Random thoughts

This and that . . . 

It's time for the Browns to make a major decision on Jedrick Wills Jr. They have two weeks to decide whether the offensive left tackle is worthy of receiving a fully-guaranteed fifth season option of about $14 million.

Early indications point toward that eventuality if the endorsement of head coach Kevin Stefanski carries any weight. Of course it will.

"I think in the moment, in the season. you felt (good about Wills) because he was healthy and playing well," he said recently. "But as you go back and watch a lot of tape over and over, he's doing a nice job in the run game and the pass game.

"He's winning his one-on-one matchups. Never perfect because it's hard to be perfect at left tackle in this game. But he has played well. I really think if he stays healthy, the trajectory continues to ascend."

I'm not at all seeing what Stefanski is seeing. Wills has clearly been the weakest point of a pretty good offensive line in his first three seasons, during which injuries and mediocrity have pockmarked what should be the strength of that unit. 

Holding penalties and false starts have become rather common occurrences with Wills, often coming at critical junctures of games. That flies against what Stefanski sees. (I know, I know, he has forgotten more about football than I'll ever learn. Move on.)

I trust what my eyes see. And they see a a player who lacks quickness with his pass set, still works on an  inconsistent kick step and often times is bullied by opposing edge rushers. He occasionally does a nice job, but you want more, a lot more, than occasionally from a first-round draft pick.

The Browns had the opportunity in the 2020 National Football League draft to take Tristan Wirfs in the opening round. He was there, at 10 but General Manager Andrew Berry, reportedly at the behest of offensive line coach Bill Callahan, grabbed Wills. Wirfs was taken off the board three picks later by Tampa Bay.

(Browns being Browns?)

All Wirfs has done in his first three campaigns is boast of three Pro Bowl selections, two All-Pro nods and a Super Bowl ring. And a budding Hall of Fame career. Wills, meanwhile, struggles and yet is on the cusp of being amply rewarded. 

This quite possibly is as good as he is going to get. That's not nearly going to be good enough. One of these days, hopefully sooner rather than later, the Browns will discover that as Wills will have Deshaun Watson's back for conceivably the next four seasons. Buckle up.

For what it's worth, I have maintained ever since Wills was drafted that he should have been plugged in at right tackle, where he played his entire career, with Jack Conklin, an All-America left tackle at Michigan State, shifting over to the left side instead of forcing Wills to play a totally different position.

That Wills is still struggling slightly tarnishes Callahan's reputation as one of the best offensive line coaches in the league. 

***

I've been following the NFL's college draft for a very long time. Ever since Mel Kiper Jr.'s prodigious hairline boasted much more hair than it does now. I can't remember in those last few decades having as little interest in the lottery as I do now.

It was pretty much the same last season, when I lost interest immediately after Berry traded out of the second round. Admittedly, I don't do deep dives into the nether rounds because a vast majority of those players will not make final rosters or make major contributions to the cause.

And with the Browns' initial selection coming up late in day two at No. 74, I don't really care who they grab because most likely his chances of jumping right in and starting starts right around "not a chance" and gets worse, so why get excited?

Berry's record in the latter rounds is not covered with glory. How much has the general manager really improved the roster since his rookie season (2020) when the Browns shocked the NFL universe and qualified for the postseason?  Can't get excited about 8-9 and 7-10.

And we're going to get another one of those drafts next year -- thank you very much Jimmy Haslam III for messing with your team's future -- when the Browns sit out the opening round, completing the ignoramus-like Watson deal with the Houston Texans.

Looks like I'll jump back into the fun leading up to the draft in 2025. And it's anybody's guess where the Browns will be then.

***

Some Browns fans got a little bent out of shape after Baltimore became the latest stop on wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.'s journey around the NFL -- its now four teams in nine seasons, three in the last four  -- after signing a one-year contract for more money (around $15 million) than he deserves. 

Beckham, who spent two-and-a-half forgettable seasons (29 games) with the Browns following a brilliant five-season stint with the New York Giants, is not the same player he was mainly because of injuries (core muscle and knee) that caused him to miss numerous games in addition to robbing him of his former brilliance.

He almost certainly will open the 2023 season as WR1 with the Ravens with tight end Mark Andrews on the receiving end of most of Lamar Jackson's passes once the recalcitrant quarterback realizes no team will give him a Watson-type contract and return.  

Beckham admitted he chose Baltimore because he believed Jackson would eventually capitulate and remain with the Ravens, who refuse to meet the demands of a quarterback who has played in only 24 of his club's last 34 games. Predicting they'll settle sometime between now and the beginning of training camp.

Beckham's best days are behind him. He still has the good hands and the speed, but it will be just a matter of time before injuries interrupt his season.

***

Perrion Winfrey, whose greatest obstacle in his rookie season last year was learning how to be a professional, is slithering close to becoming an ex-Brown. The defensive tackle, whose bombastic and entertaining reaction to being drafted by Cleveland in the fourth round a year ago was received well by the fans, can't stay out of trouble.

Despite being  healthy all season, Winfrey missed four games for disciplinary reasons, but returned in the final month and flashed. A corner turned perhaps? Uh no.

He recently was charged by Houston police with misdemeanor assault on his girl friend. causing injury by grabbing her with his hand. Even though this has not yet been elevated to a felony, Winfrey is in big trouble because the NFL does not react well in the matter of domestic violence. Right Deshaun Watson?

It will be interesting to see whether the Browns' association with Winfrey has been damaged to the point he would be better off playing defensive tackle with another NFL team. 

***

I will be taking some time off -- using the upcoming dull draft for the Browns as a convenient excuse -- to get together with and spend a lengthy period of time with family members I haven't seen in quite a while. Guessing I won't miss too much.