Day 1 of Browns Draft an Emotional Rollercoaster

I loved the Browns move up to #3 to ensure they got Alabama RB Trent Richardson.  They knew who they wanted and they didn't give up any high picks to get him.  He will instantly upgrade the offense.

My happiness evaporated when the Browns #22 pick of QB Brandon Weedon was announced.  I was stunned, confused and angry, and judging by most comments I've read online, I'm in the majority.  A player you pick in the first round is someone you expect to start right away.  Can Weedon, a rookie, coming from a spread offense do that?  I'm highly skeptical.  In addition he's 28 years old, which means your time to let him grow and learn is shortened.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a huge Colt McCoy fan, but I don't hate the guy either.  Fact is last year was his first full year as a starter with a new coach, new offense, and no offense.  On top of that he had no offensive weapons and a shaky line, so of course he looked bad.  The Browns should have gone WR or offensive line at #22.  If there was one WR left that they thought was head and shoulders above the rest take him.  If not, take either OG DeCastro from Stanford, or OT Reiff from Iowa.  Both were expected to be gone by #22 and both would have solidified the line.

Now the Browns still need to fix the holes on the o-line and at WR, but now they will have to do it with a 2nd and 3rd round pick, unless Weedon can block for himself and throw to himself.  I'm not saying Weedon is a bad player.  He may turn out to be great and I hope he does.  But for a team with so many needs and the players still on the board to fill them, QB at #22 was a huge reach the Browns didn't need to make.

Browns 2012 Draft - WR at Picks 22 or 37

My hope for the Browns next two picks is that they continue to address the offense.  I would love to see them take a wide receiver (assuming they didn't take Blackmon at 4) and an offensive lineman (preferable right tackle).  A stud RB, WR, and OL would massively improve the offense. 

For receiver, I think the Browns need to find a burner.  Someone who scares teams and can stretch the defense.  After Blackmon, my favorite receiver is Michael Floyd from Notre Dame, but there are a number of good ones left.  Stephen Hill from Georgia Tech is an interesting combination of size and speed, but is very raw.  Kendall Wright has great speed and hands, but is small.  Here is a table I put together of top WRs, using information from the Draft Tracker at NFL.com.  I expect Floyd to be gone by the time the Browns pick again, but would like to see them take either Wright, Hill, Randall, or Alshon at 22 or 37.

Name	College	Height	Weight	40 time	Vertical	Grade	Pros	Cons
Justin Blackmon	Oklahoma St	6' 1"	207	4.46	42	93.5	Speed, leaping ability.  Excellent at reading coverage and finding opening in zones.  Makes good adjustments, good hands. Yards after catch.	Not quick off the ball, doesn't run greatest routes.  Blocking.  Change of direction.
Michael Floyd	Notre Dame	6' 3"	220	4.47	36.5	89.5	Good burst, size.  Good route runner, blocker, good hands.  Can make tough catches and go across the middle.	Not a deep threat, inconsistent.  Some nagging injuries and off-field problems
Kendall Wright	Baylor	5" 10"	196	4.61	38.5	88.5	Athletic ability. Quick, deceptive moves to get open.  Good underneath and deep.  Good after the catch.	Size, not best route runner.  Blocking.  Isn't engaged if ball isn't coming his way.
Stephen Hill	Georgia Tech	6' 4"	215	4.36	39.5	86	Big, fast, athletic, good blocker, deep threat, can make tough catches.	Simple college system.  Little experience with reading defenses or finding holes in zone.  Not comfortable running after the catch.  Some drops.
Reuben Randall	LSU	6' 4"	210	4.55	31	86	Size.  Gets good seperation.  Good hands.  Good at reading defenses.	Skills still developing.  Learning to run routes.
Jeffrey Alshon	South Carolina	6' 4"	230	4.47	36.5	84	Good size and hands.	Needs to run better routes and learn to get better seperation from defenders.  Some concern about his weight and off-season conditioning
Mohamed Sanu	Rutgers	6' 2"	211	4.67	36	80.5	Excellent in short routes and finding holes in the zone.  Well suited to a west coast offense.  Good hands.  Fearless across middle.	Not a deep threat. Lazy in and out of downfield breaks.  Not many yards after catch.

Browns 2012 Draft - My pick for #4

If I were running the Cleveland Browns draft it would be a hands-down, slam-dunk, iron-clad, no brainer:  Take RB Trent Richardson.  I like Richardson a lot and here's why:  He is a complete back.  Power, shiftiness, speed, blocking, catching.  Yes, a running back has a short life span--all the more reason to take one when just coming out of college  Yes, it's a pass first league--despite that, Richardson is still pegged as a top 5 pick, with the next back likely not going until late first round at best.

Richardson will give the Browns an instant play-maker.  A weapon.  A threat to score every time he touches the ball.  When's the last time the Browns had a player fitting that description?  Richardson will take pressure off of Colt McCoy to make all the plays, and will open the passing game by making defenses respect the run.

My biggest nightmare is that some team that covets Richardson--Tampa Bay and St. Louis have been mentioned--trades ahead of the Browns to take him.  If that happens I would be disappointed, but then I think the Browns go with the next best offensive weapon on the board, WR Justin Blackmon.  I like Claiborne and Kalil, but the Browns need guys who can score points.  Someone defenses have to game plan for and account for on every play.  Richardson and Blackmon fit that description.  Why not Blackmon before Richardson?  Because this year's WR class is deep, so the Browns can still get a very good WR with the 22nd or 37th pick.  Take Richardson first, because the drop off to the next best RB is steep.  The Browns need to hit a homerun with this pick, and Richardson fits the bill.

Browns 2012 Draft Preview - Ryan Tannehill

Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill rocketed up the draft boards largely on the strength of a great pro day workout.  Since then the likelihood of him becoming an elite quarterback have been debated as analysts pick apart his college stats and film.

Reasons the Browns will take him:  The Browns are not sold on Colt McCoy as a franchise QB.  They are looking for an upgrade and made a failed attempt to get Robert Griffith III.  Tannehill is viewed as the next best option.

Reasons the Browns won't take him:  Tannehill has only 19 college starts under center and his game tape lacks "wow" factor according to some analysts.  Despite the potential upside he is a huge risk of being a bust if not put into the right situation.  Also, neither Holmgren or Heckert has ever drafted a quarterback this high.

Likelihood the Browns take him:  Low.  At #4 the Browns need an impact player from day 1, not a project who may or may not pan out. 

Browns 2012 Draft Preview - Justin Blackmon

The consensus top wide receiver in the draft would certainly help the Browns and Colt McCoy.

Reasons Browns will draft him:  Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon, is big, strong, has great hands, and runs great routes.  He would be the Browns #1 receiver from day 1, starting opposite Greg Little.  Blackmon is excellent at gaining yards after the catch, which is a key to the west coast offense.

Reason Browns won't draft him:  Despite all of the appove he doesn't possess elite speed.  Not thought to be as good as AJ Green or Julio Jones who were top 10 picks last year.  Drop-off from him to the next tier of receivers is not as great as at other positions.

Likelihood the Browns take him:  Medium to high.  He will fill a glaring need, give the Browns a legitimate #1 receiver, and take pressure off Colt McCoy.

Browns 2012 Draft Preview - Morris Claiborne

LSU Cornerback Morris Claiborne is almost unanimously the best defender in the draft and will be a day 1 starter wherever he goes. 

Reason Browns will draft him:  In the pass-heavy NFL you can never have two many good CBs, and the Browns only have one.  Starting Claiborne opposite Joe Haden would make the Browns improving defense very very good.  Claiborne is considered a can't-miss choice.

Reason Browns won't draft him:  Although a need, not even close to the biggest for the Browns.  With the first two picks of the last two drafts dedicated to defense (Phil Taylor, Jabaal Sheard, Joe Haden, TJ Ward) the Browns need to turn their attention to getting some playmakers for their anemic offense.

Likelihood the Browns take him:  Medium to low.  There are players just as good at higher priority positions.

Browns 2012 Draft Preview - Trent Richardson

Alabama's Trent Richardson is an absolute beast at running back.  There is no denying that.  However with the increased emphasis on the passing game and some of the leagues best backs taken in the 2nd round or later, there has been some debate about whether or not the Browns, or any team, should take a running back this high.

Reasons Browns will draft him:  He's the complete package--he can run, catch, and block.  Some have said he's the best back to come out of college since Adrian Peterson.  And with Peyton Hillis gone and the next best RB on the roster the oft-injured Montario Hardesty, the Browns desperately need to upgrade their running game.  Richardson would start from day one, take some heat off of Colt McCoy, and open up the passing game because defenses would need to put additional defenders in the box.  Plus, no matter how important the passing game has become, you need to be able to run the ball in Cleveland in December.

Reasons Browns won't take him:  He's a running back, and RBs generally have a short shelf life.   Those picked in the first rounds the past few drafts haven't been any better than those picked in later rounds.  The Browns have a lot of needs, and other players could address them.

Likelihood the Brown take him: High.  Most mock drafts have him going to the Browns.  On ESPN Radio's Mike & Mike show on Friday, draft analyst Todd McShay said that after Luck and Griffith, he thinks Richardson to the Browns is the "most sure thing" in his mock.

Browns 2012 draft preview - Matt Kalil

With the first two picks of the draft a foregone conclusion--Andrew Luck to Indianapolis and Robert Griffith III to Washington--the next player expected to be picked is tackle Matt Kalil out of USC.  Most think that Minnesota will take him at #3, but reports have leaked recently that the Vikings also like WR Justin Blackmon and CB Morris Claiborne and could go with one of those with their pick.  Those rumors have led the Browns to give Kalil a private workout just in case he is available.

Reasons Browns will draft him:  He's pretty close to a sure thing, and the Browns have a need at right tackle.  Kalil has been described as Joe Thomas with a little more of a nastiness to him.  With Joe Thomas on the left and Kalil on the right, the offensive line would be hugely upgraded.  If he is here, he will be hard to pass up.

Reasons Browns won't draft him:  He probably won't be here with most believing he is still Minnesota's top pick.  The Browns are set at left tackle, and teams usually don't draft a right tackle this high.  Kalil's agent's might demand left tackle money, since that's where most teams project him.  While right tackle is a need, the Browns have bigger ones that they can fill with the #4 pick while addressing right tackle later in the draft.

Likelihood the Browns take him:  Medium.  He's pretty close to a sure thing, but Browns have bigger needs.

Browns 2012 NFL Draft Preview

Well, after not having posted here for 4 and a half years, I am still a Browns fan, and as frustrated as ever.  Time to try this again.  I have been obsessing about this draft and feel compelled to write about it.

This year's draft selections are critical to the long term success of the Browns.  With 3 of the first 37 picks, the Browns have a chance to add 3 starters and really improve the team.  It's a rare opportunity that not many teams get, and the Browns need to take full advantage.  If the Browns' front office makes a mistake in this draft they will continue to wallow in mediocrity for years to come.

Over the next week I will take a look and some of the potential players the Browns could pick with the #4 overall selection, as well as give my opinion on what I think the Browns should do.