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 - 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.