The impact of free agency on the Browns’ draft strategy
April 18, 2013Life after Byron
April 18, 2013The Browns held a pre-draft press conference today in Berea to answer questions about the Browns plan heading into the NFL Draft which starts next Thursday.
As expected, CEO Joe Banner and GM Mike Lombardi spoke mostly in generalities and were careful not to divulge any strategy. Perhaps the biggest take away from the press conference is who will be in the “war room” for the Browns during the draft. The draft team will be Joe Banner, Mike Lombardi, Rob Chudzinski, Ray Horton and Jimmy Haslam.
Joe Banner said the decisions made will be a “collective effort” and that they will seek a unanimous opinion on the player the want to take. If they don’t all agree on a player, Banner says they will likely move on to the next guy.
One person notably not in that war room group is offensive coordinator Norv Turner.
They did say that they would consider any trade “that makes our team better”, but they won’t ‘chase a second round pick’ for fear of over paying. Banner also mentioned that any trade that happens would like take place while the team is on the clock, not before.
When pressed about the starting QB and the potential of drafting one, Banner and Lombardi said they approach the draft with the idea that Brandon Weeden is the starter.
[Related: NFL Draft Rumor: Browns a wild card for Geno Smith]
17 Comments
So there is a chance that we could not turn in a pick in time sometime in the draft? lol
If I had to approach the draft with the idea of Brandon Weeden being the starter, I would draft a quarterback in the first round…
A young quarterback.
did they say why Norv won’t be there?
Give him the keys to the car. If he wrecks it this season, we will just get a new one next season with the insurance money
curious myself
Will any young quarterback do? Or should he at least have potential to be better than Weeden?
I think he was referring to Ray Farmer not Horton…
Owner in the war room? Fine. Owner in the war room thinking he should have input and selection veto power? Ugh.
Never cared for non-football people believing they call the shots on draft day. Even though the reality is that the more people are talking in that room the more it’s the Joe Banner Show. You can’t field a call, get a consensus among 5 people on a trade, and maybe look for better offers all while you’re on the clock. Yep, it’s the Banner Show.
I might not have heard correctly but I thought he just said Ray, not Horton. My thought it was assistant GM Ray Farmer.
But Lombardi SPOKE!
Thank God your not approaching the draft for the Cleveland Browns then!
This is how most champions are built right keep drafting a new QB every year? ;o)
No need for Norv really give him a break he’ll have his hands full coaching whatever offensive players he has on the roster.
I haven’t seen the video – did he? I know any number of guys who could be his body double. Btw, this is the second consecutive Browns GM that looked like one of my plumbers. Savage definitely did not. Kokinis – not sure what he looked like, actually.
He needs to have a lot of buzz and for Jon Gruden to like him. That’s about it.
Ray Farmer not Ray Horton
after actually watching the presser I retract this comment. Banner did not insinuate that Haslam has a veto (in fact refuted that suggestion by saying Haslam has not been studying film in preparation and wouldn’t have a basis to interfere). Commenters who criticize a FO exec based on a short summary of a long presser are like people who criticize a book based upon a book review. Boo, Harv. Sorry, Joe.