DawgTalkers.net Forums The Archives 2013 NFL Season NFL Draft (2013) Should it be Bradford/Clausen or bust for the Browns?

Nope. This year's first is a must have. They know they will be getting a top 10 pick. Waiting for next year, who knows what happens.

Yeah, why would the Rams do that. I definitely wouldn't if I were them.

Damn, this move would really make me question the new front office.

Doubt that it happens, but I would have a hard time understanding paying that huge amount of money...likely the largest payday EVER for an NFL rookie...when we are much farther than one player away.

Stranger things have happened....

Neither is anybody else in this draft class.

And there was a big debate over Arron Rodgers and Alex Smith, and who did the Browns select... Braylon....

I know several people with teams who would vehemently disagree with that.

It doesn't validate it at all, but many people do feel that he is. I am one of them.

Just a bit about Bradford ..... and other options .... and the draft .....

http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/04/15/browns-wont-mortgage-the-ranch-for-no-1-pick/

Browns Won't 'Mortgage the Ranch' for No. 1 Pick2

4/15/2010 4:30 PM ET By Pat McManamon


BEREA, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns did talk with the St. Louis Rams about acquiring the first overall pick in next week's NFL draft, but the Browns do not expect a trade to happen.

The target in the hypothetical trade-up scenario: Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford.

"I absolutely love the player," Browns president Mike Holmgren said at a pre-draft news conference Thursday. "But in the real world, we're going to go in a different direction."

Holmgren gushed over Bradford. But he also said that moving up from the No. 7 pick to get Bradford would be like Mike Ditka trading an entire draft to acquire running back Ricky Williams.

"You'd have to mortgage the ranch," Holmgren said, preceding his comments by stating he did not want to mislead Browns fans in his first draft with the team.

It was typical Holmgren -- blunt and direct. He clearly admitted he'd like the Browns to wind up with Bradford -- even saying he's the kind of franchise player he covets -- but also admitted it simply would not happen. As for trade talks, new GM Tom Heckert called them "nothing ... just talk."

What does that mean for the Browns at as they head into a season with Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace as their quarterbacks, and what does it mean for the draft?



Share It brings Jimmy Clausen of Notre Dame and Colt McCoy of Texas back into the Browns' draft picture. Clausen could go at the seventh pick, while the Browns might like to nab McCoy in round two -- either with their pick (No. 38 overall) or by trading up in the round.

But Holmgren also said he was "backtracking" a little from a previous remark that he definitely wanted to come out of the draft with a quarterback.

"There are people we like very much," he said, "but we don't think we are in position to get them."

Holmgren downplayed a comment he had made about Clausen a month ago, when he said he wished he liked him more. A couple days later, Holmgren told Fanhouse that Clausen was the subject of much debate in the Browns offices. Thursday, Holmgren said he has come to like Clausen. A great deal.

"He's a good football player," Holmgren said. "He can play the position. And I think during the course of the year, as we found out, he was playing hurt a good portion of the year. That tells you something about a player certainly.

"He's impressive."

Impressive enough to be the seventh overall pick? Maybe, but maybe not. Because the Browns have a lot of needs, and Holmgren said the team is not in "panic mode" at quarterback.

Which brings McCoy into the picture in round two. The general consensus is that McCoy will go high in the second round -- and might require the Browns to trade up higher than the sixth pick of the second round. Adding to the possibility of a move up is that there is an entire night after the first round. That has led to thinking there will be more second-round deals and moves than in past years.

"He is really an impressive young guy," Holmgren said of McCoy, shrugging off concern about his arm strength.

Holmgren did not discuss Tim Tebow; he was not asked about him. As honest as Holmgren is, he was not revealing specific plans, though Heckert did say he expected the player taken seventh overall to be a starter.

"That's why we're drafting him," Heckert said.

That might rule out Clausen. On the other hand, if the Browns believe he is the quarterback of the future, they might have to take him.

But both Holmgren and Heckert also are aware that the Browns ranked 32nd in team offense and 31st in defense last season. So there are many needs.

Tennessee safety Eric Berry still seems the most logical pick --if he's left. His selection might be a no-brainer if he does not go in the first six.

If Berry is gone, the Browns could choose from a group that includes Clausen, RB C.J. Spiller, DL Jared Odrick and Dan Williams, OL Russell Okung and S Eric Thomas. And WR Dez Bryant is a very long longshot.

As Holmgren said: "It's like I have two thumbs and there are five holes in the dike."

If we think Bradford is the guy, we do whatever we have to to get him. IMO it's really that simple.

If a guy with Mike Holmgren's track record absolutely loves a QB (and you have the chance to get that guy), you pull the trigger. We can't keep 14 rookies on the roster. It's nice to have a surplus of picks but if we have to trade 4-5 of them for a guy we think is the answer at QB, you do it and hope for the best.

Not saying we give up our top 5 selections but a combination of something like swap 1st, 2nd, 4th (and maybe a throw in late round) wouldn't even make me think twice if I believed Bradford was a franchise guy.

The release is an important piece, no doubt. But it is not nearly as important as his smarts and accuracy. Those are incredible. Since I have paid close attention to the draft (2005) he is far and away my favorite QB prospect.

I honestly think I'd be willing to pay quite a bit. Not a Ricky Williams type deal, but a lot.

"I absolutely love the player," Browns president Mike Holmgren said at a pre-draft news conference Thursday. "But in the real world, we're going to go in a different direction."


Unless thats a bold faced lie..end of discussion and I never felt they would try to do it.



"You'd have to mortgage the ranch," Holmgren said

Yet the potholes seem to feel it's a easy as boiling eggs...

They won't sign him before the draft but they will still take him. Watch. Fans underestimate how much NFL teams love Bradford.

I don't think thats it neccesarrily.. DT,I think fans seem to think their team can EASILY make a deal for the # 1 pick.

More or less the same thing. I know many fans who think that Clausen is as valued among NFL teams as Bradford is. It's not even close.

Now if it's the Rams don't want to pay anyone that kind of money than I can see them wanting to come out of there...but other than that it's a can't miss situation..U take the QB and call it a night.

The "Plot" thickens...

Sources: Rams won't sign No. 1 pick

The No. 1 pick in the NFL draft will not be signed before Thursday's first round, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Friday.

The St. Louis Rams and expected top pick, quarterback Sam Bradford, will not have a contract in place before the draft.

The Rams don't think they need to have the player signed and Bradford has been hesitant to complete a deal.

The contract for the No. 1 overall pick will likely be staggering. Bradford's contract is expected to pay him an average of $13 million a season with roughly $50 million in guaranteed money. These figures are based on the past two drafts, when Matt Ryan and Matthew Stafford were the first quarterbacks picked.

Two years ago, the Falcons' Ryan received $34 million in guaranteed money on a deal that averages $11 million a season. Stafford, who was picked No. 1 last season by the Lions, received $42 million in guaranteed money on his deal, which averages $12 million a season.

The Rams know the numbers and think the player will sign eventually. Bradford wants to see how the draft plays out and if a team such as Cleveland trades up to get him. Such a scenario could provide him with more leverage.

Adam Schefter is an NFL Insider for ESPN.

I think if the Rams could sign Bradford they would.

Bradford doesn't want to do a contract before the draft. He is the hold up, not the Rams.

I think there's more smoke in that article than in the trade rumor!

In the end I think Bradford is drafted by us.


I see us trading with the Rams, sending our 1st, 2nd, 4th and Jackson.








If we are going to take a QB early in a draft, this is the draft to make the move.

Everything is primed:


We have the position

We have the picks

We have the QB

We have the need

We have the time

We have the vet QB to play for a year or so until we hand it over to Bradford.

Your scenario seems like we'd be giving up a whole lot, Peen. Now, it may take that to get up to no. 1, but I'd just have to think that we'd get at least another pick out of them, maybe a low round one.

I just don't see Holmgren sacrificing all that for just one pick. JMHO

just clicking...

I believe Holmgren and Heckert are "fishing" in an effort to gather as much information about what the other NFL teams are going to do in the first round.

JMHO, but you don't make an inquiry with the Rams (about a possible deal to move up) public if you are serious about making a deal. Best way to find out what the Rams are planning to do with their #1 pick is to talk them about trading up.

This inquiry by the Browns might have been more about Clausen than Bradford by trying to find out which QB the Rams are targeting. Also, it might flush out information about any other teams that might be talking with the Rams about trading up.

Watching Holmgren, I get the feeling that all the public comments are with a purpose in mind. The fans and media are left with figuring out what the purpose might be.

The only thing I can say Peen is that it would go against and be a totally different approach to re-building a team or even in any draft scenario either Heckert or Holmgran have ever used before.

There are certain tendencies that both of these men have used in previous drafts and your scenario isn't any of them. Here's to hoping you're wrong.

Quote:

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I don't see Heckert doing it.

Eagles were notorious with the Patriots for trading back and collecting picks.

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They also had a QB for the past 10 years...

The ONLY position u do this for is a QB...And we don't have one...

None of the above.

The way I see it, the Browns are positiong for a selection in the second.

If the Rams don't take Bradford, chances are that they may get Clauson or McCoy at the top of the second. There are not that many teams in dire need of a QB, with really only the Bills and Browns positioning for their preference.

ESPN was talking about us trading with the Rams and they thought that it would take our 1st, 2nd, one of our 3rd's this year and a 1 & a 2 next year.

If we draft McCoy in the 2nd round or higher, I will break something. I am all but certain he will bust. McCoy = Frye

Bradford, injury free, is a sure thing IMO.

I have a feeling McCoy will be gone by the time we pick in the 2nd. If it isn't one of the teams right ahead of us, I have to think some teams will be willing to pay pretty good to trade ahead of us in the 2nd to grab him.

I sincerely hope so, but I'm not certain.

I draw the line with Bradford at giving up next year's 1st as well. I fully expect to have a top 10 pick next year, and we could have the option of Jake Locker, Ryan Mallet, Andrew Luck or Christian Ponder. I don't like any of them as well as Bradford, but I would prefer a Locker and Berry over just Bradford.