by furls » Mon Dec 11, 2006 3:51 pm
My best guess is that at 5-11 the Browns will draft about 5th.
I am guessing that the Lions, Raiders, and Buccaneers will draft ahead of them and the Browns vs. Texans matchup will decide if the Texans are ahead of them.
The Texans are the only one of those teams that I think would be inclined to take an OT. Lions, Raiders, and Buccaneers desperately need skill players and I am guessing that they will take some combination of Brady Quinn, Calvin Johnson, and Adrian Peterson. Although, it would not surprise me to see a QB shoot up there and jump into the top four; a guy like Smith or Russell. It is not a great year for QBs, but all three of those teams need one. It is unclear whether or not Simms will be back in Tampa or how many of these teams will attempt to address their QB issue through trade and free agency.
If Joe Thomas is gone, you can trade down to the middle of the first and get Long or Baker, at least one of them should still be there at 17 or so and the Browns should be able to get a third rounder for moving down (depending on who is available and who wants him). They could use that third round pick to get a guard, there are usually some very good one's available in the third and fourth round (ask the 'Hawks, they got Rob Simms there last year and he has been playing very well for them).
This draft needs to be about the lines. Look at the difference D'Brick and Mangold have made for the Jets this year, they went from cellar to contender this year by focusing on the lines (and they have a good coach too).
Coming from a Wolverine, we're the football equivalent of a formerly abused wife of a meth addict who just remarried the safe nice guy. We're just glad we have someone who's aware that it's a rivalry and that tackling on defense is integral. Baby steps.
-Kingpin74
