After the tumultuous 2008 Cleveland Browns season we are ready to reload again. For a "newer" Brown fan (I was born in 1988) this past season was the most disappointing football season I have ever watched; my hope was too high. At the end of the season I saw that we needed dire linebacker help, o-line help, and safety help.

So far in this off-season the Browns have hired Eric Mangini who in turned pissed off Shaun Rodgers enough to state he wanted out of Cleveland

We traded our young old warrior Kellen Winslow Jr. for a 2nd and 2010 fifth round picks. (This was a deal for the Buccaneers because they got Winslow for the price of Jeremy Shockey who is younger and have been playing at a pro-bowl level for two years.

Our Quarterback situation is still in flux, with no starter being named. The trade of NE Qb Matt Cassel to the Chiefs hurt Derek Andersons value because he was traded for only a 2nd round pick.

The free agency period is ending with a loss of Sean Jones to the Eagles, a re-signing of back up safety Mike Adams, and the signing of former Jets defensive end, CJ Mosely.

Now is the draft.

We have the 5th pick, the 36th pick, the 50th pick in the first three rounds.

The players I believe on the Browns radar with the 5th pick (In no particular order)
-Micheal Crabtree WR Texas Tech
-Aaron Curry LB Wake Forest
-Brian Orakpo DE/OLB Texas
-Jason Smith OT Baylor
-Eugene Monroe OT Virginia
- Rey Maualuga ILB USC
-Micheal Oher OT Ole Miss
-BJ Raji DT Boston College
-Malcolm Jenkins CB Ohio State
-Micheal Johnson DE Georgia Tech
-Tyson Jackson DE LSU
-Everette Brown DE/OLB Floridia State

I have seen film on Everette Brown, Rey Maualuga Brian Orakpo, Malcolm Jenkins, and Aaron Curry.

Malcolm Jenkins Ran poorly at the combine (4.54 Forty) but would make an amazing FS (Compares favorably to Ed Reed)

Brian Orakpo is strong and stout against the run but his pass rushing techniques are non existant.

Aaron Curry is instinctive athletic and smart. No flaws that coaching can't refine.

Rey Maualuga is a hitter and emotional but was surrounded by a strong supporting cast, video showed him to be the 4th best player on that defense. (Taylor Mays, Brian Cushing, Fili Moala played better in 08)

I know Cleveland fans fear another Florida State product, But Everette Brown is real, he is an explosive OLB and has a wide range of moves from the Reggie White Club, to Dwight Freeny's spin. Kamerion Wimbley is solid and by far the best pass rushing LB we have, defenses double teamed him all year Everette Brown has the athleticism and technique to instantly give the Browns a double headed effective pass rush. I haven't seen a more disruptive college DE since Demarcus Ware.

Send your thoughts!

They don't need a T with one of those picks... They can find one in the late rounds. At 5 I think it's best D player available, whether that be Rakpo or Curry. 36 is proboly one of the corners that slides out of the 1st like Moore or Smith. And at 50, either a WR or ILB/OLB depending on what they do at 5. And then at the early 3rd, take either the WR or LBer they dont take at 50.

Well, thats just how I see it playing out.

See if you saw film on Orakpo you would see he has two moves to get past d-lineman, run by them or push them. Alex Boone of Ohio State stopped him so many times they moved him to the other side. And Alex Boone got murdered by SEC d-lineman the last two years. Look at film of Everette Brown, he has a wicked spin , shoulder duck, the Reggie White Club, and pure speed. Not to mention he is purely disruptive in the run game. I feel he is the forgotten man in most drafts, but I believe the scouts know. I agree with you about the second round....except I hope that that it will be a linebacker or safety selected,(William Moore S Missouri) with one pick and a Wide receiver with the other second round pick. We traded Kellen Winslow and Braylon Edwards is definately is not coming back next year.

There were mixed reviews of his pro day. The problem with him is the same problem with the Jets' Gholston...looks like Tarzan...plays like Jane reputation...also has a reputation for taking 10% of his plays off. On my own list, he's not a top 10 player...might have the physical talent to be one, but I do not see the desire needed to be a great player in him. It's just my opinion, but once he gets that big payday...his football playing days are over.

NYYJONES- I agree with you again. Orakpo seems like the type of player who has always gotten by by athleticism. I am rather enamored with trading down and selecting Rey Maualuga, Everette Brown, or Malcolm Jenkins. Then possibly picking up Clay Mathews in the second round.

Anybody that follows this team get a sense of which way they're leaning in the first?


I'm working on mocking the first, and I can't get a feel for which direction the Browns are going to go.

I have a strong feeling they're going to reach for someone questionable. I don't know whom that will be, but I was hoping some Brownies could help out there.

I am lost just as much as you. There are rumors that Braylon Edwards already got traded to the New York Giants for a 1st, 3rd, and an unnamed WR (Prolly Dixon or Mario Manningham.) So we have the 5th, 29th, 36th, and 50th pick in the first two rounds. Our pick depends on three things, where Aaron Curry goes, a possible DA trade, and a possible tradedown with the Broncos/San Fransisco. If we luck out and get Aaron Curry with the fifth, we'll prolly select an OLB or MLB 29th (Clay Mathews III, Brian Cushing, James Laurenitis). The 36th pick we will prolly select a wide reciever like Hakeem Nicks, Brandon Tate or Brian Robiskie. Then with the 50th we might select a RB or DB (either a safety like Loius Delmas or a running back like Donald Brown.) I'll come back later and write a mock if we select Crabtree with the fifth. I am off to work now.