Welcome.
Your first paragraph is a compelling argument. No I wouldn't want to trade a first for Foles or Cousins. Except, and this is the point you make in your final paragraph, if I knew that BB thought Foles or Cousins was the best QB in the relevant draft, and I knew that BB held in high regard the coach responsible for either QB, then I'd be far more comfortable with it. The third round may have been the price set, but his cost will be what anyone is comfortable paying.
I don't know how much the final decision will be Lombardi's for the Browns (perhaps you could help us out with the politics of the front office, but if Lombardi truly thought Mallett was the best QB of that draft class and worthy of a first rounder then I can only see Mallett having greater value now after two years of a clean record and learning under BB and Brady.
So aside from QB, how are the Browns looking now? Is it a case of a QB, pass rusher and CB and playoffs here we come, or are there more holes than that?
I agree the cost will be whatever a team is comfortable paying. Which is why I wouldn't have a problem giving up a late first. The way the front office is set up and the way they outlined that decisions will be made is by a group decision between, Banner, Lombardi, the Coaches, and even our new owner being involved.
I don't believe because the analyst Lombardi thought Mallett was the best QB in that draft class that you can use it to set his value now, two years later. Market is controlled by demand, now if Arizona jumped on board or maybe some other teams, his demand goess up. If Lombardi is out on an island in his beliefs, Bill will have to take what the Market is or stick with him and risk it going down. Which is a very good possibility with next years class and the committment that some of these teams will make toward an Alex Smith, Geno, Barkley and some others this year along with the fact that Mallett will be in the final year of his rookie contract without ever playing a down and will be in line to receive a new deal.
The way I look at it, Brady has about 4 years left(he said he wanted to play till 40) and is still playing at a high level. He needs some weapons on the outsides. With only 4 picks this year and the window closing, I think Bill should take what he can get as long as it is fair and sign Cassel or Quinn or someone to be the #2 and draft a guy with good upside much the way he did with Mallett. He can be groomed to step in or traded as a part of getting the guy when that time comes.
Right now, knowing the window on the Brady era is closing..you get guys or picks that will help make a run today instead of a #2 QB sitting on a bench. Besides that..Bill himself might want to call it quits around the same time, but that is just my guess. Is that what you guys are thinking?
As far as the Browns..QB is always at the forefront here. Whether or not it was noticed around the league, they played some tough football last year and we have some young guys with a lot of potential. Weeden being 30 is definitely a concern. If he came out and lit it up, it wouldn't be as big a deal. He struggled(many blame the offense) but a lot of what he struggled with had nothing to do with the offense.
When I look at him, I don't see a guy that will take us to where we want to go and it's not often you build your team around a 30 year old face of a franchise. If only all it took was a gifted arm to be a QB, but that is all he showed in my opinion. He's horrible at play action, bad from under center, stares at his receivers, struggles making decisions and going through progressions, led the league in batted balls at the line, didn't look like a leader, and had a 42% completion percentage with 7 int when under pressure. Missed wide open guys, threw it out of bounds on a 4th and 1 with the game on the line, out of the back of the endzone with the game on the line..just a lot of negs to hinge on a 30 year old QB to turn it around.
The change back to the 3-4 under Horton will require some pieces. We do need a pass rusher, #2CB, FS just on the defensive side of the ball. On offense we can use another WR, FB(although we have Smelley), TE, and possibly a RG. We do have 49 million to spend so it will be interesting to see how they approach FA. I don't think we are far off but our division is brutal. I am excited about this team and the youth(youngest team in the league I think), but we need a Leader behind center and hope the attacking D and O with a real play caller will prove to be a fun and beneficial way to be relevant again.
