrett being available or choosing the #2 or #3 defensive lineman (Allen or Thomas) or the top DB (Hooker) or SS (Adams)
• Draft a QB at #12 or pick BPA (Howard? Barnett? Foster?) and trade for QB
• Package two or possibly three picks among #12 - #36 and/or a 2018 2nd round pick we traded for (Philadelphia, Houston)) for a QB (Jimmy G?) and still have two picks at the top of the 2nd round for a CB, Safety and/or WR. If you didn’t draft QB at #12 or make the trade for QB then perhaps you go developmental QB here.
• And you still have a mid 2nd round pick and two top 3rd round picks to address other positions of weakness.
• Final alternative, package some of your accumulated picks with lower round picks to trade back up, if warranted.
#3) Draft picks are cheap to sign and starters are more likely to be found early in the draft. So if you can get six or seven picks in the first three rounds, then be willing to trade away lower round picks to achieve this. If the picks pan out then pay up and extend them a few years later. If not, no big $$$ lost as they might be with FA signings.
This is what 100% analytics tells me.
As a fan this potential scenario makes me salivate. And even though you prefer to keep the "what you want" out of this, my preference is:
1) trade (at a reasonable price) for Jimmy G
2) draft Myles Garrett at #1, but if you can trade down no further than #3 and pick up some top 2nd round picks then I would settle for 2nd or 3rd best defensive lineman with the hopes of drafting some additional starters/depth
Of course, all this assumes the football guys know how to draft well...a very big IF indeed.