(11-01-2017, 02:59 AM)CBullseye Wrote:

(11-01-2017, 12:01 AM)D6 Wrote: On top of what you mentioned, which I agree with,  the player could easily be on the Free Agent market in March w/o restrictions.   The Browns lucked out big time.

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Absolutely.  They tried to take advantage of a panic move in Northeast Ohio.

Or alternatively, they wanted to maximize the return on losing him.

If they didn't deal him now, he would leave as a free agent.  The MOST they could have gotten in compensation for him leaving would be a 3rd round pick from the league...in 2019, but that is unlikely.  Now that the terms are out for a 2nd rounder, I don't see any team willing to pay more by this offseason, unless Dalton gets hurt/benched and misses the end of the season, and McCarron does well on an extended tryout.

Trading him to Cleveland would have added a 2nd round pick +.

I don't think Cleveland would have been "doomed" had they acquired McCarron.  If they gave him a trial to season's end and he failed, Cleveland has so many draft picks, it would be no big deal.  If he succeeded for them, they only spent a 2nd round pick for a quality QB, and they still have a bunch of picks to build around him.

If the Bengals organization, either the Brown Family, Marvin Lewis,  or the key football in the front office thought A.J. McCarron realistically could be a Franchise QB,  I don't think they would have traded him unless another team offered them the moon.   That much more to a divisional opponent.  

A major reason why I thought this was a bad trade for the Browns is they likely would have passed on a QB in the 1st Round unless the value was through the roof.  The impression the Browns give is they are accumulating and then throwing darts hoping to finally hit the target.

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