Terry Pluto's blog: Cleveland Browns should deal Braylon Edwards if they can
by Terry Pluto / Plain Dealer Columnist
Tuesday March 24, 2009, 3:54 PM
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- If the Browns can trade Braylon Edwards to the New York Giants for second and fifth round picks, along with Domenik Hixon -- they should do it.
Here's why:
1. Let's start with the fact that Braylon Edwards will be a free agent at the end of the 2009 season. What are the odds of Mr. Michigan having any interest in re-signing with the Browns? He has been dubious about Cleveland from the day the Browns made him the third pick in the 2005 draft.
2. No need to get into all the drops -- an NFL-leading 16, according to Stats Inc. Or the fact that Edwards just seems to do some very silly stuff. Browns fans know the sad story: late for a team meeting because of attending an OSU/Michigan game; being spiked by Donte Stallworth during post-practice exercises because he had taken off his football shoes; saying the fans don't like him because he's from Michigan.
3. Adding another second-round pick would give the Browns the No. 5 choice in the first round, and three picks in the second round -- their own (No. 36), Tampa Bay's (No. 50 for Kellen Winslow) and the Saints (No. 45) by way of New York for Edwards. That is a way to add some serious young talent.
4. Those three choices in the second round allow the Browns: room to trade; to move down in the first round; to add a veteran player; and finally, to be very creative.
5. I wonder if the Giants really are willing to deal Hixon. He is a little like Joshua Cribbs, a tough special teams guy (University of Akron) who was not highly-regarded. Yes, he was picked in the third round, but Denver had little interest in keeping him. Hixon just worked his way into becoming a solid receiver.
6. Last season, Hixon had 43 catches, averaged 13.9 yards per catch. He ranked 18th in the NFL in terms of having 29 of his 43 catches (67 percent) become first downs. Add his value as a special teams player and a terrific team attitude -- he'd be comfortable in Cleveland.
7. It's nice that the Browns added Dave Patten, but he's 33 and battled injuries last season -- catching only 11 passes. They need a veteran receiver, and should look at Torry Holt. He will be 33 in June, but still caught 64 passes (12.4 yards per catch), good for three TDs. He's a classy veteran receiver who will help Edwards (if he stays) or a young receiver that they may draft.
8. The bottom line is that Edwards is a short-timer, and it is wise to trade him now rather than watch him walk away later.