Phil Savage

This keeps them well under the salary cap and gives them the ability to "steal" the productive players from the "good" teams.

Very good point, Geno.  There are a good deal of the free agents that I am very much a fan of and really value them being on the team: Eric Steinbach and Corey Williams (for example).  There are some other free agents that we paid a lot of money to and I would prefer we instead try to build through the Draft.

I am really excited about our young core of players in Thomas, Vickers, Wimbley, Wright, Edwards, and Winslow.  Unfortunately, I think that Winslow is showing much more age than a 25 year old veteran (primarily due to injuries), which is also why I like the selection of Rucker this year.

We still need to get some young talent at a few other skill positions.  I'd like to see us develop Jerome Harrison into a good back that can spell Jamal and take his duties once he's moved on.  I'd like to see us develop a good number two receiver as well.  I like the Stallworth move, but he is inconsistent and an injury concern.  Hubbard is a pick I loved and was hoping the Browns would take, as I believe he has a lot of potential.  However, given his injury history and inconsistencies, I think it could be a while before we see returns from him.

I think there might be a little overlooking of something here.  If we take a look at the teams that consistently buid through the draft -- Colts, Squeelers, etc -- we see that it took a lot of time to for their programs to develop.  The Colts, for example, took many drafts to build there team to be a consistent winner.  Harrison was picked 2 yrs before Manning, Tarik Glenn was picked 1 year before Manning.  Dwight Freeney wasnt drafted until 2002....so on and so forth.  Here's my point. Savage has declared 7 "critical foundation pieces" for  successful football teams: franchise QB, RB, WR, book end LT, DT, shut down CB, feared pass rusher LB/DE.  In the draft so far, Savage has gotten our WR (Edwards), LT (Thomas), and pass rushing LB (Wimbley).  My gut feeling is that Eric Wright will eventually be a pro bowl corner and if that is true, than Savage drafted our shut down CB.  Not to mention Brady Quinn, who would be the franchise QB if D.A. didnt bust out on the scene.  That was all in, what, 4 years of drafts?  Conversely, the Colts built Savage's "wish list" with their WR being drafted in 96, LT in 97, QB in 98, RB in 99 and DE in 02.  According to that, it looks like Savage's drafting has been right on track.  What I'm getting at is that Savage has done a great job of not only building in the draft, but recognizing that this team is close to the "next" level, and is going out to obtain proven players at "needed" positions.

I think there might be a little overlooking of something here.  If we take a look at the teams that consistently buid through the draft -- Colts, Squeelers, etc -- we see that it took a lot of time to for their programs to develop.  The Colts, for example, took many drafts to build there team to be a consistent winner.  Harrison was picked 2 yrs before Manning, Tarik Glenn was picked 1 year before Manning.  Dwight Freeney wasnt drafted until 2002....so on and so forth.  Here's my point. Savage has declared 7 "critical foundation pieces" for  successful football teams: franchise QB, RB, WR, book end LT, DT, shut down CB, feared pass rusher LB/DE.  In the draft so far, Savage has gotten our WR (Edwards), LT (Thomas), and pass rushing LB (Wimbley).  My gut feeling is that Eric Wright will eventually be a pro bowl corner and if that is true, than Savage drafted our shut down CB.  Not to mention Brady Quinn, who would be the franchise QB if D.A. didnt bust out on the scene.  That was all in, what, 4 years of drafts?  Conversely, the Colts built Savage's "wish list" with their WR being drafted in 96, LT in 97, QB in 98, RB in 99 and DE in 02.  According to that, it looks like Savage's drafting has been right on track.  What I'm getting at is that Savage has done a great job of not only building in the draft, but recognizing that this team is close to the "next" level, and is going out to obtain proven players at "needed" positions.

Miosue05,

Goood points.. But...The Colts don't have a single starter that wasn't drafted by the Colts.. They have also won 10+ games a season for a long time.. If you draft well your team will be good...

I didn't dispute how good the Colts are at drafting their roster and I didn't dispute they have been good for many years and I didn't dispute that drafting well makes your team good.  I did say It took the Colts time to build their team through the draft, regardless of how many 10+ wins they've had.  And I compared it by saying in the little time Savage has had drafting in Cleveland, he has been on the right track drafting quality players.  The Colts have been a blue print of drafting success but its not the only way to success.  Free agency has been a positive to the Browns.  I mean, we have so few players remaining from the Butch era, an era that left this team in complete shambles.  Savage has taken that absolute mess and turned it into a quality football team and he has accomplished that through the draft and free agency.  He basically had to turn to free agency to help rebuild.  The team needed so much of a makeover that drafting alone wouldn't be enough to turn it around.  I think he has balanced it very nicely.  I do not hope to see another year of trading away picks...ever again...but I trust what he's doing.  He didn't inherit a built franchise.  For all intents and purposes, he inherited an expansion franchise. 

Misosue05 is absolutely correct.

I remember Mel Kiper (in the long long ago) blasting the Colts for poor drafting back when they were one of the worst teams in the NFL.  

Given time they turned it around much like the Browns are doing.