The Browns biggest need

The NFL Draft is still several months away — the season just officially ended, for goodness sakes — and I’m already amazed at what I’m seeing.

That is, a good number of the draft “experts,” and I use that term very loosely, have the Browns taking an edge rusher with their first pick, in the first round at No. 13 overall.

An edge rusher?

An edge rusher?!

Really?

Really?!!

REALLY?!!!

The No. 1 need on this team, which is the one you’re working hardest to address, and fix, common-sense-wise with that first choice, is clearly wide receiver. It is absolutely wide receiver. It is positively wide receiver. It is, without question, wide receiver. It is certainly wide receiver. It is obviously wide receiver.

And it isn’t even close. Nothing else is in the same area code.

Now, do the Browns need an edge rusher? Yes, sure, of course they do. Anyone who has watched this team — and that is all of you Browns fans — will readily point that out.

But, it is not the biggest need. Taking an edge rusher with that top pick would be dereliction of duty. It would be irresponsible.

The NFL game, like the college game and, in most respects, even the high school game, is predicated on offense. And, specifically, it is predicated on throwing the ball. The Browns need guys — more guys, better guys, faster guys — to catch the ball, regardless of who the quarterback is, and that person I truly believe will be Baker Mayfield.

The Browns need a lightning-fast, sure-handed wideout who can run downfield and make plays, taking the top off the defense by getting the safeties out of the box. That will also help the Browns rushing attack, which is the best in the NFL but can’t be as good as it can be with safeties disrespecting the long pass and acting as extra linebackers to stop the run.

Taking an edge rusher does nothing to help any of that.

It will only eventually lead to the firing of the people responsible for making that pick.

By Steve King

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