BarleyNY

I agree. Excellent depth CB, which every team needs. And he shouldn’t be expensive.

Thank you

@Dont Stop BILL-ievin' you are on the clock

You’re right, @Logic. Who am I kidding? The Browns are delighted to sprint to the podium (electronically ofc due to Covid restrictions). With the 26th pick in the 2021 TBD pretend NFL draft the Cleveland Browns select Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame. Well that was easy. Except for the patience. Never thought 🃏 would fall to 26.

I will briefly entertain trade offers

Freeney was a short pass rushing specialist who didn’t play the run well. Ojulari is likely a light pass rushing specialist who is likely to have trouble against the run because of his weight. I see them utilized in the same way by teams that are built to score and force opponents to pass. Ngakoue has been an elite or near elite pass rusher starting from his second season. He’s not great against the run, but he isn’t as bad as many make him out to be. I see Ojulari similarly. And as was pointed out by another poster, Ojulari was actually good against the run in college. Him having issues there is a projection based in his weight. And I am really tired of the “getting mauled by 300+ pound OTs” line. Sure 320 lb OT vs a 240 lb DE sounds horrible, but it’s not that much different than a 320 lb OT vs a 260 lb DE. Both of those DEs need to win with speed. Also I’ll point out that we drafted a heavier, power DE last year in the second round and the Bills immediately had him lose a lot of weight. Not that Ojulari is finished physically. He’s got the frame to add some muscle.

I agree. You’d want him on the field over Johnson for sure. And we need a Big Nickel. I see Edge and outside CB as bigger priorities though. Again, I love JOK as a player and would love to have him. Having to trade up for him would make it a tougher sell for me though. But again, I still wouldn’t hate it at all.

Well that was the game plan, right? Let KC run all over us so we could slow down the passing game. If we could have gotten to Mahomes with a four man rush then maybe we could’ve schemed differently and worried about CEH. And exactly who are you planning on the Bills getting that is a quality Edge who can rush the passer at a high level and play the run well? Serious question. We’re picking 30th right now. I don’t see a player like that as an option unless you want to project Oweh to that level. That thought scares the heck out of me.

He’s looks like he will be a lot like Yannick Ngakoue in that he will be an elite or near elite speed rusher, but have trouble against the run. He’d be a steal anywhere near 30. He will definitely have a place on a 4 man front in today’s NFL, just like Ngakoue does. He will be especially useful on a team with a high powered offense in the same way Dwight Freeney was on the Colts with Manning. Get ahead, make your opponent go to the air and get to their QB. I know that the Browns love him, though they are a physical away from signing Clowney so I doubt they go that direction unless that falls through. As for the Bills, if they want to beat the likes of KC they’re going to have to get to the QB with a four man rush. Adding a player like Ojulari would be huge in that regard.

As much as I love JOK he’s not who I’d take for the Bills right now. Still, I couldn’t argue with the pick if that’s what happened

I agree. I expect Beane to take one at some point, but not early. There just isn’t anyone worth it except Pitts who will be long gone.

Boo hoo

The players, yes. But their contracts complicate matters as Knox is on year 3 of his rookie deal and Njoku is on his $6M 5th year option. I don’t swap them straight up with that considered. Also I don’t think trading for Njoku this offseason is realistic, but I’d take a look at him next offseason if we are still looking for a TE. Contract demands, any TE acquisition in this draft and Knox’s development all to be considered in that. What I think is important for the Bills is getting another quality TE on the roster. Knox has shown flashes, but I’m not comfortable with him being our only real option at TE. I want another for competition and depth. Realistically that’s probably a draft pick in a couple weeks.

While I don’t disagree, it’s actually very smart in that the Ravens can know with near certainty what they have in Lamar before they hand him a huge contract. I think we probably all know now, but it would really remove any question in the matter.

Totally agree. Singletary has to step up as a pass blocker and receiver or he’s not much good to any team - particularly a team like the Bills that passes so much. Tick tock

Yup. He’s in no man’s land wrt trades. Teams won’t give up a high enough pick to make it worth it to the Browns to trade him. Not with one year at $6M on his deal. The only things that make sense is if a team would be looking to sign him long term (which I don’t see happening) or a player for player deal. And that’s not happening with the Bills because they’ve got the same top needs - Edge, CB2, speed X, DT - as the Browns. If the Bills were flush with CBs and had a decent one on the bench on the last year of his contract it might make sense, but I can’t see any fit. That all said, Njoku would very much help the Bills and would be the best TE on the roster the day he was added to it. He’d be a guy I’d look at next offseason when he’s a FA if the need still exists.

I just don’t see a team giving up much of anything for him. Player for player, part of a bigger trade (which isn’t happening) or a flip of picks maybe - but not a straight up pick. If that’s the kind of RB that a team seeks, then why wouldn’t they just draft someone on day 3 and have them under contract for 4 years?

No. He is on his 5th year option which is now fully guaranteed. He would not be cut anyway as he’s got a role on the team. The Browns are not actively shopping him anyway, it was just speculation. He was named as part of a player for player trade that didn’t happen (Gilmore, NE) though. Also I doubt the Browns care to get a 2021 mid round pick for a player as they’ve got 9 picks already - and he will net them a late comp pick eventually. Sure, the Browns would trade him for a decent return, but they aren’t looking to dump him for next to nothing.

I know Houston just visited the Browns as well. Looks like things are heating up and he wants signed before the draft, which is smart. I have nothing on contract offers or expectations though. I’d bet that he’s going to take the best offer from a competitive team.

That’s a better way to say it

I remember seeing the blindside penalty called more than once during that season and thinking they were ridiculous calls. Likewise I felt that way about Ford’s. But it just seemed to be how the refs were told to call it at the time - and therefore it was in line with what one would expect. Coaches and players have to adjust to how the game is called and, ridiculous or not, we didn’t.

What the NFL considers “forcible contract” has obviously changed. The enforcement of the Ford penalty was in line with how the penalty was enforced during the rest of that season. They are now making the threshold for what qualifies more reasonable.

As I said at the time, it was a bad rule properly enforced. Now it’s a better rule.

I get that. But I doubt the Bills got an admission of fault from the league around the same time that same league were fining Ford. Ofc now the league may just say something like the interpretation of the rule has been changed since that game. Honestly I doubt they ever even address it.

Thanks for doing another one of these. Browns please. Backups are SF or Detroit.