Rob Rang - CBS Sports
Cleveland Browns: B
The Browns created plenty of intrigue, as well as a collection of middle-round picks, by trading down three times in the first round before selecting Cal center Alex Mack with the 21st selection. Mack's toughness and versatility will come in handy in the ultra-physical AFC North, and the team was wise to add depth -- and perhaps open the door for the departure of Braylon Edwards -- with the selection of Brian Robiskie and Mohammed Massaquoi in the second round. The Browns could get immediate impact out of underrated linebackers David Veikune and Kaluka Maiava, but watch out for a pair of sixth-rounders -- San Jose State cornerback Coye Francies and Clemson running back James Davis -- to surprise.
The Browns created plenty of intrigue, as well as a collection of middle-round picks, by trading down three times in the first round before selecting Cal center Alex Mack with the 21st selection. Mack's toughness and versatility will come in handy in the ultra-physical AFC North, and the team was wise to add depth -- and perhaps open the door for the departure of Braylon Edwards -- with the selection of Brian Robiskie and Mohammed Massaquoi in the second round. The Browns could get immediate impact out of underrated linebackers David Veikune and Kaluka Maiava, but watch out for a pair of sixth-rounders -- San Jose State cornerback Coye Francies and Clemson running back James Davis -- to surprise.
Mel Kiper - ESPN
Alex Mack was a good pick at No. 21 and Mohamed Massaquoi was a very good pickup in the second round. I think fellow second-rounder David Veikune was a bit of a reach in that round, but not enough of one to seriously dent the Browns' grade. They didn't get a great receiver in Brian Robiskie in the second round, but he's polished enough as a rookie that he could be a solid possession guy for this franchise.
Walter Football - (who was on it)
- “I’m willing to bet that Eric Mangini has weird, worthless crap scattered all over his apartment. I’m also going to guess that he eats Ramen noodles each night, as he watches his black-and-white TV. How did I come up with this? Well, Mangini moved down from No. 5 to 17 in the first round for just a second-rounder, two backups and a developmental quarterback. Well, actually, Cleveland’s roster is so devoid of talent that the two backups will probably be starters. I like Alex Mack and Brian Robiskie. But Mangini has done nothing to improve a horrific defense and a non-existent running game. Drafting your first linebacker at No. 52, who happened to be a mid-round prospect, is not a good move. Neither is failing to address the right tackle or inside linebacker positions.”
- Grade given on 4/27/09: C-
USA Today
• Cleveland Browns: Creative deal-making allowed the Browns to load up on picks and players from the New York Jets that coach Eric Mangini likes. C Alex Mack was the best at his position, solidifies problem area, but may have gone a tad early at 21. Both receivers, Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi, will contribute quickly and Robiskie may start. LB/DE David Veikune may lack a true position, should get first look as rush end in 4-3 sub package.
(They gave them a B)
Again, the 2009 NFL Draft is the reason that the Browns are so devoid of talent, coupled with their opt out in 2008.
Here's some grades from the 2007 Draft
Dr Z from Sports Illustrated - (who was outstanding by the way)
BROWNS -- A
Ah, the never-ending mysteries of draft day. They get both Brady Quinn
and the draft's most highly regarded blocker, tackle Joe Thomas. After
that it gets a bit murky. Second-round CB Eric Wright ... great talent
but here we go again, character issues. Hey, I thought Roger Goodell
outlawed that stuff. Only one thing can dull the euphoria that Browns fans are
feeling at this moment, and that is if Quinn turns out to be, as some have
predicted, not a franchise player but a meticulously schooled system QB with a
tendency toward occasional wildness.
Pete Prisco - Football Genius - CBS Sports
Best pick: Going back into the first round to get Brady Quinn was a bold move, but one that will pay off in a big way.
Questionable move: Second-round pick Eric Wright has first-round ability, but there are character concerns. This team can't afford to have this pick blow up on them.
Second-day gem: Fifth-round pick Brandon McDonald is a raw corner who made the move from receiver. With some seasoning, he can be a nice cover player.
Overall grade: A+. They get a franchise left tackle and a franchise quarterback. And if Wright can stay out of trouble they got a franchise corner. That's three key pieces.
Walter Football
Grade given on 5/1/07: B
Good Moves: I would have chosen Joe Thomas at No. 3 as well. Thomas helps Cleveland win right away. I wasn't expecting the Browns to land both Thomas and Brady Quinn, however. I'm torn. I like the fact that they obtained a franchise quarterback, but I'm not crazy that they surrendered next year's first-rounder to do so. I love the Eric Wright selection. I know he has character issues, but the Browns can't worry about that. They need talent.
Bad Moves: Who is Melila Purcell? Why didn't Cleveland take a receiver until the fifth round?
Instant 2007 Starters: OT Joe Thomas.
Potential 2007 Starters: QB Brady Quinn, CB Eric Wright.
Other Picks: CB Brandon McDonald, DE Melila Purcell, DE/OLB Chase Pittman, KR Syndric Steptoe.
Good Moves: I would have chosen Joe Thomas at No. 3 as well. Thomas helps Cleveland win right away. I wasn't expecting the Browns to land both Thomas and Brady Quinn, however. I'm torn. I like the fact that they obtained a franchise quarterback, but I'm not crazy that they surrendered next year's first-rounder to do so. I love the Eric Wright selection. I know he has character issues, but the Browns can't worry about that. They need talent.
Bad Moves: Who is Melila Purcell? Why didn't Cleveland take a receiver until the fifth round?
Instant 2007 Starters: OT Joe Thomas.
Potential 2007 Starters: QB Brady Quinn, CB Eric Wright.
Other Picks: CB Brandon McDonald, DE Melila Purcell, DE/OLB Chase Pittman, KR Syndric Steptoe.
Now here are a few grades from the aforementioned writers this year.
Mel Kiper - ESPN
Top needs: QB, RB, WR, RT, CB
Summary: The Browns will get questions on value, but they had a plan and stuck to it. They moved up to get Trent Richardson, ostensibly so Tampa Bay couldn't, and while a running back at No. 3 is always a tough value proposition, Richardson is a rare talent. The Browns clearly felt they couldn't wait to take Brandon Weeden at No. 37, and locked him up at No. 22. Given the talk surrounding Colt McCoy, they clearly expect Weeden to start. Mitchell Schwartz was a slight reach on my board at No. 37, but he's extremely experienced, and you know what you're getting at right tackle. Cleveland finally got a receiver with the No. 100 pick. I saw that as a bigger need than right tackle. There were good wideouts available at No. 37, so that's the pick I question the most.
Pete Prisco - famous fellator of Blaine Gabbert - CBS
Cleveland Browns
Best pick: Second-round pick Mitchell Schwartz is a tough, nasty player who will start at right tackle. Scouts I talked to loved this kid. I agree. Nice pick.
Questionable move: Taking Brandon Weeden in the first round. That was a reach. Is he that much better than Colt McCoy? And he'll be 29 in October.
Third-day gem: Fourth-round receiver Travis Benjamin went to Miami as a huge recruit. He didn't put up big numbers, but he has explosive ability.
Analysis: The Browns had a bad first round in my mind, which knocks their draft down. They had two first-round picks, and traded up to get Trent Richardson. I just don't see how trading up for a back is a good thing -- even a good back like Richardson. Taking Weeden is a real reach. They did bounce back some, but I don't like the way they started.
Grade: C-
Rob Rang - CBS Sports
Cleveland Browns: C
Needing an infusion of talent on offense and energy in the fan base, the Browns nabbed arguably the best player in the draft in running back Trent Richardson and may have found their starting quarterback at No. 22 overall, Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden. I gave Richardson a higher grade than Adrian Peterson coming out of college and love the fit in Cleveland. Weeden, if protected, has the strong arm and accuracy to be a winning quarterback in the NFL. Frankly, his lack of pocket awareness and mobility are a bigger concern -- especially in this offense and against the pass rushes in the AFC North -- than his age. Though he'll be panned as a reach by some, offensive tackle Mitchell Schwartz was one of the draft's safer right tackle prospects and will contribute early. The Browns followed these three solid selections with some questionable mid-round choices before finishing stronger with front seven defenders James-Michael Johnson (fourth), Emmanuel Acho (sixth) and Billy Winn (sixth) late. Frankly, in entering the draft with the most picks of any team (13), the Browns should have come out with more. Should Richardson and Weeden justify their lofty selections, however, Cleveland will ultimately be called a winner for their efforts.
Needing an infusion of talent on offense and energy in the fan base, the Browns nabbed arguably the best player in the draft in running back Trent Richardson and may have found their starting quarterback at No. 22 overall, Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden. I gave Richardson a higher grade than Adrian Peterson coming out of college and love the fit in Cleveland. Weeden, if protected, has the strong arm and accuracy to be a winning quarterback in the NFL. Frankly, his lack of pocket awareness and mobility are a bigger concern -- especially in this offense and against the pass rushes in the AFC North -- than his age. Though he'll be panned as a reach by some, offensive tackle Mitchell Schwartz was one of the draft's safer right tackle prospects and will contribute early. The Browns followed these three solid selections with some questionable mid-round choices before finishing stronger with front seven defenders James-Michael Johnson (fourth), Emmanuel Acho (sixth) and Billy Winn (sixth) late. Frankly, in entering the draft with the most picks of any team (13), the Browns should have come out with more. Should Richardson and Weeden justify their lofty selections, however, Cleveland will ultimately be called a winner for their efforts.
Chris Burke - Sports Illustrated
Cleveland Browns: I don’t mind Cleveland going all-in to get Trent Richardson at No. 3. Heck, I don’t even really mind reaching for QB Brandon Weeden at 22. I’m not sure what happened after that, though, as the Browns took OT Mitchell Schwartz when they needed a receiver, then tanked picks on DT John Hughes (87) and WR Travis Benjamin (100). Grade: C-plus
Walter Football
2012 NFL Draft Grade: C-
Goals Entering the 2012 NFL Draft: No one wants to play for the Browns, per certain reports. Whether you believe them or not, there's no denying that this Cleveland team doesn't appear as though it's going anywhere. There's no franchise quarterback, while the offense as a whole lacks play-makers. The 2012 NFL Draft will be all about bolstering the scoring unit.
2012 NFL Draft Accomplishments: There's nothing worse than targeting one player in a certain spot and then panicking when that prospect is plucked off the board a selection or two earlier. That's exactly what happened to the Browns at No. 22. They were set to take Kendall Wright, but then had to reach for Brandon Weeden when Tennessee took him at No. 20. Mike Holmgren did not have a Plan B.
If Weeden can be a franchise quarterback, this will be a good draft class. However, that's unlikely. He'll be 29 soon, and by the time he figures things out, he'll be in his 30s. He'll be 33 when his first contract is up. Oh, and then there's the dubious history of Big XII quarterbacks flopping in the NFL. Weeden should not have been a first-round pick, and Cleveland must be heavily downgraded for that.
Some other choices didn't make much sense. Both John Hughes and Travis Benjamin were major reaches; the Hughes pick was particularly confusing because it didn't fill a need and failed to upgrade the offense. On the bright side, Trent Richardson will be a stud, while various late-round selections provided great value.
Goals Entering the 2012 NFL Draft: No one wants to play for the Browns, per certain reports. Whether you believe them or not, there's no denying that this Cleveland team doesn't appear as though it's going anywhere. There's no franchise quarterback, while the offense as a whole lacks play-makers. The 2012 NFL Draft will be all about bolstering the scoring unit.
2012 NFL Draft Accomplishments: There's nothing worse than targeting one player in a certain spot and then panicking when that prospect is plucked off the board a selection or two earlier. That's exactly what happened to the Browns at No. 22. They were set to take Kendall Wright, but then had to reach for Brandon Weeden when Tennessee took him at No. 20. Mike Holmgren did not have a Plan B.
If Weeden can be a franchise quarterback, this will be a good draft class. However, that's unlikely. He'll be 29 soon, and by the time he figures things out, he'll be in his 30s. He'll be 33 when his first contract is up. Oh, and then there's the dubious history of Big XII quarterbacks flopping in the NFL. Weeden should not have been a first-round pick, and Cleveland must be heavily downgraded for that.
Some other choices didn't make much sense. Both John Hughes and Travis Benjamin were major reaches; the Hughes pick was particularly confusing because it didn't fill a need and failed to upgrade the offense. On the bright side, Trent Richardson will be a stud, while various late-round selections provided great value.
What does all this mean? Nothing really. I just wanted to look back and see how these people currently blasting the Browns felt about previous drafts. The Browns are getting maligned for various reasons (not taking a WR, Weeden, etc), and I don't get it. Everyone's got an opinion on how these things should go (myself included) and mine is that they did very well in this draft. I'm pumped about it really. And I've been on record (2009, the Dwight Clark era, 2006, Willie Green, etc) as being downright pissed off when I don't think they're doing things the right way. My point is that finally it appears that we have a GM that gets it and is building this team the right way, and people are angry because he solidified the line that everyone has been bitching about for years and took a QB that he feels is better than the one we had. I love it, and now more than ever, In Heckert I Trust.
By the way, great work by Steve Doerschuk here on Heckert's drafts
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