DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum The Roster 1/1/19

Here's my shot at a roster assessment as of today - Offense first:

QB - Obviously we are set here. If TT leaves (and I think he will), we need a vet backup (which should be very appealing to those-type-of guys out there). No need to spend significant resources here...that feels weird to type. (I purposely will not attempt to define "significant" here. Resources are FA $$$ and the draft.)

RB - Similar to QB. Do you NEED a backup bigger guy, a smaller/shiftier guy or both? Chubb is BOTH of those guys. I could see us looking at a few guys here and maybe carrying 4 next year... + a guy like Orson Charles. No need to spend significant resources here.

TE - We have a good starter and some decent backups. If we had to roll with this exact same group in 2019, that wouldn't be a disaster. Unlike the two above, there is room to upgrade here...but...No need to spend significant resources here.

Interior OL - There is no way I mess with the interior 3. I'm good with the continued grooming of Corbett in here. I think we will bring in guys for a look...but...No need to spend significant resources here.

OT - If it's up to me...I leave the starters alone and continue to groom Harrison. I keep reading some combos that we should draft/fa-sign a LT starter...move Robinson to RT...have Hubbard as the swing T...groom Harrison and draft a developmental T. I might agree if the roster limit was 63 rather than 53...but it's not. We aren't going to keep 5 Ts on the 53. Of course, I'm re-signing Robinson.

He have the starters and one developmental guy at each of interior OL and OT. There is a need here, but I'm not sure that need must be filled with significant resources right now. If something special falls to us? Sure...maybe. I think we should look at a slew of guys, take a flier in the draft in the mid-rounds...but we should do that EVERY year.

WR - I read a lot that we need a true #1 WR. Getting people to define/agree what #1 WR 'means' is second only in difficulty to getting people to define/agree FQB. Would I like a Julio Jones or AJ Green paired with our FQB? Sure...who wouldn't...but what's the cost? Also, Baker spreads the ball all around the yard. Of course, I'm re-signing Perriman. Think about this for a minute: In the nearly-400 yard passing day against the Ravens, what was missing from our WRs that game? I know right? Nothing.

Summary: I'm not suggesting that we are all set on the Offense. I am suggesting that I wouldn't spend a bunch of $$$ on free agents or use early draft picks on the "O" unless something really special pops up for us - special in terms of the player AND in terms of what it costs to secure that player.

Now...the Defense:

DT - We have one legit guy here and he just tore his bicep...and played through it. That guy needs a legit running mate and that is my #1 priority. I'm all in on a 3T...probably BOTH in FA and the draft. Huge need to spend significant resources here. We have a couple of decent backups...so all is not lost.

DE - I feel like we have a starter and a bunch of decent backups. Not unlike DT, our starter needs a mirror-ish on the other side. There is a real need here...a darn near significant one at that. This spot just feels like it's ripe to sign a slightly older vet with a couple good years remaining in him.

LB - We have one guy here. Even if we only play 2 at a time in 2019, we still need to pick up 2 more guys here. Just like at DT, I'd go hard after (1) guy in FA and (1) early in the draft...there is a need to spend significant resources here. (Qualifier: I'm a huge fan of Avery. However, I view him as an EDGE guy and not a LB...hence the reason why I'm not as geeked about DE as I am DT and LB...he's another piece at DE in my mind).

S - It would be difficult to expect better than Randall & Peppers with Kindred and BBC as backups. We could upgrade the backups here...but No need to spend significant resources here.

CB - What do we really have here? I mean really, really? I'm not sure. If Ward will be ok, we have two good starters and two decent backups. Regardless, I'm not willing to not make this a priority though. I put this need right there with DT and LB...give me (1) free agent and (1) 'high' draft pick.

I'm not nearly as satisfied with the D as I am the O. This unit gets the bulk of my attention. I want DT/LB/CB in BOTH FA and early,early in the draft. My focus is then on DE. WR and OT are almost an afterthought...I'm looking and watching...but something really unexpected has to happen there to pull me away from my top need of DT/LB/CB and then DE.

JMO

This team has needs NO question there but nothing is glaring.

I address our needs in FA and create competition in our areas of need, like we did this year and let the chips fall where they may.

My draft strategy is simple take the best player follow your draft board and grading.

That IS ALL. Keep it simple stupid comes to mind!

I thnk adding DL is imperative. Both DT and DE

A difference making LB would do wonders too

Obvioulsy we'll be on the lookout for a WR as well

Grady Jarrett is a FA. He would be an excellent addition. I do think that Atlanta will do everything they can to keep him, though.

Sheldon Richardson is also a free agent. Minni might have a harder time keeping him because they have a slew of free agents. Richardson received high praise for his play this year along side Linval Joseph.

Suh is also a FA, but I don't think he had a very good year considering he is playing next to Aaron Donald.

I absolutely think we need another DT. Coley would be a good rotational guy. Ogunjobi is good, but he is a bit light in the pants and gets pushed around some in the running game. We need a guy who can occupy blockers and be a force in the run game.

Like a (slimmed-down) Danny Shelton-type?

From what I understand, Shelton was a big disappointment in New England this year and I didn't even see him on the field the other day when I was trying to look for him.

{Cue the lights and sirens} YES! This is what the good teams do.

I just did a quick search and saw this:



https://www.forbes.com/sites/oliverthoma...n/#641400c970bd

My thinking exactly. The DT positional upgrade will make our LB's better too.

But this stuff isn't rocket science at this point, it truly isn't. Its more along the lines of upgrade/improvement then it is the desperation of our recent past. I think we can attract some really good players thru FA, because for sure unless you live under a rock you have to know the Browns are a great place to land at this point.

I trust Dorsey to evaluate and improve this team. He did great last year I look for that to continue.

And oh, yeah.

KICKER

A kicker that makes every kick. I want to have a conversation in 2021 trying to figure out the last time this " KICKER" had missed a PAT.

Watching the Ravens, and Mr Automatic, walk up with such a calm confidence as he measures each easy FG reminded me... there probably is no Championship without one, might as well find him now.

Also, this is supposedly a very good draft for defensive linemen.

The NFL Draft is absolutely loaded with high quality DT's this year with as many as perhaps 9 DT's going in the 1st round. Many of these DT's are athletic 300 lbs men that do not just take on blocks but cause issues by penetration up the middle. It is a shame that Dexter Lawrence is suspended because the 2 teams playing in the National title game has 4 of the projected 9 DT's. The Browns could easily grab one of the DT's at #17. Or they could look to find quality DT's in rounds 2 or 3 but there you find more of the 3 technique take on blocker and free up the Mike type DT's.

I do exactly what Dorsey did last year create competition in training camp. I fill holes in FA draft BPA,(rinse and repeat).

This off season will easily go down as the least stressful in the past 20+ years.

Great point on strength of the draft its always best IMO to draft to the strengths of a draft year over year that seems to work best. It so happens we have some needs in this area. Now I ask how nice is that.

Do we go HIGH STAKES and go after Jarrett AND Clowney?

I agree with your overall assessment. I've seen so many mocks that have us taking a WR in the first, it just irks me to no end.
Our priority should clearly be DT,CB and LB. I think my only area where I might differ from you is I would use free agency sparingly.

Grady Jarrett would be a stud here. My buddy on the Falcons says he's the best DL he's played with

JMO. We should concentrate on the D side this draft for all the reasons mentioned on this topic. We do need another WR too. We will use FA too but the draft should be a priority for D.

Willie, I could not agree more with both your assessments. My only addition was covered by fate, a place kicker. I have almost no confidence in our guy!

When I see posters saying we need to add a rt or a lt I cannot help but wonder what oline they have been watching. Our oline has been together for 8 weeks. Probably had one week to practice together first. Shoot with tretter not practicing due to an ankle they probably got little work as a unit. That is important for an oline. And yet they did a great job. Baker was kept clean and Chubb averaged close to 100 ypg.They will improve next year and be one of the better lines in the afc. I would not use high draft picks or lots of fa dollars on the oline. Maybe a developmental pick??

If I were doing anything for the offense it would be at wide receiver. I like our tight ends. Njoku has turned into a good one and fells and devalve are great depth.

Defensively I would like to add a quality corner, edge rusher and dtackle. replacing Collins should be a goal as well.

This CANNOT be emphasized enough. What, we lost 3 or more games this year based on the Kicker position alone. This is a huge need and cannot be overlooked just because the position isn't viewed as sexy. All I know is that Greg Joseph is not our future kicker.

I agree pretty much all the way on O except QB. We have Stanton as our back-up. I would look to draft a running QB with one of our 5th rounders. To me, if you put in a 3rd team QB, you are better off with one quick read, then run rather than stand there trying to read the routes and get sacked.


D, we agree mostly. We need a tough DT who has the whole game.

I might go the other way on LB and CB. If we are going to play 2 lb'ers much of the time, draft a corner. You can't have too many of those if they are good.

Offense:

We will need a backup for Baker and looking at the upcoming FA, I can't see anyone better than Ryan Fitzpatrick. I believe he has the skills to win you a couple of games if his number is called. Yes, his game is hot and cold long term; but the dude had some impressive games this year.

We need depth at the OL. Early in the year, I felt we hadn't solved the issue at LT but Greg Robinson replaced Desmond Harrison and we immediately saw improvement. I believe Tretter played hurt most of the latter part of the season and would have been a big blow to the line if he went down.

I believe we have our guys at RB and don't need any help in that department.

Our WR corps started out with question marks after getting rid of Coleman and having to rely on guys that either just showed flashes (Higgins) or rookies (Callaway) to help out our only guy with clout (Landry). This crew gelled well and Perriman emerging as a FA flyer you can start to trust really helps this piece-meal group. I still think going high in the draft for a legit #1 to grow with Baker will be what takes this offense over the top.

Defense:

Our DL did really well and we have future stars on that line. Ogunjobi and Coley played well in pushing pockets and taking up space for the LBs to do their job. We need another rusher to help out Myles Garrett.

Our LBs need upgraded. I think outside of Schobert, we have guys that get burned often. They play out of position too many times against the run.

Our secondary is good, but with Ward's concussion history, I think we go CB to draft for depth. TJ Carrie plays aggressive but gets hit with PI way too often for hooking his WR. Mitchell played well on the other side of Ward when he was healthy. We definitely missed his athleticism when he went down for injury. Shifting Randall to FS really free'd up Pepper's to play closer to the LOS. Jabril had an improved sophomore year at SS since he wasn't depended on as much for protecting over the top. Seemed to play more natural to what he was drafted to do last year. I really like Peppers, just not in the return game.

Special teams was a disaster outside of Colquitt on punts. We need a FG kicker bad. For the simple fact that a good FG would have gotten us at least 2 more wins (Steelers WK1, Oakland) maybe 3 (Balt WK17), we need to throw some money at a solid FA kicker.

Anyone think that TT will get a starting job somewhere else? Jaxonville?

Its hard to project which DT might be available at pick 17. I personally would like to get a player who can play the 1t. And allow Big Lar to man the 3t.

QB Trace McSorley (round 5)?

We need a real backup. If Drew Stanton ever has to play we are all the way screwed. He's truly horrible. If forced to guess, I'd say he's not on the roster next year.

Our backup QB will depend a lot on who our head coach is and, in turn, our offensive coordinator.

It would be nice to have someone who can come in and play a game or two if necessary.

is there a QB who, stylistically, matches with Baker ... someone we could draft in the mid rounds?

I think Taylor would be a very good backup. He isn't all that as a starter, but I think he didn't fit in Haley's offense. I'm not sure how much interest he will garner as a starter.

Jc....great post and great breakdown...I agree highly with your assessment(s)

I wrote last week our greatest need (on D) is definitely the front 7...We need to beef up many positions here...and we really lack depth at multiple positions.

I agree if we are set to improving and raising the bar...Ogbah and Coley both can be improved on,and maybe deserve to be our rotation guys. Considering we have no depth at DT and minimal depth at DE, this is a huge welcome addition. Some guys I like outside of Grady...

Trey Flowers DE-now I know NE will try anything to keep him...But imagine him opposite of Myles...Guy has tremendous skills and motor, plays run and rush well
...Will obviously cost a lot.

Malcolm Brown DT- Once again another young player from NE...Is more of a run stuffer than rusher...however once again, I see NE retaining at least one of these guys...As it doesnt seem likely they will be bringing back Shelton.

Allen Bailey DT/DE- Out of the KC tree, sure Dorsey knows him very well...Durable, with great leadership skills...

Michael Johnson DE- Many of us know him as we have seen him constantly for almost the past decade it seems...Now he is getting old, but he sets well against the run and has that long body...stealing a piece from a division foe never hurts...Strictly depth move on one year deal, and he can also move inside on splash plays.


Now with the LBs...Didnt see a lot of Kirksey this year as his injury wiped him out...I saw enough of Jamie Collins in 3 weeks, so we have Schobert for sure (who I dont see as anything amazing, but hes probably our best LB...I do like Kirksey, but Kirksey had a down year)

Would love to add some pieces here, how great would it be to add a terror here...We need a thumper whom plays to the whistle, also looking to add some more speed to this unit...Cant say I've really looked around, but two guys I like..

Denzel Perryman- squatty instinctive thumper, whom plays through the whistle...Really like him, however despite being young has had share of injuries.

Deone Buchannan- former safety turned linebacker whom has disappeared as of late. Would love him as our depth guy and can be an asset on special teams as well. Would improve our team speed, and can even disguise him in some rover safety roles.

FL Dawg suggested McSorely a few posts up and as a 5th Rd...he is exactly who I had in mind watching Penn State last night.

I think there will be numerous, fitting backup QBs ready to come to Cleveland if TT decides to move on - or we decide to move on from him. I think TT will believe he has one more shot at a starting gig or higher-potential backup gig with what is going on in Jax, Miami, Tampa, Oakland, Denver, Tennessee, Washington and NJG. I'm ok with keeping TT, but likely not at a salary that he could get elsewhere.

Fitzpatrick, Siemian and TT are the most likely FAs (Bridgewater will like the above paragraph)...the McCown ship has sailed. Beathard and Mullens in SF might be redundant and available.

I'm expecting the Redskins to make a big play for Taylor. They have no idea what will happen with Smith, and aside from the possibility of Haskins going pro, there is really not much starting QB potential in the draft. If Haskins does go pro, it is almost a sure thing that he will not be around when the 'Skins pick at 15.

Hmm, McSorely? Interesting idea. I'm not sure if his accuracy wil be enough, but I like the thought

I know a lot guys are high on B. Perriman, I was pleasantly surprised as well. But I still think we need that TRUE #1 guy. We don't have that 8 catch 130 yard 2 td guy that the great teams do.

We don't have a Julio, M. Thomas, AJ Green, AB, type of guy on our roster. I want that BIG, FAST, STRONG, body that you can go too in the clutch to step up and win a game. Perriman has looked nice, but seems to disappear in games, (maybe that's by design IDK). I just don't see us having a guy that light up the score board for us in crunch time and completely take over a game.

Can't we have that guy AND Perryman?

As much as I'd like Grady Jarret or Jadeveon Clowney in our front 7, I'm pretty sure they are going to sign some pretty big money deals early in the process. I guess overall, I'd be thinking:

Linebacker:
Jordan Hicks- Philadelphia Eagles or Draft
Defensive Tackle:
Grady Jarrett- Atlanta Falcons or Draft
Defensive End:
Jadeveon Clowney- Houston Texans or Za'Darius Smith- Baltimore Ravens
Wide Receiver:
Breshad Perriman- Cleveland Browns or Draft
Offensive Tackle:
Trent Brown- New England Patriots or Greg Robinson-Cleveland Browns
Defensive Backfield:
Ronald Darby- Philadelphia Eagles or Steven Nelson- Kansas City Chiefs or Bryce Callahan- Chicago Bears

I'd really like to hold on to Perriman and Boddy-calhoun is restricted, so keeping him should be easy.

Coley and Davis are both FA's, but neither is an impact type of guy at DT.

Man, I wish Jeffrey Simmons hadn't gone Hulk Smash on that lady a few years back. His game is impressive.

BEREA, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns signed nine players to the reserve/futures list:

Pos. Name

DL Daniel Ekuale
OL Kyle Friend
DB Robert Jackson
DL Devaroe Lawrence
RB Devante Mays
DB Lenzy Pipkins
OL Brad Seaton
DB Tigie Sankoh
WR Daniel Williams

All nine players were on the Browns’ practice squad in 2018.

https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/bro...medium=referral

I am not saying we cant, I am saying a lot of posters have said that we don't need to draft or target a wr because we have perriman.

Right now, we have Jarvis, Perriman, Calloway, Higgins.

We have Willies and Louis who will be coming back from injury.

our WR room is crowded with #2 and #3 WR.

I think we should get a true #1, have Jarvis, then Calloway. Let Higgins, willies, and Perriman battle out for the 4th and 5th spots. JMO

I total agree about Simmons. Other things aside. He would fill the void nicely.

I don't know if we'll have that guy consistently. Baker spreads the ball around pretty well.