MAC_32
Footballguy
Takes two to tango
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2025 Cleveland Browns - WTF - “Quirky” Draft Completed (60 Viewers)
- Thread starter amnesiac
- Start date
ghostguy123
Footballguy
Well yeah, that goes without saying
daveR
Footballguy
Here's a link to salcap relief via insurance payments.
MAC_32
Footballguy
What do you do if you don't get offered a future 1?
ghostguy123
Footballguy
Draft someone.....
Bracie Smathers
Footballguy
Flacco's contract speaks as though they offered him a chance to start. The contract is laden with incentives from a $3 million base up to $13 million. Kenny obviously wants to start, and he should want to start but it 'appears' to me that Joe signed a starters contract.
I don't want to gamble taking a rookie QB. I want Travis Hunter.
If a 1st round graded OT were available, I'd take them at the top of the 2nd round.
I just don't like taking the 3rd or 4th rated QB at the top of the 2nd round because we know statistically, they don't work out so we'd be pissing away a 1st round talent taking a rookie QB who will fail and waste our time AND the opportunity cost of taking a 1st round talent away from the O-Line.
Build the foundation now and use a top pick to take a rookie QB next year.
Blow the late 3rd round pick we got from Buffalo on a rookie flyer QB because the opportunity cost is negligible.
If someone calls about the top-pick of the 2nd round we'd only move-down to the 3rd round for a 2026 1st round pick to accumulate ammo to take a legit QB prospect. I don't gamble any of our top three picks this year on a rookie QB. I definitely don't gamble the top pick or waste the top pick of the 2nd round on an even worse gamble with legit 1st round talents on the board.
I don't want to gamble taking a rookie QB. I want Travis Hunter.
If a 1st round graded OT were available, I'd take them at the top of the 2nd round.
I just don't like taking the 3rd or 4th rated QB at the top of the 2nd round because we know statistically, they don't work out so we'd be pissing away a 1st round talent taking a rookie QB who will fail and waste our time AND the opportunity cost of taking a 1st round talent away from the O-Line.
Build the foundation now and use a top pick to take a rookie QB next year.
Blow the late 3rd round pick we got from Buffalo on a rookie flyer QB because the opportunity cost is negligible.
If someone calls about the top-pick of the 2nd round we'd only move-down to the 3rd round for a 2026 1st round pick to accumulate ammo to take a legit QB prospect. I don't gamble any of our top three picks this year on a rookie QB. I definitely don't gamble the top pick or waste the top pick of the 2nd round on an even worse gamble with legit 1st round talents on the board.
Bracie Smathers
Footballguy
Close enough and I'd be happy with the top two picks.
If you click on the link, it shows Milroe going with the last pick of the 2nd round. If he fell to our top pick of the 3rd round, I'd take him there.
Pearce at the top of the 2nd is agreeable to me since he has consistently had a 1st round grade and outside of Myles our top sack producer from last year got traded to Detroit halfway through the season so we basically had no one taking down the QB outside of Myles. We got pressure but no takedowns.
Go to the link to see the other picks in the 3rd round and what QB they have us taking.
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Three-round NFL mock draft: Rams take Matthew Stafford's eventual replacement; Eagles, 49ers add QBs on Day 2
Round 1 - Pick 2
Travis Hunter ATH
Colorado • Jr • 6'0" / 188 lbs
Round 2
33. Cleveland Browns: EDGE James Pearce Jr.
Peak
Footballguy
We're getting closer and more QB / draft movement rumors are making their rounds. I've basically resigned myself to know they will take Hunter first and then who knows what after that - trading up into the first or trading to get back into the second....I don't know, but they'll select a QB somewhere in this draft. I just don't want to see Dart (he reminds me too much of Levis) or McCord (I've seen enough of him with OSU). Anyone else, I'm fine with, I guess.
Bracie Smathers
Footballguy
Tuesday, Browns and G-Men fielding calls.
Pretty standard and expected.
NFL Draft rumor: Browns reportedly involved in trade down talks
-------------------------------------------
Wednesday, unsubstantiated rumors start floating so I wouldn't expect anything to emerge.
NFL draft rumors: Browns, Jags trade that could make sense, ensuing CLE mock draft
Of the rumors that seem to be growing is that the Jacksonville Jaguars, with the youngest GM in the league and second youngest ever (behind the Browns Andrew Berry), want to move up. Brian Baldinger of The NFL Network was among those either hinting (while others have directly noted) the Jaguars as a trade candidate:
Brian Baldinger@BaldyNFL
#nfldraft could a major trade be brewing in the top 5 in the next 48 hours?? I am having premonitions #BaldysBreakdowns
Jacksonville gets pick #2 (Most likely to select Hunter)
Cleveland gets pick #5, #36 and the Jaguars 2026 1st round pick
Pretty standard and expected.
NFL Draft rumor: Browns reportedly involved in trade down talks
-------------------------------------------
Wednesday, unsubstantiated rumors start floating so I wouldn't expect anything to emerge.
NFL draft rumors: Browns, Jags trade that could make sense, ensuing CLE mock draft
Of the rumors that seem to be growing is that the Jacksonville Jaguars, with the youngest GM in the league and second youngest ever (behind the Browns Andrew Berry), want to move up. Brian Baldinger of The NFL Network was among those either hinting (while others have directly noted) the Jaguars as a trade candidate:
Brian Baldinger@BaldyNFL
#nfldraft could a major trade be brewing in the top 5 in the next 48 hours?? I am having premonitions #BaldysBreakdowns
Jacksonville gets pick #2 (Most likely to select Hunter)
Cleveland gets pick #5, #36 and the Jaguars 2026 1st round pick
Soulfly3
Footballguy
I still take Hunter. The payoff is great, but pass.
How often do you get a generational college talent to fall in your lap? Now often do you get a generational talent on 2 sides of the ball? Now often do you get that PLUS the kid is humble as hell and WANTS to put in more work than anyone else has ever put in?
I'll pass on "hopefully they're good", and take GREAT
ghostguy123
Footballguy
He's not a generational WR, or DB.
Give me 5/36 and the 2026 1st in the quickest snap accept ever
Bracie Smathers
Footballguy
Ah, memories.
Last time the Browns traded away the rights to a blue-chip WR.
Trade away the rights to a blue-chip WR?
Brilliant!
Where are they now? The five Browns from the Julio Jones trade
1. NT Phil Taylor, 21st overall, 2011: The Browns swung a deal with the Kansas City Chiefs to move up and select Taylor. His rookie year was his best, but injuries have cost him the better part of two of the last three seasons. The first-round selection of Danny Shelton this year and Taylor's slow recovery from last year's season-ending knee injury ultimately led to his undoing.
2. WR Greg Little, 59th overall, 2011: Little actually had more receptions (61) than Jones (54) during their rookie seasons, and they both had 41 catches in 2013 -- except Jones only played in five games compared to Little's full season. Little is currently fighting for a roster spot in Cincinnati, where he caught six balls for 69 yards last season.
3. RB Owen Marecic, 124th overall, 2011: Marecic was released by the Browns after two seasons and ended up retiring a few months later after failing to catch on with the 49ers. Marecic re-enrolled at San Francisco State University and planned to attend medical school, according to this interview with the Performance Training Center.
4. QB Brandon Weeden, 22nd overall, 2012: Released after two seasons of mediocrity in Cleveland, Weeden now serves as Tony Romo's backup in Dallas. Not much else to say here.
5. RB Trent Richardson, 3rd overall, 2012 (Cleveland used the fourth-round pick from Atlanta to move up one spot and select Richardson): Released. Again. By the Raiders. Richardson may have a hard time finding another NFL job after he was dismissed by Oakland this week. He struggled mightily in two seasons in Indianapolis, which gave up a first-round pick to Cleveland for his services in September 2013. All is not lost on this front, however. The Browns used Indy's first-round pick to select . . . Johnny Manziel.
ghostguy123
Footballguy
Something doesn't work out once.....so let's just never try it again.
Brilliant!!
It's like every top 2 pick we have ever had has been awesome.......oh wait.
Soulfly3
Footballguy
He is absolutely a generational player. Name the last player to do what he's done in college
ghostguy123
Footballguy
I don't think he has a chance to do it in the NFL, which is slightly more important.
Can you name anyone who's ever done it in the NFL?? So this guy will be the first one ever??
Soulfly3
Footballguy
Awards and honors
#12 retired by Colorado (2025)[40]
Heisman Trophy (2024)
Walter Camp Award (2024)
AP College Football Player of the Year (2024)[41]
SN College Football Player of the Year (2024)[42]
Fred Biletnikoff Award (2024)
Chuck Bednarik Award (2024)
Lott Trophy (2024)[43]
Academic All-American of the Year, Division I football (2024)[44]
2× Paul Hornung Award (2023, 2024)[45]
Unanimous All-American (2024)[e]
Consensus All-American (2023)[46]
Academic All-American (2023,2024)[47]
Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year (2024)
SWAC Freshman of the Year (2022)
2× first-team All-Big 12 (2024)[f]
First-team All-Pac-12 (2023)[g]
Second-team All-Pac-12 (2023)[h]
Second-team All-SWAC (2022)[48]
3× Pac-12 / Big 12 Player of the Week:
Offensive (2024)
Defensive (2023, 2024)[49][50]
Had to c/p there there is THAT much to post...
Not generational, apparently
#12 retired by Colorado (2025)[40]
Heisman Trophy (2024)
Walter Camp Award (2024)
AP College Football Player of the Year (2024)[41]
SN College Football Player of the Year (2024)[42]
Fred Biletnikoff Award (2024)
Chuck Bednarik Award (2024)
Lott Trophy (2024)[43]
Academic All-American of the Year, Division I football (2024)[44]
2× Paul Hornung Award (2023, 2024)[45]
Unanimous All-American (2024)[e]
Consensus All-American (2023)[46]
Academic All-American (2023,2024)[47]
Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year (2024)
SWAC Freshman of the Year (2022)
2× first-team All-Big 12 (2024)[f]
First-team All-Pac-12 (2023)[g]
Second-team All-Pac-12 (2023)[h]
Second-team All-SWAC (2022)[48]
3× Pac-12 / Big 12 Player of the Week:
Offensive (2024)
Defensive (2023, 2024)[49][50]
Had to c/p there there is THAT much to post...
Not generational, apparently
ghostguy123
Footballguy
I sure won't be upset if we draft Hunter, but would be ticked if we turned down 5/36 and a future 1st to do so.
Would ANY current non QB in the NFL fetch that much in trade? Serious question
Would ANY current non QB in the NFL fetch that much in trade? Serious question
Bracie Smathers
Footballguy
We badly need playmakers. Badly.
It's not like we didn't need WRs.
---------------------------------------------
Oh wait.
I guess you don't badly want WRs...
BADLY!
Hunter didn't just play WR and CB in college, he dominated, he has special qualities over and above other players. He is special.
Teams don't trade away special players for Gerard Warren's, Brandon Weedens's and Owen Marecic's.
The talk is just talk that happens every draft and rarely anything ever comes of it but make no mistake, Travis Hunter is a special player.
ghostguy123
Footballguy
Special enough to keep us drafting in the 10-20 range.
MAC_32
Footballguy
I agree, so if this hypothetical is on the table, and another trade down from 5 doesn't develop, pick Tet. I suspect we'll be able to move down with the Bears though. We can be more accommodating because the future #1 is already in our pocket. And that's the key - a future #1. No conversation about moving off #2 starts until next year's #1 is on the table. So, lock in the Jags 2026 #1, add the Bears #2 this year to move down to #10. Then do something like this:
#10 - Tyler Warren or Colston Loveland
#33 - Josh Conerly
#36 - Luther Burden
#39 - Mykel Williams or Xavier Watts
#67 - Kaleb Johnson
Play makers, future foundation, and the ammo to go get whatever QB we want next year. What's not to like?
That said, I don't think the trade that triggers this scenario is realistic, so just pick Hunter.
Bracie Smathers
Footballguy
Typical NFL draft has 'roughly' 15 to 19 first round grades.
This class is said to have 7.
Trading a blue-chip prospect for a 2nd round graded player doesn't equate.
The reason we fell behind is a net loss of talent.
Draft to distance the talent ration over the field.
Take the top-rated player in a weak draft class to create a net gain of talent over the field.
Don't Julio Jones us into Gerard Warren.
This class is said to have 7.
Trading a blue-chip prospect for a 2nd round graded player doesn't equate.
The reason we fell behind is a net loss of talent.
Draft to distance the talent ration over the field.
Take the top-rated player in a weak draft class to create a net gain of talent over the field.
Don't Julio Jones us into Gerard Warren.
MAC_32
Footballguy
Do you not view Warren and Loveland as 1st round prospects?
Soulfly3
Footballguy
Do you not want another Myles Garrett level player on our team? Or do you want to TRY and hit on 2-3 potentially good players?
ghostguy123
Footballguy
I want ammo for a QB so we can be good someday
MAC_32
Footballguy
You're not asking the right questions.
I want ammo to get the QB of our choice next year. Hall of Fame caliber talent does not matter if the team does not have a QB. We don't. Because of that we have a ceiling on what we're capable of this year and all future years until we have a QB. I have zero interest in considering moving down if at minimum a future #1, preferably on a potentially bad team, is in the trade package.
ghostguy123
Footballguy
Well that and I wanted to suck bad enough to get the #1 next year.
Hunter just might help ruin that, lol
amnesiac
beer is good
i actually agree. i don't hate taking that trade.
MAC_32
Footballguy
Pre-draft this is pretty much the same team that went to the playoffs 2 years ago. Just replace Coop with Jeudy, add Conklin, a more developed Tillman, but with a big ? mark by JOK. The roster was always going to be better come May than it was in 2023. The wants to suck bad enough for the #1 pick were never realistic.
amnesiac
beer is good
yeah, this ended up sucking.
but trading a WR for that haul? i think it was the right move at the time.
they just happened to make all the wrong picks after making the trade.
if they had taken Cameron Jordan, Randall Cobb, Luke Kuechly, and Dont'a Hightower, you'd feel a lot differently about that haul.
ghostguy123
Footballguy
Didn't this basically just happen, like, last year though??
I'm sure we can find the right QB to make it happen again
MAC_32
Footballguy
There's a part of me that wants to go back through the old Browns thread and re-read everything I wrote during that fateful 2012 offseason, but upon a brief search apparently I had a lot to say and there's only so many hours in the day. It appears these summarized it best:
https://forums.footballguys.com/threads/cleveland-browns.516588/page-42
Last edited:
MAC_32
Footballguy
I have a theory about last year, but don't really want to unpack it on draft day. What's done is done. Onto next year...
amnesiac
beer is good
i'm summarizing, but does it have to do with GM and HC getting extensions to run Watson back one more time on a Pass/Fail grade?
MAC_32
Footballguy
...ish, and I think that contributed to how Berry & Stefanski approached the season, but more than just that.
Way too short version- I'm sure I wrote it 12-14 months ago, but the decisions made in January were to make Watson comfortable...or the fall guy. Then the team saw first hand at the Greenbrier that this guy just doesn't have it. 'They are professionals!' Well, yeah, but they're also human. I think we saw a team that never believed they could win and they played like it, that's not a switch that can just be flipped on command when his leg snaps 3 months later. Moments? Sure, but nothing sustainable, especially in a new offense that was developed to cater to Watson, not the rest of the personnel / coaching staff.
ghostguy123
Footballguy
Seems like a good move
Galileo
Footballguy
The second 5th rounder is actually 2 years away...2027
MAC_32
Footballguy
Some other team: sounds like a good deal, but we'll need a 5th.
AB: we don't have a 5th
Some other team: well then you better get one
legit smoke that the browns may trade down from 2
[Schultz] The Browns received serious calls about the No. 2 pick earlier this morning. As an organization, they’ve believed all along that at least one or two “super strong” offers would come in as the draft approached — and that belief still holds inside the building, per multiple sources.
[Schultz] The Browns received serious calls about the No. 2 pick earlier this morning. As an organization, they’ve believed all along that at least one or two “super strong” offers would come in as the draft approached — and that belief still holds inside the building, per multiple sources.
Maybe the trade @daveR and I made in the mock actually comes true?
ghostguy123
Footballguy
Wow. I'll take it
ghostguy123
Footballguy
I'm also all for moving pick 5.
If Carter falls, sure get him.
If not, get another 2026 1st.
Maybe we get our QB next year
If Carter falls, sure get him.
If not, get another 2026 1st.
Maybe we get our QB next year
ghostguy123
Footballguy
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