Browns may have to wade through week defensive back class

[NewEraDawg]

In draft-room parlance, in relation to cornerbacks, it’s a bad time to be in love.

 

Analyst Michael Lombardi, a Browns personnel man during the Schottenheimer and Belichick eras, sees two cornerbacks and no safeties going in Round 1 on April 25.

 

Lombardi sees Ohio State’s Malcolm Jenkins going 14th to the Saints, with another Big Ten guy, Illinois’ Vontae Davis, going 30th to the Titans.

 

Those two and a few others have drawn a smattering of admiration, but the consensus has this as one of the weaker crops this decade for elite defensive backs.

 

In a draft with little separation among the top players at most positions, Jenkins is widely viewed as the No. 1 defensive back.

 

The beauty of that, for him, is being seen as the best prospect available at both cornerback and safety. That is attractive to the Browns, who have a hole at strong safety with the departure of Sean Jones, and might want an upgrade over Brandon McDonald at one of the starting cornerback spots.

 

Jenkins’ downside: He is entering a league full of sub-4.4 cornerbacks, and his 40-yard dash times in pre-draft runs were above 4.5. That is why he might be switched to safety. Even in the age of Troy Polamalu and Ed Reed, safeties aren’t held in as high regard as cornerbacks.

 

Jenkins would have to prove he can handle a heavier dose of tackling than he took on at Ohio State, where opponents frequently avoided him.

 

His heaviest day of hitting was against Southern Cal, when he made 10 stops. It was an ugly loss, but Buckeye coaches thought he was a bright spot.

 

Davis, faster than Jenkins, is seen by many as the second-best cornerback in the draft. NFLDraftScout analyst Rob Rang has Davis falling to the Browns in his Round 2 mock draft.

 

Louis Delmas of Western Michigan is a safety Browns fans should keep an eye on. Sporting News analysts love him, projecting him as a No. 25 overall pick by the Falcons. The consensus pegs him as a Round 2 pick.

 

The Sporting News bottom line on Delmas: “A physical playmaker, around the ball all the time. Shows great toughness and is versatile enough to play as a deep safety or closer to the line, almost like a linebacker over the tight end. His closing speed allowed him to get away with iffy angles on plays in college. Still, he is a leader ... certainly has taken the spot as the No. 1 safety.”

 

Sounds good. But Browns fans have learned that one never knows how a draft pick will look after a year of wearing an orange helmet.

 

 

Mel smells a shortage

 

Analyst Mel Kiper sees a bad year for elite defensive backs, listing only Malcolm Jenkins (No. 24) in his top 25 overall list of draft prospects. In the past three years:

 

• In 2008, six defensive backs were picked in Round 1, three in the top 20.

 

• In 2007, seven DBs went in the top 24, with Eric Mangini’s Jets pouncing on Pitt’s Darrelle Revis at No. 7.

 

• In 2006, six DBs were snapped up in the top 24.

 

 

Safety sleeper

 

The Browns have three picks in the top 50 and are likely to wind up with more. A safety candidate who might be available in the 50 range or a bit later:

 

• Derek Pegues, Mississippi State Undersized at a shade under 5-foot-10, but some scouts see a lot of Bob Sanders in him.

 

The Sporting News’ War Room says: “The type of safety every NFL defensive coach wants, given his superb instincts and playmaking. ... Most teams are likely to grade him as a second-round pick because he lacks ideal height and did not run as well as expected in pre-draft workouts. ... It should not take long for him to overcome his few deficiencies and develop into an impact player.”

 

 

Cornering the market

 

One view of the top-six cornerbacks available in the draft, with their overall ranking according to NFLDraftScout.com:

 

• No. 9, Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State ... Won Jim Thorpe Award as nation’s top defensive back.

 

Biggest fan: Sixth-best player in draft, says Pro Football Weekly.

 

• No. 21, Vontae Davis, Illinois ... His brother, TE Vernon Davis, was a No. 6 overall pick (49ers) in 2006.

 

Biggest fan: Charles Davis (NFL.com, no relation) has him going 15th overall to the Texans.

 

• No. 25, Darius Butler, Connecticut ... Shows the versatility Eric Mangini likes and was a two-year captain.

 

Biggest fan: No. 2 corner in draft, No. 15 player overall, says Pro Football Weekly.

 

• No. 32, Alphonso Smith, Wake Forest ... Fearless, instinctive and productive, but only 5-foot-9.

 

Biggest fan: 30th-best player in draft, according to scout.com.

 

• No. 35, Sean Smith, Utah ... At 6-foot-4, can handle tall wideouts but might struggle with quick cutters.

 

Biggest fan: National Football Post has him 11th overall, four spots ahead of Jenkins.

 

• No. 46, D.J. Moore, Vanderbilt ... Looks like a first-rounder on tape, had a fourth-round Combine time.

 

Biggest fan: Rob Rang of NFLDraftScout.com sees the Ravens picking him in Round 2.ȏ

 

 

[TheClevelandSound]

You spelled WEAK wrong.

 

But good information.

[NewEraDawg]

You spelled WEAK wrong.

 

But good information.

 

I'm just the messenger .........but thanks

[YtownBrownsBacker]

But again and not to beat a dead horse, but the above is what counts for journalism these days.

 

This Steve guy basically just rewrote the opinions of Mike Lombardi, Mel Kiper and NFLDraftScouts.com....

 

Lombardi is strating to be a joke with all his rumors and speculation and it looks like Rang hasn't a clue about the Browns or their needs. They are trying to create news instead of reporting it. McDonald is here to stay, Rob Ryan said about McDonald, he rated out as the top corner over Wright. Cleveland signed two CBs in FA for depth. They resigned Adams so they may go after a Saftey and they seem to like both Delmas and Moore because they fit their system as SSs that can play FS.

 

As far as Vonte Davis, there is no way Mangini would even come close to this guy. He's a bigger friggin ass then his brother. Some teams have taken him completely off their boards. Not the character guy Mangini is looking to bring in.