Top Draft prospects

[The Gipper]

Yes, yes, I know. There are still 5 games left in the season and we should be thinking about them and not about next year's draft. Nevertheless, at 4-7 the best the Browns could do is 9-7. They are already 4 games behind the Steelers and Ravens in the division and they would have to jump over 8 teams just to get the final WC spot. So, it ain't happening this year. Browns can still kick some butt and be a spoiler for others, but they won't realistically be in the playoffs. So why not look ahead a little.

 

Right now as things stand the Browns would draft somewhere between 8th and 10th. (behind Carolina, Detroit, Cinci, Buffalo, Ariz., Dallas and Denver. They are tied with San Fran and Minnesota at 4-7).

So? Whom might they go for? I am going to assume they won't draft a QB or RB with their first pick, but, all other positions in my opinion are up for grabs. WR, OL, DB, LB, DL. Who is looking best at those positions right now. Lets see:

 

Here is a potential list of choices. The good thing is that there appears to be some depth here, especially on the DL:

 

Patrick Peterson CB LSU

Nick Fairly DE Auburn

J.J. Watt DE Wisconsin

Prince Amukamara CB Nebraska

AJ Green WR Georgia

Julio Jones WR Alabama

DaQuan Bowers DE Clemson

Robert Quinn DE North Carolina

Allen Bailey DE Miami

Cameron Heyward DT Ohio St.

Christian Ballard DT Iowa

Nate Solder OT Colorado

Anthony Castanzo OT Boston College

Adrian Clayborn DE Iowa

Gabe Carimi OT Wisconsin

 

I didn't see any top rated LBs so if the Browns go after that position it may have to be later in the draft. Any thoughts?

[shepwrite]

Trying to be scientific with the draft usually fails me, but...

 

1. The Browns have their OLB pass rusher in Marcus Benard. He's adding to his arsenal and has like 11 sacks in his last 16 games. And at that, he's only getting better. They need to commit to him and start him full-time next year. When you get a gift, you don't return it.

 

2. The only 3-4 linebacker draftable at #10 is a pass rusher, so linebacker can be addressed later or in free agency. I personally hope we keep D'Qwell and add an OLB type in round 3.

 

3. After drafting a corner at #7, the chances that we'd draft another at #10 are zero. It's just insane cap allocation. No way. It's like drafting tackles at 3 and 7, which some people advocated last year. It just doesn't make sense. With Haden, Brown, and Wright, I look for the Browns to upgrade through free agency.

 

4. That leaves WR and DE as possibilities. I think we'll draft a WR unless both Green and Jones are gone... and then we'd go DE and try to trade up into the 20s to get a WR like Broyles or Floyd.

 

5. I think Fairley, Clayborn, and Hayward are probably among the top 3-4 DE prospects. Quinn is a 3-4 OLB, right?

[The Gipper]

Trying to be scientific with the draft usually fails me, but...

 

5. I think Fairley, Clayborn, and Hayward are probably among the top 3-4 DE prospects. Quinn is a 3-4 OLB, right?

 

 

The source I looked at had Quinn at DE, but certainly it is highly possible that a college DE could transition to an OLB in the NFL. Many have. Maybe some of the others on that list could do that as well.

[cribbs is the man]

The source I looked at had Quinn at DE, but certainly it is highly possible that a college DE could transition to an OLB in the NFL. Many have. Maybe some of the others on that list could do that as well.

 

Quinn is def an OLB in the 3-4, drafting OLBs for a 3-4 defense high is problematic I think. There are a lot of busts that come from trying to convert a 4-3 DE at the college level to OLBs in the NFL.. Think Gholsten, Wimbley, Derrick Morgan there are several others. On the other hand guys like Clay Matthews or Orakpo have torn it up, but I think it's risky drafting that position that high, esp when it's a relatively easy position to find no name players to adequately fill that role (Benard or Roth)..

 

One 3-4 DE who should be on that list we're talking about and is in fact probably the best player at the position (along with Fairley) is Alabama's Marcell Dareus, he is someone we will take a hard look at if he is not picked before us..

[IschY]

Well every year I am wrong about who we should or will draft but I have someone that I would love to have as a late round selection.

 

Casey Matthews LB from Oregon.

 

We missed out on our chance for one Matthews but I wouldn't mind taking a late round flyer on him. I watched 2 Oregon games this year and he plays with the same high energy his brother plays and look at him!!

 

He is the 11th ranked ILB in the draft according to ESPN and isn't supposed to go before round 5.

 

They are all educated guesses that late in a draft and I would say try it. He plays that hi energy and has NFL pedigree throughout the whole family.

[ballpeen]

3. After drafting a corner at #7, the chances that we'd draft another at #10 are zero. It's just insane cap allocation. No way. It's like drafting tackles at 3 and 7, which some people advocated last year. It just doesn't make sense. With Haden, Brown, and Wright, I look for the Browns to upgrade through free agency.

 

I wouldn't say zero....if Patric Peterson falls, we would take him, but he won't fall past maybe #5 overall.

 

 

I could see us going corner in round 3.

 

For the most part, i think we look for offensive players in the first 2 rounds.

 

 

My guess is a wide out..... one of Green or Jones will be around if we are picking say position 9....(they would make good trade down options IMO)

 

 

Round 2 I still feel a big need for a big fat ass RT. It could be pretty impressive if Hillis had a line that could move the pile on both sides of the line.....not to mention give the Colt a warm and fuzzy feeling when dropping back..

[MudratDetector]

drafting a corner is unlikely but not impossible because wright's contract is up @ the end of the season

[The Gipper]

I wouldn't say zero....if Patric Peterson falls, we would take him, but he won't fall past maybe #5 overall.

 

 

I could see us going corner in round 3.

 

For the most part, i think we look for offensive players in the first 2 rounds.

 

 

My guess is a wide out..... one of Green or Jones will be around if we are picking say position 9....(they would make good trade down options IMO)

 

 

Round 2 I still feel a big need for a big fat ass RT. It could be pretty impressive if Hillis had a line that could move the pile on both sides of the line.....not to mention give the Colt a warm and fuzzy feeling when dropping back..

 

 

I don't know if Solder or Carimi or Costanzo can play RT or if they feel they must be LTs. Most resources don't say whether a guy played RT or LT in college. With Carimi I note that we did well with one Wisconsin tackle already, perhaps we could strike gold again with another?

[shepwrite]

drafting a corner is unlikely but not impossible because wright's contract is up @ the end of the season

 

We could draft a corner... but not in round one. There's one corner position viable for the top 15 picks and that's your best corner, your lockdown guy. Your 2nd best corner damn well better not cost you a Top 15 pick. That's horrible cap allocation and will have to cost you elsewhere.

 

Left tackle, QB, pass rusher, lockdown corner, and a special #1 WR or RB are the positions you look to fill with a top 10-ish pick... unless you already have all those. But if you did, you probably wouldn't be drafting top 10.

 

You could make the case that the Browns only lack the big-time WR, although we certainly need more heat on the QB.

[Harry Buffalo]

Well every year I am wrong about who we should or will draft but I have someone that I would love to have as a late round selection.

 

Casey Matthews LB from Oregon.

 

We missed out on our chance for one Matthews but I wouldn't mind taking a late round flyer on him. I watched 2 Oregon games this year and he plays with the same high energy his brother plays and look at him!!

 

He is the 11th ranked ILB in the draft according to ESPN and isn't supposed to go before round 5.

 

They are all educated guesses that late in a draft and I would say try it. He plays that hi energy and has NFL pedigree throughout the whole family.

 

I honestly think that he will go before the 5th round, more likely in round 3/4, but I also think he would be a great pick up. He has killer instincts like his older brother and he is actually interchangeable and can play both inside and out. You give this kids a year or two and he will have the same strength as Clay and can be just as dominate.

[Alo]

1. The Browns have their OLB pass rusher in Marcus Benard. He's adding to his arsenal and has like 11 sacks in his last 16 games. And at that, he's only getting better. They need to commit to him and start him full-time next year. When you get a gift, you don't return it.

Benard's shown a lot of promise, but in many ways he's still a blitzer, not a pass rusher. A lot of his sacks have come on stunts or when the QB held onto the ball for too long. He's using his hands better, but he's still a guy who has to beat you with his first step.

 

I don't think he'll stop the team from drafting a 3-4 OLB. Another important factor is whether Roth gets a long-term deal.

 

5. I think Fairley, Clayborn, and Hayward are probably among the top 3-4 DE prospects.

There are some good names on that list. Fairley and Clayborn probably are better off in a 4-3, but both could be drafted by 3-4 squads.

 

Cal DE Cameron Jordan could be the first 3-4 DE taken. He's got plenty of experience playing in Cal's three man front and is a dynamic pass rusher, something you won't get from Cam Heyward. Miami DE Allen Bailey's a physical freak who could end up with a 3-4 team as well.

 

I don't know if Solder or Carimi or Costanzo can play RT or if they feel they must be LTs. Most resources don't say whether a guy played RT or LT in college. With Carimi I note that we did well with one Wisconsin tackle already, perhaps we could strike gold again with another?

Carimi will be a right tackle in the NFL. He struggles against speed rushers but is a beastly run blocker. He definitely fits the profile of what Mangini & co. like to do on offense.

 

Castonzo's a left tackle prospect. He's looked stronger this year, but he's never going to be a mauler. Solder's a largely unfinished product; he'll get drafted high based on upside, but I don't think he'll be a quality starter early on in his career. I'd stay away from him.

 

 

 

[silverbackattack]

Quinn is def an OLB in the 3-4, drafting OLBs for a 3-4 defense high is problematic I think. There are a lot of busts that come from trying to convert a 4-3 DE at the college level to OLBs in the NFL.. Think Gholsten, Wimbley, Derrick Morgan there are several others. On the other hand guys like Clay Matthews or Orakpo have torn it up, but I think it's risky drafting that position that high, esp when it's a relatively easy position to find no name players to adequately fill that role (Benard or Roth)..

 

One 3-4 DE who should be on that list we're talking about and is in fact probably the best player at the position (along with Fairley) is Alabama's Marcell Dareus, he is someone we will take a hard look at if he is not picked before us..

 

 

Pgh has been successfully drafting 3-4 OLB for decades, and they rarely use

a first round on them. Typically, Pgh uses LB in the 3rd or later. It looks like

they found some MORE gems at LB in later picks once again this year. Harrison

was a low pick. Woodley was a 2nd rounder. Porter was a 3rd. Lloyd was late.

Finding great LBs for the 3-4 is an art form, and usually do not need to be

first round picks. Wait until you get a load of Sylvester from this draft. He

is __another__ beast in the making for Steeler LBs.

[DawgTracker]

Ideally we can get a wide receiver prior to the draft so that we are free to draft bpa. There are just so few rookie wide outs that help a team their first season. I'm not sure that Heyward doesn't provide any pass rush, he does a pretty good job when going against one on one blocking. But, he wouldn't be my first choice.

 

I cannot imagine the browns not working out a deal with matt roth unless he wants all pro money.

 

I would like to take a later round chance on Sanzenbacker the receiver from OSU. He isn't a big guy but he is very quick, gets open and catches the ball.

[cambridgeho]

If we can get Patrick Peterson and have Haden and Ward back there with him, we would have a mean ass secondary. Peterson could also be our Return man, and see what we can get for Cribbs via trade. We can get a number 1 wr via freeagency or trade.

[The Gipper]

Pgh has been successfully drafting 3-4 OLB for decades, and they rarely use

a first round on them. Typically, Pgh uses LB in the 3rd or later. It looks like

they found some MORE gems at LB in later picks once again this year. Harrison

was a low pick. Woodley was a 2nd rounder. Porter was a 3rd. Lloyd was late.

Finding great LBs for the 3-4 is an art form, and usually do not need to be

first round picks. Wait until you get a load of Sylvester from this draft. He

is __another__ beast in the making for Steeler LBs.

 

 

It primarily helps that you have Dick LeBeau coaching them. I actually believe that Harrison was a free agent and not drafted at all, wasn't he?

[The Gipper]

Ideally we can get a wide receiver prior to the draft so that we are free to draft bpa. There are just so few rookie wide outs that help a team their first season. I'm not sure that Heyward doesn't provide any pass rush, he does a pretty good job when going against one on one blocking. But, he wouldn't be my first choice.

 

I cannot imagine the browns not working out a deal with matt roth unless he wants all pro money.

 

I would like to take a later round chance on Sanzenbacker the receiver from OSU. He isn't a big guy but he is very quick, gets open and catches the ball.

 

 

Sanzenbacher definitely looks like the Wes Welker type. He would seem to me to be a far more productive possession type receiver than Robiskie is turning out to be.

[Alo]

Here are a few clips of guys we discussed here:

 

 

 

[ballpeen]

You could make the case that the Browns only lack the big-time WR, although we certainly need more heat on the QB.

 

 

A weak case may....so I disagree.

 

 

 

No case can be made that the right side of our O-line is good.

 

 

A RT impacts both the running game and the passing game....and if the QB can't be allotted the time to throw, a WR is moot as far as his impact.

 

I am not saying we don't need a receiver, but don't say all is fine and dandy with the OL.

 

 

Nobody likes selecting a Joe Thomas until he is on the team.....a mean, fat ass RT is a need. He helps our backs, QB, and any receiver we select.

 

 

I don't like taking those guys with top picks any more than you. It isn't "sexy"....I understand that. I also understand that without a good offensive line the "sexy" guy can't perform to potential.

 

 

 

Winning teams have winning O-lines.

 

 

 

Unless you have that rare D that holds teams to minimal points, you better have a O-line that can score points, and nearly every point scored can be attributed to the O-line.

 

 

JMO