Forget the NBA playoffs; let’s realign the “target demographic”: While We’re Waiting…
March 30, 2015Cavalier Film Room: Classifying LeBron’s Turnovers
March 30, 2015Another day, another member of the media confirming that it was in fact the Cleveland Browns who offered a first-round draft pick for former St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford. Bradford was ultimately sent to the Philadelphia Eagles in a deal for quarterback Nick Foles. According to Sports Illustrated’s Peter King, however, the machinations of the failed deal run a lot deeper than just the Browns being one-upped by the Chip Kelly.
I think I can now say with certainty that The Other Team in the chase for Sam Bradford—as many have inferred—was Cleveland. The Browns would have been willing to part with a first-round pick in either 2015 or 2016 (I do not know which year) for Bradford, but there were two problems: One, the Browns didn’t have a quarterback to give in return, and Philadelphia was willing to fork over Nick Foles. Two, Bradford would not have been willing to sign a new contract this off-season if he were traded to Cleveland, and he is willing to consider an extension in Philadelphia. So the Philly deal was really the only one that made sense for the Rams and for Bradford, in the end.
So, let’s take this step by step:
Apparently none of the three quarterbacks on the Browns—Johnny Manziel, Josh McCown, or Connor Shaw—counted as actual quarterbacks. Splendid. While Browns fans could play the “grumble grumble national media narrative bias grumble” card, fewer individuals are more plugged in to the Rams than King. If he’s reporting it, it’s true.
Then there’s the contract situation. Bradford was not willing to sign a contract extension with the Browns. Entering the final year of his gigantic six-year, $78 million deal, Bradford is set to be a free agent in 2016. This report insinuates that not only was Bradford willing to sign with the Eagles, but he will most definitely sign an extension with them, effectively washing away the hope that Cleveland could still acquire him on Draft Day. While it’s not worth ever counting out Kelly and his potential to make a head-scratching move, it appears that the former Sooner will be in the City of Brotherly Love for the next several well-compesated seasons. Not bad considering he was pondering retirement as recent as a few months ago.
Meanwhile, the Browns are still without a quarterback. They have plenty of ammunition in the way of draft picks, but even those are up for debate as the NFL is expected to take at least one of them this week. Teams with quality quarterbacks are not willing to trade them and free agency is never the answer. It’s looking more and more like the Browns will be picking another QB come draft time. It is also looking more and more like we’ll be having these exact same discussions a year from now.
58 Comments
Reading this, I actually agree with your sentiment. Other than TEs. Barnidge/Dray would not start on any other team in the NFL.
You’re making me laugh
Browns will pull the trigger on Mariota, unless the Rams or Deadskins draft him.
You threw Gary through a loop.
WR okay unit? And Ravens fans are crying to draft a WR with the 1st pick. It would be a wasted 26th pick. This draft is loaded at WR. Browns might have Danny Shelton fall into their lap with the 12th pick. Don’t screw it up. And still have the 19th pick to take one of the top three receivers (Parker) or another defensive stud. Maybe a pass rusher at OLB or DE, or a CB. But they could probably use one of the top OL that will be there. Or they could add a RB like Gurley, but that might be a stretch. Especially after adding West and Crowell. They did add Bitonio also.
This organization has a serious credibility issue and that’s a big problem.
Not weird at all. QB is by far the most important position on the field and Bradford is clearly better than any QB we currently have on the roster. More of a no brainier if you consider the “hot seat” that Farmer is currently on. He needs results this year and or a incredible draft to save his job.
Agreed.