Most of the recent debate about the second overall pick in the NFL Draft for the Cleveland Browns is whether or not they should take a quarterback or Penn State’s edge rusher Abdul Carter.
Most analysts say Carter is one of the top three players eligible for the selection process, while those same pundits have the top two quarterbacks, Cam Ward and Shadeur Sanders, outside of the top ten.
However, because QB is so important, every year, passers ranked lower than many players at other positions get taken higher because if you don’t have one, you need to get one.
Carter might wind up being a fine pro, possibly a Pro Bowl player, and certainly could be a fine addition to any NFL team. However, the Browns’ defense ranked 19th in the league in yards allowed last season, 13th in sacks, and 9th in pressuring the quarterback.
They allowed the 5th most points, but we will get to that later.
On the other hand, the Browns’ offense was 28th in yards gained, dead last in points scored, and was the 4th worse rushing team in the NFL. And they also turned it over more than any other team in the league except for Tennessee, who they were tied with at 34.
Simply put, the offense has to improve.
If Cleveland isn’t sold on Sanders at #2 (assuming Ward will be the first overall pick), then they need to trade down, get more picks, and get some players who can help on the offensive side of the football.
The Browns have an aging offensive line, although they did sign Teven Jenkins, who has started 38 games in his four-year career, including 14 starts a year ago. They have one solid wide receiver in Jerry Jeudy, and the running back spot also needs an upgrade.
For years, the Browns had Nick Chubb, perhaps the best (in our opinion, the best) runner in the league. Last year, Jerome Ford led the team in rushing with a paltry 565 yards, but he doesn’t consistently get the four or five yards on first down needed in Kevin Stefanski’s offense.
He is kind of a home run hitter, capable of breaking off a long one, but again, lacks consistency.
By the way, we still want the Browns to sign Chubb because of what he means to the franchise, and also to see what he can be after another off-season of rehab on his knee.
Yes, the Browns ran an offensive scheme last season totally unlike anything they ran under Stefanski since he arrived as head coach. And with Ken Dorsey gone, all indications are they are going back to that style of attack.
But they need to upgrade the talent on offense and still get a quarterback somewhere in the first round. This is a draft supposedly loaded with running backs, so could they trade out of #2, draft a back at say around #10, and trade back into the first round, albeit late, to get a young QB?
That could be a possible scenario. We would like to get more choices in the draft, because the Browns need to get younger and faster on both sides of the ball.
Yes, another pass rusher would be nice. We have said too often it appeared the team’s plan was for Myles Garrett to get there. There was no “Plan B”.
But you have to score more points and have a respectful offense. One of the reasons for the high total of points allowed by the Browns is the offense couldn’t stay on the field and turned it over way too much.
Cleveland’s offense was dreadful in 2024. That shouldn’t be swept under the rug.
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