As the draft gets closer, there’s one team that is believed to be “panicking” based on its position in the top ten.
With five or six truly elite players in the draft pool (Sam Bradford, Ndamukong Suh, Gerald McCoy, Trent Williams, Russell Okung, and possibly Eric Berry), the Browns potentially will find themselves with the first pick in the second wave of round one.
As we hear it, the Browns don’t believe there’s anyone who can sufficiently help them at No. 7 to justify using the pick. They don’t sufficiently love cornerback Joe Haden or running back C.J. Spiller to take either of them at that high financial slot. If Berry squirts through, he could be the pick.
So that’s why the Browns are exploring a move in either direction. The problem will be to find someone else who wants to use the seventh pick on a player who may not justify the financial investment, given that the team that uses the selection will be faced with the slot-busting Darrius Heyward-Bey contract as a starting point.
The only way the Rams would come down to No. 7 would be to get quarterback Jimmy Clausen. The only way someone would come up would be to get Clausen or Kyle Wilson or Dez Bryant or someone other player that a team in the teens secretly loves.
Either way, that four-game winning streak to end the 2009 season has created an unwanted consequence. The Browns are now stuck in a round-one no-man’s-land from which they may not be able to escape.
If they are willing to sacrifice a little value for the pick the Eagles may come a knocking
“If Berry squirts through, he could be the pick”
Why do you use such weak and infantile verbage? We’re talking about a draft, not an actual athletic contest.
Coooome tooooo the Chieeeefs! #7 and their 2nd rounder will get them Eric Berry. Piece-o-cake!!! We’ll take McLain at 7 and Nate Allen with their 2nd rounder.
browns suck, go lions
Earl Thomas. There, I solved the problem.
The Browns are basically just stuck being the Browns.
total speculation.. i’m sure the 49′rs were ‘panicking’ about not getting an elite player @ #10 last yr.. how that end up?
Eagles move up for Berry would be a wet dream.
Nicky Santoro: Listen to me Anthony. I got your head in a f****** vise. I’ll squash your head like a f****** grapefruit if you don’t give me a name. Don’t make me have to do this, please. Don’t make me be a bad guy, come on.
they ought to draft Eric Berry, offensively they filled a void for the next 2 years with Jake Delhomme, he’s an upgrade over Quinn and Anderson. but defensively they are hurting, they had their WR Mike Furrey playing Safety last year.
Eric Berry is a going to be something special, but i think the Chiefs will draft him to fill the hole they lost when they released Benard Pollard last year.
plus Browns don’t HAVE to draft a QB this year, especially with next years QB draft class. T Pryor most likely will leave school early and enter the draft.
Mike,
You should rename the website to
http://www.florio-speculation.com
Why don’t you put your resume together for a front office postion?
Sincerely,
Every one of the PFT readers
Bey’s gonna shut up all you haters this year, mark it down.
Earl Thomas? According to Mike Mayock he’s better than Berry anyway. LOL
I dont know what the Browns are so concerned about,, I mean Statistically “5-14 th pick is where the best players come from. In NFL Draft history.
As long as Berry falls there will be no problem.
Jags move ahead of Bills to get Clausen. Browns take Haden or E.Thomas at a cheaper price
Pass!
I hope they keep all their current draft choices are move down and get more. This is a good draft class as far as most people can tell and the Browns need a lot of help.
If those players truly are gone, just take a safe pick with OL. Take the OG from Idaho. Who cares about “draft value” if the pick doesn’t even pan out? Draftniks would have mocked the Steelers if they took Polamalu at #5 when he was drafted, but looking back, wouldn’t that be a great pick?
These “rules” of the draft are silly and have taken on a life of their own.
Interesting potential dilemma, however, I think KC goes OT at no. 5 and Seattle takes C.J. Spiller at no. 6, leaving Berry to fall to Cleveland.
Are the Browns really being “picky” here? They haven’t exactly proven to be draft experts and aren’t in the position to just be discarding talent as if they don’t need it.
Here is a start… you don’t have a QB. Not sure why they unloaded their 2 QBs and picked up Delhomme unless they had plans to go get a potential franchise QB to train under the Vet.
Either trade up for Bradford or get Clausen, but don’t pretend like the Top 10 doesn’t have talent. Overexpensive talent maybe, but still talent.
browns suck, go steelers
So, pull a Minnesota Vikings and don’t put in your pick till 9 or 10… Problem solved…
Bears have the same problem. Just with 75th pick. Consensus is top 74 players will be gone by then.
This is pre draft fodder. More misinformation about player’s and team’s intentions. It is more interesting than writing the truth though: “we have no idea what the browns are thinking or who they want to pick. We can look at team needs and assume stuff though.”
browns suck, go lions? haha that is just too funny
Prediction…….2 or 3 of these “five or six truly elite players” will turn out to be complete busts.
There will also be several guys in that “second wave” that turn out to be great players.
Dude, with the Casino line “CLASSIC”.
I don’t know what the Browns to do. They need to improve and as long as they don’t get Tim Tebow, I’m cool.
The Brownies take Clausen if he is still there, if not then they get one of the top 7 anyway. Do you really think Delhomme and Seneca Wallace are the answer?
Eagles would do it if Berry Slipped but the Browns won’t get the package they want for the drop from 7th to 24th. Eagles, oddly, would have the leverage if what Holmgren is putting out there is true. I wouldn’t give up either of our 2nd rounders to go up and get Berry when Thomas can be had for a cheaper price.
plus Browns don’t HAVE to draft a QB this year, especially with next years QB draft class. T Pryor most likely will leave school early and enter the draft.
You mean another version of Tim Tebow? Pryor will stink in the NFL as well. Hell he hasn’t been that great at OSU.
Seriously…. it’s the Browns we’re talking about here. Is it gonna matter who they draft? Are they having a problem at deciding how to pick at #7 because they are so used to picking in the top 4 or 5 every year? Can’t decide which players are good and which are just hyped to be good? Again, it’s the Browns. I’m sure they’ll find a way to blow it.
And this is why a rookie salary structure is needed. Now the browns (or any other team who uses this pick) are forced to overpay because the raiders went and overpaid last year. I hope the new CBA brings this up. Veterans should be paid more then a rookie should be. It’s sad that there are great players making garbage money cause the top 10 or so picks of the draft suck up all the millions that could be divided to them.
joetoronto says:
April 20, 2010 12:44 PM
Bey’s gonna shut up all you haters this year, mark it down.
————————————
Limas Sweed too right?
I’m good with Earl Thomas at 7. A bit of a reach, but what are you gonna do?
Well if the Browns are so concerned with money and that none of the remaining players justifies such slotted contract then why don’t the just let the clock elapse and let another team make a pick? Then do it again? And again…or whatever. Maybe move down to 9 or 10th if that can’t find any trade suitors. Seems like a dumb idea…but it is the Browns. LOL
Panicking?? Florio you’re an idiot
Berry or one of the big 3 OT will be there. Earl Thomas will also who I actually think may end up being better than Berry anyway.
If you didnt have Pittsburgh or Cleveland to bash…would you have website?
Dear Posters,
Who prefer to post messages on an internet message board, in block letter format, in an attempt to be clever and/or cool.
You are not cool and you are annoying.
Get a life.
Best Regards,
The rest of the posters who don’t “letter” message
The Browns are stuck in a vise of having to pick a player that is going to have to play for the Browns and will inevitably not live up to whatever billing he may have coming in.
I actually find drafting Dez Bryant to make complete sense, which means we’ll either draft him and he’ll be the next Braylon Edwards, or we will let him pass and he’ll become Calvin Johnson.
There’s always an escape; the fans would probably just lynch someone if they used it. Let the clock expire. That would put the Raiders on the clock at pick 7 (or 7a, or 7-1/2, or whatever they’d call it) and the Browns would be able to jump back in and make their pick whenever they felt they could get their guy.
I’m sure the fan base wouldn’t like it, the Browns would get no value for their position (other than reduced contract salary), and it’s never been used before, but it’d be pretty cool to see.
They should take Spiller. He’s the only elite running back in the draft. The Browns offensive line is not too bad at all, and with Harrison, Spiller, and Peyton Hillis, they have the makings of a power running game.
Don Quipenis says:
April 20, 2010 12:40 PM
“If Berry squirts through, he could be the pick”
Why do you use such weak and infantile verbage?
————————————————–
…says the guy who worked the word “penis” into his user name.
so pretty much the stains are gonna screw up there draft like every year hahahaha
joetoronto says:
April 20, 2010 12:44 PM
Bey’s gonna shut up all you haters this year, mark it down.
———————————————–
How’s he going to do that with JaWalrus and Kyle Boller as the top QBs on the Raiders’ depth chart?
You’ve been following the Santonio wake-and-bake diet, haven’t you?
“G MACK says: April 20, 2010 12:41 PM
browns suck, go lions”
LOL. Two numbers you may be familiar with: 0 & 16.
If the Browns were smart, they’d broker a deal with the 49ers. Allow SF to move up and get their tackle they so desperately want, and Cleveland moves back to a position where they can take a pass rusher like Sergio Kindle or Brandon Graham. Perhaps they might get a fair shot at Haden, Spiller or Earl Thomas at that spot as well.
The secret is for the Browns to make the deal enticing enough for the 49ers to move up and get ahead of the Raiders. Demanding their second and fourth rounder would be foolish. Accept taking their third rounder in exchange for them moving up 6 spots and enjoy the financial relief and a better value for your pick.
@DallasRavens
Don’t speak on my behalf. You suck.
The Browns messed themselves with that meaningless winning streak at the end of the year
Aren’t the Browns glad they won some meaningless games at the end of the year?
Stupid!
WVUColumbus says:
Dear Posters,
Who prefer to post messages on an internet message board, in block letter format, in an attempt to be clever and/or cool.
You are not cool and you are annoying.
Get a life.
Best Regards,
The rest of the posters who don’t “letter” message
————————————————–
Florio did you create an account? You sneaky turd!
@BroncFanOr…
That was too funny, considering that it’s coming from a Broncos fan.
You know the Broncos, don’t you?
It’s that team that rummages through Cleveland’s trash heap for talent.
How’s that working for you so far, jackass?
house068: Maybe your mom has a PayPal account, and you can put your birthday money where your mouth is.
sandy70: You don’t even know who the Raiders top QB is, but you spew garbage anyway, nice.
“G MACK says: April 20, 2010 12:41 PM
browns suck, go lions”
LOL. Two numbers you may be familiar with: 0 & 16.
———————————————
If your gonna do something do it all the way.
Go LIONS
I was laughing when all the Browns fans were celebrating that 4-game “tear” at the end of the season. I was just thinking “Do you not realize you are killing your draft pick with each win?”
Call me a bad fan, or say I am disrespecting the game, or whatever. If my team is out of the playoff hunt with absolutely nothing to play for but my idiot coach’s job, I would not want them to start winning. I would rather have the top draft pick.
There are exceptions of course…like the Browns beating their arch-rival Pittsburgh to basically knock them out of the playoff race.
Isn’t that just like a dumb football team to bring a high pick to the last year of the draft without a rookie salary cap.
I’d say their spot is Untouchable.
Why are people calling Williams an elite prospect? Most of the reports I have seen have Buluga rated above him.
i thought it was hilarious when “the drive” didnt happen thanks to a squirrel in hot tub time machine.
If the Browns want to throw in a 3rd and a 6th, the Redskins will swap spots with with them. I would hope that Bulaga would still be available at the 7 hole.
There will still be plenty of talent available at #7….this isn’t even a story
There isn’t a single “elite” QB in this draft.
@ WarrenMoonGOAT
That’s way to risky to do, you can’t draft for next year, the Browns need 3 solid drafts to even get the ship righted, right now that bad boy is spinning in a typhoon.
Last years draft was so/so – Maiava, Massaqoui and a few others seen some playing time, but they really won’t shine until they have some other adjoring pieces.
if I was the Browns I would draft Clausen as a hostage and try and trade him to Buffalo or another team that needs a QB
Hey Don Quipenis, before you go trashing the writer’s “infantile” choice of language, learn how to spell “verbiage” correctly.
Related, I’m pretty tired of people commenting on a story just to rip the writers or the perceived frivolity of a specific article. The fact that this site reports on things like the tender signings of Maurice Stovall (or whatever) is what makes it relevant to fans of all 32 NFL teams, unlike NFL.com, ESPN, etc. Why exactly do you guys continue visit this site if you loathe it so much? Who are you? Cowboys fans?
That “slot-busting” crud is BS. I just want ONE of these teams to have the balls to say to a player, “Hey, we don’t care what Joe Blow got from the TwizzleSticks last year…that was then and this is now. Here is what you are going to get from us NOW. If you don’t like that, then turn it down and wait until next year when there is a new rookie comp system that you are SURE to like better.”
Ummm – “Don Quipenis” – you’re looking in the wrong place for scholarly writing.
What is your issue? It’s a friggin’ football blog.
My heavens, everyone is a critic.
Kyle Wilson at 7? Nice credability Florio
G Mack: that’s the pot calling the kettle black moron
If they don’t want Clausen or Bulaga wait until time expires and see if Oakland jumps up for one of them! Al Davis might for Clausen? Then let Buffalo take Bulaga, they need a left tackle. Then take McClain at 10. I say the Brownies trade up for Bradford or do this.
The lack of a rookie cap is ridiculous. Not only do you have unproven rookies making millions more than proven vets, anytime you miss on a high selection (Jamarcus and his lethargy addiction. I’ll bet he could move around a little faster if he took the 9 pounds of diamonds out of each ear), it handicaps your entire franchise for years. Part of the parity the NFL was giving poor franchises high picks. Duh. Now, it’s become more of a punishment than a parity privilege. Especially when teams in the low round 1 or early 2 can have McCoy instead of Clausen, McCortney instead of Haden, or Mays instead of Berry. Everyone can claim the 2nd names mentioned above are all better than the respective firsts, but the reality is, NONE of them have played a down in the NFL. Basing everything on the way someone played in college, Tebow is your first pick. The chances of Clausen, Haden, or Berry busting is just as great as that of McCoy, McCortney, or Berrys, yet the financial stranglehold is night and day.
As a Browns fan, stay at 7 and take Berry and move on. Don’t entertain the idea of moving up for Bradford, PLEASE. And if Clausen is there at 7, make a deal with Buffalo, or Jacksonville, or S.F. (doubt it) who wants him. And just make the deal, the last thing we need as a rebuilding franchise is another Golden Boy from the Golden Dome who is actually more arrogant with less skill than Brady Quinn. If you draft him, you better remove all the mirrors from the locker-room, or you’ll never get him on the field.
“Bey’s gonna shut up all you haters this year, mark it down.”
…..and Jamarcus Russell will end up being a great NFL QB, right?
Also, anyone who uses the term “haters” is an idiot.
If the Browns take Clausen when they have Jake Delhomme then they will have officially learned nothing from the Brady Quinn mistake. A rookie QB is going to have problems…if you bench him a year, he’s just going to take another year to work out the kinks.
In fact, the more I think about this, they’d be nuts to take Clausen and pay Delhomme at the same time. Won’t happen.
“With five or six truly elite players in the draft pool…”
That’s a bit of a misleading statement considering none of them have played a down in the league yet. I’m willing to bet there will be a couple of players below your top 5-6 that end up being better pros than the projected top 5-6.
From what I’ve read (And, mind you, this is more of the speculation that everybody above seems so frustrated with…but hey…none of us are in the front office, so, what the hell…)
The Browns would be VERY interested in Colt McCoy in terms of fit into their system…and they seem confident getting him in the 2nd round won’t be a problem. If this is indeed the case, no need to take Jimmy early in round 1…assuming he’s still available…
A deep draft and nobody worthy of 7? That is a joke.
Earl Thomas,Derrick Morgan,Jimmy Clausen,Brain Bulaga, for sure.
“five or six truly elite players” is inaccurate and a way to justify this article. The quality level does not drop off at this point see:
http://www.profootballweekly.com/2010/04/20/pfw-rates-top-prospects-regardless-of-position
and again the absolute level of a player is relative to who is examining them.
For some reason i see the Pats trading their number one next year, and some pick this year, to move up earlier in the draft and pick someone to solidify their defense. Don’t know why I feel this, since there should be plenty of talent deeper this year.
Still, I would not be surprised to see the Browns move down to maybe the second, and the Pats use one of their seconds and their first next year (NOT the pick they acquired from the Raiders) to move up.
@Fleet10: Florio habitually hates on he Browns??? You have very very selective reading. He’s an equal opportunity hater.
War_Paint says: April 20, 2010 2:42 PM
“Bey’s gonna shut up all you haters this year, mark it down.”
…..and Jamarcus Russell will end up being a great NFL QB, right?
Also, anyone who uses the term “haters” is an idiot.
====================================
No, Russell sucks ass. A blind man could see that.
What would YOU call someone who labels a rookie player a “bust”.
That’s a hater, moron.
Wait…people are chiding the Browns for being dumb and trying to win games at the end of the year instead of tanking it to get a “better” pick?
Even knowing how much the contracts go up exponentially with the higher pick and how it kills a franchise to draft high year after year? I think not.
Besides I hate the thought of taking games for picks. Sends a shitty message to the lockerroom where chemistry/teamwork is huge.
The only thing that is certain is that the Clowns will either blow the pick or ruin him when he gets onto the roster.
Some things are just constant…the sun rises in the east and the Browns kill picks.
Brady Quinn…..it still makes me smile.
If “Swami” Florio says it you can take it to the bank, lol. This guy needs another fixation.
The Browns will trade down if Berry isnt there and target Jared Odrick from Penn State.
G Mack, the Lions blow.
Stiller, keep supporting your criminals.
Thanks
Now go away.
proposing a motion to ban said phrase, “haters” from this illustrious forum…
So when’s the draft?
It won’t matter, because it will be forgotten the second Al Davis makes his pick and the media finds some way to bag on it, even if it makes total sense for the team.
defmidi says: April 21, 2010 11:00 AM
proposing a motion to ban said phrase, “haters” from this illustrious forum…
———————————————-
People wouldn’t use it if there weren’t so many sheeply jerks who buy into every word the media says, despite there being no facts behind it. Maybe if people didn’t feel the need to get so snarky with their comments about other teams, the term would be used less.
I’ll tell you this. I hate every team that isn’t the Raiders, so I think it would be fair to call me a hater if you felt the need.