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00:00I know one guy who's not taking a break on Thursday or Friday.
00:03He's going to be all over everything that's going on.
00:07Unless, of course, it's really warm and he can go out and play golf.
00:09That's true.
00:10Let's go to the Make It Right Call, Kyle Wright Hotline.
00:12He covers the Browns for the Chronicle Telegram, brownzone.com.
00:17Brownzone.com, where you can read all of Scott Petrack's work.
00:20He joins us right now.
00:21Hello, Scott.
00:23Hey, guys.
00:23What's going on?
00:25Browns have another free agent signee who's going to speak today.
00:29Can't wait to hear what Titus Howard has to say, Scott.
00:32How about you?
00:33Yeah, I'm looking forward to it.
00:35He was the first piece of this offensive line rebuild that they handled when they traded for him
00:42or agreed to trade a couple of weeks ago.
00:44So I'm curious to see what he says.
00:46Like all these guys, where he thinks he fits.
00:48Trade for him and then new contract for him.
00:50He gets a contract.
00:52Zion Johnson, who your headline story right now on brownzone.com,
00:56calls it an honor to potentially replace Joe Batonio.
00:59That's all good.
01:01You got Elton Jenkins at center.
01:04Forgive me if I don't get overly excited about this.
01:07I think they signed three, and I say signed with Titus Howard as well because of the extension.
01:14Maybe I shouldn't.
01:15But you're bringing in three offensive linemen who seem to be pretty solid guys who are better
01:24than the guys who they might be replacing because they might be more available.
01:28Does that sum it up?
01:30Yeah, I think that's part of it.
01:33Jeff, the durability.
01:35These guys, they're not all young.
01:37I mean, Johnson's only 26.
01:39The other two guys, I think, are 29.
01:42But they're a little younger than the guys that they look to be replacing.
01:47You mentioned the durability.
01:48I also think the flexibility is something that could wind up being important.
01:54We're still trying to figure out exactly where these guys fit.
01:57You don't need to know on March 16th where everybody's going to play.
02:02But depending on what they do in the draft, having Elton Jenkins being able to play guard
02:08and center gives you versatility.
02:11And Howard being able to play guard and tackle.
02:14Even Tevin Jenkins has some versatility.
02:18So Zion Johnson can play either side.
02:20So I think that matters.
02:21Let's say DeJuan Jones comes back and he looks great coming off the injury.
02:27Can he be your starting right tackle and you slide Howard into right guard
02:31and then you move Elton Jenkins to center and you draft the left tackle, right?
02:35So I think there's different ways that this could wind up looking.
02:39And I do think that versatility is part of it when they were going this whole rebuild.
02:44And then I think the other thing, Jeff, is I like the fact that Andrew Barry didn't say,
02:49hey, Zach Zinter's going to be the starting guard.
02:51We don't need a competition.
02:53Or Luke Rippler is going to be the starting center.
02:56Or even DeJuan Jones, right?
02:58He's going to be the right tackle given everything he's gone through.
03:00Because I think you've seen the Browns do before and you see other teams say,
03:04okay, we trust our guy coming up.
03:06And I just don't think any of those guys have shown enough to say or stayed healthy enough
03:11to say, yeah, they deserve to be penciled in week one.
03:14And then you have to have a better contingency plan than they've had in the past.
03:19So Batonio's contract was voided.
03:22Has he ridden off into the sunset?
03:23Can we officially say that he's retired and done?
03:27Or where are we with this?
03:29Okay.
03:30No, you cannot officially say that.
03:31He wants to take more time.
03:34So however long that is, there's no clock.
03:37But the only clock was if he was going to come back to the Browns under that timeline,
03:42it would have had to be before the contract voided.
03:45And then they would have restructured it and done an extension
03:49and been able to spread out the seller cap hit.
03:52The Browns knew that he wasn't going to have his mind made up in time
03:55or his decision made in time.
03:57So they're prepared to take that huge cap hit, 23.5 million.
04:02But that does not affect his overall decision whether he's going to play or not play.
04:06What's your gut tell you?
04:09I don't think he plays.
04:10I think we probably would know by now if he was committed to playing.
04:14I don't know that.
04:15I'm just thinking timeline from last year.
04:18We knew by now that he was coming back.
04:21The moves that the Browns have made are certainly preparing for life after Joel Batonio.
04:27Now, I know that they would welcome him back in a heartbeat.
04:30And then all of a sudden, Zion Johnson moves to right guard.
04:32And we talk about that shuffling of positions.
04:35But, you know, Zion Johnson's signing feels like, okay, he's going to move into left guard
04:40if Joel doesn't come back.
04:42So they have their plan in place.
04:46But, like I said, the decision hasn't been made.
04:50But if you're going to ask me, I'm leaning toward Joel retires.
04:54We keep hearing about the external veteran option at quarterback.
04:59The only one that I think could possibly be, without question, maybe the starter would be Kirk Cousins.
05:06I don't see that.
05:07Do you see that?
05:08And do you see a guy like Russell Wilson or Carson Wentz being added to this mix?
05:13That doesn't seem likely to me either, Scott.
05:15So where do you think that all stands?
05:19I think when they didn't sign Malik Willis, that that meant, and for whatever reason that was,
05:26that that meant they weren't going to add a veteran that would come in
05:31and automatically move to the top of the depth chart.
05:33Now, could they add somebody?
05:35Like if they added Carson Wentz, he doesn't become your automatic week one starter.
05:39He gets thrown into the pile, right?
05:41He was behind J.J. McCarthy in Minnesota last year.
05:44If you trade for or Anthony Erichson gets cut and you pick him up, he gets thrown into the pile.
05:50So, and when I say pile, he gets added to the quarterback competition.
05:54So I think if they add a veteran, that that's the type of veteran they would add.
05:59I don't think it would be somebody that expects to come in and start
06:02or has a ton of starts in their career like at Kirk Cousins, like at Kyler Murray.
06:08If he, you know, if they'd gone after him, he would be the number one guy.
06:11I think the same way about Tua.
06:12So I don't think that guy was ever going to come and is coming.
06:17So, yeah, I think it's going to be a whatever tier veteran could be added or they wait to the
06:22draft
06:23and see how that plays out.
06:25And, you know, is it Ty Simpson?
06:27Is it Garrett Nussmeyer?
06:28Is it you wait for Durrell or whatever?
06:31I think I'm pretty confident somebody will be added to the mix.
06:34I just don't know if it's going to be one of those other veterans that gets added to the quarterback
06:40competition
06:41or somebody in the draft.
06:43Scott, are the Browns a better team today than they were when they made the trade last four weeks, three
06:51weeks?
06:53Oh, the Titus Howard trade?
06:55I'm just saying.
06:55Just when they started making activities.
06:56Just in general from, you know, from free agency?
06:59Yeah.
07:00Yeah, because I would say yes, because now they have an offensive line.
07:05And I would say two weeks ago they didn't have an offensive line.
07:08Okay, fair.
07:09It's beneficial, isn't it?
07:11Yeah.
07:11Yeah.
07:12I would go there.
07:13It's not bad in flag football, but, you know, okay.
07:15Yeah.
07:16And what we could talk about, they haven't added a quarterback, whether or not somebody thinks that's necessary.
07:22They haven't added a receiver, and I think everybody thinks that's necessary.
07:27They also haven't lost a whole lot of talent, right?
07:30I mean, they're going to lose those offensive linemen, but we knew they were going to lose those guys.
07:34Jack Conklin didn't play that much.
07:36We saw the writing on the wall for Wyatt Teller.
07:38David Njoku we knew wasn't coming back.
07:40The only real loss, in my view, is Devin Bush, and they quickly replaced him with Quincy Williams.
07:47So, if you just look at the plus-minus sheet, the ledger, it points toward, yes, the Browns have improved
07:53their roster in the last two weeks.
07:54What do you think of Quincy Williams, who seemed to jump through the press conference screen and said great things
08:02about Mike Rutenberg, the new defensive coordinator?
08:05Yeah.
08:05Yeah, it was an interesting Zoom interview, a lot of energy.
08:12I didn't know exactly how to take it for some of this stuff.
08:15You know, he talked about calling himself the Joker and explaining why his hair is green.
08:19A cheetah chasing gazelle?
08:21A cheetah chasing gazelle?
08:23A cheetah chasing gazelle?
08:24He just woke up.
08:26It was a really vulnerable gazelle.
08:29It wasn't just a middle-of-the-day gazelle.
08:32He had a lot of stuff to say.
08:35I did think the Rutenberg stuff was really interesting because Rutenberg brought Quincy up unsolicited in his press conference, how
08:43they connected.
08:44It was a heart-to-heart thing.
08:45It was off the field.
08:47And then, you know, Williams just raved about him and said something that we've talked about, I think, is it's
08:52really important when you're a new coordinator,
08:54especially a first-time coordinator and stepping into the shoes that Rutenberg is, taking over for Jim Schwartz, to have
09:01a guy in that building, in that room, in the huddle,
09:06who respects you, knows you, loves you, will vouch for you to the other guys and helps those guys learn
09:14you as a coordinator, helps those guys learn your system.
09:17I know the system's not going to be different, but there will be tweaks or however he calls it.
09:22So I think that's a huge advantage to having a guy like Quincy Williams.
09:26I thought a move that was made over the weekend is kind of an under-the-radar move,
09:31but is a real Andrew Barry move in an area where he's had success, bringing in Kalia Davis, defensive tackle
09:38from San Francisco.
09:40If you're looking at a strength of Andrew Barry, I think it's been adding free agent, interior defensive linemen through
09:47free agency,
09:48and here he brings in another one.
09:50How do you think he fits?
09:52Yeah, I mean, you're right.
09:52If you look at, you know, Malik Collins, Shelby Harris, first two guys that popped in my head.
09:59Tomlinson.
09:59They've had a lot.
09:59Dalvin Tomlinson had some success there.
10:02You know, Davis played with Malik in San Francisco.
10:06There's some familiarity there.
10:09You always have to add to that pile.
10:12You know, I think they'll probably add an edge rusher at some point.
10:15It might be the draft just because you can never have enough of those guys.
10:20You know, so if Shelby Harris leaves, then you need another body.
10:24Malik's coming off the injury.
10:25You have Mason Graham.
10:26You have Mike Hall, Jr.
10:28You know, he could use another body.
10:30And Davis is young.
10:32He's had some injury issues, which is why he's, you know, it's a one-year deal and it's not that
10:36expensive.
10:37But started all seven games for a really good 49ers team last year.
10:41So I think it makes sense.
10:43He's obviously familiar with the same type of scheme as a Robert Sala scheme, which Sala is connected to Rutenberg,
10:50right?
10:50Ruenberger was one of Sala's guys with the Jets.
10:53So the transition should be seamless.
10:56All right.
10:57How many times before the draft are we going to start talking about Ty Simpson at six?
11:01Because I feel like that's the next kind of wave.
11:04How many?
11:05That's going to kind of, right?
11:07You're with me on this, right?
11:08Like right now, or maybe even two weeks ago, people were like, oh, Ty Simpson, you know, maybe with the
11:13second pick in the first round.
11:15And then all of a sudden, because he's a quarterback, people are going to be talking about him at six.
11:19Because he's singing the Browns praises and everything else.
11:22I mean, Scott, is there any stink there?
11:25There's a little Bernie Kosar warmth in my heart when he was talking.
11:30It's interesting.
11:31You know, when you said Ty Simpson, I wasn't thinking six.
11:35And then you said six, and I kind of stopped for a second.
11:38I was like, eh, I get where you're going, Andy.
11:40And you're right.
11:41Listen, Scott, I'm not there at six.
11:43Trust me.
11:44But you know the way this story flows.
11:47No, you're right.
11:48It's the way the pre-draft, I don't know if it's even the process, the pre-draft stories work.
11:55And the narratives work.
11:57And, yeah, guys get pushed up.
11:58And all of you need it.
11:59He's not going to be there 24, so you got to take him at six.
12:02You're not wrong, Andy.
12:04And I'm sure there will be a ton of those type of discussions and articles out there.
12:09Six feels too high to me.
12:12I'll tell you what, though.
12:13I've been saying it, and I probably said it to you guys the last couple weeks.
12:16Coming out of the combine, I was convinced the Browns would do everything they could to trade down.
12:21And nothing they've done has made me think twice about that.
12:24I think they're in a position they can trade down, and then everything's open to them.
12:29Whatever position's open to them, they know that they can get a tackle if they wanted six, if they wanted
12:3412, if they wanted 24, if they want to wait to 39.
12:36I think they could get a starting left tackle.
12:39So I think they trade down, and that opens everything up.
12:42And I would say that would include Ty Simpson, assuming they like Ty Simpson, right?
12:47Like, that's obviously a huge part of this.
12:50I still don't see it at six.
12:52But if they move to pick a number, 12 or 14, and really like Ty Simpson, yeah, then I think
12:58it's certainly more in play there than it seems.
13:02Scott Patrick joining us from the Chronicle-Telegram, brownszone.com, where you can read all of Scott's work.
13:08I keep waiting for your story about the free agent wide receiver signing, Scott.
13:14Well, you might have to keep waiting, Jeff.
13:15Yeah, I think that takes all the fun out of it.
13:19Darnell Mooney got kicked loose.
13:21I thought, okay, competent guy.
13:23He just signed with the Giants.
13:25What do you think the plan is there?
13:29That's a good question.
13:30You know, I think Andrew Barry in the building has always liked that room more than people on the outside
13:37do.
13:37And I think that was evident a year ago.
13:39And I think it cost them.
13:41Now, I don't think he's going to ignore the receiver room this offseason.
13:45And, you know, I'd be shocked if he didn't draft one by 39.
13:50So I think that's going to happen.
13:53Now, before then, could they add a, you know, free agent that pops up or still make a trade?
14:00I think all that's on the table.
14:02I really do.
14:05I'm not surprised they didn't take a big swing in free agency.
14:08I didn't think, you know, the Alec Pierce's and the Wanda Robinson's, like, were they worth the money that they
14:12got?
14:13I don't think the Browns thought they were.
14:15So I don't have an issue with them not take that overspending for those guys, as long as they acknowledge
14:22that that room needs an upgrade.
14:25And I think it needs a serious upgrade.
14:27And maybe they think taking, you know, Colonel Tate or Makai Lemon is that upgrade in their spine after that.
14:34I think they need to add one veteran piece as well.
14:37I just don't know who that veteran piece is.
14:39Maybe Andrew Barry's waiting for the perfect trade, or maybe there's a guy out there that he knows he can
14:44still sign a week from now and fills that role.
14:48Yeah, I keep wondering what they're going to do, if there's something sitting there, especially if they could make a
14:52trade.
14:53Like, I kind of feel like knowing what they've done in the past, don't you feel like they're kind of
14:58itching to make a trade to help out something, don't you?
15:01I do.
15:02I mean, that's, yes, I have that sense.
15:05I mean, it's probably just based on his history of trading for receivers, which he's done multiple times, right?
15:11We all know Murray Cooper and Jerry Judy traded for Elijah Moore, right?
15:14So that's what he's done.
15:16He's spent more resources through trades to address receivers than he has high resources in the draft, right?
15:22Top third-round pick is as early as he's taken a receiver.
15:26So, yeah, that's what I keep waiting for.
15:29But you need the other team to agree to that trade.
15:31You need the right situation for a team to be willing to give up on somebody that you think has
15:36good value.
15:38So I think he's being patient with the hope that that situation materializes.
15:44Brownzone.com.
15:45You can go read all of Scott's coverage of the Browns offseason.
15:48He's all over it and, as always, does a great job.
15:50Thanks for your time, buddy.
15:52Thanks, fellas.
15:53Thanks, Matt.
15:54Scott Petrak joining us on the Make It Right.
15:57Call Kyle Wright hotline.
15:58Scott off to hit some golf balls, I'm sure.
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