….

I would have taken Smith .... who the Seahawks happily grabbed 2 picks after us.

I don't understand a couple of our picks ...... :crazt:

Exactly
I don't get this one

Looks like a good RB... Wonder if it means Hunt or Johnson are definitely gone.

I wouldn’t have thought RB would be a draft need for us…

It’s not. They are just taking the best players.

Might replace D'Ernest Johnson if they let him go or toss him on the PS.

Certainly raises that suspicion

Crazy that he looks a lot like Nick Chubb.

A former bama back who couldn;t get play time.

I like the pick. I think this could signal Felton moving to the WR room...or opens Hunt as trade bait.

Hunt is a huge trade chip... Offers much more upside to a team that doesn't have a Nick Chubb and is worthy of a 2nd round pick.

Good player, but the RB was not an area of need.

Since it appears we're eating some/most of Baker's contract this year combined with the money spent on Watson - it's pretty obvious to me that we're officially in cap saving mode. Cut dollars wherever and whenever you can.

So we draft a CB (rookie deal) and trade away Troy Hill (save that $$$)

Now we draft a RB (rookie deal) - so who is gone Hunt or Johnson? My bet is on Hunt. Saves money and likely gets us some future picks back.

As much as I dislike the idea of losing Hunt as a 1b to Chubb - a RB room of Chubb/Johnson/Ford with Felton as a hyrbrid still probably works as long as our OLine and passing game are clicking.

This pick was made with an eye toward the next year or two. He will be a replacement for Kareem or D' Ernest.

We'll relinquish our rights to Johnson. That saves us almost $2.5 million. (I don't remember the exact amount, but that's close.

This could be more of an insurance/future pick. Hunt and Johnson are both coming on the final year of their contract. Felton’s value will be as a receiver. Ford is a talented player who should’ve went a lot sooner than he did. May not see much this year but appreciate it the 2023 season and beyond.

But he's probably not as good of a player as D'Ernest Johnson, or even that Pre season dude with all the carries last year by the Browns.

He looks slow, from a basketball school. Ford probably shouldn't even have been picked and shouldn't make the roster.

Exactly. He's a carbon copy of Johnson.

And Hunt

Right. Does anyone know his 40 time?

I seriously don't think I've ever seen you say anything good about anything the Browns have done. Obviously no one should agree with everything, but the dude is a mid 5th who was the top RB in the ACC and can catch passes too. Is Alabama a basketball school too, because that's who recruited him. And Cincinnati went to the playoffs, they're not a scrub team.

Berry thinking ahead. Hunt's replacement.

4.46 at the combine.

For comparisons's sake... Nick Chubb 4.52

Thanks Fate I looked it up too. Kareem's was 4.62 and D'Ernest was a 4.81. Take it as it is.

There is no such thing as a carbon copy of D'Ernest Johnson!

I'd warrant that Chubb's game speed is WAY faster than 4.52. Dude is 225lbs of fAST.

Good luck making your case here. Everyone knows, especially TL, that any pack after 104 is garbage, not different than an UDFA. And if the Browns FO picked him, he must be bad.

Who says?

Chubb, Hunt, Felton and Johnson.

It'll be an area of need after we trade Hunt for $$ relief. Gotta figure out a way to pay Baker and Watson somehow.

You mean Watson's $1 million salary + 9 million slary cap hit for 2022?

Whether Hunt is traded before this year or just not re-signed, Ford will be Chubb’s Robin in 2023

We currently have something like $18 million in cap space.

Over The Cap Today Team Cap Space: Cleveland Browns $27,722,501 and Remember June 1 $9,500,000 more will be added for Hooper and whatever we get when Baker is traded

The Troy Hill trade is going to take a few million off.

Approximately +$2.3M

In the pass game, Ford made 21 catches for 220 yards and scored one touchdown.
Ford has experience being effective in the pass game going back to his days at Armwood High School in Mango, Fla., where he played slot receiver

https://www.cleveland.com/browns/20...i-with-pick-no-156-in-the-nfl-draft.html


Sound like he is supposed to be good in the passing game but 21 for 220 doesn;'t seem so impressive

Jerome Ford, RB, Cincinnati: NFL Draft 2022 scouting report
Updated: Apr. 30, 2022, 4:15 p.m. | Published: Apr. 30, 2022, 2:50 p.m.

By Scott Patsko, cleveland.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Browns selected Cincinnati running back Jerome Ford in Saturday’s fifth round of the NFL Draft. Here’s a scouting report on Ford.

Height, weight: 5-foot-10, 210 pounds.

Year: Redshirt-junior.

Stats: Ford played two seasons at Cincinnati and last season was his best. He rushed for 1,319 yards (6.2 average) and 19 touchdowns. He also caught 21 passes for 220 yards. In two seasons at Alabama, he rushed for only 151 yards and three touchdowns.

Combine results: Ran a 4.46 in the 40-yard dash (ranked 12th among RBs). His vertical (31 inches) and broad jumps (9-10) were not among positional leaders.

Pro Football Focus grades: 89.4 rushing; 68.8 receiving; 78.1 zone rushing; 78.1 gap rushing.


Caesars Sportsbook promo: Get $1,100 first-bet insurance
What draft analysts say about Ford:

PFF: “Ford started his career off at Alabama and struggled to even see the football field behind the likes of Najee Harris and Brian Robinson. After two seasons there, he transferred to Cincinnati. In 2020, he was the dash to Gerrid Doaks’ smash in a time-share. In 2021, Ford took over as the lead dog and flourished. The worry was his boom-or-bust nature with four games this past season where he averaged under 4.0 yards per carry.”

Dane Brugler, The Athletic: “A one-year starter at Cincinnati, Ford became the Bearcats’ lead back as a junior in former offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock’s spread RPO offense. The Alabama transfer was a key reason behind Cincinnati’s run to the 2021 College Football Playoffs, leading the AAC in rushing and matching the school record for rushing touchdowns (19) in a season. Ford has the lateral footwork and body strength to keep plays alive, flashing the open-field juice to gash defenses (averaged 6.1 yards per carry in his career). However, his vision and patience lack consistency, and he needs to improve his ball security and blocking to maintain the trust of his coaches. Overall, Ford has room to improve his eyes and timing at the line of scrimmage to be more of a creator, but he has an effective blend of size, strength and speed with upside catching the football. He can provide a punch to an NFL team’s depth chart.”

Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: “Well-built back with NFL size and athletic ability but the vision and creativity are just OK. Ford lacks the desired instincts and recognition of run-lane development, but he’s fast, strong and athletic. He has the tools to find yards with those traits. He’s a talented, explosive option out of the backfield with soft hands and the speed to mismatch linebackers out in space. The pieces aren’t all in place, but Ford could have a future as a change-of-pace slasher with third-down value.”

https://www.cleveland.com/browns/20...nati-nfl-draft-2022-scouting-report.html

I don't care much for RBs w/poor vision. But, he'll be 3rd on the depth chart at best. Not sure of where he was "slotted," but I question the value of this pick.

I am not sure Felton is a lock to make the roster.

Didnt they say today that he was strictly going to be practicing as a RB this year … don’t know if that’s a good thing or bad thing for him

I would like to revisit the "vision" comment I made a few posts ago. I know this will probably upset some people because I am referencing I played the position, but I think it is relevant to this topic. I really try to not reference my playing days as a reference on player evaluations or coaching decisions. For the latter two areas, I use my coaching experience and brief scouting background as my knowledge points.

However, when it comes to dealing w/injuries, positional competition, instincts, vision, speed, power, importance of OL, etc, etc......>I will speak about the RB position.

Vision is so huge. You can be effective w/speed, elusiveness, power, one-cut ability, etc.......but, if you have bad vision, you are probably not going to be all that. Some may remember when most of the board was upset w/me because I said that TRich had terrible vision. The dude would run into tacklers instead of making the proper read. That was masked in college because Alabama's OL dominated other teams. TRich was exposed in the big leagues.

I was probably most like Walter Payton in terms of a RB, except if he was 100% , I was maybe 20% in terms of ability. I was blessed w/natural speed. Could outrun everyone in high school. Had big thighs, small ankles, high arches, not a big upper body. Very similar to guys like Walter, Berry, LT, etc in body type. It's just that those guys were far superior to me in talent.

I don't bring that up to brag. It's about understanding the game. I remember watching a piece on a television network way back in the day about Walter Payton. They had this segment in it about playing the drums and how Walter ran to the beat of the drums. And how he reacted to the defenders and ran on pure instinct based on what he saw. It was one of the most awesome clips I have ever witnessed. It clicked w/me. It might have---or may not have been--the piece they did when they used Carly Simon's song entitled "Nobody Does it Better." Dawgs, I loved Carly.

Anyway, Walter said he ran w/a beat in his head. He saw the field [vision] and was able to decide to run around or through defenders. That was my game. Quick twitch w/great vision.

Bottom line.............beware of dudes w/out great vision. On the plus side, we have a great OL.

A couple of more tidbits on RBs.

Your OL is so important. I killed it in high school in a large part because my OL was so good. My freshman year in college was another story. LOL...I did not produce at the anticipated level. The next year, the guys gained experience and we brought in two new guys that were good. They made me so much better. I used to take them out to eat and drink every Friday even though I was poor.

This is also very important. We ran a zone blocking scheme in high school and it superior to man blocking. I always rode my lead blockers outside hip. Zone blockers are way more intelligent than man blockers as a general rule. I told all my guys that you make the read on the second level and I will react off of your decision. I'd ride their hip real close and then cut off of their first move inside or out. They didn't always read it right, but they did most of the time.

So, how does this translate? We have a great OL....although I wish we didn't part ways w/Tretter because he is so very good.......and maybe the best OL coach in the NFL combined w/a HC who came from the best tree in offensive football in the Shannahan/Kubiak tree and there are exciting possibilities here now that we have a legitimate top tier qb.

Thanks for posting that. There is evidence in that video that disputes that he does not run w/vision. There were at least few examples in that video of him displaying good vision. I stand down.

So, where did you play in high school, and where did you play in college?

I won't reveal that. Sorry, but too many mean folks on this site and I have children who know those details. There are two posters on here who fabricate quotes from me in quotation marks in order to make me look bad. If I try and defend myself, they say that I started a fight. If you think that makes me a liar, so be it. FWIW.....I don't bring up the playing days to brag or prove something. I honestly thought that it provides some insight on how the position is played. Vision is important. I'm sorry that you don't approve.

It's convenient that you won't reveal that.

I

Cool stories/info Vers.
I enjoyed it, plus the info about Payton.

I don't think it matters.

Oh, but it does. The conversations should be about personalities and not football. The guy does not add one comment about football and makes two about me, like that is so important. I was just trying to share some insight.

I still think that he ducks his head at times not looking at the defenders
.. its' important to remember that these prospects can make improvements over the course of a season which wont be evident in earlier tape.

Thanks for talking football. I think you are a valuable asset to this board. Your video showed something different than the player profiles I read. Thanks again.

Just a few observations:


1 Vers, when presented with information that contradicted your position you acknowledged it and re-evaluated it. No one had to coax you into doing so. Just saying...


2. There is no evidence that Hunt is the subject of trades.

3. D'Earnest Johnson's situation presents more indications that he might be subject to release. He hasn't signed his tender and he's changed agents to someone known for aggressive, antagonistic tactics. I like D'Earnest but I think Ford is more talented.

taking one at 156 doesn't make it a "NEED" pick.
D'Ernest Johnson will be looking for $$$ in his new contract and will hit the FA market next year. We will end up trading hm for a 5th round pick and move on. Ford I think is more talented than Johnson so we get an upgrade
jmho

Weird he reminds me of Chubb.

Obvious speed. Efficient very little wasted steps. Decisive with quick feet. Shows power.

He has NFL ability. We are loaded at running back. Things will shake out. But he will play eventually.

I think he will do well.

Me too. I said that earlier and then saw other comments from the "experts" comparing him to Hunt. He looks waaay more like Chubb to my eyes, for all the reasons you mentioned.

After just a few plays Chubb came to mind.

By the end of the tape for sure he reminded me of Chubb. Hunt is different. Hunt is harder to define.

Hunt does not have Ford's speed. Hunt is violently explosive. He throws his body around. So, no he does not remind me of Hunt.

Ford sure looks like a NFL runner. Feels good having depth. The Ravens lost a bunch of runners last year.

The Browns are beginning to show real depth which will be important.

Yep. Hunt runs with such reckless abandon that he looks like he's trying to keep his balance on roller skates at times. Arms flailing, the rest of his body trying to keep pace lol.

Thanks for the video. Ford looks good. I had read three player profiles that mentioned his lack of vision, thus my earlier comments. However, I didn't see an issue w/vision at all. In fact, it looked like he had good vision.

I don't really see him as either Chubb or Hunt, but that's not important. Some things I noticed:

--Some quick twitch behind and at the LOS.
--Nice speed in the open field.
--Strong legs and he shed a lot of tackles in the open field and on the second level.
--Has some shiftiness and makes quick cuts at full speed.
--Did not see him blocking.
--Caught the ball close to his body.
--Had a ton of huge holes to run through.
--Nice build. Compact enough, but not bulky.

Overall, he looked good to me. Has a chance.

I thought the same thing when he is rumbling down the field and know one can catch him.

Good pionts Vers ... as far as his pass blocking is concerned he is more advance in that category than most of his peers are coming into the League ... he does a nice job, but there is room for improvement ... that is he needs to learn to extend his arms, but he understands the concepts already ... I think that Stump is probably happy with this pick.

Thanks for knowledge about the blocking.

Chubb, Hunt, D'Ernest, Felton, Ford (Kelly).

I doubt we will carry five backs into the season.

Kelly for sure to the practice squad.

Looks like someone will be traded. My guess is Chubb, Felton and Ford are safe. D'Ernest or Hunt maybe traded?

Last year on Hunt. D'Ernest was tendered and I think he is on the roster after a date that passed.

Even four backs is a lot to carry. So something has to happen. It would seem Hunt but I don't know?

We had four backs with Felton both as a receiver and back. They like Felton as a football player. D'Ernest has proven he can be a starter.

Hunt is a terrific player who will be a free agent. Does Hunt want to start for another team? Do the Browns want to keep Chubb and Hunt together?

If so why draft Ford? Nice to have the depth but soemthing needs to happen.

How many RB's on the PS? Ford can do more if coached up I believe. Can Ford = Hunt? Can Ford = Felton? I really like Hunt. But we have some (necessary) trade bait in RB room if not on PS.

The likelihood of sneaking a draft pick through waivers and getting him on the practice squad isn't that great.

I'm expecting that Kelly is practice squad, at most, and likely gone, and either D'Ernest or Hunt are not with us by the start of the season. I expect that it will be D'Ernest that isn't with us, but there's a chance he comes back and someone wants to trade for Hunt. I suppose there's a chance that Felton just moves to the WR room, too.

j/c:

I prefer to keep Hunt. I think he is a better all-around back than Chubb in regards to blocking, short-yardage situations, and receiving. I am not saying he is better than Chubb, but rather, we need his skills. Also, part of my thinking is that what will teams give up for a RB? BOB is out of the league and this isn't going to be a Duke Johnson situation.

A lot of people on twitter talking about trading Hunt. I think that's ludicrous. Worst case he signs somewhere else in his prime and we get a comp pick.

No more trading proven players for the hope of rookie. We are beyond that, this roster is good no reason to cheapen it on hope.

Is Jerome Ford an every down back, or a gimmick use player.
If someone is an every down running back, it's best to throw out their first 3 to 4 games, when grading them.

I agree, Chubb is untouchable, and Hunt should be also, let Johnson, Felton and Ford fight for the last couple spots ...

I wasn't all that impressed by Felton, after the shininess wore off. And unless we trade Johnson, keeping 4 backs would mean Felton is gone IMO. Keeping 3 without Johnson also means Felton is gone, IMO. Johnson is the third back until we trade Hunt. I don't think he is ready to carry a team like Chubb or Hunt can. But he's not far from it.

We have to give Felton some leeway. Let’s see how he does in his sophomore season. Our running back room is crowded, but we won’t be getting rid of Hunt quite yet.

Kareem is certainly above average, maybe elite. We don’t give him enough love cuz of Nick, but that’s cuz of Nick . The block to get Baker the first down the night we clinched a playoff spot? Beautiful, showed his toughness and wanting to win.

I don't think we would be counting on a rookie. We would be counting on Nick Chubb and D'Ernest Johnson. Two guys who I think we can count on. No?

I have been saying to trade Hunt for a while now. I will amend that. My new thinking is to offer an extension to both Hunt and Johnson. The first to sign is the guy and the other traded. I think we could trade either.

Also, on Hunt, I am not sure, but I don't think we would get a comp pick for Hunt since we didn't draft him. If wrong, someone can correct me, with my advanced thanks.

I think a three headed monster, Chubb, Hunt and Johnson would be the best option and we have seen how that can pay off when an injury strikes. But I don't discount your opinion holds merit. That's not typically how it's done.

The bottom line with Hunt is that he is our most valuable trade chip. He is a luxury in Cleveland on a team that will never enjoy his true upside. That fact makes him way more valuable to another team where he can be a star in the backfield, a weapon elsewhere, and see way more snaps. Other teams may see him as a possible workhorse who's skill-set approaches "elite".

He will be the first high-value player to go in a trade as this team needs to acquire future assets to keep the low-pay, high-production wheel turning. That's the only way to balance the books with all of these high-priced contracts... jmo.

Fate, that is fine in theory, but RBs don't fetch a lot in return. Unless, of course, BOB was still in the NFL.

Well, whoever's in Houston, here's a chance to right the wrongs of your past. 3rd rounder now and a 5th in '24.

I don't know, situation dictates assets. I think the Browns would be pretty firm on a 3rd as compensation.

Agree with everything you said - but I also agree that RB's don't bring a return in trade value. I think Hunt has more value as sensational back up to Chubb who is more valuable as a negligible drop off option to Chubb than the draft pick we'd get in return, no matter how bare the draft capital cupboard is. The exception might be as a package deal with Baker if it means we can get something significant for Baker.

* Edit - I don't see a 3rd rounder for Hunt. I'd take that for certain.

I wouldn’t ( no offence).

It’s not easy to replace a versatile back like Kareem. He’s worth more than a third, and I don’t really care what the draft analytics say.

We’ve seen him, more than once, help to wear a defence down in the third/early fourth quarter, then step aside while Nick finishes them off.

I don’t even think of him as a backup, I think of him as a vital part of our RB room, a complementary piece to Chubb who can block, catch the ball and run with authority, and is a warrior who loves being a Brown. We trade him, we are inhaling something funny.

Agreed. We probably can't even get a 3rd for him, but I wouldn't even trade him for that if there was a team willing to do so. I don't think getting another guy like Emerson is better than Hunt. I actually think Hunt is a better all-around back than Chubb. He's a better blocker, receiver, and in short yardage. He is also less prone to be stuffed behind the LOS. I am not saying he should play more than Chubb, because the latter is far more explosive and a threat to take it all the way on any given play than Hunt is. I just think it would be dumb to trade him.

Ok...trade Chubb.

Only kidding. I'd still offer both Hunt and Johnson a contract on June 1 when you have the cash. The guy that signs is the guy I would keep and trade the other.

I think the rook has a future, and to be honest, I think Kelly would be a good back in the league.

I think sometimes we just fall in love with players. I get that, but to me it is a waste to keep a starting type guy on the bench. I'd rather trade the player, especially when we are down a 1st rounder the next 2 drafts.

peen, many teams go w/two backs. We are one of them. I think it is wise to keep both Chubb and Hunt. I think we may lose Johnson. I have never understood the fascination w/trading away good players that some folks have. We had a similar discussion on here not too long ago about D. Ward. I am not asking you to agree, but understand, I am not going to agree w/you that trading Hunt for a 5th, 4th, or even a 3rd round pick is smart and good for the team.

I agree for a 4th or 5th rounder. #rd? maybe...I guess it might depend of how high we think it could be.

Nothing says it couldn't be a player for player swap.

At any rate, it is all speculation and opinion. I guess the only opinion that matters is what Berry and a few others think.

I will also add that maybe it doesn't make all that much sense for this year, but we will be playing football for a few years down the road. It makes sense for that.

I wouldn't call it a fascination lol.

I'm certainly not saying "we gotta get rid of Hunt!"

Value is in the eye of the beholder, and this team isn't giving him away. But...

There is virtually no way Hunt is here beyond this season anyway.
Team is in the red in the "assets" column.
He has more upside to other teams who may pay a premium.

And there is half the season to decide before the trade deadline. If we're 2-6 and Deshaun is just suiting up... Hunt is already wearing a different jersey.

Poor word choice on my part. LOL Now, don't be like Pit and make a big deal of me choosing the word "campaigning" and lose the essence of the message.

We did have a discussion on Ward not too long ago and it centered around trading him. I was very opposed to that idea. Thankfully, Berry gave Ward a nice deal and he'll be a Brown for years to come. I hope Berry keeps our good players and I think Hunt is one of them. Not asking you to agree or anything.......just stating my case. It's kinda cool to disagree w/others w/out all the drama that is prevalent in other forums.

For the record, i would like to keep him. I also don't want to lose a player of his ability with nothing in return.

I used a complete sentence in quotes. Not a word choice. Either you didn't comprehend that or are trying to manipulate what actually happened. Are you drinking while posting again?

I hear you. I love Hunt. I love the nightmares DCs have when facing the two-headed monster. I would love the idea of an extension.

I think we know, he knows, and the whole league knows, he'll get a more lucrative contract if he reaches free agency and moves to another team. Next contract is probably (just guessing without this season's crystal ball) about 2 years/ 15M. The Browns can't won't afford that if we still have a healthy Nick Chubb and other horses in the stable. I think they drafted Ford for another stab at opening that possibility.

Not saying it's right or wrong, but we're a team that values the upside of getting "something" before a player hits the turnstile, we've said it out loud numerous times. It's right there on "the chart"... the Browns Guardrails. Now, we've been burned twice in a row, with OBJ and Baker (screwing up and selling low... can't get much lower than getting nothing). And then we STB with Landry.

I just think they're going to be more proactive towards getting assets on the back end of contracts if they don't think the player will be here going forward. This could be draft assets, this could be a trade for a player in an area of need, exactly when we need. We'll see how the first half of the season plays out and the value we'll place on getting nothing again vs the upside of Hunt's production for the second half of 2022.

You and peen both make a good argument, solid points.

We’ll see what happens, as always, but one other thing to consider is that Kareem might - MIGHT - take a hometown discount. But I also think D’Ernest is good, and even Kelly flashed. But they haven’t proven to be a back of Hunt’s calibre. Either way, this was a good little discussion.