Can the Browns afford to keep TJ Ward and sign Jarius Byrd? As much as i and everyone else would love if that could happen, the chances are almost slim and none. The idea of paying a Free Safety and Strong Safety a combined total of over $16 millions would be insane. Look around the league, the highest paid Safety duo right now is in Seattle with Kam Chancellor making $4,725,000 and Earl Thomas making $4,625,000 for a combined total of $9,350,000. The highest paid individual Safety is Eric Berry in Kansas City at $8,417,000 and i expect Byrd will receive more than that since he's already turned down that kind of money in Buffalo. At the end of the day, i expect that Ward stays in Cleveland and Byrd flies elsewhere. I maintain that resigning Ward will greatly improve the chances of inking Joe Haden to an extension. Let's say I'm wrong though and Byrd comes to Cleveland, they are going to need a SS because i don't think Jordan Poyer is going to cut it. Donte wHitner anyone?
If you are one of the ignorant trolls calling for the Browns to cut Rubin, please stop. Rubin is a piece of the Browns greatest asset, their defensive line. They have 6 very capable interior linemen that mesh well together and get the job done week in and week out because they keep each other fresh and work well together. Why in gods name would you want to break up the most cohesive unit on the squad and add the DL position to the list of needs along with QB, RB, WR, DB, OL, and ILB? To save a little money? Give me a break, the Browns aren't anywhere close to the cap, let Rubin play out his contract even though he isn't playing at the level he's getting paid at. Keep this unit together.
NFL Draft 2014. I'm sick of thinking about it, my mind is mush. The QB's are all overrated and will go higher than they should. Clowney maybe the top prospect in the draft but he's also one of the biggest risks. Sammy Watkins should be a great WR at the next level but face it, WR isn't a huge need for the Browns. Mack is intriguing but i don't think OLB is a high priority. We don't need a LT so OL isn't going to happen early. So, what should we expect then? CJ Mosley. The Browns will have him rated much higher than any of us would expect because they don't have an ILB at this point and the ILB is a pretty important position on the field. I don't count out the possibility that the Browns reach for him at 4 but the more logical plan would be to drop down a few spots and pick him up there. It is very possibly that a team is going to want to move up when their QB, Clowney or Watkins slips to 4. Wishful thinking but it makes sense and i can see it happening.
