Shaun Rogers for Donovan McNabb: A Deal Worth Doing?

With the Cleveland Browns' quarterback situation still unsettled, it’s time for some idle speculation.

After Shaun Rogers was injured late in the season, Ahtyba Rubin stepped in at nose tackle and absolutely crushed any running back trying to get by him. This has prompted some chatter that Rogers may be miscast as a nose tackle in Head Coach Eric Mangini’s 3-4 system.

Looking at stats though, there isn't much to quantify. Rogers' stats weren't overwhelming this year, and Rubin didn't exactly make the Pro Bowl.

The problem, according to some experts, is Rogers is “too fast” for the defensive schemes, and that in his effort to get to the quarterback, he disrupts the Browns’ defensive patterns and allows the running back to find a seam.

So it's a question of technique, which is something you only can analyze through viewing game film instead of comparing apples to apples on a stat breakdown. Watching the games, you could see Rubin stuffing the run better than Rogers did, while Rogers broke through the line more to harass the quarterback.

The suggestion has been put out there to move Rogers down the line to allow him to rush the quarterback, thereby utilizing his speed without breaking up the run defense, which now would be anchored by Rubin.

I say any guy who can cause problems for opposing quarterbacks and swats kicks like he was swatting at flies has a place on this team, but if we’re going to play armchair general manager, let’s do it properly.

Rogers has played nine years in the NFL, which is a long time for a veteran. He’s not going to get any younger—or any faster. At some point his speed through the line is going to be diminished, and his vertical leap is going to go away, especially at his size.

Rubin is far younger and has proven he knows how to do the job. The Browns can address the defensive end position through the draft this year.

When you consider these two factors, then Rogers becomes trade bait, but only for a very few, select players. Donovan McNabb would be one of those players.

Questions surround McNabb’s job situation in Philadelphia due to several reasons. Fellow Feature Columnist Daniel Wolf explains it nicely here.

With free agency potentials now handcuffed by an uncapped year, expect more trades in the next two months.

Browns GM Tom Heckert knows Philadelphia and knows McNabb. This deal is not outside the realm of possibility. It would be a shame to see Rogers go because he’s one of the best playmakers on this defense.

But if Rogers has to be moved in order to make the defense better, Rogers may not want to do that at this point in his career, and trading him for a five-time Pro Bowl quarterback who has been to a Super Bowl is a trade worth making.