DawgTalkers.net Forums The Archives 2018 NFL Season 2018 NFL Draft is there a position you would not draft?

hi all - been a long time since i was on the boards, but I always like to come back for draft talk (better then regular season unfortunately).

I've been playing around with those mock draft sites and i keep seeing that DT is a position of need for Browns and I'm not sure I agree. Just thought it would be interesting to see if there is a position you would stay away from?

for mine, it is OG and DT and FB. Now, DT i would consider if there was an absolute steal but I like the young guys on the roster and next year's DT draft is going to be unreal. Everything else is fair game. Although, I wouldn't get desperate for OT (assuming Thomas comes back). Everything else I would take BPA

Assuming we keep all our picks I'm hoping for:

1 QB
2 RB
2 WR
2 S
2 CB
2 LB
1 BPA of C, OT, OG, DT or another WR (maybe gamble on Calloway from Florida in 6-7 round - off field concerns)

Hey!

I agree with you - I think DT and OG are fine. Ogunjobi and Brantley could develop into that interior pass rush threat - both flashed on occasion this year. Like you have listed, we have way more glaring needs. I would put RB behind FS and CB though

Hey, welcome back. It's been a while.

I would not draft a Kicker. I would bring in a veteran to compete for the job, though.

My 2 biggest problem positions, behind QB, of course, are WR and CB. I would be very happy if we spend our 1st 5 picks on a QB, 2 WR, and 2 CB. Then take that 1st pick in the 3rd and grab the best remaining RB. Fill out the rest with BPA, (and truth be told, I would be fine with a huge steal at a different position, if one happened to fall to us)

is CB worse then Safety? I wasn't sure they played the way they did with Peppers because they couldn't trust CBs or Safety play? Regardless, both need upgraded with multiple players

I think a free safety improves the secondary. We still need a CB or two and hope Wilson pans out. It's a passing league nowadays. We were torched through the air.

I would not draft a punter or kicker because we are set on those. It takes a while for kickers to get used to the winds up here so give the guy some time because he has a hell of a leg.

I think we are ok with C, OG, DT, DE, MLB, and SS.

LT is one where Joe could retire any year so we should be on the eye for good talent but I don't think it's a top priority THIS year.

Everything else is up for grabs IMHO.

Our biggest need is a QB, WR, FS, and CB.

I would try to sign Kirk Cousins first since he is a proven QB. If not then we have to draft one. IF we do then we should trade out of the first because people will overpay by a lot for Rosen or Darnold and that will benefit our team greatly. I use pick #4 for the best playmaker available at either WR Courtland Sutton or Barkley at HB because these two are special players who would greatly help us score a lot more points instantly. Then I use a second round pick on Mason for QB and get the best QB in the draft if the Steeler don't steal him first.

I know fitz is amazing but he is not going to score points for us. We absolutely have to improve our ability to score points if we ever want to matter.

I would never draft a fullback...I mean, why?

There's not a harder position to play in the NFL than fullback. However, Hue seems to really enjoy using Vitale, who is alright. But, Dimitri Flowers from Oklahoma looks really good. He can block, catch and run. If he's there in the 5th, I wouldn't be mad if we used our pick on him.

I wouldn't draft a guard, even though Quenton Nelson will be a beast at the next level. I would also not draft a DT, even though I think Vita Vea will also be a monster at the next level.

I would pump the breaks on most linebackers, as we have three good ones and should only play two of them. However, I really like the class this year and would love to have Shaquem Griffin (The one handed linebacker from UCF) on the team.

Other than that I wouldn't touch a TE or a C in this draft. I think all other positions are open to us.

I just don't see the value in a fullback at all. You are wasting one of your weapon positions.

But, I have had this discussion before. If you want to draft one, go for it. I myself never would. Pick one up as a UDFA, or put another runner or receiver in the game. If blocking is the goal, add a big TE or stick a guard back there to block.

I don't think that the Browns are going to give up on Peppers just yet. I think that Kindred played well at SS, and that Peppers will get the off-season to further develop, and the season to nail down FS.

Williams made some comments about the CB position that lead me to believe that he wants an upgrade there.

I wouldn't draft a kicker, punter, or long snapper this year

I am not drafting a running back with a top 5 pick.

I think we are set at defensive tackle unless for some reason there is a 1st round grade in round 3 or something similar.

I agree with you on DT, though if we have an opportunity improve the team, I'm all for it.

The only positions I wouldn't draft are PK, P, and LS. Everything else is fair game

I'd draft the punter from Texas (Michael Dickson). He might be the best punter in the league his first year.

https://www.si.com/college-football/2017/12/21/texas-punter-michael-dickson-nfl-draft

Not many punters leaving school early.

We have so many picks that I wouldn't rule out picking any position.

I would disagree about C, DE, MLB and SS....while I don't think they are major issues, I would still consider them somewhat early because we need to stop thinking about the immediate next year and start doing what most good teams do and draft and develop. Perhaps we don't need a DE but do you want to pay Ogbah $8-10M per year 2 years from now? Maybe, maybe not but wouldn't it be great to take a high upside guy that could learn, get 3rd down snaps and eventually take over?

Same with Center, Tretter is under contract for 2 more years, if one of the studs fall further then expected, I would have no problem scooping him up, letting him be top interior OL depth in 2018 (most of the good ones this year spent time at Guard in college too) and start in 2019 (cut Tretter).

I wouldn't reach for these positions but if there is a great get, go BPA...especially at LB as I want someone to push Collins and Kirksey respectively plus we have zero depth at LB IMO.

For that matter, I would draft a LT now if one is there at one of our 2nd round picks.

I don't anticipate Joe hanging them up, but he will soon enough. I'd like to be locked and loaded for when that happens. I'd like a seamless transition.

Yeah, LT aren't always day 1 starters anymore as well. College systems are leaving them unprepared for the NFL.

Looks a little bit like his father

I wanted to be able to yell "Geronimo!" in the stands last year.

I want to be able to yell "Zeus!" in the stands this year.

I would draft five players each at all positions... if it were possible lol.

Maybe Guard? Still if a good prospect fell it would be hard to pass him by.

Honestly? Not really. Outside of the positions you don't spend high picks on, I think the Browns can explore every position.

That includes left tackle.

The Browns are not great at any facet of the game. They also aren't very deep at most positions.

I would not draft a long snapper. One-track pony. Need to have good one, though.

As great a JT has been, he hasn't committed to coming back-unless I've missed it, we should draft a T...biggest needs QB, WR, CBs, and S...Crow's gone, so RB also, glad we've got lots of picks....GO Browns!!!!

I agree with Joe Thomas...Idk why, but I have a feeling he may walk away...

RB class this year is absolutely stacked, and there is huge quality after round 4 starts as well...We would also be able to solve some of it in FA, as I wouldn't mind chasing RB Carlos Hyde (Big back with soft hands) RBs sign for cheap in FA compared to other premiere positions...Should be a great off-season to look out for!

Yeah I'm a little worried about JT coming back and even if he comes back, he might decide to hang it up when his contract expires.

Positions of need are playmakers on offense and playmakers on defense. The Browns are loaded with average to good players but very few impact players. I am all for acquiring either Smith or Cousins and by passing a QB in the first 2 rounds in favor of playmakers like Barclay, Fitzpatrict, Ridley and Smith from Georgia. A lot depends on what the Browns do in free agency. I expect Joe Thomas to be back next year after everyone tells him how much they need him. I do question if Joe wants to put forth the effort to it will take to remain playing at a high level. I would be looking for his replacement. You can't count on Josh Gordon so WR would be high on my list. Kiser has more than enough potential to sit and learn behind Smith or Cousins. It would be nice to have Barclay but will Hue use him more than he did crow? The defense needs a free safety bad. Fitzpatrict would be nice to have. Raquan Smith impressed me as much as any player I saw this year. I would like to get him and trade Collins on draft day. I am pleased with our dline and oline. We do need a LT to groom. Getting a veteran QB and some playmakers is the quickest and safest way to start winning now. Relying on a rookie QB to come in and be THE guy is very risky. We all know our past luck going that route. I am tired of waiting til next year or rebuilds. We deserve a winner as soon as we can get there. I have been a Browns fan for 57 years and I remember George Allens phylosophy when he coached the Redskins. He would trade draft picks for proven players. They always made the playoffs. I know in todays game that wouldn't work. Too expensive. Could work if done sparingly. Well that is my thoughts on getting to respectability.

As I've said before in other threads, the chance to draft an elite QB prospect doesn't come often, and the chance to choose between more than 1 is even more rare. The best available veteran QBs, Smith and Cousins, are both good, but not elite. Forgoing the opportunity to draft an elite prospect in favor of a good veteran is a mistake. There are plenty of picks, and there is plenty of salary cap space to fill out other needs.

Dorsey and Wolf should make their choice of the best QB in the draft and bring in the best veteran they can under the circumstances. The veteran starts until the rookie is ready.

I see your point but there are no guarantees that any QB in the draft will be elite or better than Smith or Cousins. Certainly not in that 1st or 2nd season. We need impact players and have a chance to fill several needs if we can aquire Smith or Cousins while also filling our QB need. I am all for getting better quickly as in challenging for a divisional title next year. I do not want to hope our rookie QB develops into a good QB while we are still struggling to win games. I have seen this play out too many times. Give me a good vet any day over a rookie QB. But that is just my opinion.
By the way, i thought Kiser showed more promise as a rookie than any rookie QB we've had since Couch. He did make a lot of mistakes but he has a lot more potential than his stats would show. He just needs to sit and learn from a good veteran QB.

And I see your point. The QB we pick could end up busting. There are never any guarantees, any veteran we bring in could have a career ending injury before he ever plays in a regular season game. Or in a new setting/system they just might not perform at the same level as they have been. Look around the league, the teams that have achieved and maintained greatness have done so with a stud QB. We are in a position to take our choice of 2, maybe 3 elite QB prospects. If we pass on the rookies to take a good vet and start winning some games, that puts us in the middle of drafts, in no-man's land when it comes to elite QB prospects. I don't want another decade of mediocrity, and I am willing to live with a few growth years. I don't want to be sitting here 3 years from now lamenting how we could have had a QB that is studding out for some other team while we continue to be the snake bit Browns.

Every couple of years some team gets to be in the position we are in. For any individual team, it doesn't happen very often. But to do that, they have to be bad (or be willing to trade away a lot of draft picks.) We are in that position now. We have the first pick in a draft with multiple, potentially elite QB prospects. If we don't take the chance NOW, we may not see it again for a decade. We have assembled a new FO of highly regarded personnel men. Let them prove their worth. Use the first pick to draft the QB they determine is the best of this good bunch.

Which ever way we go could turn out wrong, but the upside is greater taking the gamble on the top rookie. And if it becomes a regret, I'd rather regret a chance taken than one not taken.

I understand your thoughts on how to turn the Browns around and I respect your opinion. Drafting a QB with the 1st pick might work but we better be right because if we're wrong it will set us back farther, if that's possible. I do know a couple of things, we haven't had a QB as good as Cousins or Smith since Bernie. That was 30 years ago. During that time we have drafted several QBs that looked good in college and brought in several bargain basement veterans while being medeocre maybe 2 seasons. Mike Tyson said everyone has a plan until they get punched in the nose. In the Browns case starting 0-4 or worse is their punch in the nose. If that happens Hue will be gone and we will be on our way to more changes while ruining another rookie QB. We have several pieces already in place. Our oline and dline are good and getting better. We need a QB and some playmakers on both sides of the ball. Using our picks in the 1st 2 rounds on positions other than QB will help us get those type players. Providing of course we can acquire Smith or Cousins. We still have Kiser who is only 21 and can sit and learn from a proven veteran. Kiser has all the tools he just wasn't ready to be a starter. There is a lot he can work on while gaining much needed knowledge from our starter. I respect your opinion and we may go in the direction you choose but my thoughts are based on a quicker turnaround.

I think we have both well explained our positions and I agree to disagree. Thanks.