Written by Dave Kolonich

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Why is that I have such a sinking feeling of dread - despite knowing that my eternally rebuilding team is about to enter the upcoming draft holding ten selections? 

Are the ghosts of draft past again rattling their chains?  Did Dwight Clark invite Butch Davis and Phil Savage over for a most ghoulish sleepover?  Is William Green once again draft eligible?  Does Jeremiah Pharms have some draft-worthy offspring?

Perhaps it’s the sinister idea that new Browns president Mike Holmgren views these ten selections as mere ammunition to trade up, rather than a collection of picks that could be used to bolster a roster with serious depth concerns.

Call me paranoid.  But then again…there are stories like these floating around…

Lombardi on Clausen

My sources tell me that Browns president Mike Holmgren talked to Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen and told him that he has not ruled him out as the seventh overall pick, despite what he’s told the media. It was Holmgren who said he “wished he liked Jimmy Clausen more,” but after Clausen’s workout Friday, he does.

Before I check to calendar to make sure it’s not still 2007, let’s realize that there are a few ways to view these comments.

1.  Perhaps Jimmy Clausen has just hired Lombardi’s favorite super-agent, Bob LaMonte.  As per Lombardi’s mission statement as an “NFL Insider”, he is required to pimp any and all potential LaMonte clients.  Hence, suddenly Clausen is Berea-bound….and not a late first-round pick.

2.  As typical of this time of year, Holmgren is engaging in pre-draft posturing – using Lombardi as a necessary journalistic tool.

3. Worlds are colliding and a meteor is headed straight towards Cleveland.  The meteor shall be christened “overrated college system quarterback.”

4. It truly is 2007.  I wonder what we could get for Braylon Edwards in a trade.

This brings me to exactly the 998th post regarding Clausen.  Because it’s become kind of passe to bash Clausen, let me instead clarify some misconceptions I may have previously made.

1.  I understand Clausen is a different QB than Brady Quinn. 

2.  But then again, I’m currently searching for examples that support this fact.

3.  I got one – Clausen is even smaller than Quinn.

4.  I am not a Notre Dame hater.  In fact, they barely register for me on the college map.  After all, with the exception of the USC game, this is a basically a glorified mid-major playing a Big East schedule.

5.  Just because the Browns need a QB, doesn’t mean that they have to draft a QB…

6.  …especially this year, with this poor crop of candidates.

I hope that helped.  Although after reading this next story – I long for the days when the Browns thought about taking Clausen at Number Seven.

Proposed Browns-Rams Trade

 

Thank goodness for last little bit of common sense.  Otherwise, most of Browns Nation should pretty much get their affairs in order. 

Talk about stepping off the ledge. 

Could you only imagine if the Browns traded their first-rounder, possibly a second, and some combination of third-rounders to get Bradford?  If Holmgren gave up three picks to get one – then obviously drafted Bradford, we would be holding roughly half the picks we had before entering the draft.  Then, just think of the enormous financial investment the team would have to make in Bradford – let’s just say some 30-40 million dollars in guaranteed money.

All this for another college system QB – let alone one from the Big 12 – a player who also has been sidelined for long stretches of time.

And to further clarify my stance on Bradford – here are the only scenarios that make sense for the Browns to engage in such a move.

1.  Bradford is actually Peyton Manning.

2.  In addition to playing QB, Bradford also serves as the team’s future at the following positions:  WR, RT, DE, OLB, CB, S.

3.  The NFL has finally decided to pay reparations to the Browns in the form of draft picks.  You know, to make up for the Dwight Clark era.  Looks like we have 23 picks coming our way.

Enough of all this – it’s time for some common sense.

Terry Pluto on Drafting Defense

5. NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper predicted the Browns will take Dez Bryant in the first round. I can almost guarantee you — remember, it’s ALMOST — that the troubled receiver from Oklahoma State won’t be the pick. The Browns don’t want to endure a second dance with a Braylon Edwards type.

Agreed.

But then again, realizing that Holmgren wasn’t around for the Braylon era – and considering his own history of drafting WR busts – perhaps we should be somewhat alarmed.  Much like a potential Clausen pick – Holmgren is far removed from the sins of Browns past….but only to the extent where he isn’t still cleaning up the prior mess.

2. Tennessee safety Eric Berry was in town and impressive in his interview. But I also hear the Browns like Texas safety Earl Thomas. Maybe they add a later pick, trade down a few notches, and take Thomas. There are some scouts who like Thomas as much or more than Berry. He had eight interceptions and 4.5 tackles for a loss last season. The negatives: He is just 5-10 and played only two years at Texas before turning pro. He may need some time to develop.

I don’t claim to be an expert on draft projections – how ironic, no? – but I’ve never quite figured out why Thomas is ranked so high.  Perhaps it’s my disdain for smaller college athletes, or even a bias towards Big 12 players – but Thomas doesn’t strike me as a first-round talent.  He’s a little too Michael Huff for my tastes.  But then again, just who exactly is our starting free safety right now?

6. I return to the idea of defense in the first round. How about a lineman? Shaun Rogers is 31 and has some legal trouble in front of him. Robaire Smith made a remarkable recovery from Achilles surgery, but he’s 32. Kenyon Coleman turned 31 on Saturday, and because of injuries last season, he played older. That leaves Ahtyba Rubin, C.J. Mosley, Brian Schaefering and some others who haven’t done much in the NFL. In terms of proven players, you have Smith, Coleman, Rubin, Rogers and Mosley.

Common sense, thy name is Pluto. 

I talked about this a couple weeks ago.  The Browns current collection of defensive linemen could present the ultimate boom or bust scenario for 2010.  Or, perhaps “bang or bust” would be a more appropriate phrase.  After all, the Browns will be relying on two solid, but creaky veterans in Smith and Coleman.  Who knows the fate of Shaun Rogers, and while Ahtyba Rubin was solid last season, there is little depth behind him.

Also, if the line is this old in 2010 – just imagine the fate of the unit a year from now.

Luckily for the Browns – assuming Holmgren doesn’t go “all in” on a first-round QB trade/pick, there are several worthy D-line candidates coming out this year.  Players like Dan Williams, Jared Odrick, Brian Price, Linval Joseph, Tyson Alualu and Alex Carrington could all offer some much needed youth and depth across the line.

Or, we could just trade half of our picks for a QB.  Either way.

Or, how about this guy?

Browns Have Sights Set on Dwyer

Georgia Tech junior running back Jonathan Dwyer fits the mold and is said to be high on the team’s list of prospects. There are those who believe Dwyer could pound-for-pound be the best running back prospect in this year’s draft.

The 6-foot, 225-pound Dwyer’s draft stock took a nosedive after running a subpar 40 time at the Scouting Combine in February. Dwyer redeemed himself at his Pro Day a few weeks later, running the 40-yard dash in the high 4.4’s and low 4.5’s to elevate his draft status.

Browns running backs coach Gary Brown worked the player out at the school’s pro day and they have kept in close contact.

Dwyer is no doubt intriguing – at least as a second or third round selection.  Dwyer has some amazing talent, but the knock on him is that he played in a gimmicky college offense.  Also, his height is probably not conducive to a long playing career, as 6′2 running backs offer more of a target for opposing tacklers. 

However, considering that the 2010 offense will have to be a run-oriented unit, a Dwyer pick could immediately pay off.  A Dwyer/Jerome Harrison/Peyton Hillis trio at running back could offer the offense some much-needed versatility.

And really, what else are we going to do in 2010?

Pass?

Then again – if we’re talking about trading away draft picks – then yes, let’s pass.