Friends, Clevelanders, countrymen, lend me your ears. It seems as though the Cleveland Browns have finished their off-season moves going into 2017. With rookie mini-camp also winding down, NFL fans have plenty to talk about. Some teams have become confident in their Super Bowl chances, while others have begun to worry. Still others have become hopeful for the coming season. This is the case of the Cleveland Browns fans. So, what might the Browns have in store for fans in 2017? Let’s review their off-season in full and look at their current state.
State of the 2017 Cleveland Browns Address
Defense Wins Championships: Jamie Collins and Gregg Williams
The first big moves that the Browns have made since season’s end are hiring Gregg Williams and retaining Jamie Collins. Since trading for Collins in the middle of last season, the Browns defense has definitely stepped up. If he finds his true fit in Cleveland in 2017, he should be the defense’s feature player. Collins has both the size and speed to be a stud NFL linebacker, something that the Browns sorely lacked last year.
Moving on to Gregg Williams. It’s safe to say that Cleveland got themselves a great defensive coordinator in Williams. Since winning the Super Bowl with the Saints, Williams has become a renowned defensive coach. Perhaps most amazingly, he now works for the Browns. Clearly, there is something great ready to be unleashed in the Dawg Pound. If Gregg Williams wanted to come here, that means that he sees something in this young team. Williams could have gone to coach anywhere, but he chose Cleveland.
The 2017 NFL Draft
Finally, it seems that the Cleveland Browns had a great draft. In 2017, they actually might have had one of the NFL’s best. With three first-round picks, the Browns grabbed a trio of solid playmakers. Myles Garrett, Jabrill Peppers, and David Njoku are all ready to make an immediate impact. Garrett was (far and away) the best player in the draft, Peppers is incredibly versatile, and Njoku? Just look at him. Truthfully, it looks like the “football gods” carved him out of stone.
Outside of the first rounds, the Browns got more solid, impactful players. Since the acquittal of Caleb Brantley, he is beginning to look like the steal of the draft. Whether or not he can keep a good head on his shoulders remains to be seen, but Browns fans should be hopeful. Additionally, second-round quarterback DeShone Kizer is showing major promise. With the strongest arm in the class, and a typical NFL body, Kizer could be ready by 2018. Even Matt Dayes, the second-last pick in the draft, could make an impact for Cleveland. After this draft, there is plenty to be excited about in “The Land.”
Win in the Trenches: A Free Agency Story
During free agency, the Cleveland Browns hit hard. Under the new analytics approach, one position could not be clearly evaluated: offensive line. So what did the Cleveland Browns do? They went out and signed proven free-agent offensive linemen. With J.C. Tretter and Kevin Zeitler now in orange and brown, the line is in the midst of a complete overhaul. Along with extending the contract of Joel Bitonio, the Browns have bolstered the middle of their line. Outside of the offensive line, the Browns also signed Kenny Britt and Jason McCourty. Although they let Terrelle Pryor walk, they acquired Britt. Hopefully, he can produce the way Pryor did for the Browns in 2016.
In Closing
In short, fans should absolutely be excited about this upcoming Cleveland Browns season. Hue Jackson and Sashi Brown have accomplished a lot in their first full off-season, and hopefully, their work pays off. Coming off of a 1-15 season, the Browns simply must be better in 2017. If they are not, this front office just might see the same fate as the others. In that case, Jimmy Haslam could be in big, big trouble in the coming years. Hopefully for both the players and the coaching staff, the team succeeds this year. And that right there is the key word for Cleveland Browns fans heading into 2017: hope.
