Written by Dave Kolonich

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It’s official – we’re now knee deep into the silliest waters of the NFL offseason – or perhaps more correctly, we’ve finally reached that point where some people have run out of stories to tell.

But not to make up, mind you.

Case in point…

Kiper on Dez Bryant

ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper says the Browns should take Oklahoma State receiver Dez Bryant with the seventh overall pick in the April 22-24 draft.

“For obvious reasons,” Kiper said on a teleconference call on Wednesday. “They need a receiver to help out the quarterback, whoever’s playing.”

Kiper is the second national draft analyst to pick Bryant in the Browns’ first-round slot. About a month ago, Mike Mayock of NFL Network said Bryant is one of his top-five rated players and would be a great pick for the Browns at No. 7.

Is it so “obvious” that Dez Bryant would help out whoever the Browns’ QB is in 2010 and beyond?  Speaking of which, how long would it take for Bryant to develop into a consistent player – one worthy of the seventh overall pick?  After all, aren’t we still figuratively waiting on Braylon Edwards?  Or even Quincy Morgan?

But I digress….especially when you think back to all the first-round WR busts of the past decade, coupled with Kiper’s own human instinct for folly.

Or, in other words – a Kiper endorsement of Bryant only reminds me of the year USC’s Mike Williams was the top-ranked player in the draft.  And that one worked out well.

So did Charles Rogers.

And Mark Bradley.

And Alex Smith.

Exactly.

As for more expert analysis…

Kiper also gave his projections for the Browns’ next three picks:

He gives them Texas quarterback Colt McCoy with their second pick, No. 38 overall…

…He gives them Miami tight end Jimmy Graham with their first third-round pick, No. 71 overall. He gives them LSU safety Chad Jones at No. 85 ovarll.

So if Mel Kiper had his way, the Browns would take a character risk at #7, a QB barely big enough to play Big 12 football in the second, then a tight end and safety.

Of course, I guess it could be worse…

Tim Tebow’s Stock Rising

Every day, more teams reportedly show interest in Tebow, possibly as a first-round selection. The Cleveland Browns, who have the seventh overall pick in the April 22-24 draft, reportedly are meeting with Tebow.