The Cleveland Browns are now well and truly Mike Holmgren’s team with the trade of former first round draft picks Brady Quinn and Kamerion Wimbley, but the moves are puzzling ones for a rebuilding team.
At least Browns fans will have something to cheer about next year.
The Browns have the seventh pick in this year’s draft which means, barring a trade, they will miss out on the two most solid quarterbacks in this year’s shallow pool of QB talent, Sam Bradford and Jimmy Clausen.
Colt McCoy, Dan LeFevour and Tim Tebow aren’t nearly as appealing prospects as Bradford and Clausen, so the Browns will probably find themselves in the position of needing a quarterbacking prospect again next year.
Their chances of trading for a higher pick are pretty low since all of the teams above them have a glaring need and elite-level draft prospects that perfectly address their needs.
It makes way more sense to hold on to Quinn for another year and try and increase his value rather than pass the quarterbacking duties on to veterans who will never amount to anything.
If the Browns were to build a solid offensive line for next season, Quinn’s value would almost certainly rise and they could then trade Quinn after next season when there will be a lot more quarterback-of-the-future types in the draft.
The Wimbley trade is even more puzzling. Wimbley was starting to show promise at the tail end of last season and he’s just the sort of player that a rebuilding team wants to acquire. A young player who is showing potential again after looking like a bust.
Even if Holmgren doesn’t care for Wimbley, he would likely get more by playing him next season to maximize his value.
The Browns were never expected to contend this year. The Browns odds to win the Super Bowl are at +10000 and they’re not likely to change with all of the moves that Holmgren is making.
I’m not sure I agree with the signing of Jake Delhomme, but how a lot uglier can it get through the QB spot? Hopefully Holmgren can perform his QB magic within the draft and obtain a great one to mold this time around.