Will Browns Seek Big Time Wide Receiver?

Everyone but GM Ray Farmer agreed last year that the Cleveland Browns needed to bring in another wide receiver. This was even before Josh Gordon was suspended for the season, later reduced to 10 games. Fans and analysts pointed out that with Jordan Cameron, Andrew Hawkins and Gordon, the Browns could become a dynamic team adding a #2 receiver in the NFL Draft.

We all know that didn’t happen. Instead of drafting Sammy Watkins or Mike Evans we traded down with the Buffalo Bills. Instead of drafting Odell Beckham Jr. or Brandin Cooks, we drafted Justin Gilbert. Instead of drafting Kelvin Benjamin, a player I was/am low on, we drafted Johnny Manziel. We could go on and on. Farmer didn’t see the value, and since has talked about receivers not touching the ball enough to be valued over many other positions.

In hindsight many look back and want to say they were right, that the Browns SHOULD have drafted a receiver. After one season no draft should be graded. After 3 seasons Gilbert might be paired with Joe Haden as the greatest set of corners in the league and Manziel could be running an exciting offense for the Browns to the playoffs. Even in year one, only Benjamin of the above mentioned receivers made the playoffs and they did so with a losing record.

So will this off-season be different? At least one thing already is: Farmer knows for sure that Gordon will be out for a year, and likely done with the Browns. Cameron is a free agent, and according to reports wants to play out west nearer his family. Only Hawkins is left, for sure, from the group that allowed Farmer to pass on receivers in last year’s draft class.

Yet, according to Charles Robinson, the Browns are set to make a splash at the position, either in free agency or the NFL Draft:

Obviously Gordon is not in any sort of future plans but is that the only reason that things will be different this year? The Browns offense, with Brian Hoyer behind center Alex Mack, was solid in the passing game. It wasn’t perfect but the Browns were able to make big plays game after game even with their small receiving corps. So what makes this year different for the Browns?

First, Farmer and HC Mike Pettine were able to shore up some of the core areas of the team that they felt were important. The offensive line with Joel Bitonio, the middle of the linebacking group with Karlos Dansby and Christian Kirksey, the secondary with Donte Whitner, Pierre Desir, K’Waun Williams and Gilbert and the running back group with Isaiah Crowell, Terrance West and Glenn Winston. With the way Farmer and Pettine see team building, those are more important pieces to be filled over the receiver position.

But now those are filled. The Browns have 3 pretty clear needs this off-season, instead of multiple ones last year. The Browns need to figure out what to do at quarterback (1), they need to stop the run on defense (2) and they need players to catch the ball (3). Thankfully the Browns have the resources in free agency (about $50 million in cap space) and the NFL Draft (10 picks, including two in the 1st, 4th and 6th) to get them filled.

The biggest need, quarterback, may not have an answer this year. No one in free agency seems worthy of carrying a team and the draft is limited to two players that likely should sit for a year, but could become great, in Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota. Someone will have to play QB, the Browns won’t rely on Manziel given last year and his current stay in rehab, so they will have to spend some resources to bring in at least 1 QB.

(To be clear: Until the QB spot is solidly filled no other position will ever be considered the biggest need for the Browns for me or most. Whether you think the answer is out there is a different discussion.)

The ability to stop the run comes up next, especially when knowing that Farmer and Pettine are the ones making the decisions. Thankfully there are some great players in both free agency and the draft that could fill the need. Stephen Paea, Terrance Knighton, Damon Harrison, Dan Williams, Nick Fairley and Jared Odrick lead the list of affordable players the Browns could look at. B.J. Raji is coming off injury and could get a look as well. In the draft Danny Shelton, Malcom Brown, Jordan Phillips, Carl Davis and Eddie Goldman could all fill the role near the top of the draft.

That brings us to the wide receiver position. We expect the Browns to spend some money to bring in a veteran QB and could spend a pick or two to get Mariota if he falls in their range. After that filling the need on the defensive line could take a pick and a free agent signing but then… The Browns still have a ton of money and draft picks to fill the wide receiver spot.

If the Browns were to sign say Brian Hoyer, Paea and Raji then draft Mariota at 12 (or in a small trade up) and Arik Armstead in the 2nd round they would still have over $30 million as well as pick 19, and 6 more picks in the draft to attack the receiver position. What could that mean?

It could mean signing a solid veteran like Jeremy Maclin or Torrey Smith, two reasonable examples, or getting two for the price of one with Cecil Shorts and Denarius Moore. Then at 19 the Browns could make a play for Devin Funchess, Maxx Williams or Jaelen Strong. The 4th round should still have some guys with unique talent: Jamison Crowder and Philip Dorsett (speed), Rashad Greene (possession) and many think Dorial Green-Beckham (Randy Moss type talent)falls all the way to Day 3 with his off the field issues.

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Why do we go through all of that, with all of those names and details? We do so to let you know it is very possible that the Browns could significantly upgrade their team, including their pass catching group without having to go all in on the big money, or top guys in the draft. A receiving group of Hawkins, Maclin, Crowder and Miles Austin, with Maxx Williams and Charles Clay (free agent TE) at the tight end spot would be a huge upgrade. That is perhaps the least talented group we could put together, of those we mentioned, but it would still be at least middle of the road.

The Browns can go in a number of directions this off-season. Their needs are far less than they were just a year ago. That is great news for fans who want the Browns to upgrade their receiving group. They have the money and draft picks to do it and both free agency and the draft are setup to give them a chance. The good news is that is true for both their need at pass catcher as well as their need on the defensive line. Or they could just do this in the first 4 rounds of the NFL Draft (sarcasm hopefully is clear):

Now if only we could solve that pesky QB problem…

What do you think the Browns should do to solve their pass catcher problem?

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