The 2019 Browns Chronicles: Offseason Special Edition - Browns Did Something Good...

The Browns were involved in another one sided trade on Tuesday night. For once, though, the Browns would not be the team who was being duped.  Instead, and a rarity, the Browns made a blockbuster, one sided, deal. In exchange for safety Jabrill Peppers, 2019 first round draft pick (overall pick 17) and a 2019 third round draft the Browns received Giants’ Pro Bowl receiver, Odell Beckham Jr. With the addition of offseason signings of defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson, and linebacker/defensive end Olivier Vernon, the OBJ trade is the equivalent of a terrific finale of an already great Fourth of July fireworks display.

For the longest time Browns fans have gone into the offseason and the draft with the same inspiration that 11^th Century Spanish troops had when they rushed into battle following El Cid – a nobleman whose dead body was strapped on a horse and sent into battle. There have been several Browns offseason signings, that to say the least, were a bust. The Dwayne Bowe signing was a wide receiver debacle from nearly the onset. Bowe was signed to a two-year deal worth $13 million - $9 million of that guaranteed. Bowe would last one season with a total of five catches for 53 yards. In other words, Bowe was paid nearly $2 million dollars per catch. Then, of course, the Browns had the “Kenny Britt Era.” That died after John Dorsey, on his first full day as Cleveland’s new general manager, waived Britt. Then there was the signing of, in the descent of his career, quarterback Jake Delehome. So, suffice to say that, similar to modern Browns history, Browns offseasons have been less than inspiring. 

The likelihood of those same issues happening in the case of the Odell Beckham signing are not likely. This is because unlike the previous mentioned players, Odell Beckham is far more talented than either Bowe or Britt. Beckham is a proven wide receiver - one which has been eluding the Browns even after the 2018 signing of Jarvis Landry (who is still extremely talented). According to Pro Football Focus’s 2018 Top 101 Players, Odell Beckham ranked 36^th. Furthermore, even after missing the last quarter of the 2018 season with injury, Beckham still managed to have an explosive season (on a terrible team) and had a grade of 90.0. It should also be noted that in 2018 Beckham was being thrown to, according to Pro Football Focus, by the 31^st ranked quarterback in the NFL – Eli Manning. Now, with Odell Beckham having (almost) rookie of the year quarterback Baker Mayfield toss him the ball, opposing defensives will be hard pressed to double Beckham as Jarvis Landry and sophomore wide receiver, Antonio Callaway will be lining  up opposite to Beckham.

However, what the Browns are doing isn’t new and it was done last year by the Los Angeles Rams, (who were able to make it to the Super Bowl) and the 2014 Seattle Seahawks (who won the Super Bowl that year). The Browns, after nearly two decades without one, have finally found their franchise quarterback in Baker Mayfield. The Browns have a core defensive unit and with the addition of Richardson and Vernon, only have a more bolstered lineup. Similar to the Rams who had cornerback Lamarcus Joyner and defensive tackle Aaron Donald, the Rams went out and signed cornerbacks  Aqib Talib, Marcus Peters, and defensive tackle, Ndamukong Suh. The finances also make it a time for the Browns to “make moves.” Like the Seahawks with Russell Wilson in 2014 and the Rams with quarterback Jarod Goff in last year’s Super Bowl, the Browns, too, have a star-studded quarterback who is on his rookie contract (i.e. cheap). According to ESPN’s Bill Barnwell, “[t]he Browns can afford to devote nearly $30 million of their cap to Beckham and Landry in 2019 because Mayfield has a cap hit of $7.4 million . . ..” In other words as soon as a team realizes they have a franchise quarterback under a cheap rookie contract, the next best thing to do is spend to assemble expensive pieces around him in order to win. The Seahawks did it in 2014, Philadelphia did it in 2017 (to a lesser extent), the Rams did it last year and the Browns are doing it this year. It’s a method that has proven at the very least a playoff appearance and at the most a Super Bowl victory.

There are, like anything the Browns do, some worries. The first is the very fact that Jarvis Landry, Odell Beckham Jr., and Baker Mayfield all have egos. This trifecta of talent also comes with three men who hate to lose.  This mentality, at times, has caused on the field tantrums (Odell Beckham). If things are to go south, there is fear that the locker room could become broken with these polarizing personalities acting out, especially when in March all the press was saying they were now contenders. This issue is exasperated with the second issue – the inexperience of first time head coach, Freddie Kitchens. Although brilliant as an interim offensive coordinator in 2018, Kitchens has never been a head coach before (not even a middle school head coach). If things were to get heated with OBJ’s personality or any other player, it would fall on Kitchens to broker the peace and bring the team together.  These two issues are only created because of the very fact that for once in modern Browns history, the Browns are predicted to make the playoffs and even win their division. Considering last year Browns fans were just hoping to win a game, it is incredible that a year later the Browns are picked to win more than ten games and be in the playoffs.

Yet, this is the situation that Browns fans have longed to be in. This win now pressure is what we have been salivating for decades. Baker Mayfield, Odell Beckham Jr., and Jarvis Landry are, yes, some of the more emotional players in the league, but that’s because they care and have also been noted by fellow teammates to be some of the hardest working players in football. In turn, with the combination of their longing to win, their pride in their work ethic, and Cleveland’s loyal and proud fan base, the likelihood the Browns blow this opportunity is slim. The Browns are finally being led into battle with their very much alive nobleman, John Dorsey . . . it’s about time!

 

Go Browns!!