On Saturday, it’s the closest thing to getting to the Super Bowl for Cleveland Browns fans. It’s the NFL Draft. It’s where the team will pick the next bunch of budding superstars that will take the orange and brown to their first league championship game since 1965, or they will pick more guys like Tim Couch, Gerard Warren, and Mike Junkins.
One thing is for certain. Eric Mangini and George Kokinis cannot afford to screw up the draft as their predecessors have done for the last 10 years. The Browns need to start turning it around and they need to start right now.
Currently, the Browns have five selections this weekend, but I fully expect more selections than that by the end of the draft on Sunday. Although it has been reported the Braylon Edwards to the Giants deal is dead, don’t be surprised if the wide receiver is moved on or before the draft for at least two more choices. It’s not that New York doesn’t want Edwards, it’s that the two parties cannot decide on the price.
It also appears that Texas Tech WR Michael Crabtree no longer interests the Browns which is fine with me. However, what should the Browns do with the 5th pick?
The defense is the big weakness for this team so that’s the direction I would go in on Saturday. If Wake Forest LB Aaron Curry is still there at #5, that’s the pick. However, if he’s not, there’s another question.
USC MLB Ray Maualuga would fit Cleveland’s needs, but he’s not projected to go until around picks 10-15. The Browns would like to trade the fifth selection and go lower, but it doesn’t appear there is a market for the choice, unless maybe if USC QB Mark Sanchez is still available. However, if the Browns can’t trade down, and they really like Maualuga, then they should take him.
You can’t pass on someone because Mel Kiper and the other draft gurus don’t think he’s worthy of the pick. Of course, if he’s considered by everyone to be a 2nd or 3rd rounder and you pick him fifth overall, that’s a problem. But, if he’s ranked the 12th best player and you pick him fifth, what’s the problem? The Browns need the toughness and leadership on defense that I think Maualuga will bring.
The other rumbling going around is that the Browns could take Sanchez and then trade Brady Quinn. If other teams desire Quinn, then shouldn’t Cleveland hold on to him and see what they have? Also, taking Sanchez means you likely are getting nothing out of the fifth pick in the draft, at least this season. The 4-12 Browns can’t afford to have their top pick standing on the sidelines holding a clipboard this season.
What if Quinn goes somewhere else and shows that he can play? That will just confirm everyone’s fears that the Browns’ front office has no clue. The smart thing to do is give Quinn the starting job and let’s find out if he can play. He started just three games, put up more than 20 points in two of them and got hurt in the third. In other cities, he would be looked upon as a quarterback with a great deal of potential.
I would lean heavily on defense in this draft because the Browns still cannot rush the passer and still have problems stopping the run. The reason they would like more picks is that Mangini and Kokinis would also like to fill holes on the offensive line (Cal C Alex Mack?), running back, and at wide receiver if Edwards is indeed moved.
The Cleveland Browns will be one of the movers and shakers this weekend. Sit back and enjoy the drama.
JD
Cleveland Sports Perspective 
If the Cleveland Browns decide to go defense, I think Tyson Jackson is the best option at #5 because of his size and athleticism; maybe they can trade back a few spots and still get him, but this team can not go into the season with Shaun Smith and Corey Williams starting on the ends. There should be a few quality linebackers to choose from early in round two. (Clint Sintim, Marcus Freeman, Larry English, Michael Johnson) These guys are very much capable of being decent pro linebackers. The Pittsburgh Steelers rarely have to reach for linebackers in the first round, instead they go out and find guys from Kent State like James Harrison because they always have a great front three; the Cleveland Browns need to learn from that. Courtney Brown and Gerrard Warren were disasters in the first round, but Tyson Jackson has the potential to be a dominant force on the line for many years. (first three picks)DE Tyson JacksonLB Larry EnglishWR Brian Robiskie