Oh The Possiblities…Browns’ First Round Draft Targets
Every day it seems that a new name emerges as to which player the Browns will take with the 7th overall pick Thursday night. To lay it all out I’ve decided to compile a list of those players and give a few thought on each while I’m at it. So without further ado, here we go:
Sam Bradford – QB, Oklahoma – The consensus #1 pick in this year’s draft will most likely be long gone by the time the Browns pick but it should be noted that he is still a possibility, albeit via a trade for the top spot. But is Bradford really worth trading a boat load of picks to get? Maybe, just not for a team like the Browns who need all the picks they can get.
Jimmy Clausen -QB, Notre Dame – Maybe the most “pro ready” QB in this draft class, but will he be available when the Browns pick? That depends on who you ask, plus to add to the speculation, the Redskins are interested in his services too. I’ll be honest, Clausen strikes me as arrogant and brass. Maybe it was his signing day interview but for whatever reason I haven’t ever really liked the kid. This has nothing to do with the whole drafting another Notre Dame QB thing, which, by the way, is the dumbest thing I have heard all off-season long.
Colt McCoy – QB, Texas – It’s been pretty well-documented that Mike Holmgren is quite fond of Mr. McCoy, but there is no justification in taking Colt with the #7 pick. A much more likely scenario would see the Browns trading out of the seventh spot and taking McCoy later in round 1, which is still a bit of a reach since 99.999999% of draft “experts” have him going in the 2nd round or later.
Tim Tebow – QB, Florida – Tebow’s situation is nearly the same as McCoy’s – only difference is he’s more likely to go late in the 2nd round or even the 3rd. Yes, Tebow’s a gifted athlete, but I find it very hard to believe he is a 1st round pick. That being said, don’t count on Tebow’s name being called Thursday night, unless Jacksonville shocks us all.
Rolando McClain – ILB, Alabama – McClain could be that playmaker at ILB the Browns have been looking for. Sorry D’Qwell Jackson, making tackles 8 yards downfield doesn’t count. However, the Browns have a ton of LB’s, having just added Chris Gogong and Scott Fujita, and adding a first rounder to that mix doesn’t seem like the kind of thing the team is looking to do.
Joe Haden – CB, Florida – A month or two ago Haden would have made sense, but now not so much. Adding Sheldon Brown has no doubt helped the cornerback situation. However, Brown is getting up there in age, so how much does he have left? Well, enough to not draft Haden, plus there are plenty of other quality CB’s in this year’s draft that the Browns can get in the 2nd or 3rd round.
C.J. Spiller – RB, Clemson – The Browns have some questions at running back. Is Jerome Harrison for real? Can Peyton Hillis be the “thunder” to Harrison’s “lightning?” What about James Davis, can he stay healthy? Can Chris Jennings not punch bouncers at nightclubs? All joking aside, I understand why Todd McShay projects Spiller to be selected by the Browns, but again, I’m not sold that taking a RB that high is a great idea when there are other bigger areas of need.
Dez Bryant – WR, Oklahoma – All character issues aside, the Browns don’t need Braylon Edwards part 2. Bryant is a talent, there is no questioning that, but he comes with some baggage. Sound familiar to anyone?
Eric Berry – S, Tennessee – My personal favorite in this year’s draft, hands down. Berry has tremendous abilities and a great knack for making some amazing plays, and he is good versus the run too. But there is a good chance that he will not be available when the Browns select at 7. Another thing to consider is the depth of safeties in this year’s draft, and this too, thanks to Dawgs By Nature.
Earl Thomas – S, Texas – Some have Thomas higher than Berry in their rankings, and I don’t agree with those folks. Yes, Thomas gained a “ball-hawk” reputation, but the Big 12 is a pass happy conference (though this is a trend that is gaining momentum in the NFL too). Could it be that he justs sits back and waits for the pass or is it all instincts?
Trade Down – Raise your hand if you think the Browns need just that one player to put them over the top, and get them to the Super Bowl. I’m guessing that no one raised their hand, and if you did you’re either lying to yourself or you’re drunk. As laid out in the Eric Berry article, a trade with the Eagles would send the Browns 7th and 92nd picks overall for the Eagles 24th, 37th, and 55th picks. If there is one team that makes sense to trade with the Eagles it’s the Browns, and that’s thanks to new GM Tom Heckert.
* Late Addition
Derrick Morgan – DE/OLB, Georgia Tech – Early Thursday morning the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Tony Grossi reported that Morgan may be a fall back plan for the team. Morgan recorded 12.5 sacks last season at Georgia Tech, which came from the DE position. In the Browns 3-4 he projects to be more of an OLB, just like our old friend Kamerion Wimbley.