After months of waiting for the draft, I think I'll be more relieved that an end can be put to all of the ridiculous speculation we've had to deal with. Of course, I'm referring to all of the rumors that have had us trading Brady Quinn or Braylon Edwards. In short, this has been our offseason since head coach Eric Mangini has taken over:
- Shaun Rogers is pissed off at Mangini
- Kellen Winslow is dealt to Tampa Bay
- Derek Anderson is being shopped around
- Braylon Edwards might be on the move next, to the Giants
- The team is intrigued by Anderson and wants a QB competition
- Shaun Rogers makes up with Mangini
- Talks of trading Edwards to the Giants have stalled
- Brady Quinn might be on the move for a first rounder
- Talks of trading Edwards to the Giants are now red hot
- It's pretty much a done deal -- the Browns are in love with Crabtree, and Edwards is gone
- The Giants are more interested in drafting a WR because we're asking for too much
- Talks of trading Quinn are not realistic
- The Jets might be interested in Quinn on draft day
- Shaun Rogers is traded...
...OK, maybe that last one didn't happen. But, with how ridiculous these up and down rumors have been, you never know what to expect on draft day. The draft is all about predictions though, so today, I'm going to do a list of what I think might happen on draft day. Keep in mind that in the SB Nation Mock Draft, I took LB Brian Orakpo, WR Percy Harvin, and S Patrick Chung...
Thoughts on the Browns and the draft this weekend
- I really hope that LB Aaron Curry falls to the Browns. Recent mock drafts has seen his stock falling as various quarterbacks see their stocks rising. Curry should be projected as less of a risk than Orakpo in terms of our system.
- I don't think we will move out of the fifth spot unless a team at No. 6 through No. 8 wants to move up a few spots. At that point, we still have options to draft one of three players (not including Curry) I think the Browns are interested in, considering their position: DT B.J. Raji, LB Brian Orakpo, and WR Michael Crabtree.
- I do not expect WR Braylon Edwards or QB Brady Quinn to be moved. It just doesn't add up when you consider that we would ultimately be losing two of our best offensive players in exchange for having to hope that rookies pan out. You can argue all you want about Edwards dropping passes last season, but I refuse to dismiss him for one bad season considering the potential I believe he has.
- I am half-expecting that QB Derek Anderson will be traded on Day 1, meaning we could have three second-round picks. That would give us the luxury of a "free pick" almost to take a flier on a player the staff might believe is a stud running back.
- I would love to see the Browns gets Cleveland State basketball player J'Nathan Bullock, but our latest draft pick is at No. 177 overall in the sixth round, and I don't see him going that early.
- Speaking of picks, this is what we currently have:
- Round 1: No. 5 overall
- Round 2: No. 36 overall
- Round 2: No. 50 overall
- Round 4: No. 104 overall
- Round 6: No. 177 overall
After three picks for an eventful Day 1, Day 2 it set to be a little less eventful.
- Center is a position that was fairly weak last year, as I found myself becoming less confident in Hank Fraley's abilities. I think it would be a great bargain if center Alex Mack is available when we pick at No. 36 -- so much so that I might even root for the Browns to find a way to trade up into the end of the first round to get him. I hate giving up draft picks in future years, but that's what it would take to make that happen.
- So, in my ideal draft so far, I have the Browns taking LB Aaron Curry and C Alex Mack. For our final Day 1 pick, that still leaves the safety position and the wide receiver position open. Deciding which position to choose is very difficult for me, something I didn't have to worry about in the SB Nation mock draft when I had WR Percy Harvin instead of Mack at No. 36 (I don't actually see Harvin lasting that long). Right now, I guess I'd lean more towards having S Patrick Chung. Curry, Mack, Chung = a Day 1 victory in my books. Orakpo, Harvin, Chung isn't so bad either.
- On Day 1: no tight ends, no quarterbacks, no cornerbacks. I'm on the fence at the right tackle position, but I could live with that because a hole is there. Running back is somewhat iffy too, which is why I suggested earlier that we take one only if we can move Anderson.
- If we do trade Shaun Rogers, you might not see me around for a couple of days while I let as much steam off as possible. However, I'm very confident that we will not be moving him.
- Some people complained about me taking Orakpo in the mock draft over B.J. Raji. Just to be clear, the two might as well be a coin flip for me. I would be equally happy with either one of them.
- The first day of the draft is April 25th, and it starts at 4:00 PM. That will consist of the first two rounds. On April 26th, rounds 3-7 will conclude, starting at 10:00 AM.
On both days, I will be doing my best to live blog the draft -- not only our picks, but my general thoughts on everyone else's picks. SB Nation will also have a couple of our NFL bloggers LIVE at the NFL Draft with press passes, so if they are able to pass along any exclusive information, I will relay that to you as well.
We won’t trade Rogers, the cap hit is too large. Not even something to worry about
The argument for trading Edwards remains what it always has been…if Braylon has made it clear he does not intend to sign with the Browns long-term, we need to move him now and get something for him. His drops and down season last year should not play a factor in the decision
Roger Dorn - April 23, 2009
I agree, if the guy “who brought us back, and we don’t like him because he is from Michigan” doesn’t want to be here and sign long term, get what you can for him. I still wonder why a Braylon for Boldin straight up trade wouldn’t be good for both the Browns and Cardinals?
cboldt12 - April 23, 2009
Because Boldin is 29.
kwoog - April 23, 2009
I love how the Anderson rumors have quieted down lately, and then a few minutes after my post, I see this on the RotoWorld wire:
Chris Pokorny - April 23, 2009
The rumor mill is really churning now…lol! Well, I would prefer to see Anderson traded anyway. I think he has shown what he can do, and although he has had some good moments, I think he is a career backup at best.
cboldt12 - April 23, 2009
I love this time of year. The only players we will not hear in the rumor mill are Peyton, Brady and Big Ben.
Bernie19Kosar - April 23, 2009
I am guessing no one is going to let a Jay Cutler rumor leak any time soon…
rufio - April 23, 2009
If we could turn Anderson into Jennings, Greene, or Andre Brown i would be happy
BradyQuinnisBeast - April 24, 2009
It shouldn’t be too hard to do that. However, I don’t think we’d be able to pick between the three of them.
rufio - April 24, 2009
Yea but in the late second/early 3rd there would be AT LEAST one of them
BradyQuinnisBeast - April 24, 2009
Ridiculous Speculation
Chris, I’m also fed up with the “ridiculous speculation” on the draft that permeates the sports media today.
Where the hell did this come from?
Simplistic as it may first seem, I think it’s the feminization of the sports pages and the female tendency to accept and promote gossip, hearsay, speculation, etc. as legitimate and FUN! The blonde at the PD is notorious for this, as it seems are her editors, the chief one being a woman as well. National print and, especially, broadcast media fuel this unpleasantness.
To me, a former reporter and editor (though on the news side), sports journalism is about precision reporting of events, education and discussion of strategy, in-depth treatment of sports-related issues such as player contracts, sports medicine, nutrition, and much more.
I hope that this media disease goes away but I doubt it will. In the meantime, I hope you and The Dawgs can parlay your sensibilities into increased readership (I know I’m going to stay away from the PD’s vapidness and stay tuned more often to your site’s content).
Best wishes for your continued success.
ploni - April 23, 2009
Grossi’s been way more of a rumor monger than Cabot. Sexism fail.
kwoog - April 23, 2009
24-7 news coverage. get used to it. it’s got nothing to do w/ females in the sports reportage ranks. zero.
DontCallMeJoey - April 23, 2009
I agree.
Dames cause alot of problems ( that sounds so Bogart) ……..but rumors and wild speculation in sports isn’t one of them.
Juannieboy - April 23, 2009
Men want to rumor and gossip just as much as women, but want to blame it on women and condemn women for doing it.
Its like old school painting: men painted a picture of a naked woman doing “immoral” things in order to “condemn” her. It wasn’t condemnation at all, it was just pseudo-pornography and a voyeuristic pleasure mechanism so that the male audience could enjoy all of those “immoral” things surreptitiously.
The ridiculous speculation comes from the insatiable fans of the NFL and the NFL’s efforts to create demand for their product. We want football. We talk about football. We are interested in football. People want us to read what they write, so they make things up or speculate about football. If nobody read it, nobody would continue to write it.
Advertisers, ratings people, and other business types want to put things out there that will be read/watched. People don’t read and watch tactical/strategic things as much as they do gossip and rumor things. If gossip and rumors are going to get you more viewers or sell you more newspapers, that’s the kind of stories you produce.
This is hardly the fault of some female tendency. Men just find “manly” ways to monger gossip and promote speculation.
rufio - April 23, 2009
Those darn women…why can’t they learn that their role is to stay barefoot, pregnant, and rattlin’ those pots and pans? Because, for sure, none of the male reporters ever passes along gossip, unfounded rumors, or just pure conjecture. And, none of them are too lazy to seek out the facts, either.
drjeo - April 23, 2009
If the Browns do trade Edwards, they better not get any less than a 1 and 3, minimum! I believe the market has already been set by the Cowboys when they gave up a 1,3,6 for Roy Williams. And that 1 this year for Detroit is #20, where the Browns would only get the 29th. I truly believe Edwards is the same type if not better player so far in his career than Williams. If the Browns accept a 2 and 5, Jerry Reese should be Exec of Year and ManKok should be fired.
Latest buzz this am has the Browns taking Sanchez and trading Quinn. Can someone, anyone tell me what ManKok/Daboll see in Sanchez that we don’t have/or really had the chance to see in Quinn??
Take BJ Raji 5th, Trade Anderson to Jets for 17th, pick Clay III and keep Edwards, unless you get top value.
By the way Chris, how great would it be if the Eagles jumped into the mix for Barylon and gave up their 1st (28). Then the Giants would have to face Edwards twice a year. Bet Reese would regret not paying the price for Edwards then.
BarkN - April 23, 2009
Never going to happen. I would love a 2nd rounder for DA though…
Bernie19Kosar - April 23, 2009
Agreed.
rufio - April 23, 2009
A little bold for someone who rarely posts
BradyQuinnisBeast - April 24, 2009
Better to be quiet and thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.
rolub - April 24, 2009
browns SHOULD trade down
Nice summary, but if the Browns can trade down to #13 or #17 and get extra 2nd/3rd round picks, they absolutely should do. The can probably still get Everette Brown at #13. They have so many needs that it’s worth getting the extra pick in exchange for passing on Orakpo at #5. No way Curry lasts to #5.
dmonasg - April 23, 2009
To add to this, if they can trade Derek Anderson for Tom Brady, they should do that too.
kwoog - April 23, 2009
LMAO!
cboldt12 - April 23, 2009
nothing less than brady and moss.
DontCallMeJoey - April 23, 2009
And lets add LT just for the hell of it. lol
tjk_doc - April 24, 2009
We’ll throw in Stallworth for them
BradyQuinnisBeast - April 24, 2009
I still think Quinn gets traded
I don’t know why, but you don’t really hear much about Anderson being traded; at least not with the fervor of Quinn. I also don’t really think it has much to do with value, either. From what I can gather through all of the rhetoric in the media, the new regime isn’t sold on Quinn and Anderson does intrigue them more.
I think it’s naive to say that Quinn is one of our best players. Truth his he could be great, he could be horrible, he could be anything in between. We don’t really know what he is in the limited amount of playing time he has. Personally, and I’m in the minority here, I say trade him, get the picks, move forward and concentrate on improving Anderson and sign a veteran FA as a backup.
CavalierOfCleveland - April 23, 2009
no
BradyQuinnisBeast - April 24, 2009
I still think we may already have a replacement center in Dustin Fry, and Hadnot also plays center. Why spend a first round pick when we’ve got bigger depth issues elsewhere?
Going for LB, S and WR with the 1st three picks seems wise, with WR or LB being the first pick. If we could pick up a 3rd rounder for Anderson, I’d take it and draft a RB. My guess is that Mangini’s ok with his offensive and defensive lines for this year, with an eye to improving them next year.
NM Dawg - April 23, 2009
Alex Mack would walk in the door and be better than Fraley—who is our starter—and everyone behind him on the depth chart, including practice squad players.
rufio - April 23, 2009
But is he so much better that we should forego other needs to get him? I’m sure he’s good, but am not convinced it would make as big of an impact.
NM Dawg - April 23, 2009
Lines are foundational and critical for success on both sides of the ball. I think it’s always a good idea to upgrade if you can
Juannieboy - April 23, 2009
I believe that having a good center in this division is huge. Hampton and Ngata are the reasons why. We face 3-4 defenses at least 4 times a year. Fraley, and this is putting it nicely, got his ass kicked against those two teams last year.
We take Mack, we have a LT, LG and Center for at least the next 5 years. That helps our running game and passing game better than anyone else we could take at 36. It’s why I love me some Alex Mack.
Bernie19Kosar - April 23, 2009
So, if we happened to stick with Chris’ ideal picks of LB, C, S, it would be ok to wait until 4th round to pick up a WR, and take a flyer on a RB in 5th? That might not be so bad. I’d love for us to get a 3rd round pick and move each of those up a round, though. I can see what you all are saying about the line upgrading several offensive fronts. It would be frustrating to pick up a stud RB just to have him hit a wall at the line, and have no pocket for the QB (whoever that might be).
NM Dawg - April 23, 2009
This is just my opinion, but I think any WR we get this year outside of the 36th pick will not contribute much this year. Awful hard to come in and be Eddie Royal, even if you are a 1st rounder, especially with a QB competition.
I also don’t think there is a safety worth drafting at 50. My guess is all the ones with potential will be gone and the ones that are left will be career backups.
Ideal conceivable situation for me:
Curry/Crabtree
Mack/Edge rusher/USC LB who has fallen
Rashad Jennings/Andre Brown
The draft is crazy, though, so as long as we are taking something close to the best player available, I am cool. Mack would be worth it in the 2nd.
rufio - April 23, 2009
I’m fine with this.
Buckeye Brad - April 23, 2009
Mike Thomas=4th rounder=crazy potential
Jarrett Dilliard=4th rounder= great hands, agility, and jumping
Ramses Barden=3rd rounder=6’6 and 4.5 speed
these guys have a chance at being an impact but i get what u are sayin.
Im still hoping we take Britt
BradyQuinnisBeast - April 24, 2009
There are a ton of WR prospects in this draft who could turn out to be very good down the road, absolutely.
rufio - April 24, 2009
Don’t forget the Buffalo game. He got schooled by their scheme and Kawika Mitchell. I don’t know who was responsible for the line calls against the Eagles, but the Center usually has some responsibility in that regard. They got untouched rushers to the QB repeatedly because we didn’t block the correct people.
rufio - April 23, 2009
Please dear God don’t ever do that to me again…
Bernie19Kosar - April 23, 2009
seriously
kwoog - April 23, 2009
Nah. They have to keep Rogers so that when they draft Raji they can switch to the first ever 2-5 defense
; )
JustBob - April 23, 2009
Definitely not the first ever. Our nickel package has been the 2-4-5 in the past, too. That blitz package could be unreal if you had 5 good LBs.
rufio - April 23, 2009
How is the UFO defined? 2-Big Baby-4?
NM Dawg - April 23, 2009
Probably 0-6-5. I forget how many DBs there were. Can you even imagine trying to anchor against Rogers who has a full 5 yards to gain momentum? Good lord.
rufio - April 23, 2009
I admittedly check ESPN and Fanposts and every sports site I could think of checking for this news, thinking I had somehow missed it.
Scared the bejesus out of me.
DisplacedBuckeye - April 24, 2009
draft
i’m seeing tyrus jackson’s name come up recently for the browns at 5 which is fine by me, if curry is’nt available. not sold on orakpo, raji, or crabtree. if the browns get him (in all likeliehood since we’ve heard nothing about him, and one of the usc linebacker’s aquired from a trade to the middle rounds, i would be extremely confident about the defense this year
nastydawg - April 23, 2009
Tyrus? if your gonna say who you think should be a top 5 pick please no his name
BradyQuinnisBeast - April 24, 2009
Thanks Chris
Whatever happens this weekend, us Browns fans appreciate your efforts to inform. I look forward to your commentary this coming weekend.
Very sad we have not won a championship since 1964. Hope we can start to stabilize and build to another championship BEFORE WE ALL KICK ! ! ! ! ! ! !
vincefitz - April 23, 2009
Yes. Hurry....I'm turning 60 this year!
Juannieboy - April 23, 2009
At least we have the Cavs?
rufio - April 23, 2009
Why the question mark? Not sure the Cavs will pull it out? They have a great shot this year.
cboldt12 - April 23, 2009
Right now ...they are my best hope so I can attend a parade in Cleveland.
But I still want the Browns to have one in the worst kind of way. Little did I think back in 64’ that it would be this long.
Juannieboy - April 23, 2009
I should’ve been doing much more to inform, but thanks for the props as always :) Hopefully I can pick up the activity over the next several weeks.
Chris Pokorny - April 23, 2009
Chris, I feel like every time you make a post I go and cover it up with another draft board. My apologies. I made it small this time so people can (hopefully) still see your post without having to scroll down.
rufio - April 23, 2009
Haha, I actually thought something similar, but in a different way. I thought to myself, “I wonder if rufio is going to post another draft board and hate to bump this post down?” No joke.
Chris Pokorny - April 23, 2009
By the way, another day, another red flag for Percy Harvin. I know it sounds crazy, but I could see this kid falling out of round two.
Bernie19Kosar - April 23, 2009
Wow, that kid is free falling.
rufio - April 23, 2009
I hope he wont take him. He has flop written all over him
BradyQuinnisBeast - April 24, 2009
Again, I find it funny — I mention about our center situation, and a few hours later I see this on the Plain Dealer site:
In no way do I take credit for the idea of taking a center; that idea has long been around. I’m just saying — we’ve heard nothing but Quinn or Edwards rumors the past month, and right when I make a few projections, they start appearing everywhere else ;)
Chris Pokorny - April 23, 2009
I really, really dislike Unger for C for us. I would probably like him better at LG if we didn’t already have one.
He is just too tall (at a leverage disadvantage) and lean (for a OL) to deal with Ngata and Hampton. He doesn’t play with as good of a base as you want. I would probably rather have Eric Wood. Please no A.Q. Shipley.
rufio - April 23, 2009
Nice piece. Though Anderson is not going anywhere and the better dish would be Quinn …he’ll get expensive next year. 11 million for a guy that cant even beat out Anderson or Frye….or sanchez for that matter. We’ll be ok this year but I just hope the ones we pick are still in the league in 4 years.
News from seattle:
He said the Seahawks will listen to all offers. Speculation has intensified that teams such as Washington, Denver or the New York Jets want to trade up to draft quarterback Mark Sanchez of Southern California.
“As you know, there’s a lot of lying going on right now,” Ruskell said.
Carlos Baerga - April 23, 2009
build on a strength for once.
1.) Don’t make the Edwards trade. By trading him, you create a larger
weakness in an area that’s already been weakened further by the Stallworth
situation.
2.) Take the best offensive tackle at number 5 if you can’t trade down.
Instead of trying to plug a leak at another position, and being mediocre
everywhere; we solidify the line completely for the forseeable future.
This would allow Tucker to move back inside to guard. Fraley will be
better with Steinbach and Tucker on either side of him.
3.) Trade either Quinn or Anderson for whatever you can get. The
remaining quarterback should be better able to operate with more time to
throw, and the running game would get a boost from the new holes the line
should open.
4.) With one of the quarterbacks delt, we should be left with, at the
very least, an additional 2nd round pick. With the two second round picks
we take any combination of Donald Brown, Chung, Alex Mack, Laurinitis.
Thoughts?
-—————deputy glitters - April 23, 2009
Those are all LT at the top of the draft, not RT. Wouldn’t be that easy (to just plug one of them in and watch the entire offense improve drastically). If you trust Andre Smith, he would fit on the right side. I don’t trust Andre Smith.
Trading Quinn makes no sense. Its not even like just selling low. Its like buying GE stock, watching it crash, and then selling it for next to nothing.
If more than one of Brown, Laurinaitis, and Mack fall into the 2nd round, I’ll be very surprised. Its not like crazier things haven’t happened, but I just don’t see it. I would take all four of those on the Browns at this point, though. Of all the CBs that will probably be there in the 2nd for us, I probably like Brown the most. I am really worried about Mack to the Steelers.
rufio - April 23, 2009
I fear the same about Mack, but I think Pitt goes Unger because he can play more positions. At least that’s what I’m hoping.
Bernie19Kosar - April 24, 2009
Donald Brown is a running back. Were u thinking of Darius Butler?
BradyQuinnisBeast - April 24, 2009
Browns Draft
Will the Browns start to deplete the roster of veterans like they have done in the past? Remember when the Savage/Crennel regime took over? Jeff Garcia is gone and replaced by Trent Dilfer. Then also gone are Shaun O,Hara,Jeff Faine, Andre Davis,Antonio Bryant and Dennis Northcutt. Charlie Frye took a beating just like Tim Couch and Trent Dilfer works for ESPN. Jeff Garcia is still in the league.
evrydawghasitsday - April 23, 2009
Depleting the roster of veterans isn’t necessarily a bad idea if the veterans can’t compete. At some point you have to assess whether or not a player is going to improve, if that’s all you’re going to get, or if he has passed his competitive peak. You have to approach it as a performance-based enterprise. I actually like rufio’s stock analogy earlier: you sell when you think you can get a different stock (player) which has greater potential for return. That isn’t easy (else we would all be millionaires or GMs), but that’s the job of the coaching staff and FO. My sense is that a number of the Browns’ veterans are below league-average. If true, it makes sense to cleanse the roster if you can get an average or better player.
drjeo - April 24, 2009
I just think, IMO, that the Browns are going to do there damnest to get more picks. How they approach that I don’t have a freaking clue, so many rumors it hazes your brain. Even if Managini and Kotnkus (sp) pick up a 6 or 7th rounder, they want more picks.
Just don’t trade Quinn, that makes no sense, especially if it is for Sanchez.
Grockcubs - April 24, 2009
i just had to weigh in so that i could say that your butchering of the spelling of the GM’s last name was awesome…and even more so b/c of the “(sp)” next to it
more picks will be a theme, i agree with you, and don’t be surprised if that means more picks in 2010, too.
DontCallMeJoey - April 24, 2009
man, serious lol.
DBN is a lot cooler with comedy in effect.
kwoog - April 24, 2009
i feel like it needs to be in the DBN constitution that all references to Kokinis must be spelled “Kotnkus”
DontCallMeJoey - April 24, 2009
I didn’t even notice until you pointed it out. It’s awe-inspiring.
kwoog - April 24, 2009
Thanks, my wife is an English teacher, I get all of my “skillz” from her.
Grockcubs - April 25, 2009
hmmm
1) keep rogers at all costs even if mangini has to have another kid and give its middle name “shaun”.
2) trade edwards to the giants for both 2nd Round picks they have. use them on say robiskie and whatever other WR falls there. NYG need a LB at 29 and a stud WR. we need more picks for depth & starter quality longterm
3) quinn doesnt leave for anything else than a 1. anderson for a 2.
4) best defensive player at #5
5) harrass CP all day during the draft while eating nachos. alas i have to go to see dora the explore at 5 downtown. my little boy is all about dora right now (2 years old). luckily i have sirius radio in the truck….
sleepy042 - April 24, 2009
i thought that in 5) you were saying mangini would be eating nachos during the draft…come to think of it, i guess that’s not ridiculous.
DontCallMeJoey - April 24, 2009
I think everyone is overvaluing Robiskie right now.
The kid is about as polished as you can get as a draft-eligible WR, but he has so little upside, you have to wonder how good he will be able to get.
I really don’t think he can be a #1 WR. Can he be a great #2? Good? Solid? Average? It will be interesting to see how high he goes because people seem to love him, yet he doesn’t have the playmaking ability you want from a 1st- or 2nd- round pick.
How high would people draft a 23 year old Jurevicious if he were eligible?
rufio - April 24, 2009
I think his ceiling is Ricky Proehl.
Bernie19Kosar - April 24, 2009
The only way I can utilize this evaluation is in Tecmo terms.
kwoog - April 24, 2009
I am guessing he isn’t fast enough to run laps around the other 21 players on the field?
rufio - April 24, 2009
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