The Official Cleveland Browns Nfl Draft Thread

SJ_Browns

i'll have to look up gates and get more info on him. thanks for posting this.

SJ_Browns

http://www.cantonrep.com/browns/x796070673/Browns-might-look-to-Round-2-for-wide-receiver

Who was the last wide receiver Browns fans loved in a relationship that lasted?

The one who comes to mind was drafted in Round 2 in 1986. He was entertaining and effective on all three Browns teams that reached AFC title games in a four-year stretch.

Two decades have passed without an answer to the question of who will be the next Webster Slaughter. Another draft, another try?

Probably. And that try could come in Slaughter’s old draft neighborhood — he was a No. 43 overall pick out of San Diego State.

WHAT THE BROWNS HAVE NOW

While the Browns’ current wideouts scare no one, Head Coach Pat Shurmur calls them “NFL receivers.” He seems to think Mohamed Massaquoi, Brian Robiskie and Joshua Cribbs can be molded into useful parts of a West Coast offense.

Cleveland lacks defensive linemen, and the draft is supposed to be full of them, including ones worthy of the No. 6 overall pick. The Browns probably can’t afford to spend that pick on premium wideouts A.J. Green and Julio Jones, given their D-line dilemma.

A second-round pick on a wideout makes more sense. The decision is in the hands of General Manager Tom Heckert, who was GM in Philadelphia when the Eagles made one of the great Round 2 steals, taking DeSean Jackson at No. 49 overall in 2008.

One gives up something by passing on the receivers who get drafted in Round 1, and in Jackson’s case it was his size, 5-foot-10, 175 pounds.

Heckert’s boss, Mike Holmgren, never had a problem mixing in a short guy as a key part of a West Coast attack. Holmgren took the Seahawks to the 2005 Super Bowl with 5-9 Deion Branch and 5-10 Bobby Engram as his most productive wideouts. Six-foot-5 Joe Jurevicius was the designated tall receiver.

The Browns have plenty of size with the 6-3 Robiskie, the 6-2 Massaquoi and the 6-1 Cribbs. A dynamic short guy would fit — Jerrel Jernigan might be the exact fit.

Jernigan is seen as a Round 1 talent, but he could fall to the Browns because of his height, 5-9, and the fact he played at Troy. The Sporting News draft guide compares its top draft prospects to current NFL players. Green is Randy Moss. Jones is Anquan Boldin. Third-ranked wideout prospect Leonard Hankerson is Steve Smith.

IS HE ANOTHER DESEAN JACKSON?

Jernigan? Sporting News sees him as none other than DeSean Jackson, saying:

“He should make an impact as a rookie and start by his second season. Plucks the ball away from his body with ease. Bursts off the ball and accelerates to full speed quickly. Changes direction in a heartbeat. Makes tacklers miss.”

Shurmur is big on run after catch. It sounds like Jernigan was made for his offense.

NFL Draft Scout ranks Jernigan as its 50th-best prospect. Heckert, the man who picked Jackson at No. 49, has a mind of his own. The 2010 analysts had safety T.J. Ward nowhere close to No. 38 overall, where Heckert picked him. His Round 2 pick at this point, sans trades — he is always making trades — is at No. 37.

Jernigan is quick and fast.

“Do we need more speed at wide receiver?” Holmgren said. “You’d like a blazer to come in here.”

nickers

@calfoxwc said:

Will anybody get the first round correctly ... for even ten picks?

This draft is going to be exciting stuff.

Just when a lot of folks decide the Bengals may very well draft Green.....

********************

Report: Bengals prefer Julio Jones over Green SI's Peter King reports that the Bengals have Julio Jones rated higher than A.J. Green on their draft board.

This is fairly significant because many mock drafts have A.J. Green going to Cincinnati at No. 4 overall. "Several personnel sources" tell King that Jones is the safer receiver prospect "in terms of work ethic and practice habits." The theory, ostensibly, is that Jones had to work harder in college because Green is a more natural athlete. The Bengals are also reimplementing a run-first offense, and Jones is regarded as a better blocker. Source: SI.com Mar 22, 12:11 PM

I find this hilariose the "run first attack" since they hired Jay Gruden (yes Jons brother) to run the offense.

SJ_Browns

http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/news.asp?sport=nfl&line=202298

Da'Quan Bowers - DL - Player

One scout told SI's Peter King that Clemson DE Da'Quan Bowers (knee) has "failed at least two physicals that I know of."

Bowers will have a chance to put all these injury rumors to rest on Friday. As long as he looks healthy at his April 1 Pro day and checks out fine during individual visits, his stock should hold. Before red flags about Bowers' knee scope emerged, he was considered a lock to go in the top five.

Mar. 28 - 9:05 a.m. ET

Source: SI.com

Nw220

Im really not sold on Bowers and from everything ive read it seems Heckert is really into this guy and may be are pick at #6 overall, i really hope his knee checks out fine and everything but id much rather have other options then Bowers...Id pretty much go Green,then Peterson,then Miller, and then Ethier Dareus or Fairley before i would take Bowers....It just worries me that were showing so much interest in him

secondwave

@nw220 said:

Im really not sold on Bowers and from everything ive read it seems Heckert is really into this guy and may be are pick at #6 overall, i really hope his knee checks out fine and everything but id much rather have other options then Bowers...Id pretty much go Green,then Peterson,then Miller, and then Ethier Dareus or Fairley before i would take Bowers....It just worries me that were showing so much interest in him

yeah, i'm not liking Bowers. He seems like a one-year wonder with knee problems (one or the other, and worse, maybe both). I like to draft a guy in the top 10 thats been great more than one year to see some consistency from him. The only DE that really jumps out of the page as a guy who 'could' (big if) be a superstar is Robert Quinn, but as I stated, I wouldnt draft a high-risk, high-reward guy that high.

SJ_Browns

http://www.ohio.com/sports/browns/118959454.html

BEREA: Browns General Manager Tom Heckert obviously can't ignore his team's needs while preparing for the NFL Draft, but he doesn't want them to cloud his judgment, either.

Heckert is from the draft-the-best-player-available school of thought. And even though the Browns need to bolster several areas, including their defensive line and wide receiving corps, Heckert vows to stand by the draft philosophy that brought him success in his previous job as the general manager of the Philadelphia Eagles.

''This year will be interesting,'' Heckert said earlier this week during an interview in his office at the team's headquarters. ''We have to be really careful that we don't panic and [draft strictly based on needs]. . . . We've got some holes to fill. There's no question. I don't think anybody's gonna deny that. But I don't think we can say just because we need some defensive linemen, 'All right, we're gonna take defensive linemen with our first three picks.' I think you're crazy.''

The Browns have eight draft picks one in each of the first five rounds, two in the sixth and a recently awarded compensatory choice in the seventh. Their conversion to a 4-3 scheme calls for more defensive linemen, and the draft is loaded with elite prospects, including Da'Quan Bowers of Clemson, Marcell Dareus of Alabama and Nick Fairley of Auburn. Their transition to the West Coast offense could be aided by a play-making wide receiver such as A.J. Green of Georgia or Julio Jones of Alabama.

Top talent at either position could be up for grabs when the Browns are put on the clock April 28 with the sixth overall pick. Still, Heckert is keeping an open mind.

After all, the player he considers the best available might not be a defensive lineman or a wide receiver. It could be someone like LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson or Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller.

The possibilities, of course, extend beyond the aforementioned players and positions. Earlier this month, Browns President Mike Holmgren said ''don't discount anything'' when he was asked about the team's chances of choosing a quarterback the top prospects are Cam Newton of Auburn and Blaine Gabbert of Missouri in the first round.

''If you go with the best available guy, you'll eventually [get what you need],'' Heckert said. ''We'll get defensive linemen. We'll find those guys. Don't worry about that. Whether you get them in the draft, free agency, waiver wire, trades, you'll find ways to do that. You just can't automatically say just because we need these offensive linemen, corners, safeties, whatever it is you can't just say, 'We have to get these guys,' 'cause then you're just [going to create] a disaster. You're probably gonna move guys up [your draft board] that you shouldn't.

''Everybody was clamoring in Philadelphia every year, and you think it's bad here about [fans wanting] receivers. We had Todd Pinkston and James Thrash, good football players. But everybody wanted the great player all the time, and we went to five NFC championships. Maybe from the outsiders looking in, they don't perceive that, but I think we have pretty good receivers.''

Some of the public comments the Browns' brass make before the draft might be viewed as smoke screens because NFL teams often try to disguise their true intentions before the players are picked. Heckert's draft philosophy, though, is not a decoy.

When Heckert was the Eagles' director of player personnel in 2002, he and coach Andy Reid collaborated on a draft that has been praised ever since. With their first three picks, they selected defensive backs Lito Sheppard, Michael Lewis and Sheldon Brown, even though they already had solid veterans in their secondary. Sheppard and Lewis became Pro Bowl players, and Brown became a longtime starter for the Eagles before joining the Browns last year.

''The thing that really kind of made a case for my philosophy is we had one Pro Bowl guy and one pretty good guy, Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor, as our starting corners, and we still took two corners,'' Heckert said. ''I think that just goes to prove if you do that, you're gonna be good. If you get good players you can't have enough at quarterback, corners, offensive linemen and defensive linemen I think you can't go wrong.''

Now if the Browns can just use their picks to nab the best available players and fill major needs at the same time, they might find a perfect balance. Heckert said there's a chance he could select six players who will contribute next season, and he'll be using his draft philosophy as his guide.

SJ_Browns

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2011/04/cleveland_browns_to_host_big-n.html

CLEVELAND -- It's a big week for the Browns as they'll host some of the biggest names in the draft, including receivers A.J. Green and Julio Jones, cornerbacks Patrick Peterson and Prince Amukamara and defensive linemen Da'Quan Bowers.

Other top prospects expected to visit include quarterback Cam Newton and defensive tackles Marcell Dareus and Nick Fairley.

The marquee names are among the 30 players the Browns are permitted to bring in for visits. During their trip, they're allowed to be interviewed and examined, but not worked out.

Texas A&M outside linebacker Von Miller, the premier rush 'backer in the draft, is expected here on Monday and Tuesday. Miller, who had a sensational showing at the NFL Combine in February, had 50.5 sacks in his four college seasons. Although he's viewed primarily as an outside linebacker in a 3-4, he's still very much on the Browns' radar for their 4-3 scheme.

Georgia's Green is the player most draft experts predict the Browns will pick at No. 6, but Alabama's Jones is closing the gap between the two top-ranked wideouts, according to ESPN's Mel Kiper.

Bowers, who will visit the Browns on Tuesday and Wednesday, underwent another MRI in Indianapolis on Saturday to determined how his repaired torn meniscus is healing. Results have not been available, but the Browns will have a chance to exam the knee themselves this week.

Browns general manager Tom Heckert has made it clear that he wouldn't hesitate to draft another cornerback at No. 6 despite the fact he picked Joe Haden at No. 7 last year. LSU's Peterson is thought by some to be the best player in this draft and could be gone by No. 6. But Nebraska's Amukamara, who had five interceptions in 2009, is expected to be there.

The draft is April 28-30.

SJ_Browns

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2011/04/knee_checked_out_well_for_clem.html

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Clemson's defensive end Da'Quan Bowers, who will visit the Browns on Tuesday and Wednesday, received a good report on his surgically-repaired right knee in Indianapolis over the weekend, a league source said.

Bowers, widely regarded as the premier pass-rushing end in the draft, didn't even have to undergo another X-ray or MRI because the physical exam went so well, the source said. Stability was good and there was no swelling in the knee.

Bowers underwent surgery in January to repair a small tear in the right meniscus. He didn't work out at the combine in February and then postponed his Pro Day several weeks until April 1. A relatively slow 40 time -- 4.9 -- and some rustiness during drills led to rumors that Bowers might need another procedure, possibly even microfracture surgery.

But one team examining him lately said the knee looked great, and the re-check in Indy could boost his draft stock again. Bowers is one of the players the Browns are considering with their No. 6 overall pick, and they're permitted to examine the knee themselves when he's in town.

Before concerns over the knee, Bowers, who led the nation with 15.5 sacks last season, was thought by some to be the best defensive player in the draft.

Harry Buffalo

@sj_browns said:

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2011/04/knee_checked_out_well_for_clem.html

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Clemson's defensive end Da'Quan Bowers, who will visit the Browns on Tuesday and Wednesday, received a good report on his surgically-repaired right knee in Indianapolis over the weekend, a league source said.

Bowers, widely regarded as the premier pass-rushing end in the draft, didn't even have to undergo another X-ray or MRI because the physical exam went so well, the source said. Stability was good and there was no swelling in the knee.

Bowers underwent surgery in January to repair a small tear in the right meniscus. He didn't work out at the combine in February and then postponed his Pro Day several weeks until April 1. A relatively slow 40 time -- 4.9 -- and some rustiness during drills led to rumors that Bowers might need another procedure, possibly even microfracture surgery.

But one team examining him lately said the knee looked great, and the re-check in Indy could boost his draft stock again. Bowers is one of the players the Browns are considering with their No. 6 overall pick, and they're permitted to examine the knee themselves when he's in town.

Before concerns over the knee, Bowers, who led the nation with 15.5 sacks last season, was thought by some to be the best defensive player in the draft.

I bet we still see a "credible source" reports next week that he doped up for his exams so they wouldn't xray him and find his knee needs surgery.

wvdawg

If his knee really is 100% i wudnt mind taking him

Nw220

I perfer Quinn over Bowers not just because of the Knee just because in the type of 4-3 defense we are looking for Quinn is more of Pass Rushing 4-3 he is Considered the second best in this Class Behind Miller....Hes also only 20 years old which is incredible that only means his best days are still ahead of him

Nw220

And if you are looking at someone to play the other End poistion the same that Bowers would play and has concerns as does Bowers, alot of recent Mock drafts ive seen have us taking Adrian Clayborn there in the 2nd who very well could be a steal in the draft

Harry Buffalo

I feel like both Quinn and Bowers are going to be boom or bust guys. Everytime I watch film on Quinn I see him do the same thing, which is trying to run around the edge as fast as he can and dip his inside shoulder. On the plays that he doesn't get around he either get's completely blown off the line (in the less talent filled ACC) or he completely over shoots the QB and takes himself out of the play. When you job 90% of the time was the rush around the edge and get at the QB instead of QB contain or inside cap then you are bound to have inflated numbers when it comes to TFL and sacks. When he is in the NFL he isn't going to be rushing around the edge the whole time, he will be asked to do these other things and all the tackles are going to be faster and stronger than what he is used to.

He is a physical specimen, but at the same time that doesn't necessarily mean squat.

CLEVELandMILIDH

This kid is sick, its against inferior competition but you can see his instincts on tape. What you think?

The Gipper

@clevelandmilidh said:

This kid is sick, its against inferior competition but you can see his instincts on tape. What you think?

Fair enough for a low round pick.

I still like RB Taiwan Jones in later rounds.

Nw220

Yeah and i still like Dion Lewis with one of 6th round picks, hes gonna be a steal in this draft..

SJ_Browns

did anyone see gruden qb camp on espn yeatserday? he told ryan mallet to stop trying to truck people over like peyton hillis lol. so does that mean gruden voted for hillis?????