Sunday, March 11, 2018

Browns Trading Flurry

Nothing is supposed to happen before Wednesday but there have been a bunch of trades across the NFL in advance of the new league year. The Los Angeles Rams, Kansas City Chiefs, and Philadelphia Eagles had been the trading pacesetters. The Cleveland Browns blew every trade-happy team away in a flurry of recent activity. Over the past couple years, then decision-maker, Sashi Brown (no relation) spent most of his time adding draft picks rather than using them. Current decision-maker John Dorsey is using those picks. From Friday to Saturday the Browns were wide open for business.

24-hour tally:

Browns Acquired:
QB Tyrod Taylor
WR Jarvis Landry
CB Damarious Randall
Packers 4th- and 5th-round picks in 2018
Patriots 3rd-round pick in 2018

Browns traded:
2018 3rd-round pick
2018 4th-round pick
2019 7th-round pick
QB DeShone Kizer
2018 4th- and 5th-round pick
DT Danny Shelton
2018 5th-round pick

This is a different Cleveland Browns team. It's changed not so much in the players on the team (although that's certainly changed and will continue to change) but in how they do business. They are actually doing business. Previous Browns front offices seemed afraid to do business, make decisions. That was most evident in an inability to make a firm commitment on a quarterback. They kept bobbing and weaving on the most important position on a football team. They passed on Carson Wentz and DeShaun Watson. They missed on Jimmy Garoppolo. They dicked around with acquiring A.J. McCarron. They still need to get their franchise quarterback but they should take their shot with the first pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Until that quarterback arrives and is ready, Tyrod Taylor is a competent, talented, and often entertaining place-holder. Taylor and any future quarterback should be a happy quarterback. The Browns have assembled a talented group of pass-catchers in receivers Josh Gordon, Corey Coleman, and Jarvis Landry, tight end David Njoku, and running back Duke Johnson. The offensive line is a strength. This is a very intriguing offense and it's very good bet that the Browns' current losing streak will end early in the 2018 season.

The most interesting thing about this Browns team moving forward is what moves will they make when they are actually allowed to do so.

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