It is of no surprise the Cleveland Browns are looking to add another CB to their roster, most likely via trade. Phil Savage has said it, and so has the entire Browns' organization. With the recent injuries and departures at cornerback, Cleveland is lacking serious depth, and well...starters too.
Near the top of the list of corners for the Browns to acquire is Bills CB Ashton Youboty. He was a star in their state of Ohio, at The Ohio State University, where he was even coached by Browns' defensive coordinator Mel Tucker. The Ohio connection with Youboty is apparent, but should the Bills part with the former Ohio star?
The Bills are loaded at CB coming into the season. Terrence McGee and Jabari Greer are secretly one of the better unknown cover-corner tandems in the league. CB Will James was signed in free agency, and the Bills drafted three corners in this year's draft. Using high picks on first rounder Leodis McKelvin and fourth rounder Reggie Corner.
And then there is Youboty...
Youboty, a third round pick by the Bills back in 2006, has had a rough first two seasons. His rookie year he mourned the death of his mother while being stuck behind Nate Clements and Terrence McGee.
Last year, after Clements left and an opening at corner seemed to be screaming Youboty's name, however, he was slowed down by nagging injuries. During the times he's been in there, and also during this year's mini-camps, he's shown flashes of being able to be a starter in this league.
If the Bills could get the Browns to give up a third rounder for him (which is what they spent on him two years ago) I'm pretty sure they'd pull the trigger without hesitation.
Since that is probably not going to happen, I don't think the Bills should give him up for anything more than a fourth rounder...at least not at this point.
Numbers are certainly not in Ashton's favor in Buffalo, but his talents and abilities haven't really been seen yet. To give up on him now for a pick somewhere in the range of the fifth to seventh round would be irresponsible of the Bills.
If I were the Bills, I'd wait as long as I could before the offer from Cleveland was off the table.
If Ashton can show in camp that he will be a valuable commodity to the Bills' defense, then I would not trade him for anything less than a fourth round pick. If the rest of the Bills small army at cornerback shows they are significantly better than Ashton, and there's no way he'd see the field, I'd dump him faster then one of J-Lo's husbands.
To give up on a third round pick before he's barely seen the field would be a waste of a good draft pick.
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3 months ago
Nice article... I remember Youboty in college and really thought he should have not entered the draft early. But he has great potential... and me not even being a browns fan I think he'd be worth giving up a 3rd or 4th round pick quite honestly.... you'll be kicking yourself in the ass if he ends up being a stud.
3 months ago
Tucker is the DEFENSIVE coordinator.
3 months ago
The Browns are shaky at corner. No doubt. But if the improvements they've made to the D-line result in more pressure on the QB, that will help. Still, a corner with Youboty's potential could help as well. One of the issues they have at that position is lack of experience, so although I'd like to see a Buckeye playing in Cleveland, it may be more advantageous to get a more experienced CB.
3 months ago
I think it's good that the browns are looking to get a fastr corner because one slip up in the secondary by the safety and a reciever will take it deep on gary baxter allday
3 months ago
Youboty has an excellent combination of speed and size. Talented corners are highly sought after. As a Buckeyes and Browns fan I would love to see this happen. Assuming Youboty could stay healthy he could make a major impact to the Brownies roster.
3 months ago
this dude is on the verge of not making the roster and they want a 3rd?... yeah right.. try 5th
3 months ago
Cleveland will be in the playoffs if not the SuperBowl this year. PLan on it.
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