Cleveland Browns: 6 moves the team should make right now
By Shane Carter
Cleveland Browns fans have reason to be optimistic heading into 2017, but here are six moves the team can make to really move the needle.
The 2017 NFL regular season is right around the corner and Cleveland Browns fans are excited to see this brand new Browns team.
While it may be hard for some to believe that a fan base could be excited coming off a 1-15 season, when you consider the additions of free agents Kevin Zeitler, J.C. Tretter, Kenny Britt and Jason McCourtey, as well as the draft picks, led by No. 1 overall selection Myles Garrett, it becomes a little easier to feel the optimism.
This may surprise many who don’t pay attention to the Browns, but this team has as much talent as they have had in years. Cleveland now has a great offensive line, pass rushers, a solid running back group, a new secondary, two stud linebackers in Jamie Collins and Christian Kirksey, a young pair of tight ends in David Njoku and Seth DeValve and, potentially, the answer to the long-asked question at quarterback in DeShone Kizer.
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However, looking if at the projected starters, there are still questions to the wide receiver position opposite Britt. Can Corey Coleman stay healthy? How much have Ricardo Louis and Rashard Higgins progressed heading into their second year? Who else can be counted on?
Also, in competition for the middle linebacker position are Tank Carder and Dominique Alexander. But are they ready to take on the role? Alexander had very little experience last season, and Carder is primarily a special teams player who has not had much success on defense.
Those are two very important positions that, if fixed, could turn the Browns into the league’s surprise team this fall. If these holes are fixed then there’s no reason to think the can’t find an extra six or seven wins than last season.
The good news is that there are players out there that, for the right price, could help fill the glaring holes. Whether it’s through trade or free agency, these are all reasonable ideas that could, theoretically, help the team this season and in the future.