Potential Falcons blockbuster trade solves all Cleveland Browns problems
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski’s No. 1 priority this offseason is to figure out what the heck happened to his offense last season.
A blue moon must be settling over Parma, because a potential blockbuster is there for the taking with the Atlanta Falcons amid their reported willingness to deal wide receiver Calvin Ridley this offseason.
The Browns would need to do their due diligence in determining whether the former Alabama star is ready to return to the field. He stepped away from the game in October to focus on his mental wellbeing.
As Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot pointed out, the Browns are “a safe landing spot” for players who need some understanding, in addition to a good support system. She cited Takk McKinley and Malik McDowell as recent examples.
The Browns will be searching for a No. 1 receiver, and when he plays, Ridley has the goods. Last year, he caught 90 passes for 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns.
The Falcons picked up his fifth-year option, and he’ll be due to earn just over $11 million next season.
Cleveland Browns can fix QB, too
The other trade piece to consider is Matt Ryan, who the Falcons should be looking to move on from.
Ryan won’t move the meter for a lot of fans, because he’s 36 and looks like a declining player. To that, I’d argue, the Falcons gave him nothing to work with, especially considering Ridley left the team after a month into the season.
In the Browns, Ryan and Ridley would be coming to a team where everything is already in place, and they’d be the final pieces to the puzzle. The second-half of the season showed the defense is of playoff caliber, while offensively, the Browns have the line, running backs and complementary receivers.
Enter Stefanski scheming guys open for Ryan, who unlike Mayfield, thrives from the pocket, throwing to Ridley, DPJ and Anthony Schwartz, and well, who says no?
Even with Ryan’s age, the Browns window to win will remain open in 2022. I think they can squeeze enough out of the veteran to reach their goal of finally wining a Super Bowl.