Written by Dave Kolonich

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I’ve been down this road before – actually, quite a few times – trying to figure out just who the best prospect is for the Browns as they currently hold the seventh overall pick in next month’s draft.  Although I’m usually never this indecisive, I figure that because our franchise has so many different holes to plug heading into 2010, it doesn’t hurt to examine all the different possibilities that may exist in a little less than two months.

And change my mind about a thousand times in the process.

How’s that for a justification?  Also, considering we have another eight weeks to reflect on this most critical draft, I’m probably only halfway through my draft scenarios.

So today, let’s take a look at a player who almost makes too much sense for the Browns at Number Seven.

Almost…

The Case for Eric Berry

On the surface, there isn’t much to dislike about Berry.  Playing in easily the nation’s best college conference, which at times is a great NFL simulator, Berry was dominant.

Blending some amazing physical skills with a truly inate sense of defensive awareness, Berry has been compared to the likes of Ed Reed, who has typified the more contemporary NFL safety.  Reed’s skill set is highlighted by his amazing range in coverage and natural toughness in taking on blockers and ballcarriers.  Berry is eerily reminiscent of Reed and could prove to be even more versatile in the NFL.

Which could be a problem.

Because Berry’s cover skills are so impressive – especially for a safety – and considering his smaller physical frame, it’s not unfathomable to think that the Tennessee star could settle into a cornerback role in the NFL.  Obviously, for the Browns, this wouldn’t present much of an issue, at least based on their current shredded depth at the position.

However, considering the wealth of college experience and dynamic talent that Berry can boast, it would almost seem that a cornerback role could limit his overall effectiveness.  Also, just the basic question of what Berry actually is can be viewed as a little troubling.

Is he a corner or a dynamic safety in the NFL?

More importantly, if you’re the Browns sitting at Number Seven and Berry is available, do you take him and assume the best?  Or, based on specific needs, is he a bit of a gamble?

In Cleveland, the answer to the question may produce a more satisfying answer than elsewhere around the league.

In the Browns’ case, they desperately need upgrades at both corner and safety; so such an assumption would probably be a safe bet.  Also, considering that both Eric Mangini and Rob Ryan covet versatility in their defenders, it’s not a stretch to envision Berry playing a variety of roles during his Browns’ career.

However, this is ultimately the question in Berea.  Which is the greater need heading into 2010?  Corner or safety?

On one hand, adding a top-flight corner would do wonders for Eric Wright, who has struggled to fill this role over the past few seasons.  Wright is no doubt a talent, but probably not a Number One type of option.  However, plugging in a better quality corner across from him could allow Wright to finally realize his natural ball-hawking skills…which I know are tucked away somewhere.

Seems like a natural fit, until you realize that Florida’s Joe Haden could potentially bring similar results…

…And have you taken a look at the Browns’ safety positions?

It’s realistic that only Abe Elam will return as a starter in 2010.  While Elam gave a much-needed boost to the team’s run defense in 2009, his coverage skills are a liability.  However, if you pair someone like Berry with Elam, the Browns could feature a fairly diverse and dramatically improved defensive backfield.  After all, if you’ve followed the career of Ed Reed, you know that he has basically served Baltimore as a kind of deep safety net.

In the Browns’ case, being able to play Elam closer to the line would take advantage of his blitzing skills, while still retaining a sense of security deeper with Berry.

But then again, if the Browns invest in Berry, obviously they would want to see more than just a center-fielder type.

In terms of defensive identity, the Browns could finally land the type of secondary presence that would force opponents to re-think their offensive gameplans.  Consider the stretch of games in 2009 where the Steelers, Packers and later even the Lions shredded the Browns’ deep secondary.  With a roaming playmaker installed deep, these games would have taken on a much different tone.

In fact, if you point to history, ask yourself – when was the last time the Browns had a game-altering force in the secondary?

Brodney Pool seemed to enter each season as a work in progress, while Sean Jones flashed some skill, but was caught in a type of “tweener” safety mode, which sort of minimized his overall impact.  Obviously, the days of Earl Little aren’t worth mentioning, so we have to go back to the last couple years of Eric Turner’s Browns tenure to find our last playmaking safety.  Of course, a player like Turner only arrives so often, and really, he would be a linebacker in today’s league.

Berry’s unique blend of skills and uber-awareness could prove to be the answer, or at least would be the starting point in fixing the defensive backfield.  It’s more than possible that a player like Berry, whose talent, character and experience may not be seen again in some time.  Throw in the league-wide emphasis on the pass, and a Berry selection would appear to be a no-brainer.

Or, consider this…if the Browns take Haden, or go a completely different route, we could see a 2010 scenario of Abe Elam paired with a free agent gap filler, such as Mangini’s former Jet, Kerry Rhodes, or dare I say it…former Seahawk Brian Russell could be coming back to the lakefront.

In the name of Hank Poteat, I’m going to pretend I didn’t just write that.

Anyway, back to Berry.  Certainly, he would solve a major problem in Cleveland, but perhaps the biggest question is this:

What are the chances he’s still around at Number Seven?

If the last few days of the NFL Combine taught us anything – other than the fact that the whole week of Indy’s Under Armour homoerotic cattle calling  is the football world’s most meaningless and overhyped event, it is that personnel executives are easily impressed…like the teenage girls they all are.

Consider the wealth of reports that now suggest a newly-bulked up Sam Bradford will go to the Rams at Number One, while his equally underwhelming peer, Jimmy Clausen, could fall to the Redskins or Seahawks a few picks later.  Oh, and don’t forget that suddenly Tim Tebow is viable again, solely based on his jumping ability.

While all of this inane speculation is the status quo for this time of the year, it is worth mentioning that some other team’s loss – i.e., the ones that actually gamble on these QB’s, could be the Browns gain.

Besides the fact that both QB’s will be gone by the time the Browns pick in the first round – and one can only hope – the fallout could eventually bring Berry directly to Cleveland.

Of course, things could change, and no one can predict what kind of trading will be involved during the first hour or so of the draft.  You never know – Mangini could hijack all of the team’s picks yet again.

I’m kidding.

However, if the Rams and Lions take either one of the defensive or offensive tackle prospects, or QB in the Rams’ case, then the Bucs find the leftovers, followed by the Redskins and Seahawks going either QB or say a pass rusher, the Browns’ options could be dictated by what the Chiefs do at Number Five.

It is very possible that Scott Pioli tries to recreate his Jerrod Mayo pick – or rather, Bill Belichick’s pick – and grabs Alabama’s Rolando McClain.  If such a thing occurs, then the Browns could be looking at a choice between Haden or Berry.

Wouldn’t this be a nice little dilemma to have?

And then we can figure out what Berry actually is.