Tag: Cleveland Browns

Around the North: Bengals take big swing drafting Amarius Mims

Mims heads to the AFC North

The Cleveland Browns in-state rival Cincinnati Bengals have made a move to protect their franchise quarterback using their first-round pick on Georgia offensive tackle Amarius Mims. The Bengals took the offensive tackle with the most upside but also the most risks, as Mims has only started eight games in college with the Bulldogs.

If you’re looking for a ball of clay with ridiculous athleticism and size at offensive tackle, Mims is an exceptional athlete. Cincinnati will have a chance to decide if Mims plays right away or try to develop him with his limited experience at the position.

Keeping Joe Burrow upright has to be the team’s key focus this upcoming year, and this is an excellent place to start. Mims isn’t just a great athlete, he has elite-level size and arm length while possessing great play strength and solid hand placement and usage. Ultimately, this is a good pick for the rival Bengals, who are taking a chance on a player with tremendous upside.

Browns Wire joins Browns Film Breakdown podcast to talk 2024 NFL draft

With the 2024 NFL Draft upon us, Browns Wire managing editor Cory Kinnan jumped on Browns Film Breakdown to chop up some options for the brown and orange.

The 2024 NFL draft has arrived, and while the Cleveland Browns do not have a first round pick, there are plenty of routes they can pursue to add young talent to their already playoff-caliber roster.

And with the event upon us, I joined The OBR’s Jake Burns on his Browns Film Breakdown podcast to discuss those options.

Topics discussed in the podcast include:

  • Who fits the bill at pick No. 54
  • Could the Browns trade up?
  • How to value a draft pick appropriately
  • What team needs will the Browns look to address?

Again, you can take it easy tonight as the Browns are unlikely to trade into the first round, but could make a move early on Day 2. Some ideal, young, talented players deserve the attention to see if they make it past the top 32 picks in the draft.

Instead, kick back, watch the drama, and listen to Jake and I chop up how the brown and orange could attack the 2024 NFL draft.

Around the North: Bengals star Trey Hendrickson requests a trade

Is the Bengals best defensive player on his way out of Cincinnati?

There could be more trouble brewing for the Cleveland Browns‘ in-state rivals, the Cincinnati Bengals. Star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson has requested a trade from Cincinnati as he wanted more long-term security from the team and didn’t get it.

Hendrickson is the best defensive player in Cincinnati, and losing him would be detrimental to the team. He has dramatically outplayed his current contract, as he was set to only make $15 million in 2024. In 2023, Hendrickson total 79 quarterback pressures as well as 17.5 sacks for the Bengals.

It was also reported that Hendrickson prefers getting a deal done that keeps him in Cincinnati. Things are tight with the Bengals, who also have wide receiver Tee Higgins on the franchise tag, wanting a new deal as well. Things could work, but right now, two of the team’s best players are unhappy with their contract situation and could end up on new teams in 2024 and that would benefit the Browns.

Browns Podcast: Favorite prospects for Cleveland in the 2024 NFL draft

These prospects would be great fits

The 2024 NFL draft is finally here as the festivities kick off Thursday in Detroit. Cleveland Browns fans will have to wait an extra day, of course, since the team won’t pick until the second round because of the Deshaun Watson trade. But have no fear, Browns fans, as there are plenty of good players that will still be available.

Andrew Berry has shown a knack for drafting corners, and there is always a chance he does it again, maybe drafting a press man corner such as Renardo Green from Florida State. It’s also a great offensive tackle class, and someone with all the physical traits that could grow into a great player is Yale’s Kiran Amegadjie. Cleveland is finally a team that can draft guys and let them develop with the roster as good as it is.

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The team could use another tight end, and guys like Ben Sinnott, Ja’Tavion Sanders, and Jared Wiley could make a ton of sense. You can hear us talk about all these prospects and more in this week’s podcast by clicking here.

Browns HC Kevin Stefanski launches new foundation to serve underprivileged kids in Cleveland

The head coach is giving back.

On the heels of receiving a new contract this offseason from the Cleveland Browns, head coach Kevin Stefanski is digging his roots into Northeast Ohio.

Announced today, the head coach and his family are launching a new foundation, The Keepers Foundation, to aim at serving underprivileged youth in Cleveland.

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From their website, here is the mission statement of The Keepers Foundation:

“The Keepers Foundation invites you to invest in our youth. In a world where opportunities are not equally distributed, The Keepers Foundation is a source of hope for young people in our communities. The Keepers Foundation seeks to raise vital funds to support young individuals in Northeast Ohio by fostering a sense of shared responsibility. Financial support from sponsors will enable The Keepers Foundation to support programs and initiatives aimed at empowering individuals through educational opportunities, mentorship programs, or access to essential resources. Your support will play a pivotal role in unlocking the potential of these young individuals, equipping them with the tools and resources they need to succeed.”

Former Browns linebacker Jacob Phillips signs with the Houston Texans

Phillips heads to Houston

After being drafted in the third round of the 2020 NFL draft, Jacob Phillips spent the first four years of his career with the Cleveland Browns. Injuries have plagued the young linebacker, who has only appeared in 20 games over his four seasons in Cleveland.

Now Phillips moves on as he signs a one-year deal with the Houston Texans. If Phillips can stay on the field, it is hard to argue he lacks the athleticism to be a solid player. He needs to grow stronger and work on his pursuit angles, but he has excellent range and sideline-to-sideline speed.

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If the money were right, I would’ve been ok with Phillips coming back, but it makes a ton of sense the team decided to move on. Now the Browns are betting on another athletic linebacker who hasn’t played up to his ability, Devin Bush. Now will the Browns add to the linebacker room in this weeks draft?

Browns RB Nick Chubb the highest-graded player from the 2018 NFL draft class

There is nobody better from the Chubb’s draft class.

With the 35th overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft, the Cleveland Browns selected running back Nick Chubb out of the University of Georgia.

And boy has that worked out well for them over the last six seasons since he joined the team.

In fact, with a career grade of 94.8 according to PFF, there is nobody who has graded out higher from the draft class six years ago.

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The Browns desperately need Chubb back as their rushing attack hit a wall last season as Kareem Hunt and Jerome Ford carried the majority of the load. They have added running backs Nyheim Hines (more of a return specialist and pass catcher) and D’Onta Foreman to the roster to help carry the load in the meantime.

However, there is no doubt that the Browns will feel the effect of missing Chubb until the star running back can get back on the field for the brown and orange.

Texans sign Browns LB Jacob Phillips to one-year deal

The Houston Texans are bringing in linebacker depth by signing former Browns standout Jacob Phillips.

Linebacker depth was a concern for the Houston Texans entering the 2024 NFL draft. Now, it’s moved down the pecking order. 

The Texans agreed to terms with former Cleveland Browns linebacker Jacob Phillips on a one-year deal, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Phillips should fill a similar role to that of rotational linebacker Denzel Perryman, who signed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Phillips, 25, spent four seasons in Cleveland after being drafted out of LSU in 2020. Surprisingly, the pick belonged to the Texans, who traded it to the Browns in exchange for running back Duke Johnson. 

During his time with the AFC North franchise, Phillips recorded 88 tackles, three sacks and five pass deflections. His best season came in 2022 when he notched 46 tackles and two sacks. 

Phillips missed the entirety of the 2023 season after suffering a torn pectoral muscle during a preseason game against Washington. The year prior, he missed the final two months of the regular season after suffering a similar injury during a regular season game against Baltimore in October. 

A native of Nashville, Phillips should fill in as a multi-purpose replacement for both Christian Harris and Azeez Al-Shaair. After a breakout season with the Titans in 2023, Houston elected to reunite Al-Shaair with DeMeco Ryans, signing him to a three-year deal worth $34 million. 

Just because the Texans added Phillips doesn’t mean they won’t target a linebacker. In four years, the former third-round pick has been limited to 20 games due to injury. Currently, Houston only has Henry To’oTo’o as an option with extensive reps under his belt. 

The Texans own nine picks in the draft, though general manager Nick Caserio has been known for working the phone lines in trades. Last season, Houston made a franchise record eight trades, including moving up to No. 3 with the Arizona Cardinals to acquire eventual Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson Jr. 

“We’ll see if that changes or stays static,” Caserio said Thursday when asked about the draft strategy. “Given our history, it will probably change at some point.”

Browns DE Myles Garrett third-highest graded player from the 2017 NFL draft

Garrett was well worth the top selection

There were some rumblings that not everyone was locked in on Myles Garrett as the number one overall pick in 2017. But in the end, the Cleveland Browns made the no-brainer move, making Garrett the top pick, and that was the right move.

According to PFF, Garrett is the third highest-graded player from that class in career grades, with a 94.2 grade. The two players above him are future Hall of Famer Patrick Mahomes (96.1) and one of the league’s most dynamic playmakers, Christian McCaffery (94.5).

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Garrett is coming off arguably his best season, as he won the Defensive Player of the Year award for the first time in 2023. Cleveland had one of the best defenses in the league last year, due in large part to Garrett. The Browns are set to run it back next year, retaining Za’Darius Smith and veteran Shelby Harris to partner with Garrett.

Now, we wait for the draft, when Cleveland may be inclined to add even more talent to the defensive line.

Former Browns OT Joe Thomas ranked as the best player from the 2007 NFL draft Class

Former Cleveland Browns Left Tackle and Hall of Famer Joe Thomas was ranked as the best player from the 2007 NFL draft class according to PFF.

Pro Football Focus announced that former Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Joe Thomas was the greatest player from the 2007 NFL draft.

The rankings are based on the player’s career PFF grades. Joe Thomas’s career PFF grade was 95.1. It is a testament to how refined and technical he was as a player. Thomas was a craftsman who perfected his technique over a ten-year career. While his contemporaries may have been stronger or faster, no one could match Thomas’s down-to-down consistency. He was the cornerstone of a franchise that was anything but consistent. 

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Thomas’s consistency is highlighted best by his PFF grades compared to his peers. Thomas scores well ahead of the other three Hall of Fame players from the 2007 NFL draft. The 2007 NFL draft may go down as one of the best drafts in the history of the NFL. It could potentially see four more class members in the Hall of Fame. Adrian Peterson, Marshawn Lynch, Marshal Yanda, and Eric Weddle could all be enshrined in Canton by the end of the decade.

No matter how many players get into the Hall of Fame, Joe Thomas was the best player. There was a lot of debate in 2007 about whether the Browns should draft Adrian Peterson, Calvin Johnson, or Joe Thomas. While all of them would’ve helped, the Browns made the right choice choosing Joe Thomas. He brought respectability to an unrespectable franchise.