Here's why the Browns didn't trade down from the No. 4 overall pick

[CGI_Ram]

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/...-didnt-trade-down-from-the-no-4-overall-pick/

Here's why the Browns didn't trade down from the No. 4 overall pick

Coming into the 2018 NFL Draft, most everybody in and around the league knew the Cleveland Browns were going to select a quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick. The only question was which quarterback. It ended up being Oklahoma's Baker Mayfield, which meant the next Browns-related question was what they would do at No. 4.

Would they take Bradley Chubb to pair with Myles Garrett? Nope. Would they trade down in order to collect even more picks? Also nope. According to Peter King of The MMQB, this is why:

They got very little action on the No. 4 pick. Four teams called Dorsey with interest in moving up. None got serious. Only one team (I'd guess Arizona) offered a 2019 first-round pick as part of the package to move, which is surprising considering that two quarterbacks were still on the board when the fourth pick came up. The team willing to include its first-rounder next year said to Dorsey before the draft began: "I'm coming up for one player and one player only, and that's Baker Mayfield." As Dorsey said: "I knew all along it wasn't going to happen." So for those wondering why the Browns didn't try to pillage some team by moving down a few spots, they never had the chance.

That's definitely an interesting note. The Bills (Josh Allen) and Cardinals (Josh Rosen) both traded up for quarterbacks later in the first round, but apparently neither of them had much interest in moving ahead of the Broncos or Colts to land their guy. That strategy worked out for both of them, as they got to wait, surrender what was likely a lower price in order to move up the board, and still get their QB. (It's also interesting that the only team that was interested in moving up wanted Mayfield, considering he was not getting much buzz as the No. 1 QB in the draft until it became clear in the final days before the first round that he was the Browns' selection at No. 1.)

The Browns, meanwhile, drafted Ohio State defensive back Denzel Ward, which defensive coordinator Gregg Williams stated was due to their need for a press-man corner. They weren't able to extract additional value out of the No. 4 selection, but given that they had four picks in the top 35 and nine picks overall, they weren't exactly hurting for draft capital.

 

[-X-]

No, here's why.

 

[RamFan503]

I’m thinking there was something like.....”I thought YOU were going to call them back.” It is the Browns after all.

 

[nighttrain]

Browns, nothin else to say
train

 

[Hey Man]

Is this stupid of me ?
If I was GM of the Browns, my 1st pick would have been Barkley than grab a quality QB at 4 . Still have plenty of picks left for a starting corner.
Is rookie QB and RB asking for trouble in the backfield.

 

[nighttrain]

If I was GM of the Browns, my 1st pick would have been Barkley than grab a quality QB at 4

 

[The Ramowl]

I think they did the right move in trying to secure a perennial franchise QB at no 1. Mayfield just doesn't really look that part imho, but I agree with the overall idea more than taking a RB at no1

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

I think they did the right move in trying to secure a perennial franchise QB at no 1. Mayfield just doesn't really look that part imho, but I agree with the overall idea more than taking a RB at no1

Going for the QB first, when you feel that you need one is ALWAYS the right move.

Mayfield was the best of the bunch IMO.

 

[Corbin]

Is this stupid of me ?
If I was GM of the Browns, my 1st pick would have been Barkley than grab a quality QB at 4 . Still have plenty of picks left for a starting corner.
Is rookie QB and RB asking for trouble in the backfield.

If I was GM of the Browns, my 1st pick would have been Barkley than grab a quality QB at 4

Same. Can you imagine Barkley with Tyrod together while letting whoever it was drafted wait and learn the ropes? Let's face it there wasn't a huuuuge difference between a lot of the QB's this year. It's splitting hairs. Take the best one at 4 and you get two blue chips.

Better yet, I would have taken Barkley #1 and offered the Giants a nice haul to move up two spots to pick up Mayfield so the Jets did't get him. That would have cost a minimum amount, the Giants make out and you get the best rated QB you like and Barkley. No brainer. I actually thought highly of Dorsey to...

 

[The Ramowl]

Same. Can you imagine Barkley with Tyrod together while letting whoever it was drafted wait and learn the ropes? Let's face it there wasn't a huuuuge difference between a lot of the QB's this year. It's splitting hairs. Take the best one at 4 and you get two blue chips.

From an outsider perspective, picking a QB seems like a coin toss, but it is not, and the teams can't approach it that way. Down the road, a lot of things will factor in whether the guy who drafted is your guys for the next 15 years or if you will need to bring in a journeyman to get to 7 wins sooner rather than later.

Of those 4 QBs selected at the top, let's say probably at least two of them will not reach the franchise QB status. If you have the ability to pick first, then you can't let the other teams chose first who they think will be the QB of the future and take the leftovers hoping that it will work.
The Browns might be right or wrong with Mayfield, but it's their pick.

 

[Corbin]

From an outsider perspective, picking a QB seems like a coin toss, but it is not, and the teams can't approach it that way. Down the road, a lot of things will factor in whether the guy who drafted is your guys for the next 15 years or if you will need to bring in a journeyman to get to 7 wins sooner rather than later.

Of those 4 QBs selected at the top, let's say probably at least two of them will not reach the franchise QB status. If you have the ability to pick first, then you can't let the other teams chose first who they think will be the QB of the future and take the leftovers hoping that it will work.
The Browns might be right or wrong with Mayfield, but it's their pick.

I understand that but why couldn't they offer the Giants a 2nd and 5th to move down 2 spots and still take their player? then you hypothetically you get your QB of choice still and Barkley.

 

[NJRamsFan]

Is this stupid of me ?
If I was GM of the Browns, my 1st pick would have been Barkley than grab a quality QB at 4 . Still have plenty of picks left for a starting corner.
Is rookie QB and RB asking for trouble in the backfield.

Despite what the media led people to
Believe leading up to the draft it’s very unlikely that teams had these 4 qbs rated equally believing all would be franchise qbs. Hell the chance of that happening statistically is next to none. If you identify one of the QBs as “your guy” a franchise QB (which the Browns obviously did with mayfield) you don’t pass on him for a RB regardless of how good he might be. This is a QB league plain and simple. And from the sounds of it several teams had mayfield rated higher than the others.

 

[TexasRam]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but I would have never drafted any of these QBs in round 1.

If I was the Browns I would have taken Barkley at 1 then Nelson or Chubb at 4.

 

[Dxmissile]

From the looks of things GW likes what he has on defense opposite Garrett anyway and say what you wanna about GE but the guy knows defense and how to pick them. So I’m expecting Ward to be a impact player Eventually you gotta start taking guys that you feel can help you win

 

[Akrasian]

They got very little action on the No. 4 pick. Four teams called Dorsey with interest in moving up. None got serious.

We know the Bills were willing to trade #11, #53, and #56 to move up to #7 - there is no way they weren't willing to offer at least that much to the Browns to move up to #4. By the traditional point value chart that was a serious offer for #4, even if not the blockbuster the Browns were hoping for. They probably could have talked the Bills into adding some mid round picks in the future, too.

So the reason the Browns didn't trade #4 is they got greedy, or didn't really want to trade #4 unless they got good value this year AND a future first too. Which is fine, but let's not pretend it's anything else.

 

[Malibu]

Revisionist thinking - if I was Cleveland I would have taken Barkley at #1. I doubt that Mayfield was either the NYG or Jets #1. I think Chubb would have gone #2 and Rosen or Darnold would have been #3.

Cleveland says they needed a shut down man corner. There were easily several that would be there in the second. Not to mention they could move up into the back of the first.

If you are going to take Mayfield at #1 btw I wouldn't okl play in a crap division that doesn't play defense u would have taken Chubb over Ward by far. Same logic applies they could have gotten a DB at end of first or early second. They could not draft a difference making DE iin the second IMO. I thought Chubb was way better than Davenport or Landry.

 

[dieterbrock]

I heard Gettleman on the radio and he was asked why he didn't trade down from 2.
He made it clear that Barkley was their guy but also made a comment that the trade propositions for #2 were a waste of his time.
The Browns have been the joke of the league primarily for passing up on top rated QB, only to take chump QB's later who don't pan out.
Mayfield was the top guy and they took him. He was also the Jets top choice, and the reason they moved up.
They did the right thing. Same with Ward, if he was their guy, no point in trading back in order to hopefully get him later. They had plenty of picks, getting cute has gotten them 1-31
I love their draft

 

[Ram65]

I was surprised the Browns didn't take Chubb @ 4. Can't complain about getting a top cover CB. Rams went CB too. GW said that was his pick then it's hard to argue. They have some nice offensive weapons. I like having Hyde and Chubb as power backs and Johnson as scat/pass catcher back. It worked for the Eagles. They have solid offensive line and weapons at WR/TE. You never know with QBs and if Mayfield seem to be a lot of teams top choice. Time will tell but, they are very close with a little luck. Yah I know the only luck the Browns have lately is bad.

 

[Kevin]

We know the Bills were willing to trade #11, #53, and #56 to move up to #7 - there is no way they weren't willing to offer at least that much to the Browns to move up to #4. By the traditional point value chart that was a serious offer for #4, even if not the blockbuster the Browns were hoping for. They probably could have talked the Bills into adding some mid round picks in the future, too.

So the reason the Browns didn't trade #4 is they got greedy, or didn't really want to trade #4 unless they got good value this year AND a future first too. Which is fine, but let's not pretend it's anything else.

Buffalo didn't have to trade up to #4 to get their QB. They may not have even made an offer to Cleveland.

 

[Akrasian]

Buffalo didn't have to trade up to #4 to get their QB. They may not have even made an offer to Cleveland.

Doubtful. Any team trying to trade up should have been asking Cleveland. And since everybody knew Buffalo was going to try to trade up, it would be stupid for any team looking for a trade to at least ask them for an offer. Which of course means that the reason Cleveland didn't trade down is that they weren't actually looking to do so - unless some team approached them and floored them with a massive overpay.