The Cleveland Browns had a busy offseason and were credited with having one of the best offseasons in the NFL, but what were the best moves they made?
It was expected that the Cleveland Browns were going to have a crazy offseason when they hired John Dorsey as their new general manager. But no one could have expected all of the moves the Browns made in the offseason.
Since the beginning of March, the Browns have added 25 players to their roster. Most of these players will be on the 53-man roster as they filled positions of need.
Here is a look at five of the best moves the Browns made during this offseason.
5. Signing cornerback E.J. Gaines
E.J. Gaines was traded to the Buffalo Bills prior to the start of the 2017 season. And change of teams really benefited Gaines’ career, as he had the best season of his four-year career in Buffalo.
After having a career year and being only 26-years-old, Gaines entered free agency looking to receive a big payday. But instead, he was met with minimal interest and was left unsigned for a few weeks longer than expected. He was then signed to a one year, $4 million deal by the Browns, which seems to be a great value deal for Cleveland.
Gaines excelled as a number two cornerback next to Tre’Davious White in Buffalo. In Cleveland, he will be playing as either the number two or three cornerback behind Denzel Ward and T.J. Carrie. If the Browns get the same play from Gaines as Buffalo did, this will be a massive steal for the Browns.
There is concern with Gaines, however. Gaines has a checkered past with injuries, as he missed five games in 2017 and missed the entire 2015 season due to injury. Also, his play in Buffalo was a surprise because of how much he struggled in 2016 in Los Angeles, when current Browns defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was his coach.
4. Trading Danny Shelton to Patriots
When the Browns traded Danny Shelton to the Patriots, it was only the beginning of their flurry of moves in the offseason. It also raised questions as to why the Browns were so willing to move on from the former first-round pick.
The most likely motive to move on from Shelton and the reason why it was one of the best omves of the offseason for the Browns was to move 2017 third-round pick Larry Ogunjobi into the starting lineup. Playing in only 28.18 percent of the Browns defensive snaps in 2017, Ogunjobi compiled 32 tackles, five tackles for loss, and one sack.
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He has an excellent blend of quickness and strength that lets him plug gaps, but still get into the backfield. Shelton could only be played in run situations, but Ogunjobi can play every down. For the Browns, it made sense to use the guy that can play every down instead of the old-school run stuffer.
3. Drafting Denzel Ward
Some may say that the Browns could have traded down from the fourth overall selection in the 2018 NFL Draft and still selected Denzel Ward. But if Ward becomes the shutdown cornerback that the Browns expect him to, picking him fourth overall will be a great selection.
The Browns have not had a shutdown corner since Joe Haden before the injuries piled up on him. Cleveland had a miserable pass defense in 2017 because of the cornerbacks inability to play press-man coverage.
With Ward, they are getting a super athletic cornerback that can stay on the hip of wide receivers in man coverage. He has the ball skills that will make him a threat to intercept any pass thrown his way.
Playing in a division with Antonio Brown and A.J. Green, the Browns needed to find a shutdown corner. If Ward can shadow those receivers and limit what they do, Cleveland made an excellent selection at fourth overall.
2. Trading for Jarvis Landry
Entering the 2018 offseason, the Browns needed to find a second receiver next to Josh Gordon. Not only did they find that number two receiver, but they got one of the best receivers in the NFL.
Jarvis Landry is arguably the best slot receiver in the NFL. Last season, he led the league with 112 receptions and has caught 400 passes in his four year career. Those 400 receptions broke the record for the most receptions by a receiver in the first four years of their career.
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With a strong possession receiver like Landry, it gives the Browns quarterbacks another option instead of trying to force the ball to Gordon. Landry has a 70.1 catch percentage in his career, meaning that defenders have to make plays on passes thrown his way as he does not drop the ball often.
Also, pairing Landry with Gordon will create a dynamic 1-2 combo. Although Landry lives in the short and intermediate range of the field, defenders can not lay off of him to put more focus on Gordon. If defenders leave Landry open in the short part of the field, he will pick them apart for 8-12 yards every time he catches the ball.
Putting a reliable second option on the field with Gordon will open up the field for Gordon. Any move that gives Gordon more chances to make a game-breaking is a great move. And not only can he do that, he is such a good possession receiver, he is a reliable target on third downs. With what Landry can do for the Browns offense, it is easily one of the best moves of the offseason.
1. Rebuilding the quarterback room
The Browns have had some of the worst quarterback rooms in the NFL for years. Dorsey was brought on as general manager to fix the quarterback room and to find the future franchise quarterback. And he did just that this offseason.
He first traded a third round pick to Buffalo to get Tyrod Taylor. Taylor is expected to be the starter for the entire 2018 season. He is arguably the most talented quarterback the Browns will have started since the team returned in 1999. He gives the Browns a good chance of winning games instead of playing a rookie trying to find his way in the NFL.
The Browns then signed Drew Stanton to be the backup to Taylor and to help the rookie quarterback transition to the NFL. He is a reliable backup as he does not try to do that much when he is in the game, thus causing turnovers and losing games for his team. He will also help show the rookie quarterback what he needs to do in his off-time in order to be successful in the NFL.
Cleveland then made the biggest move they could have made in the rebuilding of the quarterback by drafting Baker Mayfield first overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. Mayfield is a dynamic player that was highly accurate while in college. The goal is for him to sit the entire 2018 season so that he can learn what he needs to do to be successful in the NFL while not worrying about winning games as the starting quarterback, which should help his development.
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For the first time in a long time it seems that the Browns have a plan for their quarterbacks and they all have their roles. If the system the Browns put in place this offseason results in Mayfield becoming a solid quarterback and the team’s franchise quarterback, the quarterback moves the Browns made this offseason will be the best moves the Browns have made in years.