5 things that went wrong for the Cleveland Browns in 2019
The Browns did not draft a difference maker in 2019
The Browns did not draft a difference maker in the 2019 NFL Draft. If you like using Pro Football Focus as a basis for performance, their best-performing picks were Sheldrick Redwine, used as an extra safety. Keep in mind, however, that under the PFF grading system, it is easier to get a higher grade if you are the extra defensive back, rather than the guy who has to take on the other team’s No. 1 receiver. So while applauding Redwine’s high scores, it is way too early to project him as a first string safety.
Greedy Williams, Mack Wilson and Sione Takitaki got significant playing time in 2019. Williams was continually picked on by opposing quarterbacks, while Wilson and Takitaki were adequate at best. Although the Dawg Pound seems to have a high opinion of them, all were rated as below average among NFL starters by Pro Football Focus.
Among undrafted players, the only star is the Scottish Hammer Jamie Gillan, the punter.
The inability to draft good players on Day Two and Day Three of the NFL draft means that it is vitally important to not trade away draft picks for expensive veterans. In fact, Dorsey should have been following the recommendations of the analytics department of the Browns (Paul DePodesta) which had traded into the position of being able to draft Mayfield, Ward and Chubb in 2018.
Next. Why the Browns Week 17 loss could be a good thing. dark
The 2019 plan of trading away draft capital and salary cap to obtain expensive veteran players is just wrong. The Browns simply do not have the scouting to allow the team to recover from trading away draft picks, and it is not possible to outspend the rest of the league on a continuing basis. Hence they are very unlikely to build a winner by not drafting players and attempting to outspend the rest of the teams.