Browns select Zac Zinter

    I thought the Cleveland Browns were about to grab a first-round talent or address defensive speed, as I was all in on Oregon wide receiver Troy Franklin or Clemson linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr.

Well, the Browns surprised me. not by passing on those players but with the player that they chose in Michigan guard Zac Zinter.

Zinter is the lineman who badly broke his leg last season in Michigan's win over Ohio State and I'm not sure about his physical status currently.

The 6'6, 309-pound Zinter is a line mover in the run game as one would expect for a Michigan lineman but has been mentioned as an average pass blocker.

When you see how the game is more and more about throwing the football, I'm a bit leery of linemen who project to be average in pass protection.

The Browns are paying big money to their starting guards, Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller, and at their age (Bitonio is 33, and Teller turns 30 during the season), it's not unreasonable to plan for the future that could see Bitonio retire or Teller become a cap casualty.

However, the team continues to say they are "all in" and talk about the narrowing window of contention, and rather than pick a player who would have a chance to contribute immediately, the selection is a backup guard who is coming off an injury?

It's not really a knock on Zinter as a player, I think the Browns reached a little bit here on a non-position of need, and without a fourth-round pick, they could have done better in this situation.

The Browns have four picks on the final day of the draft, the Eagles fifth, their own sixth, and their own and Tennessee's seventh-round selections.

Browns select Michael Hall

     The Cleveland Browns may have wanted to move down in the second round but whether an offer was enticing enough to move down or not, the Browns kept the pick to select Ohio State defensive tackle Michael Hall with the fifty-fourth pick overall.

I liked wide receiver and defensive tackles as the two positions that I thought the Browns could target with their top pick and there are a few wide receivers still available but only Hall remained of the defensive tackles that I hoped were a possibility after a few picks before Hall saw Ma'ason Smith and Kris Jenkins selected by other teams.

The 6'2, 290-pound defensive tackle brings an intriguing skill set to the Browns interior defensive line with pass-rush skills against the middle of the offensive line.

Hall blasts off the football and is very agile for a defensive tackle but isn't quite a traditional run-stuffing defensive tackle, so there are questions about Hall being a multiple down lineman rather than a pass-rushing specialist.

It is concerning for a player with Hall's skills that he finished with only 1.5 sacks last season but he could be a player who flourishes in one one-on-one blocking situations with teams more concerned with the outside rush from Myles Garrett and company.

I am pleased with the selection of Michael Hall and I think the Browns did well here, especially if they can address wideout, tight end, or linebacker with their third-round pick.

Browns on the clock

   After a first night of the NFL Draft that saw a jaw-dropping SIX quarterbacks selected in the first twelve picks, the Cleveland Browns might be in a position to add a player with their second-round pick at number fifty-four overall that could help immediately.

Andrew Berry is known for loving his trade downs, so this could make the pick even more valuable than usual and allow Berry to add an additional third-rounder or fourth-rounder.

The Browns lack a fourth-rounder and I would be surprised if Berry doesn't trade down from either the second-rounder or their third-rounder at eighty-five.

I would prefer to see the Browns add another weapon that could help DeShaun Watson with so many receivers that may have been first-rounders in other drafts and even though my guy Xavier Worthy left the board late in round one, there are plenty available, so one might be sitting for the Browns to grab.

I really like Oregon's Troy Franklin and Florida State's Keon Coleman most but I didn't mention Georgia's Ladd McConkey, who I didn't think would be available for Cleveland, who would be fine as well.

If it is equal among the three, I think I'd take Franklin.

If all of those three are gone and the Browns trade down slightly, Michigan's Roman Wilson, Western Kentucky's Malachi Corley, and North Carolina's Dez Walker would also be players that could be very helpful as well.

If the Browns decide to pass on the receiver, I think they are going to target the defensive line with LSU's Maason Smith, Ohio State's Michael Hall, and Michigan's Kris Jenkins each making sense.

Smith and Hall have the potential to provide pass rush up the middle, while Jenkins is more of your basic run-stuffer who has a lower floor but might be a ten-year NFL player.

While those are the deepest spots at positions of need, and I don't think he'll fall more than a few spots into the second round, I wouldn't complain a bit about the Browns finding a way to land Iowa corner Cooper DeJean, who would allow the team to perhaps allow Greg Newsome to leave after 2024 and would add both return skills and a bit of offensive gimmickry as well.

I'd love to add Clemson's Jeremiah Trotter Jr in the third round to help the linebacking speed but the Browns' attempt for linebackers other than Jeremiah Owosu-Koahmoah under Andrew Berry haven't been loaded with successes, so they might be reluctant to select a linebacker there.

I'll be back tonight with a few words on whomever the Browns draft along with a look at day three!

Boxing Challenge

  The boxing weekend is all in Fresno, California with a DAZN/Golden Boy card with three fights in the boxing challenge.

In the main event, former WBC and WBO junior welterweight champion Jose Ramirez makes his debut for Golden Boy in a twelve-round title eliminator against Rances Barthelemy, who crosses over from PBC for this fight.

Ramirez has fought only twice since his close decision loss to Josh Taylor in 2021 and not at all since his eleventh-round knockout of Richard Commey last March.

Barthelemy, a former beltholder at junior lightweight and lightweight, hasn't fought since last March either and has been known for his boring fights, most notably his 2019 draw with Robert Easter. which is my choice for the worst fight of the last twenty or so years.

Barthelemy's boxing style may have some success against Ramirez but I have my doubts that he's strong enough to hold Ramirez off and his reluctance to engage could make yet another dull affair.

Unbeaten Vergil Ortiz continues to shake off the issues of inactivity with a ten-rounder against Thomas Dulorme.

Ortiz stopped Frederic Lawson in one round in a fight more noted for the early stoppage by referee Tony Weeks than Ortiz's attack but Ortiz has signed for an August fight against Tim Tszyu in what could be a tremendous fight assuming he defeats Dulorme, who hasn't fought in two and a half years, was stopped in one round by Jaron "Boots" Ennis and has lost his last three fights and is 1-4-1 in his last six fights.

I'd bet this one ends early.

The remaining fight is a junior welterweight ten-rounder between Oscar Duarte and Joseph Diaz, both fighters who badly need a win.

Duarte had his moments against Ryan Garcia in December before being stopped in the eighth round while Diaz has lost four of his last five but two were by split decision and in his February split decision loss to Jerry Campos, Diaz lost a point in the fifth round for throwing Campos to the canvas.

Had that point not been deducted, Diaz would have been given a draw.

Boxing Challenge

Junior Welterweights. 12 Rds 

Jose Ramirez vs Rances Barthelemy

Ramon Malpica: Ramirez KO 9

TRS and Vince Samano: Ramirez Unanimous Decision

Junior Middleweights. 10 Rds

Vergil Ortiz vs Thomas Dulorme

R.L: Ortiz KO 3

TRS: Ortiz KO 2

V.S: Ortiz KO 5

Junior Welterweights 10 Rds

Joseph Diaz vs Oscar Duarte

R.L: Duarte KO 10

TRS and V.S: Duarte Unanimous Decision

Cavaliers confounded by Magic in Game Three loss

  I've thought from the beginning that the Cleveland Cavaliers would win their series against the Orlando Magic in five or six games.

I also thought if there was one game that Orlando would almost certainly win it would be game three, with a pumped-up Magic squad grabbing their return to Orlando and not letting the game go behind an excited crowd.

 I did not foresee Orlando leading by thirty-five points at the end of three quarters and handing Cleveland a 121-83 defeat that was the largest in Cavaliers history in the postseason.

Only three Cavaliers finished in double-figures in scoring with Jarrett Allen leading with fifteen points in the setback. Hopefully, the loss is only an aberration for the Cavaliers before game four on Saturday afternoon in Orlando.

I'm not going too in-depth for this loss because, after halftime, I was flipping back and forth between the game and the NFL Draft, and as Orlando lengthened the lead, I watched less and less but I will say this- Cleveland lost some of the luster that they gained at home in the first two games.

Orlando was the more physical team adding Wendell Carter to their starting lineup, outrebounding Cleveland by nineteen, and sending Jalen Suggs to guard Donovan Mitchell to hound the Cavaliers' alpha dog.

Cleveland signed Max Strus and Georges Niang in the off-season to increase their shooting (especially from three-point land) and have helped next to nil as the pair are a combined three for twenty-four in the series.

I am betting that this will be written off as a bad night and that may be the case but the Cavaliers will have much to prove Saturday in game four- both in how they play and the attitude that they bring to the arena.

Cleveland Browns Draft Preview

   The Cleveland Browns will make their final installment on the DeShaun Watson trade in the 2024 draft as they have sent their first and fourth-rounders to the Houston Texans, so the Browns have just six picks in the draft (only four of those their own) to add young and cost-affordable players.

I would not be surprised at all to see Andrew Berry and the Browns trade down in either the second or third rounds to add a pick in the fourth round, where they do not currently own a choice.

I wrote in the "Persons of Interest" series that the Browns didn't have a glaring need but they did have a few positions that could use improvement.

This puts the Browns in a position of taking the "best player available", although there are a few spots that may have priority over others.

Here are the Browns selections: 

Round 2: (54)

Round 3: (85)

Round 5: (156) Via Philadelphia thru Arizona

Round 6: (206)

Round 7: (227) Via Tennessee

Round 7: (243) 

The Browns could have their best chance of obtaining a potential impact player if they drafted a wide receiver where there is a decent chance that one of a deep crop of pass catchers could fall to them with their second-rounder with the fifty-fourth overall choice.

I would love to see the Browns add some more speed at linebacker and I definitely could like another defensive lineman, preferably a defensive tackle if all things were equal.

I would also think the Browns could address offensive tackle and tight end with tackle the position that they could draft a player that they wouldn't have to expect to play right away.

I would like to see a tight end that can catch passes drafted to replace the departed Harrison Bryant as the backups Jordan Akins and Giovanni Ricci are blockers more than pass catchers.

Should the Browns not address this issue and David Njoku would miss a substantial amount of time, the Browns would lose a major part of their passing game, so I believe they do need to use a day three pick at tight end.

I attempted a mock draft on a simulator with the Browns using their picks and taking offers from teams in trade.

This link expires in a week, so I'll summarize with this- I made five trades moving down and added picks in 2025 in the third round, three picks in the fourth round, five in the fifth round, and one in the sixth.

Now that's pretty unrealistic in the real world but for fun, here are the players that I picked with the picks and the picks acquired through trades as well

61) Maason Smith DT LSU 

85) Jeremiah Trotter Jr. LB Clemson

86) Jalen McMillan WR Washington

133) Will Shipley RB Clemson

189) Jaheim Bell TE Florida State

204) Ethan Driskell T Marshall

206) Josh Newton CB TCU

227) Joe Milton QB Tennessee

243) Josh Proctor S Ohio State

247) Kamal Hadden CB Tennessee

249) Quan'Tez Stiggers CB Toronto Argonauts

That type of haul that started with the few picks that the Browns have would be a pipe dream, but in the dream world, it was fun to do and I'd think the Browns would be happy with my work.

The only disappointing part was missing out on an impact wide receiver but otherwise, I would be thrilled with the talent and picks to play with for the 2025 draft.

Cleveland Browns- Persons of Interest- Defense

    The Cleveland Browns defense last season was a strength (at least until the debacle in Houston) but team-building never stops, so there will be newcomers coming in to support the established players.

The Browns improved their defense against the run last season with the signings of veterans Dalvin Tomlinson and Shelby Harris at defensive tackle and they hope 2023 third-rounder Siaki Ika will step up this season but the Browns lost Jordan Elliott in free agency, so it would make sense for another interior lineman.

Three players have been connected to the Browns, should they address this early in the draft: LSU's Maason Smith, Ohio State's Michael Hall, and Michigan's Kris Jenkins.

Smith has the best tools, Hall is the best pass rusher, and Jenkins appears to have the highest floor of the three, so any would make sense.

If the Browns look at the position on day three, Gabe Hall of Baylor is a high-effort player who could develop into a rotational tackle.

Looking at the defensive end/edge rusher position, Cleveland would likely use late-round picks and toolsy rushers like Mississippi's Cedric Johnson and Texas Tech's Myles Cole are the types of high-reward players that could be a possibility.

The Browns don't seem to value linebackers as much as other positions but the success of Jeremiah Owosu-Koahmoah may have changed that a little.

I was a big fan of Jeremiah Trotter version one in his days with the Eagles and Jeremiah Jr is my favorite linebacker in this draft.

Trotter Jr. has many of the skills of JOK, runs to the ball, has great agility, and possesses the speed and tackling ability to be a three-down linebacker.

I'd love to see Andrew Berry grab Trotter. Jr on day two and watch JOK and Trotter run down ball carriers together as a pair!

Some prefer Michigan's Junior Colson (I don't) to Trotter but I still wouldn't be sad to see Colson with the Browns, and Ohio State's Steele Chambers is still learning the position and would be an immediate demon on special teams.

Andrew Berry loves to take at least one cornerback in each draft and for the flaws in his drafts, Berry has been successful with his selections at the position.

Assuming the Browns would decide to tab a cornerback on day two, the two that I really like that could be available are Max Melton of Rutgers and Khyree Jackson of Oregon.

Jackson is the larger of the two at 6'3 and projects as a classic outside corner while the 5'11 Melton is the more versatile of the two with the ability to play in or out of the slot and as the nickel corner as well.

A day three corner that I am high on is Tennessee's Kamaal Hadden, who missed half of the 2023 season with a shoulder injury just as he was earning attention for his play.

Hadden would be an interesting selection if his shoulder has healed as would Penn State's Kalen King, who looked like a first-rounder in 2022 before struggles last season in State College.

The Browns returned Grant Delpit and Juan Thornhill as starting safeties, re-signed Rodney McLeod, and received help from undrafted free agent Ronnie Hickman.

Cleveland could go back to that well if Ohio State safety Josh Proctor isn't drafted as Proctor would be a special teams contributor.

Another intriguing safety is Air Force's Trey Taylor, who won the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's best defensive back and happens to be the cousin of long-time Browns nemesis Ed Reed.

If I have time, I'd like to post a brief preview- But in case I do not have that time, the following list shows the Browns draft picks by round and overall draft selection.

Round 2: (54)

Round 3: (85)

Round 5: (156) Via Philadelphia thru Arizona

Round 6: (206)

Round 7: (227) Via Tennessee

Round 7: (243)