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 - 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 - 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.