In spite of all of the support given to Colt McCoy this week by coach Pat Shurmur, the fact remains the Browns keep trying to replace him.
Even the coach’s comments were guarded, saying McCoy was the Browns’ starting quarterback for the moment.
Don’t think for a minute that Cleveland would love to find another passer between now and the end of the season.
So, it comes down to talent evaluation, and your trust that GM Tom Heckert can make the correct call in bringing players in. With 13 picks in the selection process, if he hits on most of his choices, the team will get a huge windfall of talent.
That said, if the Browns think Texas A & M quarterback Ryan Tannehill can be very good in the NFL they should pick him with the fourth overall pick, although if they could trade down to #6 or #7 and pick up an extra pick, that would be fine as well.
The objections to Tannehill don’t hold a lot of merit. Again, if Heckert, Shurmur, and new offensive coordinator Brad Childress think he’s the real deal, then they need to put him in a Cleveland uniform.
The first objection is that the Browns need to take someone who will be on the field for the season opener. Why? They’ve picked plenty of players over the years who couldn’t start in the opener.
In fact, with another first round pick at #22, this is the perfect time to take him. They have that choice plus a high second round pick to get two players who can start immediately.
Another objection is that Tannehill is the third best quarterback in this year’s draft. Do you know who was the third best QB in 2006? That would be the Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger, who by the way, has won two Super Bowls.
Heck, Dan Marino was the sixth passer taken in the 1983 draft. The position ranking is meaningless once the games start. You are judged by how you play.
The fact is the best quarterbacks in the NFL come from the first round. If you made a list of the top players at the most important position on the field, you will find most are taken in the opening round.
That doesn’t mean all first round picks turn out to be great QBs, but the good ones are taken there. And Tannehill was judged by many talent gurus to be a first round pick, but more often than not, later in the round.
However, Miami is known to want the former Aggie, so Cleveland has to stay ahead of them at #8. It would be nice if Heckert could nab Tannehill at #22, but it doesn’t look possible.
So, if the Browns think he’s their guy, they have no choice but to take him in the top ten.
There’s no question it’s a risk, but then again all picks that high have the potential to be huge busts. Remember Courtney Brown and Gerard Warren? The former had injury problems, but getting virtually nothing out of those picks still haunts the franchise.
But Cleveland needs a franchise quarterback if they are ever going to make the leap into playoff contention. McCoy’s a nice player, but he’ll never be an elite player at the position.
The point is this, Browns’ fans can make a million excuses not to take Ryan Tannehill, but they’ll rip the front office if he becomes an All Pro.
It comes down to talent evaluation like everything else in professional sports. If Tom Heckert thinks Tannehill can be great, they have to pull the trigger and make sure he winds up in Cleveland.
JD
Cleveland Sports Perspective 