LSU's Cade York is probably the draft's top-ranked kicker. He may be off the board in the fifth round. (Associate Press)
#HeyTony: Will the Browns draft a kicker or punter?
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
Hey Tony: Do you see the Browns drafting a kicker or punter or do you think they will wait to see who may be available after teams cut players. We need a reliable kicker! Thanks.
-- Rich, Willoughby, OH
Hey Rich: I think the odds are good of the Browns drafting a kicker beginning with their 202nd overall pick in Round 6. In fact, they might have to consider using one of their two picks in Round 7 to move up to take their kicker. They re-signed Chase McLaughlin, but he needs a legit competitor in training camp. If they don’t draft a kicker, I would expect them to sign an undrafted kicker. Heck, Justin Tucker, Adam Vinatieri and Phil Dawson were undrafted kickers who made good. I don’t see the Browns drafting a punter after signing Packers free agent Corey Bojorquez.
Hey Tony: Which GM regime has been the best at drafting talent since the Browns came back in 1999?
-- AJ, Avon, OH
Hey AJ: First of all, no GM hits for extra bases on every pick. Everybody has his whiffs. That said, let’s examine the “hits” of three GMS. (Some players might not have been really big stars and could have departed the Browns prematurely but went on to decent NFL careers.) Andrew Berry (two drafts): Greg Newsome, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Jedrick Wills, Grant Delpit, Harrison Bryant, Donovan Peoples-Jones. John Dorsey (two drafts): Greedy Williams, Baker Mayfield, Denzel Ward, Nick Chubb, Austin Corbett. Tom Heckert (three drafts): Josh Gordon, Mitchell Schwartz, Travis Benjamin, Jabaal Sheard, Buster Skrine, Joe Haden, T.J. Ward, Colt McCoy. It’s close. Berry needs Wills and Peoples-Jones to step up this year to improve his draft grade. Dorsey’s grade went down with Mayfield’s demise. Heckert’s “hit” record over three drafts was pretty good, but Trent Richardson and Brandon Weeden brought his grade down.
Hey Tony: What would the NFL do if a team had so much dead cap space they couldn’t afford an actual team for a year under the salary cap?
-- Josh, Galena, OH
Hey Josh: Then NFL monitors transactions in real time, so the league wouldn’t allow a team to get into the situation you describe.
Hey Tony: After the USFL folded in the 80's was there a draft? How did the Browns get so many good players from that league? Dan Fike, Kevin Mack, Ice Cube, Mike Johnson and more.
-- Jay, LaGrange, OH
Hey Jay: In 1984, the USFL was in its second year and there were signs the league was in trouble. The NFL had a USFL dispersal draft of three rounds in the event the league eventually folded. The Browns smartly made a trade of late-round picks in their regular draft to acquire the three USFL draft picks of the Chicago Bears. Among their six USFL picks, the Browns drafted running back Kevin Mack, linebacker Mike Johnson and return specialist Gerald (Ice Cube) McNeil. They also eventually signed as free agents former USFL players Dan Fike, Jeff Gossett and, perhaps the best player of all, Frank Minnifield.
Hey Tony: Are there any type of bonuses that are in Baker’s 5th year option we need to be worried about?
-- Sean, Louisville, KY
Hey Sean: Nope. The contract is pretty simple – a guaranteed one-year salary of $18.858 million.
Hey Tony: If you were drafting for the Browns, would you pick DL or WR in the second round?
-- Chris, Canton, OH
Hey Chris: If the Browns have a commitment from Jadeveon Clowney, I would choose the best receiver. If they don’t think Clowney will return, I would lean to the higher-rated edge rusher or receiver.
Hey Tony: What percentage of 2021 opening day NFL rosters was comprised of players drafted at or after number 44 overall?
-- Bill, Aurora, OH
Hey Bill: I’m not sure of the exact percentage, but a vast majority of players on rosters were drafted after No. 44 overall. Undrafted players make up a surprisingly large percentage of rosters.
Hey Tony: Are you surprised JC Tretter has not been signed? Is being the president of the union hurting him?
-- Ryan, Vienna, WV
Hey Ryan: Tretter will find a team after the draft. There may be a handful of centers in the draft capable of starting as rookies. The teams who need a center but can’t draft a good one will turn to an unsigned veteran such as Tretter. I do not think his role as union president is hurting him. At this stage of his career, Tretter is hurt by his lack of versatility to play other positions on the line. He’s had a really good career at center.
Hey Tony: What do you think was the saddest part of filming Believeland?
-- Andy, New Albany, OH
Hey Andy: The thing I remember about my particular filming was it happened after an exceptionally long and hot day at training camp. I was drained. And then I did over an hour in front of cameras and hot lights. I didn’t remember what I said until I saw the movie.
