Draft Thoughts - 2013

I haven't written anything for a while.  Not since the Browns crapped away their season with an embarrassing finish, and fired punching bag Pat Shurmur.  Not since they failed in their pursuit of Chip Kelly, and hired of Rob Chudzinski.  Not since they canned Tom Heckert for Michael Lombardi.  Not since they did a respectable job in free agency, and not since our owner was investigated by the FBI and IRS.  But now, on the eve of the draft, I think I'm ready to hop back in the saddle.

I've pretty much been against anything the Browns did from a front office standpoint.  I don't trust Michael Lombardi and Joe Banner running my team's draft.  But I guess we'll find out what they're all about tomorrow night.  After a respectable job filling holes in free agency, the glaring holes that remain on this team are at CB, TE, S, G, and FB.  Also, you can never have enough pass rushers, and the jury is still out on Brandon Weeden, although I'd give him the ball for another season, provided he's better than Jason Campbell.  If he isn't, we'll be picking high enough in 2014 to address that need.

The team is also without a 2nd rounder, used last year to pick Josh Gordon.  Who was worth it, no matter if you wish they had a second rounder right now or not.  He was worth it.

There is not elite talent at the top of this draft like there was last year.  The best quote I heard about this year's crop is that there aren't 10 players that deserve to go in the top 10, but there are more than 100 players who deserve to go in the top 100.  That said, a trade down or two to recoup that second rounder and pick up another third or fourth would be ideal for the Browns.

Here's a look at a few options for the Browns.

I'm a Dion Jordan fan, but I see few scenarios where I see him lasting until the Browns pick.  If he's there I'd take him.  There are few people on the planet with his size and athleticism.  He can rush the passer, drop into coverage, and hold up at the point of attack against the run.  A no brainer for me, but I expect him to be gone.

There are only two offensive players I'd consider, either at 6 or if they trade back, if I'm the Browns.  Those two players are Tavon Austin and Tyler Eifert.  I'm a huge Tavon Austin fan, I think he adds an element to an offense that few players in the league can.  He has experience as both a wideout and running back, and can also return kicks and punts.  People point to his size to knock him, but this is a different NFL.  Players are becoming more and more protected, they're not getting killed over the middle or on the sidelines.  Speed kills, and he's got a ton of it.  I'd use him in the slot and as a third down back, he would add another explosive element to an already pretty talented offense.  I love him and think he goes top 10 when it's said and done.

Eifert is the other offensive player I love.  He's a complete tight end in the Gronkowski/Gonzalez mold.  He's got size, soft hands, he can block, he's a complete player.  He's comfortable in line or flexed out, and would give Weeden a huge target over the middle and in the red zone.  I'm a huge fan, and think he ultimately ends up going in the top 12-15 picks.  I'm comfortable with the Browns taking either.

Dee Milliner is the other player that Browns fans seem to want the most.  Pairing him with Haden would potentially give the Browns two shutdown cornerbacks and would allow Ray Horton to attack attack attack.  I'm not as high on him as most.  I think he's pretty good, but the gap between him and some of the other corners in this draft is not that big, in my opinion.  If the Browns can get a second round pick, there will be a starting caliber corner waiting with that pick, either in a Johnthan Banks (who I love), Desmond Trufant, Darius Slay, DJ Hayden, Jamar Taylor, Logan Ryan, etc.

The other options at 6 include Barkavious Mingo, the sinewy pass rusher who was misused by LSU, Ziggy Ansah, the raw prospect from BYU (who I would have been all over if we stuck to a 4-3), or Geno Smith, the West Virginia quarterback.  I do ultimately think the Browns broker a trade down or two, picking up some extra picks along the way and possibly adding a guy like Xavier Rhodes or Kenny Vaccaro later in the first.

I think this is going to be one of the craziest drafts in recent memory.  I think you're going to see a ton of movement up and down, especially in the first round.  It should be exciting.  I'll be interested to see what the Banner/Lombardi wonder team come up with.

I did put together a mock draft below.  I guessed at a couple of trades.

1. Kansas City - Eric Fisher, OT - Central Michigan - It's a toss up between him and Joeckel, but I'll guess Fisher.  KC gets a stud LT, and moves Brandon Albert at some point on Friday.

2. Jacksonville - Geno Smith, QB - West Virginia - Blaine Gabbert is horrible.  They need a lot, but Geno is a start.

3. TRADE - Miami - Luke Joeckel, OT - Texas A&M - Miami gets a stud LT, and Oakland gets a second and some change to move back to 12.  Joeckel is a Joe Thomas type player, plug and play.  Stud.

4. Philadelphia - Dion Jordan, OLB - Oregon - Chip Kelly gets a guy he's familiar with, and a nice versitile player for his defense.

5. Detroit - Ziggy Ansah, DE - BYU - They coached him at the Senior Bowl and salivate at the possibility of pairing him with Suh on their D-line for the next 10 years.

6. TRADE - San Diego - Lane Johnson, OT - Oklahoma - The Chargers send their first and second round picks to the Browns to secure the rights to the third best tackle in the draft.  They need one bad.

7. Arizona - Barkavious Mingo, OLB - LSU - Cards get a pass rusher with more potential than maybe anyone in this class.  They need lots of help.

8. Buffalo - Tavon Austin, WR - WVU - Bills get a playmaker to go with CJ Spiller.  Marrone has seen plenty of Austin while coaching at Cuse, now he gets to have him.

9. NY Jets - Dee Milliner, CB - Alabama - Jets get Revis replacement in the top corner in the draft.

10. Tennessee - Star Lotulelei, DT - Utah - Titans take the best DT in the draft after he unexpectedly falls into their lap.  Great value pick here, could see some action with teams desperate to come and get him.

11. Cleveland - Tyler Eifert, TE - Notre Dame - Browns take another piece to add to a young and talented offense.  Chudzinski and Turner know the value of a stud tight end, and Eifert is head and shoulders above the other TE's in this draft.  Love this guy.

12. Oakland - Sharrif Floyd, DT - Florida - Oakland moves back and still gets a guy they would've considered at 3.  Al Davis isn't running the show anymore.

13. NY Jets - Cordarelle Patterson, WR - Tennessee - Jets needs playmakers, and need them badly.  They take arguably the most talented WR in this class.  Guy needs to learn how to run routes, but if he figures it out him and Hill could be a great duo.

14. Carolina - Sheldon Richardson, DT - Missouri - Panthers get a penetrating defensive tackle who gets to the quarterback from the inside.

15. New Orleans - Menelik Watson, OT - Florida State - Saints need to protect Brees and Watson is going to go higher than people think

16. St Louis - Chance Warmack, OG - Alabama - He and Jake Long should really solidify the Rams left side.

17. Pittsburgh - Jarvis Jones, OLB - Georgia - Just makes too much sense not to happen.

18. Dallas - Tank Carradine, DE - Florida State - Cowboys defense in flux with the transition to the 4-3.  They add the pass rusher from Florida State.

19. New York Giants - DJ Fluker, OT - Alabama - Giants aging line gets younger and much bigger with the mountainous Fluker. 

20. Chicago - Jonathan Cooper, OG - UNC - The Bears have needed offensive line help for years, maybe this is finally the year they address it.

21. Cincinnati - Kenny Vaccaro, S - Texas - The Bengals get the best safety in this draft and add to an already solid defense.

22. St Louis - Justin Hunter, WR - Tennessee - The Rams need playmakers, period.  They get one in Hunter, although his hands are sus.

23. Minnesota - Xavier Rhodes, CB - Florida State - Perfect corner for their cover two defense, they're lucky he falls into their laps.

24. TRADE - Philadelphia - EJ Manuel, QB - Florida State - The Eagles aggressively move up to get their QB of the future, not wanting to chance losing out to another team moving ahead of them.  Indy wants picks, having given up their second for Vontae Davis. 

25. Minnesota - Bjoern Werner, DE - Florida State - the run on Seminoles continues, with Minnesota picking up another pass rusher and eventual replacement for Jared Allen.

26. Green Bay - Jonathan Cyprien, S - FIU - Green Bay doesn't need much, but they need a replacement for Woodson.

27. Houston - DeAndre Hopkins, WR - Clemson - "Nuke" is the perfect pick for the Texans, a great complementary receiver that can do everything pretty well.

28. TRADE - Buffalo - Ryan Nassib, QB - Syracuse - Marrone moves up to get his guy, the QB he won with at Syracuse.  Adding Austin and Nassib is moving in the right direction for the Bills.  Broncos pick up a couple picks for their troubles, knowing that they can get either a corner or d tackle with Buffalo's 2.

29. New England - DJ Hayden, CB - Houston - An absolute stud who suffered an insane and life threatening injury during practice when he tore his vena cava in his heart after taking a knee to the chest.  If he's healthy, he's not that far behind Milliner.

30. Atlanta - Desmond Trufant, CB - Washington - NFL bloodlines, good size and speed, and fits a need for the Falcons.  They're a candidate to move up if Milliner drops.

31. San Francisco - Sylvester Williams, DT - UNC - They need young players on their defensive line.  Another candidate to move up, as they have way more picks than needs.  The Browns could end up picking here if they want to move back this far.

32. Baltimore - Matt Elam, S - Florida - They signed Michael Huff but still need help on the back end.  Elam is a bone cruncher who seems like a Ravens type pick.



Rest of the Browns draft as I see it:

44 - From San Diego - Johnthan Banks, CB - Mississippi State.  I'm a big big fan, has size, long arms, and playmaking ability.  Steps in day 1 opposite Haden.

68 - Tyler Bray, QB - Tennessee.  Has a better arm than anyone in the draft, and is also one of the youngest prospects coming out.  Is a bit cocky for my taste, but should be a developmental guy under Chud and Norv Turner.  Could turn out to be a great pick.

104 - Don Jones, S - Arkansas State.  Fast playmaking safety who should be able to come in and compete for a starting job.

139 - Devonte Holloman, LB - South Carolina.  One of my favorite prospects in this years draft, I have no idea where he fits in a 3-4 defense, I just know I want him on my team.  Will contribute on special teams at the very least.  Could be long gone by the 5th round, but I'm putting him here.

164 - Lerentee McCray, OLB - Florida.  Hard to find pass rushers in this league, he could be a steal at this pick.  Will give you his all and take some heads off on special teams.

175 - Mike Edwards, CB - Hawaii.  Bring this Glenville kid home, can also return kicks.

227 - Brad Wing, P - LSU.  The Browns had a really shitty punter, this one is better.

That's the way I would do it.  I have no idea how Banner and Lombardi will.  I had much more confidence when Tom Heckert was running the draft, but I suppose it's only fair to give these guys a shot.  All in all it should be a very interesting few days coming up here.