Should the Cleveland Browns Trade For Seattle Seahawks LB Aaron Curry?

Saturday, October 8, 2011

49ers.com

By Daniel Wolf
Senior Writer

The Cleveland Browns are sitting at 2-2 during their Bye week, and are a quick-snap play away (in Week 1) from possibly being 3-1.

Last Sunday, against the Tennessee Titans, the Browns were blown out and it all started with a long touchdown play where tight end Jared Cook burned linebacker Scott Fujita with his speed.

Since the beginning of training camp and throughout the preseason, the Browns have been in need of speed and depth at linebacker.

Back in the Eric Mangini-ran 2009 NFL Draft, the Browns held the No. 5 overall pick and fans were crossing their fingers for Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry to fall to Cleveland. Unfortunately, Curry was taken one pick ahead of the Browns by the Seattle Seahawks with the No. 4 overall pick. Mangini might have been targeting Curry, and since he was gone, traded Cleveland's No. 5 pick to the New York Jets for their first round pick and a bunch of mediocre players.

Coming back to the present day, the Browns are building a youth-laden franchise and the linebacker position is one position where the Browns could use some more talent. Besides starters D'Qwell Jackson, Fujita and Chris Gocong, the Browns have two backups in Titus Brown and Kaluka Maiava.

RELATED: Cleveland Browns LB Titus Brown Getting Rave Reviews From Coaches and Players

The problem is they do not have a solid backup for Fujita, who is losing a step in his coverage and this was evident on Titans tight end Cook's 80-yard touchdown catch-and-run (see this play in the video below).



Granted Cook is 24-years-old and runs a 4.5 40-yard-dash time, while Fujita is 32-years-old and used to run a 4.59 40-yard-dash, but the point is with age comes a loss of speed.

Tight ends are only getting faster and the Browns need to bring in a younger linebacker who is fast—enter Curry.

RELATED: Cleveland Browns Need to Throw to Their TEs 'Moore' if WRs Cannot Step Up

It has been reported, by various sources, the Seahawks would trade the former first rounder for a mid-round draft pick. If this means a fourth rounder, then the Browns should take a flier on Curry. Usually this writer doesn't advocate trading any picks for players—ever—but the fact the Browns could land a talent like Curry for a mid-round pick seems to be a smart move.

Curry wouldn't even have to step in and start right away (barring injury to Fujita) either, since he could be the backup and learn the system first. Then in 2012, he could step in and start, while Fujita takes a backup role as both a mentor and sideline leader of the defensive unit.

The biggest issue would be Curry's $5 million base salary the Browns would have to take on. Cleveland has the cap space, but the money might be too much and not worth the trade at all, especially since Curry is set to become a free agent after this season ends.

This is all speculation, but if the money can be worked around and the draft pick compensation is not higher than a fourth rounder, the Browns should take a shot at Curry.


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More stories on the Cleveland Browns:

Titans vs. Browns: Game Notes and What's the Deal With RB Peyton Hillis in Cleveland Loss to Tennessee?

Browns LB D'Qwell Jackson Impresses Coaches in Week 1 and Look For More of the Same This Season