Browns Trade Mingo to Patriots
Another year, another failed former first rounder booted off the Cleveland Browns. But this time is a little different: the embattled Browns have made 2013 first round selection Barkevious Mingo work for them, trading him to the New England Patriots in exchange for a 2017 fifth-round pick.
The writing was on the wall for Mingo as soon as the Browns declined to pick up the fifth-year option on his rookie contract in May. There were whispers he wouldn’t even survive this preseason, before the Browns bit the bullet and traded Mingo to squeeze a last drop of value out of the underperforming prospect.
An early day-three draft pick was about all Cleveland could hope to realistically muster out of the LSU standout. Mingo racked up just seven sacks (none in 2015) and one interception in three years with the Browns.
It remains to be seen whether the still defensive-minded Bill Belichick can make something of the linebacker in New England. The Patriots will be hoping to restore some pass rushing firepower after trading a former first-rounder of their own, Chandler Jones, to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for guard Jonathan Cooper a future second-round pick.
The Mingo trade makes Barkevious just another unique name in the disappointment that was the 2013 draft. The day one lowlights included Miami pass rusher Dion Jordan (hoping to finally get his career started this year after hefty injuries and suspensions), Eagles OT Lane Johnson (currently facing a 10-game suspension for PED use), and severe underperformers like LA’s Tavon Austin and Pittsburgh’s Jarvis Jones, among others.
The Browns, meanwhile, continue to rack up a king’s ransom of other team’s picks in the lead up to the next draft. The Eagles (1st round), Titans (2nd round), Patriots (5th round) and Colts (7th round) have all relinquished their picks to a team already expected to be drafting early in 2017.
It was a strategy employed in the latest draft, too. The Browns hoarded picks that ultimately provided a nice combination of rookie selections and trade bait. Maybe, after many seasons of inconsistency and impatience, Cleveland is finally ready to stick with its rebuild every step of the way.
