BRONCOS TRADE DROUGHNS
The Cleveland Browns acquired RB Reuben Droughns from the Denver Broncos in exchange for DE Ebenezer Ekuban and DT Michael Myers.
What does it give the Cleveland Browns
A legitimate, healthy, dependable featured tailback with some upside.
Droughns surprised the NFL--and maybe himself a little--by rumbling for
1240 yards on 4.5 yards per carry in 2004 and scoring eight times. Of
course, playing behind the vaunted Denver O-line in Mike Shanahan's
system helped, so there's at least reasonable doubt he can be as
effective in Cleveland (as Clinton Portis showed in leaving last year
for Washington). The arrival of Droughns also means the days of troubled
William Green are likely done in Cleveland, as he probably has too
much talent (and trade value) to be the third-stringer behind the
fragile Lee Suggs. This is a bit of a risky move for Cleveland, but
new boss Romeo Crennel needs a dependable top back and has been
overhauling his defense as it is.
What does it give the Denver Broncos
Two more Cleveland linemen to bolster their depleted defense. Denver
hasn't had much luck with defenders on the free agent market, so they
keep going back to the deep well in Cleveland. Ekuban and Myers join
ex-Brown Gerard Warren on the D-line, and while they aren't elite they
should help bring things together for Denver. Ekuban is in his prime at
28 and led the Browns in 2004 with eight sacks, also forcing two
fumbles, so he should be a nice replacement for the departed Reggie
Hayward on the pass-rush. Myers is a serviceable if unspectacular
tackle who may start. The trade also lets the team hand over their
feature back role to promising soph Tatum Bell, who could take a star
turn if he stays healthy.
Fantasy impact
