The Cleveland Browns finally made a smart move by trading back in the 2016 NFL Draft.
After years of being completely incompetent, the Cleveland Browns are showing signs of hope. The offseason began with plenty of folks mocking the franchise for hiring Sashi Brown as general manager, a man who seemingly came out of nowhere and then proclaimed he would do things in the mold of Billy Beane’s moneyball strategy.
Brown is living up to his promise. After forcing the draft picks of quarterbacks for years, Cleveland traded back in the 2016 NFL Draft, moving to eighth-overall from the second spot in a deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Browns also sent a fourth-round pick next year but received a third and fourth-round selection in 2016 while getting a first-round pick in 2017 and a second-round selection in 2018.
For a team completely rebuilding, this is a massive haul in a draft that has no sure quarterback prospects to speak of.
Cleveland finally realized that there is no quick fix to a building that has burnt to the ground. Sure, the Browns could have drafted Carson Wentz or Jared Goff and hoped for the best, but either of those signal-callers would have been coming into a brutal situation. Starting Robert Griffin III is the perfect solution for 2016 considering the miniscule investment placed in him.
This won’t be a pretty season in Cleveland, but this move shows that the front office has some clue as to building a winner. The real question is whether or not Brown and his cohorts can make the right decisions when those picks go on the clock. It is one thing to acquire currency, it is quite another to spend it wisely.
The offseason watched as Mitch Schwartz, Alex Mack, Tashaun Gipson and Travis Benjamin were allowed to leave in free agency. Nobody of note was brought in outside of Griffin, while Josh Gordon still remains the team’s property despite reportedly failing another drug test. The best part of the offseason? Johnny Manziel is only a memory.
There is still miles to go for the Browns before this team is relevant. Let’s not forget that in 2012 and 2014, Cleveland enjoyed the prospects of having two first-round picks in the same year. Those four picks turned into Trent Richardson, Brandon Weeden, Justin Gilbert and Manziel. However, this is a new front office and one that appears capable after pulling off this heist of Philadelphia.
In short, nothing has been solved of the short-term. Cleveland will be a terrible team this season. At No. 8, Brown would be wise to select the best player available and continue that strategy throughout all seven rounds. It’s the only way to become a contender at any point this decade.
While the road may be long, Cleveland might finally have hope.