Browns’ Off-Season Moves All About Preserving Optionality…and Providing Insurance
This off-season, the Browns acquired (via trades r free agency) the following notable players (amongst others):
- Tyrod Taylor, QB
- Damarius Randall, DB
- Carlos Hyde, RB
- E.J. Gaines, CB
- Jarvis Landry, WR
- T.J. Carrie, CB
- Terrance Mitchell, CB
With these transactions, the Browns managed to upgrade the roster in the areas the team was most deficient, namely in the secondary, at QB, at WRD, and at RB. So now, with the draft about a month away, fans are asking how these transactions may affect who the Browns target in the draft.
Simple answer? They won’t. Not one bit.
This off-season, the Browns resisted the urge to throw incredible amounts of money at one or two high-profile free agents in favor of making improvements across the roster, most notably in the team’s “problem areas”. But they also did something else that seems to be going under-appreciated.
As we all know, the Browns have a variety of options for the draft, being that they hold both the first and fourth overall picks. With the first pick, the team controls its own destiny; the Browns can get the player they want without issue. But the Browns want to maximize both picks, and the best way for them to do that is to preserve their optionality heading into the draft. What do I mean?
Other teams are scrambling in advance of the draft. The Jets made a trade with the Colts to obtain the third pick. Some susupect the Bills or another team in need of a QB will make a trade with the Giants for the second overall pick. Everyone seems unsure whether the Giants will take an OG (Quenton Nelson), an RB (Saquon Barkley, if he remains available), a DE (Bradley Chubb), or a QB (from a list of 3–4 options) if they hold onto the second pick.
Each time another team made (or makes) a move to pick ahead of the Browns’ fourth pick, analysts lose their minds and update their draft boards. There is specualtion that now, with both the second and third picks potentially being QBs, the Browns will have to use the first pick on a QB. In fact, it’s what I think they probably should do.
But the Browns don’t “have” to pick a QB with the first pick, because the team’s off-season moves preserved all their options. For example:
- If the Browns love Barkley, they can select him first and the risk will be that the QBs they are interested in are off the bard by the time they are on the clock with the fourth pick. If that’s the case, they can select the best defensive player available (likely Chubb, Ward, or Fitzpatrick) and still head into the season with Tyrod Taylor at QB. If Taylor plays well, they have their long-term answer at QB and can sign him to a longer-term deal before the season is over. If Taylor doesn’t convince the Browns he is their QB of the future, they can look to free agency or next year’s draft for a QB. The draft does not hold much promise at this point, and Taylor may be the second best option on the free agency market in 2019 behind Matt Ryan, but the Browns have preserved their options for this year’s draft, especially if they are confident in Taylor. They would not have had options if DeShone Kizer was the top QB on the roster and woudl have been foreced to take a QB, probably with the first pick.
- If the Browns love a QB, they can take one, knowing it could mean they will miss on Barkley. There is actually a good chance Barkley remains available at four, but even if he doesn’t, the Browns will be able to take the best defensive player in the draft and head into the 2018 season with a very solid RB in Carlos Hyde to pair with RB Duke Johnson, Jr. That is a two-pronged running attack that could prove as good as Barkley if managed effectively. Having Hyde on the roster once again leaves doors open for the Browns.
- The Browns had a huge need in the secondary heading into the off-season, and they very well could have targeted the draft in an effort to shore up the defensive backfield, as the draft is filled with talented DBs. They didn’t wait, however, acquiring three solid CBs (one of whom could move to Safety). This prevents the Browns from having to take a DB with the fourth pick, which could have been a very real possibility at one point. We can assume they would not have taken a DB with the first pick, but had they not strengthened the secondary, they may have been forced to take one with the fourth pick. If they take a QB first, and Barkely is on the board with the fourth pick, they would have a difficult decision: take a DB to address a huge need or take Barkley to potentially add a future star to the team. If they take Barkley first, the decision is just as difficult, if not more so: take a DB to address a huge need or take a potentially second or third option at QB to address the team’s biggest need (and keep fans from rioting!).
The Browns played it very smart this off-season. First, they addressed a need at WR via free agency, knowing what we all do, which is that there are no WRs in this draft that are likley to be stars in the league.
Next, they addressed each of their biggest needs, upgrading the roster in the secondary, at QB, and at RB. They brought in starters who will at worst contribute and who could offer significant upsides. This improved the roster overall, but also provided the team with draft insurance. They can now take the best players to address their biggest needs in the draft without a fear of starting next season with a huge vulnerability in a key area.
They maintained optionality, a sound business strategy, and while it is something nobody really seems to appreciate, it is something I think many will in a month, when the Browns are on the board and haven’t been forced into any predicaments or dilemmas. When they are free to take whoever it is they want, no matter who is taken between picks one and four.