Columbus Blue Jackets an Example to Cleveland Browns on how to Draft
With the NFL Draft starting this evening, the eyes of the NFL world are on the Cleveland Browns who have two first round picks. They could learn a thing or two from the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Tonight starts the four day emotional roller coaster that is the NFL Draft. A time for teams to have hope for the future. A time for teams to address weaknesses and look towards a better team. The Columbus Blue Jackets have built a winning team through the draft using patient resolve since the addition of Jarmo Kekäläinen. The Browns should learn from their professional counterpart down I-71.
The Blue Jackets have done an excellent job in the draft, making it the top reason for why they broke numerous records this regular season. Instead of trying to build their team solely through high picks, the CBJ have done an excellent job of drafting in the third round and beyond as well.
The NFL and NHL are much different but the idea remains the same in that late-round picks are crucial to the depth of a franchise. The Blue Jackets have built their roster up with those late-round guys, snagging Oliver Bjorkstrand, Markus Nutivaara, and Vitaly Abramov all in the back half of the draft. Those are only picks that Kekäläinen has made, with guys like Josh Anderson, Lukas Sedlak, and Joonas Korpisalo also taken later by the previous regime.
Although many would tell you that the Browns have sucked because their high profile choices didn’t pan out, the real problem is that Cleveland has been unable to get many solid players in the later rounds. Players like Dak Prescott, David Johnson, and David Bakhtiari were taken in the third round or later and have all turned out to be pretty damn good. That shows it’s possible for the Browns to get those kind of guys.
Related Story: Quincey and Gagner Likely Gone
Obviously the Browns have missed on several big picks throughout the years. That’s one of the biggest reasons that they’re picking so high in tonight’s draft. Some faulty top choices in Justin Gilbert, Johnny Manziel, Barkevious Mingo, etc. has put the Browns back at square one over and over again. That doesn’t mean that they should stop trying to choose big name talents.
The Browns should draft Myles Garrett with the first overall selection tonight. To all of the Browns executives that are obviously hanging on each and every one of my words: DO NOT overthink it. Garrett is the consensus top pick and you should take him. Myles Garrett is your Zach Werenski, a young stud defender that shows all of the signs of a superstar. You have the 12th pick to screw up, don’t do it with the first.
The Blue Jackets have drafted for the future, not to win immediately. Picking players such as Sonny Milano and Gabriel Carlsson show that it’s not about the flashiest picks. It’s about getting guys that fit the system and can grow into important roles on the team.
As a Browns fan, I always expect the worst. Each of the draft picks will be gigantic busts and the front office, coaches, and key players will be tossed aside within the next three years. But there is hope with new guys in the front office. Maybe they know what they’re doing and that will change the tide for the longtime-tortured franchise. That may be too optimistic but on the bright side, I most definitely said the same thing regarding the Blue Jackets when Jarmo Kekäläinen came into power. It turned out alright for them, so why not the Browns too?