Darry Beckwith was supposed to be a third-round pick. The highly rated inside linebacker out of LSU was known as an explosive hitter with the smarts to excel at the next level, but his draft status remained in flux due to a balky knee that sidelined him for parts of the last three seasons.

Beckwith figured that might cause a minor slide, but nothing like the free fall that occurred during last weekend's NFL draft.

"Teams just kept passing on me because of a medical thing," Beckwith said. "Each round, they kept passing and passing. When they passed the fourth round and I was still on the board, I started to get worried."

Jeremiah Johnson should have been drafted, but concerns about his long speed dropped him down draft boards. Some had him timed as slow as 4.71 in the 40 yard dash at the Combine, and he was only able to run a 4.56 at his pro day. Teammate Jason Williams, who ran a 4.72 at the Combine, was able to run a 4.47 at Oregon's pro day, so I'm guessing that 4.56 came on a very fast track.

@solon16 said:

I was surprised with beckwith as well.

Also Marshall's C.J. Spillman. After his combine numbers I thought he had to be a day 2 pick. I was hoping the day of the draft he'd get a call from the Browns but the Chargers signed him as a FA.

I do agree with him that Ravens and Bengals did very well.

Aloysius said:

Both are high energy, self-motivated types. Would have loved it if the Browns signed both of them, but I'm happy that we at least got one.

That's exactly what this team needs self-motivators. That is infectus and other guys will catch on. It's good to have these lower level guys come in and push the veterans. You gotta love the energy these type of guys bring.

I agree.

@berniethekid said:

And one of the best things I've read about Hunt is that whenever he wasn't going through drills at the East-West Shrine Game practices, he was busy working on the new hand technique the coaches there had shown him. I heard something similar about Joseph: when all the other guys were goofing around before practices at Texas vs. the Nation, Joseph was pumping himself up like he was getting ready for a bowl game.

Both are high energy, self-motivated types. Would have loved it if the Browns signed both of them, but I'm happy that we at least got one.

He's from my area and it would be excellent to see him in a Browns uniform on Sundays.

Aloysius said:

Unless a guy's got Dwight Freeney athleticism (4.48 40), teams are going to be a bit down on any pass rusher measuring under 6'2". Look at how LaMarr Woodley slipped to the 2nd round and Everette Brown, a guy some here were hoping we'd take at #5, ended up falling to #43.

I'm not saying that Hunt's going to be as good as those guys, but I think it's smart to pick up these underrated short guys as late round picks or UDFA's. Last year, Jameel McClain was a guy I wanted; he signed with the Ravens, made the team, and became a core special teams player. He worked his way into some spot duty on defense late in the year and ended up notching 2.5 sacks.

Hunt could be a very similar type of contributor for us. Though he lacks McClain's versatility (McClain played DE, ILB, and OLB in college), Hunt could work his way onto the roster by proving himself on special teams, thereby buying himself a year to develop his linebacker skills.

If we'd taken him in the 6th round, I would have been happy with the pick. Fortunately, we got him as an undrafted free agent. Not sure why he fell, though I suspect the hit Heck & I discussed here could be part of the reason why.

I agree with you Alo if we would have picked him in the sixth I would have been happy. There were about 6-8 late round guys I liked and I was hoping to get Frantz Joesph included as well as Hunt. I like in the video where it shows he has more than one move he has 2-3. Which in this league you need more than one. Now will that translate to the pro's I don't know. What I do know is you can't teach production you can teach technique. This guy had a lot of production in two years.

@gips said:

Its a great way to give some undrafted guys a chance to show what they have to offer as well..

Your right on, we finally have a coach that knows what he is doing. This is how you get the most out of your players.

@oldcrow1945 said:

I'd bet that one of the reasons the FO didn't go after a corner this year with an early pick is next year's draft is loaded with day 1 Corners. They can get a good one in round two or early on day 2.

this year's draft was not deep for corners or safeties.

Our lack of depth in the secondary was a big weakness last year.

@plumcrazy73 said:

Because there were none we wanted???

Unless a guy's got Dwight Freeney athleticism (4.48 40), teams are going to be a bit down on any pass rusher measuring under 6'2". Look at how LaMarr Woodley slipped to the 2nd round and Everette Brown, a guy some here were hoping we'd take at #5, ended up falling to #43.

I'm not saying that Hunt's going to be as good as those guys, but I think it's smart to pick up these underrated short guys as late round picks or UDFA's. Last year, Jameel McClain was a guy I wanted; he signed with the Ravens, made the team, and became a core special teams player. He worked his way into some spot duty on defense late in the year and ended up notching 2.5 sacks.

Hunt could be a very similar type of contributor for us. Though he lacks McClain's versatility (McClain played DE, ILB, and OLB in college), Hunt could work his way onto the roster by proving himself on special teams, thereby buying himself a year to develop his linebacker skills.

If we'd taken him in the 6th round, I would have been happy with the pick. Fortunately, we got him as an undrafted free agent. Not sure why he fell, though I suspect the hit Heck & I discussed here could be part of the reason why.

Hunt seems legit but it seems hard to believe no one else would take a flier on him.

What would be the counter-argument to the DraftGuys comparing him to Elvis Dumervil?

@standish said:

Benard notched 15 sacks and 22.5 TFL's last year playing defensive end, and it looks like the Browns think he's athletic enough to play outside linebacker. He ran a 4.72 40 at his pro day, which is impressive for a guy his size (6'4", 270 lbs.). He also put up 20 reps of 225, posted a 31" vertical and a 9'08" broad jump.

Could be an interesting guy to watch.

@berniethekid said:

Ditto. I was actually looking around yesterday trying to find out where he signed. It's great that we got him.

Perhaps anticipating a move to linebacker in the pro's, Hunt showed up to his pro day at a svelte 244 lbs. He then proceeded to put up some great workout numbers: 4.75 40, 4.22 shuttle, 6.91 3-cone, 41.5" vertical. His 14 bench wasn't at all impressive, but it's something a year in an NFL weight room should fix.

The Soldier said:

Evidently, these are the BEST un-drafted free agents ever signed.

All the un-drafted free agent experts are saying the Browns have signed the best un-drafted free agents out of every team.

The Patriots got a VERY low grade in their un-drafted free agent pick up grades. As did the Ravens. I guess we really ticked off the Ravens because we got the best un-drafted free agents out there.

Mangini has out smarted Parcells in his un-drafted free agent signings ability.

Lighten up Francis, this is the slow time of year for everything football. At this point any story is a good story

All the un-drafted free agent experts are saying the Browns have signed the best un-drafted free agents out of every team.

wo...now thats the funniest thing I've ever heard...koolaid runs in you veins...ha ha haw

@brownshirt said:

Thank you very much

@cambridgeho said:

Way to go, best of everything to you & family, DADDYOH!