by Article by Ben Hughes
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The Steelers and Browns had very different seasons last year. The Browns came into the year as favorites in the division and in the AFC, but that did not last long. Injuries and under achievement from the entire team led to this type of season. For the Steelers, they did not have high expectations for the season.
A quarterback at the end of his career and a very young offensive line was the reason for this. The Steelers exceeded expectations and ended up sneaking into the playoffs as a seven seed. Both teams are looking to grow from last season and the draft will be a huge part in that.
For the Browns they are in a very interesting spot. They traded most of their draft capital for a top QB in this league in Deshaun Watson, but still have enough picks this year to fill their needs. Wide receiver depth is their biggest need.
They did acquire Amari Cooper in a very cheap deal for the browns just having to send a 5th round pick, but Donavon Peoples-Jones is not the best option at wide receiver two.
This draft class has some of the best wide receiver depth in recent years so it should not be an issue for them to draft one. I could see a player such as Skyy Moore or Jalen Tolbert being selected in the second round.
Another need for the team would be interior defensive line. The team has one of the best defensive ends in the league with Myles Garrett and a trade for Chase Winovich solidifies the ends on the defense.
The Browns do not have a great interior player at the moment and do not have much depth. Travis Jones or Logan Hall would be great options to fill this need. They have plenty of later round picks to add depth at positions like safety, offensive line and tight end as last season’s injuries showed the lack of depth at the positions.
For the Steelers they have glaring holes that need filled by the draft. This team has plenty of holes and need players at quarterback, offensive line, interior dline, safety, and corner. I can see the Steelers going quarterback in the first round.
With the quarterbacks in the draft class not being a top talent more than likely one of the top two will be available at pick 20. The quarterbacks are Malik Willis and Kenny Pickett. If one of those two players are available, I see the Steelers selecting them.
The Steelers did sign Mitch Trubisky in free agency, but he is not the long-term answer for the team. If those two quarterbacks happen to be gone, I can see the Steelers looking at a few players.
Players like Daxton Hill or Andrew Booth will fill huge holes in the teams secondary. One of the Georgia defensive line men, Jordan Davis, or Devonte Wyatt could also go at this spot.
The Steelers could also address the quarterback position in the later rounds with players like Desmond Ridder, Matt Corral or Sam Howell. With a pick in every round of the draft, I see the Steelers addressing many different positions with their picks and trying to improve the solid roster they have now.
These Rivals have very different needs and goals from the draft. Both teams will have new look rosters coming into next season and will be battling for the division title in a tough AFC North.
Why is it the Browns can never pick an experience QB that will take us to the Super Bowl? All I ever hear is wait till next year! How many more next years are there? I guess the old cliché is right-you get what you pay for!
Let’s hope the draft will work in our favor.
So Sarah you not feelin’ Watson? Because if you think there is a great QB in this draft, I have serious doubts about your player evaluation skills.
What makes Watson a top QB? Unlike Mayfield, he was DRAFTED to a Playoff team. He was DRAFTED to an organization that was stable, same HC, in an OFFENSE built around him, with a top 5 WR i’m Hopkins, and a former DPOY, and CPOY, in Watt? Shouldn’t he have accomplished more?
I mean, the last time he played, he WON 4 GAMES, and 2 came vs Jacksonville. What’s impressive about that? He has ONE PLAYOFF WIN, and for that, you give up 3 1st round picks, and FULLY GUARANTEE him $230 MIL over 4 years? Which will really only amount to about 3 years, because he’s surely going to be suspended (Personal Conduct Policy)
I keep hearing how he’s the SIGNIFICANT UPGRADE, and I ask HOW, or WHERE? Mayfield came to the WORST situation in Professional sports, fresh off a 1-31 stretch, which was by far, the worst in franchise history. He had 4 HC’s, and 4 OC’s, his first 3 seasons, and yet by that 3rd season, LED them to 11 wins (first DD Win season since 2007) they Playoffs (first since 2002) and Playoff WIN vs PIT, on the road (first since 1994) Let’s not forget, he was a blown call, from possibly upsetting Kansas City, for an opportunity to play for the AFC Conference Championship.
He gets INJURED, plays through it, not only that, his BEST WR, is a banged up Landry, Chubb and Hunt, MISS TIME, Hunt 9 games, he loses BOTH T’s, to significant time, Conklin the majority of the season, and the DEFENSE, cost them 4-5 wins, and yet somehow, Mayfield is to blame? Hasn’t he EARNED the right to face adversity, and find his way through it? Watson could have never gotten Cleveland through the DYSFUNCTION, and DESPAIR, thats plagued this organization, as Mayfield did. They’ve already done more for Watson, than they had him.
If we’re really keeping it real, Mayfield has BEEN BETTER, and MORE IMPRESSIVE, in the Playoffs. When this FAILS, it will set the franchise back, another 8-10 years. Mayfield would have broken every Cleveland passing record, had he finished his career here. Cleveland already had a QB, but in typical Cleveland fashion, it will take dumping him to realize it.