DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Fixing the Browns this off season...

D00d!

You are like a comedic genius. That's good stuff sir. Seinfeld has nothing on you.

....

Wait, you WERE joking right? RIGHT?????

I always noticed how big the football looks in Mayfields hands...definately noticed the same thing in Manziel..not to say a little QB can be successful, but it's definately something to watch.

I was going to make a new thread but I’ll just pose my question here.

What do we do if Cousins sign with Denver, Smith signs with Wash, McCarron is not granted UFA and stays in Cincy? Then Rosen, Darnold, and Barkley all go back to school. And you cant trade down?

Who do you draft at 1 and 4? Who is our starting QB next year?

I'd still take Mayfield at #1. The Browns would have reached out to whomever the Vikings let go, Bradford or Bridgewater, and claim that Kiser is the starter.

Just like they claimed Kessler was the starter this year.

Denzell Ward at #5.

I swear these guys on Mayfield and Jackson are PS4 players, 16 years old and wanna see the Browns play a 5 Wide, High Octane, Run all over the field Track Meet Offense.

Where's Chip Kelly nowadays? Lmao

While it's true Mayfield doesn't have Russell Wilson type arm strength, Mayfield's arm strength is still pretty good and I would not call it limited. Height isn't a physical tool but if it was Mayfield has proven its not an issue for him from the pocket. He produces well from the pocket. And going back to Wilson, that's why some don't agree with the Wilson comparisons. Mayfield isn't Wilson and he isn't Brees, he's Baker Mayfield.

I swear these guys against Mayfield saw that one stinkin' video of him getting arrested and wrote him off. And have no clue about his game only making absurd references and comparisons which clearly illustrate they don't know what they are talking about.

I would certainly take that bet. Mayfield has more staying power than Josh Rosen.

I'm clearly pointing out that Mayfield is the best quarterback in the draft. Everyone seems to ignore the fact that Mayfield is one of the best passers from the pocket in the draft, the fact that Mayfield has one the best arms in the draft, the fact Mayfield is one the most accurate if not the most accurate passer in the draft, while trying to say he's uninspiring while throwing for 380+ yds against one of the best college defenses in the country, while trying to compare his 40+ TD / 5 Int season to that of a 27 TD / 12 int season from a quarterback we drafted 5 yrs ago in the 3rd round and trying to call him the same guy. A lot of people seem to be reaching, trying to hate on the guy, I really don't get it, but they're just reaching ignoring all the facts.

There's like 30 tracks that I'd have Baker on before the track team. I'm thinking vinyls, go karts, UPS anything before having that dude run in a straight line.

I'm not advocating for Baker - and in fact the opinion of the college football friends I trust most have said "Josh Allen" should be the guy .... BUT ....

The comparison between JM and Baker Mayfield seems to be unfair .... they do seem to have a couple things in common that are legitimate - 1. Height - both less than ideal by any NFL standard. 2. Spread offense - both came from non-NFL shotgun heavy offenses. After that and just from the article I posted - I think the similarities stop. . . . When I watched JM tape - he seemed to throw an awful lot of balls up for Mike Evans to go up and get - that boosted JM stats and made him look better than he was. Those throws were never going to be viable in the NFL (even with a Mike Evans or Josh Gordon goint to get them) I don't see that in BM. I see some timing throws and some plays where BM has to read the D and find the open guy .... With JM I saw a lot of plays where he was fast enough to beat a lot of second tier college talent and he ran a lot - and that 'speed' never translated to the NFL - not even close. . . wasn't it his first game or series where JM tried to get to the edge for Cleveland and he was chased down and took a big shot from a DE? . . . Mayfield is altogether more solid, compact, stocky ... and he sure does not look like he ever wants to run and is looking to pass first.

I've only just begun to look at any of the QB's and scratch the surface - but as a true QB and with regard to arm talent it looks like Baker Mayfield is miles ahead of where JM ever was. . . . and as someone else pointed out, if JM had actually wanted, desired and worked hard at his craft, I think he could have been a pretty decent NFL QB. If BM is ahead of JF on several of the attributes you want in your QB - then there is no reason to think BM is doomed from the outset.

The fact that JM was basically a talented, entitled bum who never did anything to help himself succeed in the NFL - and that Baker Mayfield reminds some people of JM because of his height, Heisman award and spread offense in college shouldn't and doesn't mean Baker Mayfield gets tarred with the JM brush... I agree entirely that any QB taken from a spread offense in college has huge question marks to account for and that needs to be examined/reviewed and questioned - and that being 6' adds another layer of uncertainty and reduces the probability of success .... but it's far, far from an automatic disqualification of success in the NFL imo.

Trade out of 1, Derwin James at 4 then trade up and get Minkah Fitzpatrick and no clue on QB under the circumstances you present

Yes, this was pretty good. More people need to watch.

A quote from the article that I found really interesting:

"Keep in mind that Mayfield was a walk-on that outworked QB's at TTU, then transferred to OU where he outworked and outplayed some very highly recruited QB's to earn his spot AND a scholarship. This is a guy whose best offer was from Rice and he wanted to prove himself. Now he's probably going to win the Heisman by the biggest landslide in history of the trophy.

He's also played and learned via 3 different OC's and 3 different QB coaches in college."

J/C

I keep thinking to myself, "If Kirk Cousins is smart, he's on a plane to Cleveland so damn fast that Washington doesn't even know what is happening."

With Kirk Cousins signed, the first overall pick almost certainly becomes Saquon Barkely and the 4/5th overall pick could easily be one of the top rated tackles like Connor Williams, Orlando Brown or Mike McGlinchey.

That 33rd pick almost certainly has someone like Christian Kirk, James Washington, Calvin Ridley, Cortland Sutton or Simmie Cobbs there for the taking.

The Browns offense then suddenly boasts;

Kirk Cousins
Saquon Barkely/Duke Johnson
Joe Thomas
Joel Bitonio
J.C Tretter
Kevin Zeitler
Williams/Brown/McGlinchey
Josh Gordon/Corey Coleman/Cobbs/Washington/Kirk/Ridley/Sutton
Njoku/Devalve

That has all the making of an elite offense that could be amongst the best in the league.

The Browns would still have an abundance of cap space, not to mention a 3rd and two 4th round draft picks, to continue building up that defense, of which the front seven is already pretty damn set.

Heck, you get Kirk Cousins, don't be shocked if other free agents become very interested. Guys like Trumaine Johnson and Earl Thomas are suddenly very receptive to signing contracts with the Browns, also. Those three guys chew up a large portion of the cap space, but the Browns would immediately be a playoff team with such free agents and draft selections.

The question only becomes if it's possible to get Cousins. Is Washington going to franchise tag him again for $35M? Will they apply a non-exclusive tag or transition tag?

I wonder if there is any way that Cousins could try file a grievance if they continue to restrict him from leaving. The relationship has broken down, and ESPN is reporting via team officials and league sources that he won't be back, so they might have no option but to let the guy move on as he wishes to do so.

That would be one heck of an offseason.

If Hue stays I say you better like AJ McCarron because I'm betting it's who Hue pushes for...

I like that thought ! That's what I had been saying since about 1/2 way through the year...

QB - sign Kirk Cousins or Alex Smith.
WR - I'd make a big play for Sammy Watkins or Jarvis Landry. We have $$$ - use it on someone that is special.
RB - I'd rather find a player later in the draft than taking Barkley at #1. If we sign Cousins or Smith and can find a trade partner out of the #1 pick I'd try to drop 4-6 spots. With the first two picks I'd take Minkah Fitzpatrick and one of those top tackles... find Joe Thomas's replacement now and groom him at RT before moving him over to LT.

I'd love to see Josh Allen fall to the top of Round 2 and take him there but I bet he's this year's riser like Patrick Mahomes was last year .... oh well. A lot of options and a long way to go.

Manziel had huge hands and feet for 5'11".

Guess I’m the minority.

I have no problem if they want to grab McCarron. I think he could be really good

Dorsey should be fired if he trades for him.

Actually, I wouldn't mind history repeating itself. Get a guy who can probably win some games and draft Mayfield. Mayfield will beat out McCarron.... kinda like when Wilson beat out Matt Flynn.

It'll be Hue who pushes for him. But yes, Dorsey better shut that stuff down quickly!

If that's what you're getting out of everything being posted, you're reading comprehension is sorely lacking.

Watching Penn State and I'm starting to believe Barkley would make nearly any QB better. A good WR later and this offense soon becomes valid.
Would a pick like Barkley, a WR prospect and JG help persuade saaaay, Cousins come to town? We'll, that and a Brinks truck!

Would Hue use him, properly?

Hue who?...

Sure. Problem is that FA starts waaaay before the draft.

So you can't tell a guy, "We ARE drafting Barkley". "WE ARE going after a top flight WR". "We want YOU to lead the orchestra".
"And here's a crap ton of money to boot"!

If we sign a WR, I hope it's Mike Wallace. I'd overpay for him to be here. We need some leadership for that group desperately.

The guy Haslem said would lead us into our 2018 campaign.

If you give him those tools and he's flops he can go jump back in the lake.

And that will be really attractive to Kirk Cousins when it comes to making his decision.

What the Browns have is the ability to build around him, suited to his strengths, and very likely with a lot of direct input from Cousins himself.

Cousins won't be naïve to what Dorsey did with/for Alex Smith in Kansas City. Ultimately, it is Alex Smith who has failed to deliver a ring to arguably the most talented roster in the league.

I think it is safe to assume that, on the open market, Cousins could realistically command a 6 year deal worth $168M, which eclipses Matthew Stafford's deal by $1M per year.

The Browns would still have something along the lines of $38M in cap space, and six of the first 65 selections in the 2018 draft.

With that level of freedom, Cousins can certainly have his strengths tailored to, with the most assets to have that accomplished quickly.

Personally, I think the Browns boast the best situation for Cousins. Most cap space, most draft assets, and a very young roster that he can both grow with and be the unquestioned leader of.

I feel good about the potential fit. With the 49ers in the market, Cousins-to-Cleveland felt like a pipe dream, but I think the Browns would have to currently be the front runners.

To sign Cousins would be huge. I would tell him we are trading back out of the #1 pick. We could get a boatload, can't pass on that. Then I would tell him he would be at the table and have input on the rest of our first and 2nd round selections, especially offensive selections.

Totally agree with your take on this, 'peen...

I would be all in with overpaying Cousins, give him the keys to the city, unlimited use of Haslams plane and a dinner date with Dee.

However, I see almost no chance that Washington lets him go. If they did, they would have Colt McCoy and the #14 ish pick in the draft. They will franchise tag him again and that would require us to give up 2 1st Rd picks + the $$$. Not gonna happen IMO

I would like to see the Browns trade for Alex Smith and draft a QB and Barclay in the first round. Next we get a FS, wr and cb. We need to add some veteran ralent in free agency. Veterans that are leaders not malcontents. No more trade backs, we have enough young players, we need quality talent.