#25: ATH, Jabrill Peppers

[FiveThous]

People want this FO office gone and we have Coleman who has looked at a starting WR at worst, Ogbah who could start on just about any team in the NFL, Nassib who has been a serviceable DE, Schobert who has looked good in this scheme. Louis is starting to show some growth considering he wasn't close to being NFL ready after leaving Auburn. DeValve looks good as well. That's just last year's class and I may be forgetting people.

Our 3 first rounders have looked good so far, Kizer has been bad (probably worse than expected tbh), Ogunjobi looks good, Brantley has made a couple plays. Dayes, while he hasn't seen much PT this season has shown he could be a passing down back. I feel like I may be missing someone here too.

I don't understand why some people want this FO gone (not necessarily on RCF, mostly on Twitter). There are a lot of players that look the part. If we had even league average QB play, this team could have anywhere from 2-4 wins already.

 

[Snowblind]

I think the 2016 draft class was just a solid but not spectacular one. We got some solid starters, decent depth and some busts. Now if this team already had legit starters or pro bowl players that draft would have been fine.

2017 looks to have a bit more potential in terms of pro bowlers. But they're still rookies learning their way in the NFL. Garrett and Njoku look to be potential guys that we can lean on for both sides of the ball. I think once we get a rangy free safety to pair with peppers, we'll see him blossom.

Every team is going to draft busts so I'm not expecting the Browns to be any better than that. But I don't think they're necessarily doing any worse than other regimes.

 

[FiveThous]

I think the 2016 draft class was just a solid but not spectacular one. We got some solid starters, decent depth and some busts. Now if this team already had legit starters or pro bowl players that draft would have been fine.

2017 looks to have a bit more potential in terms of pro bowlers. But they're still rookies learning their way in the NFL. Garrett and Njoku look to be potential guys that we can lean on for both sides of the ball. I think once we get a rangy free safety to pair with peppers, we'll see him blossom.

Every team is going to draft busts so I'm not expecting the Browns to be any better than that. But I don't think they're necessarily doing any worse than other regimes.

What do you define as a bust? Who would you consider a bust from 2016?

 

[Pick6]

Who would you consider a bust from 2016?

Trey Caldwell, Jordan Payton, Scooby Wright, and probably Higgins/Louis.

For the record, I'm not hating, just answering your question - I think they did fine with that draft class with the little amount of time they had to scout and get their process's in place. You are always going to have guys who don't make it, especially with nearly double the normal amount of picks nearly every year. And all those guys were drafted in the middle of round 4 or higher, so I don't think there is really anything to hold against the FO there.

 

[Lee]

Trey Caldwell, Jordan Payton, Scooby Wright, and probably Higgins/Louis.

For the record, I'm not hating, just answering your question - I think they did fine with that draft class with the little amount of time they had to scout and get their process's in place. You are always going to have guys who don't make it, especially with nearly double the normal amount of picks nearly every year. And all those guys were drafted in the middle of round 4 or higher, so I don't think there is really anything to hold against the FO there.

6th and 7th rounders can never be a bust in my book, if they make the squad and contribute its a bonus, but no way can they be a bust.

I will give you Trey Caldwell, he turned out bad. The 2 receivers are incompletes i guess.

But to me Corey Coleman, Kessler and Jordan Payton were all negatives, (Caldwell too i guess)

Ogbah, Nassib, Shon Coleman, Joe Schobert, Kindred, DeValve and Drango all are playing at or above their positions

And then Louis and Higgins we will see

That really is a very good draft. I still hate the Corey Coleman pick, but other than that very solid.

 

[Soda]

Trey Caldwell, Jordan Payton, Scooby Wright, and probably Higgins/Louis.

For the record, I'm not hating, just answering your question - I think they did fine with that draft class with the little amount of time they had to scout and get their process's in place. You are always going to have guys who don't make it, especially with nearly double the normal amount of picks nearly every year. And all those guys were drafted in the middle of round 4 or higher, so I don't think there is really anything to hold against the FO there.

If Scooby Wright is a bust, then hundreds of players "bust" each year. Can we call it a "bust" if about 50% of the chosen players are that? How much hope was there for guys picked that late?

 

[Pick6]

Coleman has shown a ton of potential I think. I still think he can be a very good WR. The issue is that he needs to stay healthy. Kessy you could make an argument. By all accounts they sort of reached, but I think he showed during his rookie year he can be a solid back up. I wouldn't normally expect more out of a QB drafted in the 3rd unless there is some luck involved. I count 8 current starters that were drafted after the 2nd round. The only good ones are Kirk, Brady, Russ, and maybe Dak and Tyrod depending on how you view them.

I have trouble truly holding any QB decisions against the FO. You would have to do a lot of convincing for me to believe that they aren't almost solely relying on Hue's input there.

 

[The Oi]

Players are only busts if they’re taken in the top 2-3 rounds IMO. You’re not relying on guys after that to lead your team.

 

[Pick6]

If Scooby Wright is a bust, then hundreds of players "bust" each year. Can we call it a "bust" if about 50% of the chosen players are that? How much hope was there for guys picked that late?

If you want to use a different word for a player not working out then fine. Not sure what we're really talking about here as I said late round picks not working out is realistic and I don't hold it against the FO.

 

[Soda]

If you want to use a different word for a player not working out then fine. Not sure what we're really talking about here as I said late round picks not working out is realistic and I don't hold it against the FO.

I'm not looking to indict you haha. I'm just saying, as a point of order, guys who don't pan out from at least the 6th and 7th rounds are pretty-much doing what's expected. If you find guys then, it's very fortunate and its how you get past other teams.

 

[Amherstcavsfan]

Players are only busts if they’re taken in the top 2-3 rounds IMO. You’re not relying on guys after that to lead your team.

Nailed it.

Draft really ends in the 4th round. The guys you pick that pan out are really just extra on top.

BTW, the 2016 draft had Kindred who looks really good too.

I would say the 2016 draft was solid and/or league average. They hit on some, whiffed on Kessler and Coleman will always get a chance to prove his health.

The 2017 draft looks good so far, probably well above league average. Garrett has 2 sacks in not even 20 snaps, Njoku is a huge redzone threat, Peppers is a solid in the box safety and return man, Ogunjobi is already an elite run defender. Mix in some Brantley, Dayes and who knows on Johnson, Gonzalez, and Wilson and its a very successful start.

The team has done a good job of finding talented players in the top 2 rounds. Say what you will about Coleman and Kizer, but Garrett, Ogbah and Njoku already look like potential pro bowl guys and Peppers is still a solid player. If they could replicate this same success in 2018 with 5 picks in the first five rounds, they will be just fine.

 

[Pick6]

Keeping perspective...the FO is basically building this team from scratch. After the tear down, there were what...4-5 positions filled that had proven NFL talent that you could count on for the future? Thomas, Bitonio, Kirksey, Haden (maybe...and obviously not now). Am I missing anybody? Maybe Crow and/or Duke. Even Shelton was coming off of a shit rookie year.

 

[Snowblind]

What do you define as a bust? Who would you consider a bust from 2016?

I think Coleman is trending in that territory. He's definitely flashed, but his hands might actually be made of glass. Kessler was a reach that I don't think anyone defended. But that was a 3rd round pick so you might not call him a bust (would have been nice to take a skill player but that's neither here nor there).

I guess the 4th-7th round picks would be more labeled as "misses" than "busts". Since they had quite a few guys that didn't pan out. I guess bust was the wrong wording there.

The FO has also found some good UDFAs too so maybe it's a wash. I still think this FO is fine. They clearly are working together with the coaching staff to find players that fit both offense and defensive schemes. It's up to the coaches to develop the players and put them in a position to succeed.

 

[The Wizard of Moz]

Our 3 first rounders have looked good so far

Ok I feel like "looks good" is being used way too loosely.

As someone who wanted Garrett he has played 18 snaps.

Saying Peppers has looked good is just not true. There were a few games where he didn't look bad, but he has been a well below average safety. Again, he isn't being put in the best situation for him but it just isn't accurate to say he's looked good.

For reference I do NOT want this front office gone. I'm not entirely sure what to do with Hue at this point, but I will be extremely disappointed if the front office is replaced

 

[Soda]

Saying Peppers has looked good is just not true. There were a few games where he didn't look bad, but he has been a well below average safety. Again, he isn't being put in the best situation for him but it just isn't accurate to say he's looked good.

Watching him closely on Sunday when I was there, I didn't see anything glaring about Peppers that speaks as "well below-average" at all. I mean, he isn't making the highlight reel, but he's been getting to the ball. He got beat by AJ Green; his career low-light to this point. Not saying you think he's awful or anything, but I really would like to see something substantive about how he's "well below-average" outside the arm-chair eye test.