When the news broke that the Los Angeles Rams are moving up to the No. 1 overall pick to select a quarterback, the initial reaction in Cleveland was “Now what do the Browns do?”
Even if the Titans kept their number one pick, it was far from a sure thing that the Browns would select a QB, but now the likelihood of that happening seems to have diminished.
It looked like the Browns were going to have their choice of deciding which quarterback had the best chance to become the face of the franchise and lead the team for years to come. They were going to have “their guy.”
But now the allure of having the top quarterback on the board is gone. Maybe the Rams draft Carson Wentz and the Browns wanted Jared Goff all along? Or vice versa.
It’s still possible that two quarterbacks are selected with the top two picks in the draft.
However, if the Browns number one choice at quarterback is gone, then the only alternative path that makes sense at the number two pick is to take the best player available.
The best athlete available is Defensive Back Jalen Ramsey, out of Florida State.
Laremy Tunsil is a beast, but it’s hard to imagine the excitement that Cleveland would have by taking an offensive lineman.
A fellow writer for our site earlier today mentioned that LaQuon Treadwell would be a great player for the Browns and could fill that role of star wide receiver.
While Tunsil, Treadwell, and even Joey Bosa all have some promise, the player that appears to be what the Browns need most at the number two spot to me is Ramsey.
Several factors have played out this off-season that make Ramsey look like the best fit.
First, the Browns let Tashaun Gipson leave via free-agency.
Then, they cut Donte Whitner.
It’s no secret that Joe Haden had his worst season of his career in 2015, and although that was largely attributed to injury, he’s not the same player as he was even two years ago.
And nobody is expecting Justin Gilbert to turn into a shutdown corner overnight, if ever.
It’s a passing league and every great team has a good to great secondary. At this point, the Browns don’t even really have a secondary.
All of these holes in the secondary and the fact that the Browns had the 27th ranked defense in the NFL in 2015, make the circumstances ripe for taking a game changing defensive back like Ramsey.
What I love about Ramsey is that he doesn’t care if he’s labeled as a safety or a cornerback. And with as many needs as a team like Cleveland has, a jack of all trades could be just what the doctor ordered.
When asked what position Ramsey tells NFL teams that he is willing to play after he is drafted, he simply tells them, “I’m a ballplayer.”
Game-changing playmakers are needed on both sides of the ball in Cleveland.
Even if the Rams had not moved up to no. 1, Ramsey might have been a great candidate to select, but now it gives even more reason to take the best player available, regardless of position.
And a player who doesn’t really have any regard for position labels, but just plays ball, could be a big part of the Dawg Pound Turnaround.
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