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March 13, 2009
Nothing too earth-shattering here. I just thought it would be good to show you some of the latest mock drafts that I have seen and who they have the Browns taking with their fifth overall selection. To no surprise, the rumors of next week’s workout have the man above featured on more than one occasion.
Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB, Texas
Orakpo exited the combine as the top hybrid DE/OLB in the 2009 class. His pass-rushing skills would be a welcome addition to a Cleveland defense that notched just 17 sacks in 2008. [Todd McShay/ESPN]
Everette Brown – DE – Florida State
Huge defensive end. Nearly 6’5″ and 250+ with insane speed and strength. This guy has all the tools to become an elite pass rusher, especially when playing beside Shaun Rodgers and having an aging Willie McGintist on the down fall of his career. As much as Clev needs CB help, it is too early to take one here and pass on an athlete like Brown. [Mr. Malor/Baltimore Beatdown]
Eugene Monroe, OT/G, Virginia
Let me be frank, I don’t expect the Browns to stay at the number five spot. I see them moving down with the Eagles who are in desperate need of one of the offensive tackles of this draft. Mangini used his first draft in New York to stock pile picks, and that worked out pretty well. If they do decide to stay Monroe makes the most sense to me. He can play tackle or guard and they need to balance out that left heavy offensive line. [Jack Gonzo/LSWTF]
Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas
New coach Eric Mangini needs to find an edge rusher for his 3-4. He took Vernon Gholston last year with the Jets and this kid is better. [Pete Prisco/CBSSports]
Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas
Pass rush is a must for the Browns. They had eight sacks from their outside linebackers and just five from their starters. CB is a need, too, but this is too high for Ohio State’s Jenkins. [Clark Judge/CBSSports]
Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas
Cleveland brought in Eric Mangini, a defensive mastermind, as their new head coach. With that hiring, I expect most of the moves the Browns make to be defensive. Cleveland’s pass rush struggled last year, resulting in 17 sacks and finishing ranked 30th in overall pass defense. Brian Orakpo is an amazing pass rusher who can consistently get to the quarterback. [NFL Draft Experts]
Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB, Texas
The Browns would love to have Curry fall into their lap. But with him off of the board, Cleveland will draft the next best OLB. Orakpo is the perfect match. [Scout.com]
For what it’s worth, FoxSports (whom I really enjoy thanks to Jay Glazer’s bald dome) has the Chiefs passing on Aaron Curry for Eugene Monroe – and then having the Browns nab him at No. 5. Either way, it appears that Malcolm Jenkins’ combine performance knocked him down a few rungs from what we saw earlier.
So what say you, fans? If Curry isn’t there, do we go for the bull-rushing OLB from Texas, or go another route?
Related: NFL Mock Draft Review 2.11.09
30 Comments
Can we trade our draft pick to the Jets for their first rounder and a couple more of their players? If we get Curry that would be awesome, but I don’t think there’s any way he slips to 5. Orakpo looks pretty solid however, at least he can tackle people. that’ll be a huge improvement to what we currently have on defense.
As thin as the Browns are everywhere, as long as they pick the best guy on the board they can’t be wrong. I would love to see them trade down, but every year you hear about all these teams that are going to trade up and trade down and every year it doesn’t happen. Would love to have Curry, but I doubt he’s there.
Yea…best part about that picture is that it is not eight yards down field from the line of scrimmage
if no curry, i vote trade down….
not sure i’d trade with philly though…unless you got both of their first round picks (#21 and #27 i think).
if they could get both of those picks, i’d definatley trade down…would give them 4 picks in the top 50 or so…
What are the differences between Orakpo and Wimbley? From what Ive read on Orakpo, his weakness is a lack of moves, and inexperience dropping into coverage. Hmmm, sounds familiar.
If Curry isin’t avalible, trade down. Bottom line.
Trade down, trade down, trade down. We need picks! Not Courtney Brown v2.0. If not, take the Boston College nose tackle and send Rogers & Quinn to Denver for Cutler & Denver’s 2nd & 3rd round picks. Then move D.A. to Jets, Lions, or anyone else who needs a QB for a combo of 2nd, 3rd, or 4th round picks.
I want to trade down too, but I just never feel like that option will present itself. If you were one of those teams down there, who would you trade up to get? The QB’s aren’t overly impressive. Crabtree looks exciting but #5 seems too high to take a WR. I could see the Browns finding suitors to trade up if Curry is there, but then they probably want to take him.
Draft day is crazy, so anything is possible. I hope they are able to acquire more picks, but I just can’t predict it because I can’t see the guy on the board that makes my head spin.
Does everyone screaming for the Browns to trade down realize that it takes (at least) 2 teams to make it happen? The reason it rarely happens is because it’s incredibly difficult to trade picks in the top 5 and actually get their value. I don’t see any grand slam picks out there that would net the Browns a fortune in picks, so if they aren’t being offered the world, then there isn’t much point from the Browns perspective in doing it.
That said, I still have zero idea who they should draft.
The goal would be to trade down and get as many picks in the next few years as possible. That said I’m still not sold on Curry (better for a 4-3) or even Orakpo. I know all the draft experts are, but they were all sold on Courtney Brown, Gerrard Warren, and many others. I think what Mangini needs to do is draft the best avaliable player NO MATTER what position that is.
Even with all the holes on Defense I still think the safest bet will be an offensive play maker like Crabtree,Wells, or Moreno. Yes I know they would be the sexy pick, but I think they are also the safest pick for not having another bust on our hands.
When it comes to D it’s about finding the guy that fits your system, not the “must have” player which usually never reaches their “potential”.
Trade down is unlikely, but the preferred route.
We need a RT now…Andre Smith is the best suited for that spot though he has way too many ?’s for the #5 pick. Monroe is not suited all that well for RT and no way you pay a OG that much $$$. I wouldn’t mind Jason Smith for RT either, but I don’t see him slipping to us.
We need a S now…Malcolm Jenkins could be that guy, but most likely again not at #5…more than likely we fill that need at #50 with Sean Smith or Cory Chung or maybe even Delmas.
We need a RG…not until at least #36 though…maybe Duke Robinson or draft Alex Mack if he somehow slips that far and then worry about OL reshuffling later.
We need LBs…Curry probably doesn’t slip now. Orakpo is a big ? because of injury concerns and a positional switch. EB is an even bigger ? after he measured in at 6’1″ and Maybin is out after he couldn’t handle gaining weight and wasn’t good enough anyway.
We need DL…Raji is a possibility in that he can rotate with Rogers at NT and also play some DE (rush side on running downs).
We need a WR…Crabtree might be the best sinze Fitz…so you have to consider him.
Those of you who know about our Mock Draft Among Blogs at NoLogoNeeded.com saw us taking Rey Maualuga fifth.
If Curry does fall to No. 5, the Browns MUST take him. That being said, trading down to nab Maualuga at like No. 12 would be ideal.
I’m just thankful we’re not seeing these “experts” think the Browns need to take a cornerback at No. 5.
Would Raji be the perfect addition if we were a 4-3 team?
The real bottom line is this. If the NFL wants to increase parity, they will build in a rookie scale so that the top of the draft isn’t so punishing from a salary cap perspective. Jake Long has worked out well for the Dolphins as he was named to the pro bowl and all, but seriously. What if he didn’t work out? He was given a contract that made him the highest paid offensive lineman in the league at $57.5 million ($30 mil guaranteed) over five years.
The drop off in talent from the top ten to the bottom ten is not equivalent with the drop off in money. Top of the draft equals bad value and potentially devastating cap situations, while bottom of the first round equals lower risks for high rewards.
Chris Johnson was drafted by the Titans and got a 5 year $12 million deal. He isn’t Jake Long, but still. $45 million difference between these two players? Please.
Wow…..can’t believe the issues everyone seems to have with Orapko.
Orakpo is a stud, more than that he’s got the nasty mean streak and high end motor you want for an edge rusher. He’s a monster to contain, drives right at you. You won’t find guys this athletic and this mean later down in the draft. I would applaud the Browns if Orapko is their pick.
BrianRut-are you serious man? Comparing Wimbley to Orapko is like comparing apples to oranges. Lack of moves….sheesh, the dude is athletic enough to get outside but nothing but a freaking bull rusher who moves piles. Can’t drop into pass coverage……..remember, Wimbley was also a down lineman projected as an edge outside LB in a 3/4 just as Orapko is, so that should be at least a wash. But please…….Wimbley has no fire, passion, and particularly not the mean streak needed at the position-absolutely no comparison.
mgbode…..you gotta look at the cap before you make projections. The Browns won’t and can’t draft an OT in round 1 when they have almost $100M tied up on the left side between Thomas and Steinbach. You have to spread the dollars around to other positions.
I would agree with Craig and Scoot. I wasnt thinking about it like that, but Raji and Rogers in the middle of a 4-3 could be devastating, if the very least we would finally get a push in the middle. I personally think the 3-4 is a more felxible defense, but if they get Raji, it would be stupid to not try a 4-3.
I think that if Curry is there, he will be the next cleveland brown. If monroe is there, he could be considered, especially with Shaffer just being cut.
A trade partner I think may happen, is with the NYJ. They like Sanchez, and he is gaining stock like crazy. We could maybe move down, and get the Jets 1, 3, and maybe a 5 or 6. i think that could be a solid move, because then they would seriously consider Maualuga (who im not sold on being an effective LB yet), they could consider Beanie or Moreno, they could look at WR (Hicks, Harvin, a few others…), or they could address a OL. Also getting later picks, moving into the 3rd round, I would like that trade down.
As #9 said, smart teams aren’t trading up into the top spots anymore because of the salary commitment and cap hit for a single player that may bust. We’d have to hope some impulsive coach with too much personnel power falls in love at the combine, or some meddlesome team owner grabs the reins on draft day. Where’s Butchie Davis when you need him …
“I personally think the 3-4 is a more felxible defense, but if they get Raji, it would be stupid to not try a 4-3.”
Bobby-Mangini has already said he’ll NEVER run anything but a 3/4. You’ll need to revise that thought.
i Want Curry, but we need so much and since we are either cutting or trading everyone away lets just max out the picks that we can have in a draft and run with it.
@RandyOSU: I dont recall Savage believing Wimbley was a big gine when they drafted him. Point being, its unfair to compare Wimbley now to Orakpo now. You have to compare the perception of Orakpo now to the perception of Wimbley when he was coming out. Wimbley was a sackmaster at FSU who had little experience playing with his hand off the ground. I dont think you can argue that they werent at least very similar players during their college career.
A better comparison may be Orakpo to Gholston. Both freaks of nature, beasts in the weight room, bull rushing, sacktastic, musclebound monsters with great 40 times at the combine. Both had little to no experience as 3-4 OLBs. In Gholston’s rookie year, he managed 12 tackles, no sacks, and was inactive during the final three weeks of the season, UNDER MANGINI. You think he wants to make the same mistake two years in a row?
If no Curry, then trade down, hopefully getting Maualuga.
Curry or Crabtree or OT.
BrianRut…….here you go again, now comparing Orapko to Gholston, who’s next? Again……..not even close, no comparison. If you don’t like Orapko that’s fine, but quit trying to compare him to every flop in town to make a point. Wimbley was NOt a sackmaster at FSU……he was drafted by Savage based on his athletic potential. I could go on…….just check your facts before making comparisons please.
Wimbley was and is a FINESSE pass rusher. Orapko is a flat out monstrous bull rusher-how do you even try to compare the two? Regardless, how can anyone argue that what the Browns need on defense is some toughness, nastiness, aggressiveness versus FINESSE.
Randy…I understand the cap implications of drafting a RT at #5…should have mentioned it. If you noticed, my more favorable drafting outside of trading down was at the bottom of the post.
Totally agree with you Brian. When I see Orakpo, I see Gholston. Obviously I would LOVE to trade down, but it takes 2 to tango. I think that if Curry falls that would be the best case scenario. But think about this….we have tradeable pieces in Edwards and DA. Saw we can trade Edwards for a late first….aka the Eagles, that would allow us to take Crabtree (who is probably the best player in the draft next to Curry) at 5 and then we will have a pick in the 20’s for maybe Moreno (I love him) or a defensive player. Then in the second round we can get defense where there is great value with guys like Laurinitas (I have seen him going in round 2) or maybe michael Johnson fron GT.
Whatever they end up doing the Browns NEEED to get this top pick right. No more busts, that would be devastating.
i could agree with them drafting almost any position but qb at number 5, if they dont draft down…. the dreaded “best player available” even…
we’ve lost a starting tight end, right tackle, safety. already had big need at LB.
in my dreams, they trade down for 2 picks, a 1st and a 2nd round, giving them a mid to low 1st rounder and three 2nd rounders.
maybe get clay matthews, beanie wells, a tackle and another LB or Safety on the first day. then work whatever magic u can on day 2. i think our starting o-line isnt bad w/ thomas-steinback-fraley-hadnot-tucker assuming tucker is back and able in his old age… i want them to draft a franchise LB and a franchise RB 1 and 2, even though RB isnt our biggest need. *disclaimer: my choices are obviously based on bias rather than college football knowledge, as i dont watch much.
they’ll probably take crabtree and hope d.a. figures it all out. i just feel like i dont have a very good grasp of the big picture that mankok may or may not have. and that because of that, the draft may be surprising.
ideal situation for me is to trade braylon, since the likelihood of him staying past this year is nonexistent and it seems as if mangini is already mailing in next year. after trading braylon, for something I hope would be of good value, we could draft Crabtree. I am 100% ok with drafting a WR in the top 5, I understand that it is not exactly a lock for a top 10 WR to be good but no position is, and Crabtree is just nasty and unlike braylon he can catch the ball. I don’t think anyone would offer a first for Braylon but a 2nd and some more 2nd day picks would get it done for me
one think I don’t get too caught up in is what position they play and whether or not it is ok to take them at 5. We need a lot of things, and if the right player is there at 5 and he is a WR or a S or w/e, we should take him instead of something we aren’t sure about. I’m not sold on Orakpo, nothing against him its just that the whole DE-LB hybrid guys scare me, and he would have a lot to learn about coverage. He is a different type of player than Wimbley, but I feel like you couldn’t play them at the same time because one of the OLBs in a 3-4 has to be able to cover something
I thought I read that Kiper heard the Browns aren’t high on Orakpo anyways so…maybe its a moot point