NBA Trade Rumor: Andre Iguodala to the Cavs?
January 21, 2010Breaking Cavs News: No Mo Tonight (Update)
January 21, 2010Now that The Big Show Mike Holmgren has shored up his front office roster, it’s time for him–and for us–to look at the team’s roster. We’ve borrowed from the Department of Homeland Security and will be looking at each position group day by day, finishing with a roster upgrade ranking based on need. Check back each day this week for a new position group. Previous reports: RB, OL, WR/TE
The quarterback position seems to always be the most talked-about position year in and year out. Whether we are talking about Tim Couch, Kelly Holcomb, Trent Dilfer, Jeff Garcia, Derek Anderson or Brady Quinn, it just never seems to end. Of course the surest way to make sure you stop talking about a position is to shore it up for the foreseeable future. (See, Thomas, Joe and Cribbs, Joshua) And now, the most talked-about position on the Browns is your problem Mr. Holmgren.
No matter what the future holds for the coaching staff with Eric Mangini and Brian Daboll, I expect Mike Holmgren to have his fingerprints all over the QB position like he has everywhere else he has been. Brett Favre and Matt Hasselback are the most notable names in his past. Both of those careers if implanted in the Browns’ record books would be far and away better than any since No. 19 manned the huddle at the old stadium.
The 2009 Season
Starters Brady Quinn, Derek Anderson, Brady Quinn, Derek Anderson
Key Reserves: Brett Ratliff
Statistics (via Pro Football Reference)
| No. | Player | Age | G | Cmp | Att | Cmp% | Yds | TD | Int | Sk |
| 10 | Brady Quinn | 25 | 10 | 136 | 256 | 53.1 | 1339 | 8 | 7 | 19 |
| 3 | Derek Anderson | 26 | 8 | 81 | 182 | 44.5 | 888 | 3 | 10 | 11 |
| 16 | Josh Cribbs*+ | 26 | 16 | 1 | 4 | 25 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 4 | Phil Dawson | 34 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 100 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Team Total | 27 | 16 | 219 | 443 | 49.4 | 2255 | 11 | 18 | 30 |
Do we really have to go over all this stuff again? Brady Quinn didn’t get the job until really late in the pre-season. He came out and layed an egg of sorts, got benched, couldn’t get the job back from a bad Derek Anderson for some reason, ran the no-huddle pretty well while not completing nearly enough passes, had one impressive performance in Detroit where the team lost, got hurt and handed the ball back to the most expensive backup QB in the NFL. Run-on sentences really do convey the Browns’ status in the QB department.
Browns Roster Upgrade Advisory: High
So, the question is what will the Browns’ roster look like for 2010? First of all, Derek Anderson will be cut before March if I understand his contract correctly. If Derek Anderson is truly due $7.45 million in salary including a $2 million roster bonus in March, then you have to think he will be cut by March. With that contract, there is no trade potential unless he can come out of the bullpen for the Yankees.
Brady Quinn will be back unless he is traded because he has a favorable contract. Quinn didn’t play well enough that anybody who writes for these pages will be elated to see him as the starter by default next season. I don’t think the full story has been written on Brady Quinn’s career and there is some potential for him to be a solid NFL player. I might have given him a 60% chance before the start of this season and I would say his stock has dropped in my eyes after what I saw this season.
If you care, Brett Ratliff could be back. He is a restricted free agent this off-season and the Browns could very well bring him back to back up the quarterback position.
The Draft
I know it would cause a lot of fans to grind their teeth to think the Browns could draft a quarterback, but it could happen.
The top ten Senior QBs according to ESPN are:
- Sam Bradford
- Jevan Snead
- Colt McCoy
- Tim Tebow
- Tim Hiller
- Dan LeFevour
- Zac Robinson
- Tony Pike
- Jarrett Brown
- Darryl Clark
The Eligible underclassmen list includes Jake Locker, Jimmy Clausen and Ricky Stanzi too.
Out of those, depending on where they fall, I could see the Browns taking anyone not named Tim Tebow. I know a lot of fans will find it logical to say, “not another Notre Dame QB PLEASE!” But think about that for a second. It isn’t logical at all to just stereotype a player by the school they attended. Jimmy Clausen is a completely different player than Brady Quinn. I will listen to any argument against him, but don’t tell me you don’t want him because he went the same place as Brady Quinn. That argument holds no water.
I wouldn’t say I would be totally excited to draft a QB with the #7 pick. Then again, if it turns out that Sam Bradford falls to the Browns there, and Mike Holmgren is excited about it, I might be able to be talked into it. Even better yet, it might be nice to pick a guy with good physical attributes like Tony Pike from Cincinnati if he happened to be available after the first round.
Free Agents of Interest-
(crickets)
Other Free Agents-
Kyle Orton, Denver Broncos
Jason Campbell, Washington Redskins
Chad Pennington, Miami Dolphins
Tarvaris Jackson, Minnesota Vikings
Kellen Clemens, New York Jets
Chris Redman, Atlanta Falcons
Charlie Batch, Pittsburgh Steelers
Kyle Boller, St. Louis Rams
David Carr, New York Giants
Brodie Croyle, Kansas City Chiefs
Daunte Culpepper, Detroit Lions
Rex Grossman, Houston Texans
In other words: pass. Or perhaps better stated: we’ll run the ball thank you. That is not a pretty list. When Kyle Orton is your headliner (and not likely to leave Denver, actually) there won’t be many stories written about this crop of QBs. Kind of makes you scroll back up to the draft list doesn’t it?
There are other possibilities, namely trades. When Tom Heckert’s plane landed from Philadelphia we started to see the Donovan McNabb rumors. I just can’t imagine that happening. McNabb is not at the point in his career where he wants to lead a rebuilding project is he? The other name in Philly is of course Kevin Kolb, another 2007 draftee that is waiting for his chance to play on a regular basis. Quinn has nearly three times the number of NFL snaps as Kolb does. Eagles coach Andy Reid said back on January 11th that McNabb was going to be his QB next season, and that he thought an awful lot of Kolb as well. Realistically I don’t see us getting either of these players.
42 Comments
If we take Clausen at 7 it’d better be because Suh (obviously), Berry, Haden, McClain, Okung and Spiller are off the board and nobody wants to trade up for our pick.
Not that it matters, but aren’t both Sam Bradford and Jevon Snead technically not seniors? I’m pretty sure Snead transferred and had to sit out a year (so senior in the classroom, junior on the field) and I think Bradford was a junior (won the heisman his sophomore year)….anyways….my vote is for Tim Hiller in the 3rd or 4th round (just because I played against him in High School)
Y’know, I’d love to see Jason Campbell play for the Browns. When he has time, he seems decent at QB, better than our current QB’s at least.
I agree with you guys, I don’t see us drafting a QB in the 1st unless Bradford falls to #7. Jimmy Clausen could be a really intriguing option as well, but if we draft a QB to be the guy in the future and probably now, we need to draft a lot of weapons for him and right-side help on the O-Line.
I think the Heckert and Holmgren might actually go for Kevin Kolb if that is possible.
@nobody
Jason Campbell is a very intriguing option as well, but I think Mike Shanahan will make sure he stays in D.C.
I would not be happy with a QB at #7 but I would accept it only because of Holmgren. The man has a great track record with QBs. Montana, Young, Favre, Hasselback – all Super Bowl QBs under Holmgrens tutealge. Was their success all due to the Big Show? Obviously not, but that is a list anyone would want on their resume. He has said he is going to take an active role with the QBs and you can count on his voice being the loudest in the room when it comes to this decision. At this point we really have to trust Holmgren.
Track record or no track record, the last thing we need is a QB @ 7.
If LeFevour falls to the 3rd round, take him there, that’s a safe pick, but other wise, use your Round One on Secondary and Round Two on O-Line.
/GM’d
I see Holmgren sticking with Brady. I’m not sure what the rest of Brady’s contract numbers are, but I think the improved QB play Homgren talked about will come from a new system and new coordinater. Quinn is a student of the game, Holmgren will see that and give him a full opportunity under his supervision. A veteran backup is a must, though.
There is a 0% chance in my mind we draft a QB in the first round unless we trade UP to get back into the first round *cough*brady*cough*. We have far to many glaring needs to fill, and yes, while he doesn’t set the world on fire Brady Quinn is serviceable in what will be a sink or swim year. I do feel however that Clausen will make an outstanding pro, he has great arm strength, great poise, and has been working under a pro system. There is no chance he will fall to #7.
I want us to cut/trade Anderson- get a veteran qb as insurance to Quinn, and take tony pike with one of our 3rd round picks. I think he has high upside being in UC’s offense
So do those stats mean that Phil Dawson had the best QB rating on the team? Haha!
Unless all the other top quality non-QB candidates have somehow been drafted before 7, I can’t see us using the pick on a QB like Clausen or Bradford.
A 2nd day pick up of someone like LaFevour, Pike, or Clark could happen though.
Keep an eye of John Skelton. Hes an intelligent, pocket passer from Fordam. He has good size (6’5″ & 245lbs) and is to go in the 6th round. No need in wasting the 7th pick on a quarterback because neither available will probably be franchise quarterbacks. Many are saying Skelton could be the sleeper in the draft you hopefully the Browns keep an eye on him.
I agree with tribal. I think Brady will be back next year, and a veteran will be brought in to mentor him. I’m guessing we will trade for Hasselback, since Pete Carroll will be wanting to draft Clausen.
I would be ok with a trade for McNabb (or even Hasselbeck) to get us through the next year or so while we groom a young QB. I wouldn’t be shocked by a Colt McCoy sighting in Cleveland (maybe as a 2nd rounder) and a trade involving Brady Quinn. I still think Quinn could succeed as our QB (we still really don’t know what he’s capable of), but I would be fine with any solid, long-term strategy at this point.
I second Vare-A-Jay’s sentiments. Some combination of DB/OL in the first two rounds and BPA thereafter. (unless someone inexplicably falls from a mid-first round grade to the Browns in the second round)
TBrown… Are you comfortable sacrificing the draft picks it would take to get McNabb?
I’ll say it once more: If we go QB at all, and it better be no sooner than Round 3 if we do, then I Like Pike. Kolb would be acceptable via trade, assuming we aren’t giving up the farm. Oh, and just say no to drugs–and Jimmy Clausen. Moreso Jimmy Clausen.
I too have heard the Hasselbeck rumblings and would certainly not be opposed to having him under center next year, with a Pike/La(Cowbell)Fevour/McCoy in the wings. I’d love to see McNabb in orange and brown, but I don’t see it happening. I think the Philly QB most likely to be a Brown, altho still not a high percentage of happening, is Vick. I think Philly will let McNabb go and turn Kolb into their new guy – from what I hear, they are really high on him. Can you imagine a backfield with Vick, Cribbs, and Harrison? Can you imagine the promotional value opportunities – Vick’s Dawg Pound, sponsored by PETA!
PLEASE NO QB in the first round…for God’s sake…either give Quinn a chance from day 1 next season or trade him. Derek Anderson is a meathead QB i.e. All arm no brain which means Cleveland still needs a QB. Either sign a veteran free agent as a backup for Brady or get the guy I’d like and draft Ryan Mallett out of Arkansas preferably with an extra draft pick but not before round 3.
If the QB position only warrants a roster upgrade advisory of “High,” what will it take to see “Severe?”
@JNeids stick around and you’ll find out.
@ boogeyman – Mallett is not in the draft this year. I REPEAT: RYAN MALLETT IS NOT IN THE DRAFT THIS YEAR.
@BrianRut4 Good point about the draft picks; I suppose it would depend on 1) how much the Eagles would want and 2) what we would receive in a trade for Brady Quinn (to offset the cost a bit).
PLEASE, no more dicussion of Clausen. You really think he has what it takes to be the face of a franchise? This is a weak draft year for QBs. Our plan for QB should be…
1) Name Quinn the starter on the first day of preseason
2) Sign a veteran backup
3) a) If Quinn improves, then great!
b) If Quinn does not improve, the veteran backup starts the rest of the year, and we draft a QB in 2011, a much better year for QBs.
Im curious… how early, if at all, would you take a chance on Jevan Snead? Dude was considered a First Round lock before this season, and now will likely fall to the middle rounds.
I saw a mock draft that had Taylor Mays getting picked in the 20’s and now I am banging the drum for trading down again this year. Tell me Taylor Mays is going to be 2-4 times worse than even Eric Berry. But the #7 could cost at least that much more in annual guaranteed money.
@25: Weak QB draft? Really?
2 Heisman winners. 1 Heisman runner up. And the person who was christened the best high school qb prospect since Elway. Now, don’t get me wrong, 1 of the Heisman winners is Tebow, and there are mixed reviews on Clause, but I think saying this is a weak year for QBs is kind of silly.
@Craig
The money would be worth it in the upgrade from Mays to Berry. If he can’t cover anyone then he’s not even worth taking even if we trade down.
Best case scenario is QB guru Holmgren looks at Quinn tape, spots flaw in throwing motion, and Brady is suddenly more accurate. Then we spend picks on other needs. Doesn’t look like Brady needs a mentor, his decision making and poise don’t suck, but he just can’t put the ball where he wants. One of our qb’s throws 8-yard balls on 10 yard routes, the other drills screen passes off rb’s helmets. No can do in a west coast offense.
No way we should draft a qb any earlier than the 3rd round. I would love to see a guy like Pike, Snead or LeFevour picked up 3rd-4th round range. First picks have to be dedicated to secondary and right side of the line. Cut Anderson and pick up a veteran QB bring him into to camp and battle/teach Quin. McNabb and Kolb are long shots at best. Quinn might not be able to light the score board up but he can manage a game and maybe in the west coast offense he can show some promise. Def a put up or shut up year for him. Can’t get it done this next show him the door.
Clausen will be gone by 7 but Bradford may be there if Wash goes OL. All the rest of the QB’s are back up at best.
Ben… So now we are judging nfl potential by the Heisman Trophy and high school star rankings?
a quick look at Heisman trophy winning QBs over the past 20 years will leave you feeling “kind of silly”
Troy Smith
Matt Leinart
Jason White
Carson Palmer (the black sheep of the bunch)
Eric Crouch
Chris Weinke
Danny Wuerffel
Charlie Ward
Gino Toretta
Clearly, all those guys turned out to be franchise QBs.
You’re right. We should ignore everything they did in college.
Troy Smith anyone? He would have been starting had he not come down with an illness 2 years ago. Not saying he’d be an allstar but he’d be alright. I would also be interested in either Philly QB depending on the cost. McNabb would be a good QB and mentor to a potential rookie, and Kolb showed he could be an effective guy when McNabb was hurt. Hasselbeck would not be a good option in my opinion. I’ve never really thought of him as an elite QB and I dont think he’d be a huge upgrade over Quinn. The price would most likely not be worth it (though him and Quinn have many similar attributes.. maybe Carroll would spend a 3rd or 2nd round pick on Brady to be the next guy after Matt).
My favorite QB this draft is Dan Lefevour. There have been a number of MAC QBs who have been productive in the NFL, and Lefevour is flying under the radar almost it seems. He has the most TDs ever in NCAA history. The guy won football games. If we got him in the 3rd or 4th round I would be happy. Not a huge Pike fan.
@Bobby: I also think Lefevour is one of the most interesting QBs in this draft
34…because thats exactly what i said.
Your evidence that this was not a weak QB draft was the inclusion of two Heisman Trophy winners. My argument was that the Heisman Trophy does not correlate to NFL success.
The defense rests.
I concede that it was not a strong argument. But rather than get into an overlong discussion of college statistics that may or may not mean anything, we can simply agree to disagree that the draft is QB strong/weak.
@ ben- While I agree that this is not a weak QB draft, its easy to look and say, ‘theres no superstar that will come out of this group.’ Maybe by that definition its not ‘strong’ but more so deep.
38…agreed sir
[…] Now that The Big Show Mike Holmgren has shored up his front office roster, it’s time for him–and for us–to look at the team’s roster. We’ve borrowed from the Department of Homeland Security and will be looking at each position group day by day, finishing with a roster upgrade ranking based on need. Check back each day this week for a new position group. Previous Reports: RB, OL, WR/TE, QB […]
[…] the quarterback situation may not be labeled “severe” when it comes to a roster addition, it continues to be the most important part of an offense that […]