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00:00Scott Patrick, ChronicleTelegram, BrownZone.com.
00:02There he is on the Make It Right Call, Kyle Wright hotline.
00:05Hi, Scott. How are you?
00:07I'm good. How are you guys?
00:09We're going to be bickering all day. I can feel until 2 o'clock.
00:12He's like, you know, I go out on it just saying,
00:15hey, wouldn't it be cool, wouldn't it be cool
00:17if Travis Kelsey ended his career and just did, you know,
00:20one year with the Browns, and he's like blowing this up like I'm saying,
00:23oh, he's going to come.
00:25Scott, will you please tell Andy the 0% chance
00:29of Travis Kelsey joining the Cleveland Browns?
00:32Well, yeah, I think Daryl's right, but Andy, that's just life with Daryl, buddy.
00:37Thank you. I owe you a beer, Scott.
00:39See, Scott knows what's up.
00:42All right. What are you expecting here in an hour, my friend, from the Browns?
00:46Yeah, I don't know if they'll be engaged right at noon.
00:50I know we'll see some deals get done, you know, right away,
00:54which means the negotiations were taking place before the window opens at noon.
01:01But I think they will try to find somebody along that offensive line.
01:05They're not done just because they had an agreement
01:08or have an agreement to trade for Titus Howard,
01:10which should become official Wednesday.
01:12They've got to redo the whole offensive line.
01:15And Andrew Barry said he was going to use trades for agency
01:17and the draft to do it.
01:18So I think they're going to try to find somebody across that line.
01:24Howard gives them some flexibility position-wise,
01:27whether it could go after a guard, a center, a tackle,
01:30because he could move inside the guard if they wanted him to.
01:33I think they prefer him at right tackle.
01:35So, you know, I keep an eye out for a guard.
01:37I don't think – I think Tyler Linderbaum would make a ton of sense.
01:40I just think there's going to be too many other teams involved,
01:42too many teams with – you know, that are Super Bowl contenders
01:45and maybe too many teams willing to spend more than the Browns are willing.
01:49So I think it would start at offensive line for me.
01:53You mentioned Tyler Linderbaum, Scott.
01:57And we all know the agents are doing a lot of work right now.
02:01But the talk is possibly $25 million a year for a center.
02:07I don't even know if that's, like, fiscally responsible to do that.
02:11What is your thoughts on the dollar figures being thrown around for this guy?
02:17And would you be willing to overextend to bring him?
02:21Or do you think that Andrew Barry would be better off focusing his attention
02:26elsewhere on the line?
02:28I think they will likely focus their attention elsewhere.
02:32It's a tough one because, you know,
02:34you overpay for anybody on the free agent market.
02:36And, you know, $25 million seems like a ton for a center.
02:40Is a center less valuable than a guard?
02:42You know, I think that's a discussion for – and I'm not an offensive line expert.
02:47I know the center makes a bunch of the calls.
02:49He's in the middle of everything.
02:52Traditionally, guards have been paid more than centers,
02:54so there's a reason for that.
02:56You know, I'd probably draw the line somewhere before $25 million
03:00when it comes to Linderbaum.
03:01You know, especially if you're the Browns who think you're at least another year away.
03:06Do you make that huge splash this year, or do you wait until next year?
03:10The reason I would think about it with Linderbaum is he's young, 26,
03:15three-time Pro Bowler, has obviously the extensive experience with Todd Munkin,
03:20Travis Schweitzer, the offensive coordinator, George Warhop, the line coach.
03:24He could really help introduce Munkin's offense in the blocking scheme
03:29to the rest of the new offensive line.
03:31So I think it makes sense there.
03:33I just think he's going to be too expensive.
03:35I'm just going back to something over the weekend with Max Crosby going to Baltimore,
03:39and there was talk that the Browns were willing to give up their first two picks
03:43in this year's draft, both first-rounders.
03:44What did you think of that?
03:47That the Browns were willing to do that?
03:49Yeah, that the Browns were willing to do that.
03:52I don't think that's valid at all.
03:55Not buying it?
03:56No, not for Max Crosby.
03:58They already had Miles Garrett to pay him a ton of money.
04:01Yeah, I don't – I mean, I know they like Max Crosby, and who doesn't?
04:05But I would – I mean, they've got so many needs on offense that I don't think that's –
04:10it just doesn't ring true to me.
04:12Yeah, I didn't buy it either, but I mean, because the price was just too high.
04:15I was like, there's just no way.
04:16Maybe the second first-round pick, but I was just like, uh.
04:20And then you've still got to pay him on the other side.
04:22So, what do you think this offensive line – what do you think this offensive line
04:26looks like, you know, by the time the draft's over?
04:29I think they get their starting left tackle in the draft, whether it's at six or after
04:35a trade down.
04:36I think they probably add – let's say they add a guard in free agency.
04:40They have Howard.
04:42That's three of the starting spots.
04:45Let's assume Joel Batoni retires, which he hasn't made that decision yet.
04:48All right, so that's a big question mark, whether or not he's your second guard.
04:52Um, and then they probably draft somebody within another lineman within the top three
04:57rounds that winds up starting.
04:58So, I think you'll see two rookies, Howard, a free agent, and then somebody on the current
05:03roster, whether it's Ethan Postick comes back off the Achilles, or he and Luke Whipler
05:09figure out center between them, or Zach Zinter, they hope that he can be a starter at one
05:15of the guard spots.
05:16And, you know, I think DeJuan Jones is just such a question mark because of the injury
05:20history that you can't rely on him, but he's in the mix.
05:23And maybe, if he's healthy, you slide him or you slide Titus Howard in the guard, and
05:29then you've got your five guys.
05:30So, I think there's still a lot of work to be done.
05:33I think one of the five starters is already on the roster.
05:37When are we going to find out what Joel's going to do, Scott?
05:40I don't think there's a huge rush for that, Daryl.
05:44So, I don't know if it's going to come in the next couple of days.
05:46I think Betonio's going to be given time to make this decision.
05:51I don't know.
05:52I'm kind of, I go back and forth on whether or not I think he comes back because he talks
05:57so much about his body dictating the decision and, you know, talking to Joel and watching
06:02this year.
06:02He held up way better this year than he did last year.
06:05You know, 2024, yet he came back in 2025.
06:08Now, he was under contract so that, you know, you'd know you're walking away from whatever
06:13it was, $16 million, I think.
06:15So, that's different this year with his contract, you know, expiring and it's just void years
06:19after this.
06:20So, he'd have to figure out that.
06:22He'd have to figure out if the Browns are willing to pay him, what he wants to get paid
06:25for one more year.
06:26Does he think about trying to chase a ring somewhere else, which would be a change for
06:31Joel because every time I've talked to him, he had a hard time even picturing walking
06:35into another building.
06:36But I think all those things are something Joel's considering.
06:40But I don't think there's, I know there's not a hard deadline in the next couple days
06:45for him to make this decision.
06:47You know, they need wide receivers.
06:49We've talked about this ad nauseum.
06:51Obviously, there's been weird reports coming out of Tampa about Mike Evans, whether he's 100%
06:58done or not there.
06:59Where do you think, could they, I mean, if Mike Evans was possible, do you think they'd go
07:04after that or if they could go after that?
07:06And then, two, what else do you think they're looking at wide receiver-wise?
07:09Yeah, I mean, here's what I think, and I think this carries across positions.
07:14I don't think they're going to make an expensive signing for a guy that's 30-plus.
07:20I mean, Andrew Barry said that he didn't expect to sign guys in their mid-30s to try to get
07:24them over the hump.
07:25So, I would expect any big move to be a long-term move.
07:30A guy that's, you know, between 26 and 29, you think he's going to play for three or four
07:35years, is worth the long-term investment.
07:38And, you know, we don't know, we haven't talked quarterback yet, but let's say they run it
07:42back with the quarterbacks they have.
07:44You know, are you expecting to win 11 games and make a playoff run?
07:49Obviously, that would be the goal, and if it happened, it would be great.
07:52But I don't know if you stand pat a quarterback and make a bunch of splashy moves at other
07:58spots, especially when you are still limited in your salary cap situation.
08:02So, I mean, you know, Mike Evans would be welcome here.
08:06He'd be the big target they're looking for.
08:08It just doesn't make sense to me.
08:09And I think from his perspective, if he gets to choose, why wouldn't he go somewhere where
08:15they're close, where they feel closer to winning a Super Bowl than the Browns?
08:18So, I don't think it's Mike Evans.
08:20I don't think they make a big splash at receiver and free agency.
08:24You know, Wanda Robinson is appealing to me, but I saw reports this morning that it seems
08:29like he's going to sign with someone else.
08:31You know, could Andrew Barry still surprise with the trade?
08:34We've seen him do that in the past.
08:35That feels like the more likely vehicle for adding a receiver is to a trade versus free agency.
08:42I got to ask you this, Scott.
08:43Scott, the aggregators love coming up with trade scenarios for Miles Garrett.
08:50What is your reaction these days every time you see one of those pop up online?
08:57I saw Joe Manor had a reaction to one of them, and I kind of agreed with him.
09:01I don't know exactly what it was.
09:02But, yeah, I don't know how many times Andrew Barry has to say they're not going to trade him.
09:07I think if they were going to trade him, they would have traded him last year when he asked for
09:11it.
09:11And the price tag would have been, I think, would have been higher, although he's coming off the, you know,
09:15the sack record season.
09:16So, maybe the value hasn't dropped at all.
09:19Miles is 30 now.
09:20You know, you see what Max Crosby got.
09:23It's two first-round picks, and you think, man, what could you get for Miles?
09:27And I understand that.
09:27And I got a buddy of mine who every time Miles Garrett's name gets brought up, or even if it
09:31doesn't,
09:31says trade him.
09:33And I understand that thinking.
09:35I disagree with it personally.
09:36I think Miles is going to be the best pass rusher in the league for the next four years.
09:40And if you're the Browns and think you're going to be a legitimate contender as early as 2027,
09:45why would you get rid of the best pass rusher in the league?
09:47And if you think he's not going to be good for four more years, then that changes the discussion.
09:51But I think he's going to be elite for another four years at least.
09:55And I think the Browns agree with me, and they're not going to trade Miles Garrett.
09:59So, there's a little bit of an eye roll.
10:01And, man, I'm convinced they're not going to do it.
10:04So, if it happens, I will be stunned.
10:06You want to throw Denzel into that same scenario?
10:10Yeah, I think so.
10:11You know, corner's probably a little different.
10:13I don't think the market's nearly as big for Denzel, not that there wouldn't be a market.
10:18I mean, I'm sure you could get a first-rounder for him.
10:20But, you know, Miles is just different.
10:23Miles has separated himself from everybody else in the league.
10:27And I just think that's why it's different.
10:29But, yeah, they're not trading Denzel either.
10:30And, you know, you've got to take into consideration the cap hits you would take if you trade these guys.
10:34It just doesn't make sense.
10:36And they're trying to give Todd Munkin a chance to win and just improve the offense.
10:40So, you don't do that by taking away the best pieces on defense.
10:45I think it's safe to say Malik Willis is not going to be a Cleveland Brown, which I'm quite frankly
10:50okay with.
10:51He's got as much experience as Shadour does.
10:54But what do you think the plan is with that quarterback room right now?
11:00I have said they might be just better off seeing if Shadour can do this thing.
11:03Give him an offseason.
11:05Learn Todd's offense.
11:06See if he can do it.
11:08And then if he doesn't, well, you'll be in position to replace him next year.
11:12How do you think this whole thing is going to shake out?
11:14Do they bring in another veteran?
11:16Do they bring in one of these journeyman guys?
11:19Do you think Deshaun can give him anything?
11:21Just how do you think this is going to play out?
11:24Yeah, and it's fascinating.
11:26We talk about receiver and line being the two biggest needs.
11:29And it's almost like you push the quarterback discussion to the side because that's his own entity.
11:35I think Malik Willis would be a great fit for the Browns.
11:38I know he's only started the six games, Daryl, but I love what I see from him.
11:43He's a dual-threat guy.
11:44You can run the same offense that Todd Munkin ran in Baltimore.
11:48I know he's not Lamar Jackson, but he does a lot of the same things as Lamar Jackson.
11:51And I think he would be a good option for the Browns and a short-term option.
11:57Now, I don't think they're going to sign him.
11:59I don't know if that's because they agree that it's just not enough experience or they think he's going to
12:04get too expensive
12:04and they're not willing to make that investment in him.
12:07So that leans me toward thinking they'll add somebody to the quarterback competition.
12:12And could that be an Anthony Richardson?
12:15That makes sense to me, right?
12:16Huge upside, little risk.
12:18You know, you're probably trading a seventh-round pick for him.
12:21You get him from Indianapolis.
12:23He's a former number four pick.
12:24I think you could add him to that competition.
12:27But if it's not a guy like that, then I think they wait and take somebody in the draft.
12:31I don't, to me, Kyler Murray doesn't make sense.
12:34Tua doesn't make sense.
12:35Geno Smith doesn't make sense.
12:36Because are those guys really an upgrade over Shadir Sanders?
12:40And, you know, if you really felt so, then that's fine.
12:43But I'm not a big Kyler Murray fan.
12:44I'm not a big Tua fan.
12:46And I'm not sure those guys want to come here anyway.
12:48But I just don't think that makes sense.
12:50Because if you sign one of those guys, they become your starter.
12:53I think the Browns are more inclined to see what they have with Shadir and Deshaun Watson.
12:58And then add somebody to that pile, whether it's a Richardson type or somebody in the draft.
13:04Scott, as always, we appreciate it.
13:06We're going to read just for the latest on everything that's going on in the Chronicle Telegram,
13:10brownzone.com from you.
13:11Scott, we appreciate you.
13:12And have a great day, my friend.
13:15Thanks, guys.
13:15You too.
13:15Talk to you later.
13:17Scott Petrak, super friend of the show, joining us.
13:19And he does each and every Monday at 11 o'clock to talk Browns.
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