At this point, things are getting a little more clear where QBs are going to be and what the lay of the land is.
What is every ones preferred direction for the Browns QBs?
1. Trade for Garoppolo (unlikely to happen IMO)
2. Trade for Kirk Cousins (unlikely to happen IMO)
3. Draft Davis Webb in the 3-4th round, run with Kessler, pick up a true backup QB like Ryan Nassib, wait out till next year and put all eggs in the 2018 QB basket.
4. Draft a QB with the 12th pick and let Kessler/Rookie QB duke it out.
Here's where I am:
I'm not making any trades until draft night. We can talk about it and have the framework done on potential deals, but hold off until we see who is where.
Priority 1: Take Myles Garrett at 1 and don't even entertain offers. It's time to turn quantity into quality for a change. I don't care how many future picks you are offered.
Priority 2: Monitor the Mr. Biscuit situation. If Trubisky falls outside the top 4, now at this point, I think we can consider trading up if Hue likes him as much as is being claimed. Local kid, loves the Browns, and if Hue is sold I'm sold. At pick 5, ahead of the Jets, #12 and a 2nd is a good starting point per the draft value chart. We have traded with Tennessee (5) in the past, maybe they want their pick back. Trading to anything higher than 5 is far too many assets to give up in my opinion for this QB class.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/draft/draft-trade-chart/
Priority 3: Let's say we gamble that Trubisky may fall to us at 12 instead of trading up. The big balls play is clutch if it pays off. If not, and the Jets take him at 6, my backup plan is Jimmy G as no other quarterback is worth 12 in my opinion. This is dependent on if Hue likes him, of course. However, I do not offer more than what we would have had to give up to get pick 5.
Priority 4: We do not get Trubisky and we cannot agree on a deal to acquire Garoppolo (I'm convinced NE secretly wants to trade him). At this point, my plan is to go BPA all the way at 12. Build up that defense, and we need a safety. Perhaps Hooker falls here given his inability to workout for teams while recovering from surgery. Either way, BPA. At this point, the plan for me would be monitor the QB situation at 33. If Hue likes Watson enough and he slips to the mid-20's, which is known to happen once you get past 10, you can consider packaging 33 and moving back in. We have wonderful flexibility with all our draft currency. I don't love Watson personally, but I'll trust the FO.
Priority 5: We did not come away with Trubisky or Garoppolo because the price was too rich, and our FO doesn't like Watson. BPA again at 33, maybe Evan Engram if he's here at 33, or address a need at corner with Gareon Conley. Of course, if the FO has a nice value grade on Kizer or Mohomes, this would be the spot. If not, I'm waiting until middle rounds to draft a project, like Webb.
If we do not come away with Garoppolo, we are likely going to be starting Kessler until the rookie is ready regardless of who it is (perhaps mid season). I'm not against that, Kessler shows the makings of a decent NFL backup quarterback. Let's not kid ourselves, though, he's not our starting quarterback of the future.
The roster would then have Rookie and Kessler. If we get nothing for Osweiler and we plan to outright cut him, I'd consider keeping him as a body. Ideally we trade him for something, and sign a veteran quarterback for the meeting rooms and show our pups the ropes. Maybe Ryan Fitzpatrick is ready for this role after his flame-out. McCown would have been great for this.
There's literally so much that can happen and we have so many draft tools at our disposal. If there is one QB that our team is completely sold on, there really isn't a reason we can't make it a reality. We can move anywhere we need to. The above is just my current game plan.
