The third and final day of the NFL Draft started on both great and not-so-great notes.
The great part is listed first, because it happened first.
The Browns used the first pick of the day, and also the first choice of the fourth round at No. 99 overall, to take Wisconsin outside linebacker Joe Schobert.
He’s the third speedy, edge pass rusher the Browns have selected in this draft, joining a pair of defensive ends/outside linebackers in Oklahoma State’s Emmanuel Ogbah and Penn State’s Carl Nassib, both of whom were picked Friday night.
The Browns continued to not only address areas of need – last year they couldn’t get to the quarterback even if they were standing next to him – but also to do so with talented players. You have to absolutely love this common-sense approach, which was ignored in the Ray Farmer era. Indeed, Schobert will definitely help, and probably sooner rather than later.
Now for the not-so-great part.
The Browns also had the next pick Saturday, at No. 100 overall, but they bailed out and traded down with the Oakland Raiders, who promptly took Connor Cook of Hinckley Township in Medina County, Walsh Jesuit High School in Cuyahoga Falls and Michigan State, ending the quarterback’s precipitous free fall through the first three-plus rounds of the draft. apparently because of leadership concerns.
The Browns made the trade so as to get more picks, just like they did when they traded out of the No. 2 overall slot with the Philadelphia Eagles, just like they did when they traded out of the No. 15 overall spot with the Tennessee Titans, and just like did when they traded out of the No. 77 overall choice in the third round with the Carolina Panthers.
Enough already! More than enough already!!
This is crazy.
And it’s bad business.
Moreover, it’s a horrible look, and a horrible way to build a team.
Look, I understand the intent of all these trade-downs. The Browns want to get more draft assets, as they’re called. Yes, the Browns have a lot of holes – still – and it only makes sense to think that the more draft picks you have, the more of those holes you’ll be able to target.
But as I said, enough already! More than enough already!!
Having a piece of paper that states that you have all these extra picks is OK.
But actually making those picks, and using them to getting players who can help the team, is a lot nicer – a whole lot nicer. It’s tangible evidence that a team is doing all that it can to improve.
Someone at Browns Headquarters in Berea – Vice President of Football Operations Sashi Brown, perhaps? – needs to step into his big-boy pants, plant his feet firmly on the ground so that he won’t be easily moved, and put his neck out there and make those picks. That’s what he’s being paid the big bucks to do.
I just wish he’d do it. At least much more of it.
To do otherwise is, in my estimation, a dereliction of his duties. To be more blunt, it’s a cowardly act.
That’s what my analytics say, and I’m listening to them and staying true to my principles.
