Cleveland Browns 2009 Draft Class: Analysis, Grade, Complete List of Draft Picks

I’ve posted consistent updates of the Browns 2009 draft, but let’s pull it all together into one post with one final grade.

Now that the 6th round picks are in, here is the complete 2009 draft class for the Cleveland Browns:

• C Alex Mack, California (1st round, #21)
• WR Brian Robiskie, Ohio State (2nd round, #36)
• WR Mohamed Massaquoi, Georgia (2nd round, #50)
• DE/LB David Veikune, Hawaii (2nd round, #52)
• LB Kaluka Maiava, USC (4th round, #104)
• CB Don Carey, Norflok State (6th round, #177)
• CB Coye Francies, San Diego State (6th round, #191)
• RB James Davis, Clemson (6th round, #195)
• Also received QB Brett Ratliff, S Abram Elam, and DE Kenyon Coleman in trade with Jets.

Last night I analyzed the Browns’ first day draft picks and gave them a B+. Click that link for a detailed analysis.

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I thought the Browns had a very solid strategy going in to acquire more picks, and they were successful in sticking with that strategy. They were also successful in filling specific needs with each draft pick. Each of their first three picks is a player drafted based on production more than potential, meaning they can step in right away and compete for playing time. In Alex Mack, Brian Robiskie, and Mohamed Massaquoi, we are looking at three guys who could play a significant amount in 2009. David Veikune is a versatile player who may not be an every-down starter, but can play situationally and on special teams.

Each one of the players received from the Jets fills a specific need as well. Ratliff can be the 3rd string QB, Elam provides experienced depth at safety, and Kenyon Coleman can be in the rotation along the front of the defense. Most importantly, they are experienced in Eric Mangini’s system and obviously have the character traits that he and George Kokinis have been specifically looking for.

On the draft’s second day, the Browns continued to find solid players who fill specific needs.

In Kaluka Maiava the Browns found an undersized linebacker, but one who has the intelligence and instincts they covet. If he ever plays with D’Qwell Jackson, the Browns could have the shortest linebacking corps in the NFL, but Maiava will be a special teams contributor and have a chance to contribute in certain defensive packages. Looking at the guys picked after Maiava, no one jumps out at me as someone we should have picked over him.

In the 6th round I thought the Browns did an excellent job of acquiring value at positions of need. We all know that the Browns are weak in the secondary. They were able to pick up the #11 and #23 rated CBs (according to Scouts Inc.) with two of their 6th round picks. While neither may be good enough to unseat Eric Wright or Brandon McDonald, perhaps the most inconsistent duo of corners in the league, they should make the Browns more effective in nickel and dime situations, where Terry Cousin was a touchdown waiting to happen last year.

In RB James Davis the Browns picked up the kind of late-round running back that we often see become a very productive NFL player. Davis was very productive in college but fell because of injury concerns and because he is more of a one-dimensional two-down back. He caught 19 passes as a freshman, which was high water mark as a pass catcher, but his production can be seen in his 47 career touchdowns. That is no small number, and he did it over a consistent 4-year body of work. He could step right in and be a 5-10 carry guy spelling the aging Jamal Lewis. And if anything happens to Jamal, Davis at least has shown over four years that he is capable of being a productive back. I like this pick a lot based on the round and Davis’ productive history.

Overall, I think it would have been hard for the Browns to come out of Day 2 significantly improving upon an already solid grade of B+. But they also did nothing to knock that grade down in my eyes. What keeps them from getting a A is the lack of a true impact talent with significant upside, but I’m not sure that was necessarily their aim heading into this weekend. ManKok seemed pretty intent on drafting solid, low-risk players who can be foundational pieces of a two-year rebuilding project while acquiring volume as opposed to giving up picks to target specific players. They executed this strategy very well.

So while nothing about their 2009 draft class jumps out at you as spectacular, the Browns drafted a solid, productive player who fits a need with every pick. In my years following the Browns I have certainly seen many draft classes that do not measure up to this one, at least upon immediate post-draft analysis. We have no idea how strong this draft class truly is until we see it translate into on-field production, but overall I’m not sure how any Browns could exit draft weekend with anything other than a very positive feeling.

Final Grade for Browns 2009 Draft Class: B+

What do you think?

What general grade would you give the Browns 2009 draft class?

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