A sports blog by and for Midwest Sports Fans
It’s morning. While you get out your favorite coffee mug, pour a glass of orange juice, and make sure you have enough milk for your bowl of cereal, get yourself back up to date with the happenings in, or at least somewhat near, the sporting universe.
The following are links that we’re certain Carla Gugino would love.
Yersteday I gave you my initial thoughts and grades on the Cleveland Browns’ 2009 draft class. To summarize, while I was not overwhelmed by any means, I thought the Browns did a good job of sticking with a plan, getting solid and low-risk guys they were targeting (though no guys with true superstar potential), and using 2009 to build a foundation for the Mangini Era. My final grade was a B+.
Now that the “experts” have had a night to digest the events of this weekend, their opinions and grades are rolling in. The Plain-Dealer compiled a few of the early thoughts on the Browns 2009 draft class. And here are a few of them that I found this morning. All excerpts are copied directly from the original source, linked at the end of each section:
Mel Kiper Jr. Analysis and Grade for Browns 2009 Draft:
Todd McShay Analysis of Browns 2009 Draft:
James Walker Analysis of Browns 2009 Draft:
Tony Pauline Analysis of Browns 2009 Draft:
Pauline wrote a “steals and reaches” article for SI.com. He did not have any steals listed for the Browns, but did have the following in the “reaches” section:
Clark Judge Analysis of Browns 2009 Draft:
Judge wrote a length article of “draft judgments”. The first statement is from his ten general thoughts on the draft. Then he goes into the 10 biggest winners and losers of the 2009 draft. No one related to the Browns was in the “winners” section, but the last two statements listed below are from the “losers” section.
Pete Prisco Analysis and Grade of Browns 2009 Draft:
WalterFootball.com Analysis and Grade of Browns 2009 Draft:
I’m a little surprised. I obviously had a higher opinion of the Browns’ draft than the people mentioned above, and I’ve seen lots of praise for what the Browns accomplished this weekend on Browns message boards. While I wasn’t expecting any of the experts to be jumping up and down saying the Browns knocked it out of the park, I thought opinions would be a little bit more positive.
But, of course, this is only a small sampling of the opinions that will be rolling in over the next 24 hours. And the nice thing is, none of these opinions mean jack squat.
My favorite aspect of the Browns’ draft is that ManKok executed a focused strategy in regard to both picks and the players they selected. One thing we know about the new regime is that nothing will be done haphazardly. We don’t know yet if the plan will work, but we do know this: there is a plan and there is a clear vision for how they want to build a competitive football team. That is something I feel comfortable rallying behind…for the time being.
Obviously we have to see if the plan actually works in the coming seasons, but I applaud Mangini and Kokinis for what I consider to be a solid draft weekend and a good first step towards building the foundation of a team that can be competitive on a yearly basis.
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:
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?
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The Cleveland Browns have completed their picking in the 2009 NFL Draft by selecting two cornerbacks and a running back with their three 6th round picks. The final three Browns picks were:
Click on the links above to see their Scouts Inc. profiles from ESPN.com. While none of the three will likely be impact players next year, each represents solid value this late in the draft for the Browns.
The Scouts Inc. summary of Don Carey’s potential is as follows:
Carey has good upside, in terms of instincts and ball skills and plays with an aggressive attitude. However, due to some tightness in his hips, Carey may be forced to line up at the nickel position at the NFL level.
Sounds a little like Brandon McDonald to me.
Scouts Inc. had Carey rated as the #23 CB in the draft, yet had Francies, who was drafted 14 picks later, rated as the #11 CB and #81 player overall. James Davis was rated as the #11 RB and the #124 player overall. It is interesting that the Browns took Carey before the other two, but obviously it shows the differences of opinion with which one player can be rated.
The Browns certainly need depth in the defensive secondary and the combo of Carey and Francis would appear to be capable of providing that. Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald can fluctuate between being great and being, well, awful; perhaps the addition of a couple of late round talents will not only add depth but also press Wright and McDonald to play with more focus, a trait they both seemed to lack last year at times.
Either way, they have to be better than Terry Cousin.
James Davis can step right in and backup Jamal Lewis as a first and second down back, with Jerome Harrison hopefully getting the bulk of the 3rd down touches. The Browns have Noah Herron and Marcus Thomas also on the roster right now, but they are there for depth and have not proven to be capable NFL ball carriers. Davis formed a productive 1-2 punch with CJ Spiller at Clemson and might have been drafted higher had it not been for injury concerns that plagued him in college. He scored 21 touchdowns over his final two seasons at Clemson, and has good size, despite not being overly elusive.
For fantasy players thinking deep, deep sleeper potential, Davis could be a possibility. With Jamal Lewis advancing in age, Davis could have a chance to grab carries next year. He won’t set the world on fire, but he could provide adequate production based on what he showed in college running behind an improved Browns O-Line.
Three more solid picks by the Browns. They filled needs and got players who were productive in college. Add them to the players already chosen, and it rounds out a very nice 2009 NFL Draft. I doubt anyone will give the Browns an “A”, but coming out of this weekend with a solid “B” and lots of holes filled is still a solid outcome.
At 3:00 yesterday afternoon I faced a very important decision: which channel would I set the TV on to guide me through the 2009 NFL Draft. Both ESPN and the NFL Network featured live, all-day coverage of the draft and I had the option of both in HD.
Obviously, the ESPN coverage is the one I am most familiar with, as it was the only option before the NFL Network came along. However, I decided to give the NFL Network a try, trusting that Rich Eisen would not lead me astray.
I think it was a great decision.
Obviously I cannot specifically compare the NFLN coverage of the 2009 NFL Draft to that of ESPN, because I have had the TV tuned to NFLN for 99% of the draft (switching over only at a few commercials to see if I was missing anything). But based on experience, I cannot imagine ESPN coming anywhere close to being as informative, entertaining, and simply put, as outstanding, as the NFLN has been.
Rich Eisen is outstanding as the host, letting his panel of experts be the star of the show rather than himself. Not sure you could ever suggest such a thing about Chris Berman. Plus, Mike Mayock is my favorite of the draft scout talking heads. I trust his opinions far more than Tood McShay and Mel Kiper Jr., and I never get a sense that Mayock’s ego is talking; rather, he always seems to provide measured, balanced, and informed analysis of each player and pick that comes through. I have no idea how the Todd McShay-Mel Kiper dynamic has worked this year, but I do know that I’m excited not to know. I don’t trust the opinions of either one as much as I trust Mike Mayock and Charley Casserly.
As for the other guys on the NFLN – Jon Gruden, Jamie Dukes, Marshall Faulk, and Charles Davis (plus Steve Marriucci on Saturday) – I think they provided a productive balance of insight, contradiction, and interaction that was very compelling. By contrast, I never get the feeling that Keyshawn Johnson has spent more than five minutes preparing for a show. With the NFLN team, while they are not perfect by any means, I felt much more comfortable that the content of their statements was just as important, if not moreso, than the style.
And that’s my main source of appreciation for the NFLN over ESPN: the NFLN has a great balance of style and substance; ESPN always seems to come off as more style, less substance, in my opinion.
Now let’s get to today’s Link of the Day, a perfect manifestation of the NFLN’s ability to balance style and substance.
One of the fun, gimmicky features of the NFLN’s coverage is their use of camera trickery to give their analysts oddly shaped heads. It is one of those juvenile, sophomoric features that doesn’t sound particularly great in theory; in practice, however, it’s hilarious and a terrific addition as a periodic comedic break in an otherwise long, serious, and analytical weekend.
Mike Florio and ProFootballTalk obviously agrees, and we link out to PFT for today’s Link of the Day, plus offer Florio the credit for doing what I failed to do: be resourceful enough to bust out the camera phone and take picks of the humorous head enlargement interlude. Rich Eisen’s big head moment is pictured to the right. Click through to PFT to see the equally hilarious pictures of Jon Gruden, Jamie Dukes, and Marshall Faulk.
LOTD: A New Kind of Fathead — (Pro Football Talk)
The folks at NFLN, perhaps recognizing that the lengthy draft process benefits from some periodic comic relief, have been using from time to time a camera distortion trick that creates the impression that a guy’s head is incredibly large.
(They do it at ESPN when Trent Dilfer or Mel Kiper are on the screen, but without any technical gimmickery.)
I’ve had the TV tuned to the NFL Network non-stop since 3:00 yesterday afternoon. As far as I’m concerned, they get an A from me for their overall coverage and analysis of the 2009 NFL Draft.
And if Jon Gruden does not go back into coaching, he needs to become a consistent presence on pregame shows or in the booth as a color announcer. Of all the guys on the NFLN coverage, Gruden seemed to be least comprehensively prepared in terms of analyzing specific players, but he was the most compelling panelist member because of his personality, humor, and general ability to provide relevant NFL insight.
Kudos to the NFL Network. As long as they are covering the NFL Draft live at the level they did this weekend, my TV will not be tuned to ESPN again.
And some other links for you on a windy, overcast Sunday here in Dallas:
Coming into the 2009 draft, many people expected the Browns to possibly came away from the first day with one of the three highly rated USC linebackers: Brian Cushing, Clay Matthews, and Rey Maualuga. The expectation became even greater when the Browns traded all the way back to #21 from #5 in the first round. Both Matthews and Maulaluga were avaialble, but the Browns selected C Alex Mack instead.
And considering Matthews’ relative inexperience having been a full-time starter for one year, and the character red flags about Maulaluga (solidifed by the fact that he was drafted by the Bengals), I agreed with the Mack pick.
Well, the Browns still got a USC LB, but it wasn’t one of the elite three that graced the cover of Sports Illustrated. With their only 4th round pick (#104 overall), the Cleveland Browns selected LB Kaluka Maiava.
Here is the summary of Maiava according to Scouts Inc.:
Maiava is a little bit undersized at 5-11, 229. Still, he displays outstanding football intelligence that allows for him to get into strong initial position as a run defender. He also is a consistent open-field tackler and shows good fluidity in coverage. However, we have some concerns about his overall strength, especially in phone-booth situations.
The key there is “he displays outstanding football intelligence”. Eric Mangini is proving that character and aptitude are two of the most important components he desires, and the Browns’ picks continue to manifest this commitment. The Maiava pick seems like a solid 4th round selection to me, keeping with the theme of the weekend for the Browns.
Here is some more information on Kaluka Maiava:
Yesterday featured one incredibly exciting 30 second interval for any fans of both the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Browns. I realize that my brother and I may be the only two people in the world who fit this category, but I still want to share it with you anyway.
Allow me to set the stage.
The NFL Draft was in its second round and the Browns had already made three trades and their first two selections (Alex Mack and Brian Robiskie). As their third pick (#50 overall) approached, the Browns still had an opportunity to get another solid WR in Mohamed Massaquoi.
Simultaneously, on WGN, the Chicago White Sox were taking on the Toronto Blue Jays, looking to avenge a 14-0 home pasting on Friday night. With the game hanging in the balance, Sox up 4-2 in the bottom of the 5th, Alexei Ramirez stepped up to the plate with Corky Miller, Paul Konerko, and Brian Anderson loaded up on the basepaths.
After a ridiculous conversation in which my brother said he was contemplating picking up Corky Miller for his fantasy team (look at those career stats!), our full and undivided attention went to the Cuban Missile at the plate with the bases juiced.
Back in the day, the White Sox were able to lay claim to having one of the greatest bases loaded hitters in the history of baseball when Robin Ventura was manning the hot corner and cranking grand slams seemingly every time he stepped up to the plate with the bases juiced.. Last season, after cranking four grand slams as a rookie, Alexei Ramirez put White Sox fans and the rest of the MLB on notice that the most clutch bases loaded hitter in baseball may again play his home games on the south side of Chicago.
As my brother and I flipped back and forth between the NFL Draft (where the Browns were now on the clock) and Alexei Ramirez’s bases loaded at-bat (where he was trying to battle back from a 1-2 count) I made a bold statement:
“Alexei is jacking one. I’m calling it right now. Grand slam.”
My brother looked at me like I had just said something completely ridiculous and/or ignorant and/or nonsensical – almost as if I had said something like, “I’m thinking of picking up Corky Miller, a catcher a who plays once or twice a week, to be my starting fantasy catcher.” I can, though, somewhat understand my brother’s reluctance to jump on board with my prediction that Alexei would go deep. He entered the game still mired in his April slump, hitting below .200 and still without a home run. I have maintained that Alexei is just a slow starter and will be fine in 2009, but even I wasn’t so sure that my prediction was anything more than just a throwaway comment that would ultimately prove insignificant and erroneous.
As the time wound down on the Browns’ selection at #50, and as Alexei battled back to force a full 3-2 count, the anticipation began to build. Would the Browns pull the trigger on Massaquoi? Would Alexei Ramirez put the game out of reach with his fifth career grand slam? Was it incredibly lame that my brother and I had nothing more significant to do on a Saturday night than to be completely enthralled by a 2nd round draft pick and a virtually meaningless April baseball game?
Over the next 30 seconds, the exciting answers to all three questions were revealed with a resounding “You can put it on the board….YES!”
The Browns pick of Mohamed Massaquoi came through, Alexei Ramirez jacked a game-clinching jonron con bases llenas to left field, and my brother and I began jumping up and down and celebrating as if the Browns and White Sox had simultaneously won a Super Bowl and a World Series title all in that one moment.
And once again, not that I needed it, I was reminded why I love sports.
You never know when something will happen that makes you leap out of your chair and act like a kid on Christmas. For 30 seconds last night, it felt like Christmas in April. Am I exaggerating? In hindsight, yes. But in the moment, it was great. And the value of being a sports fan is the sum of all the exciting moments, in all of their varying degrees, that you are privileged enough to experience. And when they come totally unexpectedly, totally out of the blue, well that’s even better.
Last night’s moment was fleeting. I won’t be telling my kids someday about the night the Browns drafted Mohamed Massaquoi and Alexei Ramirez fulfilled my prediction by hitting an April grand slam, but I will tell them, for instance, about the night I was at Assembly Hall when Calbert Cheaney broke the Big Ten career scoring record. However, despite its relative unimportance, last night provided a legitimate thrill in the midst of an otherwise uneventful Saturday night.
And that is what makes the sports fans’ daily labor or love such a rewarding and worthwhile commitment.
The first day whirlwind has ended. When all was was said and done the Browns traded back three times before making their first pick and ended up with 7 new players. Here is the timeline of what transpired:
The Browns still have the following picks remaining tomorrow in Day 2 of the 2009 NFL Draft:
Time for some analysis.
Analysis of Overall Draft Mindset
I like what the Browns did in trading back to acquire more picks. This morning I wrote out my dream scenario for the Browns, and while today certainly did not play out exactly like I described, the general idea of trading back to maximize quantity and value was there. Despite finishing the 2007 season on the doorstep of the playoffs, the Browns enter 2009 in a complete rebuilding phase after everything collapsed last season. There was not one player the Browns felt they could get at #5 that was worth the money and/or that was a better value than guys they could get later in the draft for less money and with more picks added to the overall total.
So while the Browns do not walk away from Day 1 with an “exciting” player like Michael Crabtree or Aaron Curry, they do have four solid, high-character rookies, three guys who know Eric Mangini’s system, and four more picks tomorrow. I personally would have liked to see the Browns find a way to get a running back, but that is one position where draft history has proven that value can be had in later rounds.
Final Analysis: Very Positive
Analysis of Players Received in Trade with Jets
Continuity is always a big question mark when a new regime takes over. One thing that Eric Mangini and George Kokinis appear committed to is bringing in guys who are familiar with the style of football and mindset that will be installed for 2009 and beyond. A number of the Browns offseason acquisitions are former Jets with ties to Mangini, guys who will instantly provide a sense of continuity having played in the system previously. And while none of the guys we got from the Jets today is necessarily a difference maker, they all fill specific needs.
Considering that I would have pretty much been happy just getting the #17 and #57 picks for the #5, I can’t be anything but positive about these three players. I don’t know how many of these former Jets are building blocks for the long-term, but they are solid players who will help make the transition to Manginiball more smooth for the entire organization.
Final Analysis: Who knows, but generally positive
Now let’s analyze the draft picks.
Analysis of Browns Pick at #21 – C Alex Mack, Cal
Just look at my post when the pick was announced and you’ll see the oscillation I went through mentally as I processed the pick. I will admit that I was excited about the possibility of picking Beanie Wells at #21, and when we picked a player at the least exciting position on the field, well, it just felt like a letdown. I am still not completely solid that the Browns made the best use of their only first round pick, but I’m coming around somewhat.
Not that they are the official experts, but Scouts Inc. had Alex Mack rated as the #1 center and the #39 overall player. On the one hand, I would have liked to see the Browns get a skill position player here. After suffering through so many boring games last year, I was hoping for a name that would instantly get me excited. Picking Beanie Wells certainly would have gotten me excited.
However, maybe we should get excited about Alex Mack. He is the #1 player at his position in the draft at a position of need for the Browns. And lost in the hubbub over Braylon, K2, and the QBs sucking last year was the fact that our offensive line wasn’t nearly as good as it was in 2007 either. Alex Mack comes in with very few question marks, certainly no character concerns, and potentially starts from Day One.
Beanie Wells, meanwhile, dropped all the way to #31, presumably because many teams are worried about his injury issues.
The Browns moved back, and moved back, and moved back again because they knew they could get the guy they wanted at #21. Well, they got him. And while he won’t whip Ohio fans into a frenzy of excitement like Beanie Wells would have, he is probably the better and more valuable pick. Good teams usually have good centers (look at Jeff Saturday in Indianapolis for an example) and assuming the scouting reports on Mack are correct, the Browns should be set at center for the next decade.
Final Analysis: Not exciting, not franchise altering, but a safe and solid first round selection
Analysis of Browns Picks #36 and #50: WRs Brian Robiskie, Ohio State and Mohamed Massaquoi, Georgia
I am lumping these guys together because I am just so excited about their arrival in Cleveland. If you had told me before today started that the Browns would get Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi and they would still have a first round pick and another second round pick in addition, I would have taken it. Why? Both of these guys are safe, productive picks at legitimate areas of need for the Browns.
After Braylon Edwards, there is literally no one for Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson to throw to (no offense Syndric Steptoe). And we don’t even know if Braylon will be suiting up for the Browns next year. With K2, Stallworth, and Jurevicius gone, the Browns clearly needed an influx of pass-catching talent. Most importantly, they needed talented receivers without the ego baggage that they are already dealing with in Braylon.
“But the Browns could have taken Michael Crabtree at #5 and gotten the best WR in the draft,” the detractors will say. To which I say the following:
Player A is Michael Crabtree. Player B is Brian Robiskie. Pretty comparable huh? Throw in the fact that Crabtree played in a pass happy offense with a veteran quarterback while Robiskie played Tresselball with various QBs, including freshman Terrelle Pryor this year, and Robiskie’s rate is even more impressive.
All things being equal, I think Crabtree is a better player. But Crabtree at #5 or Robiskie at #36? Give me Robiskie.
And then you add Massaquoi, a guy who people started to like more and more as the draft drew closer. He is just a solid, productive football player (noticing a theme?). He played all four years he was at Georgia, never catching fewer than 30 balls in a season. As a senior this past season, three of his biggest games of the year were against Tennessee (and all-SEC DB Eric Berry), Florida, and the rivalry game against Georgia Tech. So he came to play in some of the team’s bigger moments.
There were some more “talented” WRs in this draft than Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi, but there were very few, if any, with as few question marks about their ability to be productive, above average NFL WRs. With the Browns’ dire need for pass catchers, I fully support taking these two guys in the second round to maximize value and minimize risk. And if Braylon is on the team next year and comes to camp motivated to play for a new contract, Brian Robiskie, Mohamed Massaquoi and Braylon Edwards could form a pretty good WR corps by seasons end.
And if Braylon leaves, we still have two reliable WRs to build around.
Final Analysis: Tremendously excited and very supportive of both picks
Analysis of Browns Pick #52: DE David Veikune, Hawaii
I was pulling for LeSean McCoy here, but I can see the logic of this pick. With the Browns not drafting again until round 4, they risked not getting a solid defensive player in the first 3 rounds. David Veikune has very good athletic ability and though Scouts Inc. listed him as a defensive end, he can play both inside and outside for the Browns. He will also mostly likely be a solid special teams player as a rookie.
I could ramble on about him, but the truth is that I know nothing about him. It seems like a reasonable pick to me, and he certainly is athletic. Without having seem him play or having read anything about him before today, I’d just be speculating.
Final Analysis: Sounds good to me, but we’ll see
Final Analysis of Browns 2009 NFL Draft First Day
I am intrigued and encouraged. I like the mindset and I love the addition of the two WRs. I don’t think Browns fans walk away from today believing that now we can win the AFC North, or anything like that. But I do think we can walk away from today saying that we added 7 solid football players to our team, plus a few picks tomorrow that increase roster depth. As the Browns attempt to build a 53-man roster worthy of competing on a year-in, year-out basis, it’s important to walk away from draft day thinking this way. I don’t know about you, but I do.
Final Analysis: No home run picks, and jerseys to run out and buy, but it’s not every day that your team adds 7 guys with a chance to be on the final roster. A solid, focused, strategic effort. B+.
With their 2nd pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the 36th overall selection, the Browns picked WR Brian Robiskie!
This pick I love. A lot. Great choice Browns!
– Brian Robiskie NFL.com Combine Profile
– Brian Robiskie Scouts Inc. Profile
With the Browns void at WR, and I suppose the possibility still there that Braylon Edwards could be dealt, Cleveland needed help at WR. Robiskie is not going to be a superstar, but he will be a solid #2 WR. I love this pick, and if Braylon ends up staying in Cleveland and returning to his 2007 form in 2009, the Browns could end up having a solid 1-2 duo. I think with Robiskie’s experience and pedigree he could be one of the few rookie WR to step in and make an impact right away. His ceiling isn’t as high as the other WRs in the draft, but I like what he already is, and I love this pick on many levels.
So far so good. The best center in the draft, one of the most ready-to-play WRs in the draft, and tons of picks. I’m down with the plan. And still more action to come in Round 2.
With the 21st pick in the NFL Draft the Cleveland Browns have selected C Alex Mack.
Son of a bitch. I wanted Beanie Wells. Totally uninspired by this.
I’m not happy. I know he’s a good player and all, but there are other centers who probably would have been available at #36, like Max Unger perhaps. We had a chance to get a potentially great RB in Beanie Wells. Not happy. Not happy at all.
Okay, now that I’m settling down a bit, here is some info about Alex Mack:
(And, for the record, Matt and I posted the Alex Mack Nickelodeon pictures independently, then realized it over email. Leave it to the Browns to draft someone who can be mocked with a Nickelodeon picture.)
I’m trying to get excited about this pick. I know the Browns need a physical presence up front, Mack seems like a very safe pick and a good football player, and I probably got my hopes up for Beanie Wells and am simply experiencing a let down. But won’t the centers be there at 36? If not, I’ll probably like this pick more. Especially if the Browns take LeSean McCoy later in the 2nd round.
Don’t misunderstand…I LOVE the trades and the Browns’ approach today. And I bet Alex Mack will be a good player (just having flashbacks to Jeff Faine from a few years back), but I really wanted Beanie Wells. I thought at 21, Wells offered great value. Oh well.
Onto the second round now for the Browns. Lots of picks. Hopefully we get some good players
. I’m pulling for McCoy, Brian Robiskie, and/or Patrick Chung.
Update: I’m coming around on this pick the more I think about it.
The Browns traded back three times to get more picks, and then got the best player at his position in Alex Mack. There are three good centers in this draft, and none may be left by the time the Browns pick again at #36. However, there are still plenty of RBs and WRs on the board.
Value-wise, this was probably a very solid move by the Browns. Now that I’m finally on board with this, I will post an actual pic of Alex Mack…the center from Cal, not the Nickelodeon character.
The Cleveland Browns have traded the 19th pick to the Philadelphia Eagles. The Browns receive the 21st overall pick and the 195th overall pick.
The Eagles selected WR Jeremy Maclin.
I have to say, I still like this move. Beanie Wells, Ray Maulaluga, Brandon Pettigrew, and Clay Matthews all still on the board. I think the Browns would be happy with any of them, and we’ve been able to get two more picks in the 6th round. Say what you want, but those picks can build valuable depth. Still on board with the moves. Now it’s time to pick someone.
The Cleveland Browns have traded the #17 pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs have drafted QB Josh Freeman.
Browns get 19th pick and 191st pick.
Another trade I love. The player the Browns want at #17 will be there at #19, and now we get another pick later. Beautiful. I’ve been skeptical of Mangini and Kokinis, but I like the moves so far. Now, let’s see what players the Browns bring in.
The Browns have traded their #5 pick to the Jets. The Jets have chosen Mark Sanchez.
The Browns received the 17th pick, the 57th pick, and 3 players:
This is a great deal for the Browns. I love it. Join us in the live draft. Click here to go to live draft.
For the record, I think this is only the beginning. I think the Browns may have some more trades up their sleeve. Maybe to get a pick in round 3, or to move up a little further in Round 1 to possibly get Orakpo, Jenkins, etc. If they stay put at #17, how about Beanie Wells?
It’s going to be an exciting day, so let’s do some chatting. We’ll start things off around 1:30 and then go as long as everyone wants to, discussing today’s draft. The Twitter feeds of Peter King and ProFootballTalk will be providing constant updates inside the draft console.
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The 2009 NFL Draft is set to start in a little over 5 hours as I begin writing this. Matthew Stafford has already been declared the #1 pick by the Detroit Lions, meaning the St. Louis Rams are now on the clock trying to decide betw
een LTs Eugene Monroe and Jason Smith (or Mark Sanchez…really?) After the Rams make their choice, the Chiefs and Seahawks will be on the clock, followed by the Cleveland Browns.
With little new information emerging this morning regarding the Browns’ Saturday plans (not that any emerging information out of Berea would be believable anyway) there is only one thing left to do: try to predict what will actually happen today. And instead of telling you what I think will happen, I’m going to give you my own personal pie-in-the-sky dream scenario of what I’d like to see happen.
There are so many variables and trade possibilities out there, plus what seems to me like such a jumbled first round draft board, that trying to actually predict what will happen with any semblance of clarity seems pretty futile to me. I can certainly tell you what I hope happens, however.
First, let me link you to a couple of articles that have formed the basis for trades I’d like to see happen.
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This morning, Mary-Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer provided her own collection of thoughts about the 2009 draft, the first of which I found myself agreeing with wholeheartedly:
The Browns should trade Braylon Edwards, even if they can only get a No. 2, No. 5 and a young prospect such as Domenik Hixon or Mario Manningham from the Giants. If they can secure the Giants’ first pick in the second round — the 45th overall — they’d have four picks in the top 50 and could transform the team with those players. At No. 45, they’d probably still be able to land a top-notch receiver or another immediate starter. Edwards needs a change of scenery and he’s heading into the final year of his deal. The Browns might as well get something for him while they can.
~ Four Things Mary Kay Cabot thinks about the NFL draft — (Cleveland Plain-Dealer)
I am not particularly enamored with either Domenik Hixon or Mario Manningham; I don’t think anyone is. However, seeing as how Manningham is a Michigan grad, only 5’11, and totaled a whopping 4 receptions as a rookie, while Hixon is from Akron, stands 6’2, has four years of NFL experience, and had 43 receptions last year, I think Hixon would be the more preferable of the two.
The real value, of course, would be the draft picks. And let me mention this: while I think it is conceivable for the Browns to be good in 2009 (this is the NFL after all, where miraculous turnarounds are a yearly occurrence), I think they should use 2009 as a year to rebuild with 2010 being the target for
truly competing. Any significant success next year will be considered gravy in my mind; I want to see progress. I see too many holes on this team to expect a playoff run next year. But with an influx of good, young, cost-efficient talent, the Browns can become very competitive in 2010…I think.
Back to the Edwards deal. No, such a deal would not give the Browns another 1st rounder, but this appears to be a draft with a lot of value in the second round. Not only can you get good players, but for a much better price than if you pick them in the first round. For a team like the Browns, which is essentially remaking its roster, the 2nd and 3rd rounds are where you want to stockpile picks. (And the Browns do not have a 3rd-rounder this year.)
Need more convincing? The New England Patriots have the 23rd, 34th, 47th, and 58th picks this weekend. They have a pretty good track record of rebuilding through the draft. I’d be quite comfortable following such a model.
Dream Scenario #1: The Browns complete a trade with the Giants sending Braylon Edwards to New York for the Giants’ 2nd (#45) and 5th round picks, plus Domenik Hixon.
Next up, let’s discuss what the Browns should do with their #5 pick in the first round. Projections have been all over the board. I’ve seen mock drafts giving the Browns each of the following players: Michael Crabtree, BJ Raji, Aaron Curry, Brian Orakpo, Mark Sanchez, and others. What this tells me is that there is no absolute, perfect fit for the Browns at #5, and that there is little separating the top 10 picks from one another. Why then would you want to take someone there and pay him #5 money if you are not completely convinced the guy will be a great fit for your football team? I suppose you could argue that each guy would fill a specific need and that the Browns would have their choice among many great options at #5; I just don’t see that being more advantageous than trading back.
If there was a player at #5 that I personally thought could come in and make the Browns a playoff contender next season, or who is extremely likely be a future superstar, I’d be all for holding the #5 pick and taking him. I don’t believe that to be the case, so I am hoping to see the Browns trade out of the #5 slot.
But to whom?
Depending on who falls to #5, the Browns could have a variety of teams interested in moving up. The best case scenario for the Browns is to have Mark Sanchez sitting there, as teams are always willing to pay more to get a QB they covet. One of the teams most widely rumored to be considering a trade up for Sanchez is the Denver Broncos.
As with all rumors this time of year, there is information out there on both sides. I’ve seen it reported that the Broncos want to package their two No. 1′s (picks 12 and 18) for a move up to draft Sanchez. I’ve also seen it reported that it’s all a ruse and the Broncos just want other teams to think that they want Sanchez.
So who the hell knows.
I do know this: I do not want to see the Browns trade Brady Quinn and draft Mark Sanchez as the “quarterback of the future.” First, I don’t think Quinn has really gotten a chance to show what he can do, and we already traded picks to make him our first round selection a couple years ago. Plus, we have Derek Anderson, who at least has successful NFL starting experience in his past.
Second, I am not the least bit sold on Mark Sanchez as a future franchise QB, mainly because he’s an underclassmen going pro early with only 16 career starts. There is no way this guy will be ready to lead an NFL team for 2-3 years at the earliest, and there is simply too much unknown about him with only 16 games of tape to watch.
All that being said, why not split the difference with the Broncos if they do want to draft Sanchez. Take their #12 pick plus their 2nd rounder (#48) and give them the #5. This still gives them two 1st round picks, but the Browns get to move down into a more manageable draft slot from a contract perspective, they can still get a very good player with their first pick, and they add another mid-round selection in the value-rich 2nd round.
I don’t know what the infamous “draft value chart” would say about this trade, but I don’t care. The Browns need a lot of good, young players to build around. I’d rather increase my odds of improving the roster with two of the best 48 players in the draft as opposed to one of the top 5, especially when there seems to be so much debate over who the five best players really are in this year’s draft.
Dream Scenario #2: The Browns trade their #5 pick in the 1st round to the Broncos for Denver’s #12 pick and #48 pick.
Okay, let’s assess the damage here. If my two dream scenarios above were to come to fruition, here are the first-day picks the Browns would have (in addition to adding Domenik Hixon and a 5th rounder from the Giants):
Contrast that with what they have right now:
I don’t know about you, but I like the first scenario a lot more.
So, who could the four first-day picks turn into? Here is what I personally would love to see happen; and remember, this is a dream scenario, so while I’m trying to be realistic, forgive me if this sounds a bit hopeful:
#12 pick: Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State
With the draft seemingly devoid of CB depth, and the other CBs likely to be gone by the 36th selection, I like the value here. There are questions about Jenkins’ speed and whether or not he’d have to move to safety, but at the end of the day he’s a playmaker. The Browns need playmakers and smart football players in the secondary. Plus, while many Ohio State linebackers have underperformed expectations at the NFL level, many Ohio State defensive backs drafted in the first round have done well (Antonio Winfield, Nate Clements, Chris Gamble).
Wherever he ends up playing, CB or S, Malcolm Jenkins is a good, solid football player with the instincts to someday be great. It would be nice if Brian Orakpo fell here, but most mock drafts do not have him getting past the Bills at #11. Other options could include Beanie Wells, Brian Cushing, or pash-rushing ends like Robert Ayers and Aaron Maybin.
I say swapping the Wolverine Edwards with the Buckeye Jenkins improves the defense and gives Browns fans something to get excited about; but most importantly, they get a player good enough to step in, fill a void in the secondary, and play from Day One.
#36 pick: Paul Kruger, OLB, Utah
To be honest, this is hardest pick to predict. So much will depend on who the Browns draft in Round 1 and who unexpectedly falls to the second round.
Paul Kruger is who Todd McShay has the Browns picking at #36 in his mock draft, and I don’t see why not. The Browns need young but mature linebackers to team up with the solid D’Qwell Jackson, and Kruger seems like a solid fit. He is big (6’4, 263 pounds) and described in his Scouts Inc. profile as “a person of very good character. A hard worker and leader by example.” Kruger will be a 23-year old rookie as he served a two-year mission in 2005 and 2006.
I’m not sure this is necessarily a “sexy” pick that will have Browns fans yelping with excitement, but it does seem like a very solid pick and Kruger appears to be the type of hard-nosed, high-character, smart guy the Browns would want to rebuild build around.
I could see the Browns going in another direction and trying to pick a DB here if they don’t trade back and get Jenkins in Round 1. If they do get Jenkins, obviously I doubt they’d pick another DB. Other potential options here include DE Larry English, OLB James Laurinaitis, DT Evander Hood, or C Alex Mack, but again, it all depends on who falls.
#45 pick: Brian Robiskie, WR, Ohio State
I said this is a dream scenario, right?
What could be more of a dream for Browns fans like our very own Ryan Russell than getting rid of Braylon Edwards and bringing in two Buckeyes. I didn’t necessarily set out to have it happen this way, but Jenkins and Robiskie both appear to be solid values at their respective slots who fill specific needs for the Browns.
Robiskie is just a good, solid football player. I don’t know if he will ever be a Pro Bowl WR, but I think he can be a good to very good NFL wide receiver for 10-12 years.
With the Browns not having Braylon Edwards (in this scenario), Kellen Winslow, Joe Jurevicius, or (probably) Donte Stallworth, they obviously need a WR. Most likely, guys like Kenny Britt, Hakeen Nicks, and Percy Harvin will not be available at #36, which is fine with me. I’ve read various reports of red flags about each (ego with Britt, curious weight gains and losses with Nicks, and the infamous failed Combine drug test story, and others, about Harvin). Who knows how much stock to put into what could be disinformation, but I’d rather be safe than sorry.
With Robiskie, the son of longtime NFL coach Terry Robiskie, all you read about is his professionalism and production. That’s what the Browns need to build around. I can’t imagine a safer pick that fits more perfectly in terms of need than Brian Robiskie at #45. Another option here could be Mohamed Massaquoi from Georiga, who is rapidly rising up draft boards. I personally doubt he’ll be here with this pick, and besides, ew might as well pick the Buckeye, right?
#48 pick: LeSean McCoy, RB, Pittsburgh
Jamal Lewis ‘aint getting any younger, and Jerome Harrison is much better suited as a third down, change of pace type back than an everydown runner. Getting LeSean McCoy in the 2nd round, I think, would be a great value for the Browns and fill a specific need of an everydown back who can team with Jamal Lewis this year and then ultimately become the #1 ball carrier for the Browns.
McCoy appears to have no characters red flags, has good speed, and was incredibly productive during his two seasons at Pitt. In addition, having only taken two seasons of collegiate pounding, he should, in theory at least, have a little more tread on his tires than some other backs who played 3 or 4 years in college. Other options here could include SS Patrick Chung or DE Michael Johnson, all depending on how the picks fall.
It is obviously hard to know who will be available at the later round picks. Depending on who falls out of the first round, there could certainly be a better pick than Paul Kruger at #36. But trading back to get Malcolm Jenkins, and then landing Robiskie and McCoy later in Round 2 would, in my opinion, be a great first day haul for the Browns. Each guy is a potential contributor as soon as this season, and each guy is a solid building block for the future. At the end of the day, the Browns couldn’t ask for much more coming out of today.
Again, lets do a quick comparison. First, the results of my dream scenario, and then the results of the Browns standing pat and picking where they are currently slotted:
My dream draft scenario for the Browns:
Likely scenario if the Browns stand pat:
For me, the first scenario seems to set the Browns up better for long-term success, although perhaps not as well for 2009. But I think the organization would be much better served by taking a long-term approach as opposed to throwing all their eggs in the 2009 basket. We threw all of our eggs into the the 2008 basket and it got us a 4-12 season, no 3rd round pick this year, and has compelled us to have to think in terms of rebuilding.
Fine. But let’s rebuild the right way: with extra draft picks that result in solid players and a roster with both depth and talent.
I don’t know the chances of the above scenario actually happening – probably pretty slim – but I do think it presents the kind of thinking that, in my opinion at least, provides the most likely road map to the kind of sustained future success that the Browns have never had since returning to the NFL.
I’d love to get your thoughts/comments below. Now it’s time to sit back and see what actually happens.
