(If you missed part 1, you can go back and read that first.)
As I said in part 1, Pro Football Talk is doing NFL fans a great service by tracking all the 2011 draft visits by team. You should check back often as it is updated.
Indiana offensive tackle James Brewer (3/?) – It is nice that the Browns are looking so hard at possible additions to the right side of the offensive line. James Brewer struggled early in his college career with injuries. In his first two college seasons (after red-shirting 2006) he suffered a foot injury and an ankle injury. The foot injury caused him to miss all of 2007, and he played eight games in 2008. He is 6’6″ and 323 pounds. He is another player with four years of experience in college. He is probably somewhere in the top ten for offensive tackles in the draft depending on who you ask.
Texas cornerback Curtis Brown (3/?) – If the Browns don’t draft Patrick Peterson up at number 6, this is one of those names that could start to look interesting in the second round. Even if the Browns bring back Eric Wright, they will need to find some more depth at corner this off-season. Tom Heckert has indicated that the Browns will focus a lot on finding players with exceptional speed and athleticism on defense. Curtis Brown could fit this mold.
Curtis Brown is another player who is considered top ten at his position in the draft. He ran a 4.4 in the 40-yard dash and was at Texas for four years. He had been a wide receiver in high school prior to being a defensive back in college. He has plenty of special teams experience. He even returned some punts during his career. The Patriots are also scheduled to work out Brown
Lehigh guard Will Rackley (3/21, 4/10) – More on the offensive line… 16 NFL coaches and about 30 scouts were at Lehigh’s NFL Pro Day. Rackley, the 6’3″ 310 pound offensive lineman, needed to show off after skipping drills at the combine due to a minor “hip flexor tweak.” The 6’3″ 309 pounder is known for his athleticism, so it was important for him to perform for coaches and scouts. Some of the scouting websites have him listed as a guard and others have him listed at tackle. I believe he played tackle his senior year at Lehigh.
Auburn quarterback Cam Newton (?/?) - Previously discussed at WFNY in this post…
Arizona defensive end Brooks Reed (?/?) – According to RavensInsider at NationalFootballPost, Reed is moving up the draft boards. He is drawing comparisons to Clay Matthews with his pass-rushing abilities, athleticism and long blond hair. So the hair doesn’t really matter that much, I guess. This is a guy where the question is if he is an outside linebacker or a defensive end. His picture at the combine has him in a DL shirt, but at 6’3″ and 263 pounds it could go either way.
Some of the draft websites indicate there are questions around his ability to cover like a linebacker in space. Remember when Kamerion Wimbley used to do that in Romeo Crennel’s schemes? Let’s assume if the Browns find Brooks Reed on their radar it will most likely be as a defensive end putting pressure on the QB.
Clemson defensive end Da’Quan Bowers (?/?) - Previously discussed at WFNY in this post…
South Carolina cornerback Chris Culliver (4/2) – Not sure why he is listed as a corner. Most of the sources I researched had him listed at free safety. Always remember that there is a big difference between strong safety and free safety. T.J. Ward is a strong safety and will be less likely to be exceptional in coverage. Free safety is more likely to end up one on one with a receiver deep in the secondary. Depending on the Abe Elam situation the Browns could (and probably should) be in the market for a free safety somewhere in the draft.
Chris Culliver is another fast player. He ran the low to mid 4.3s in the 40 yard dash. He tore a pec muscle this season and missed time after playing seven of the first eight games. Culliver has experience as a kick returner as well as both corner and free safety.
Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller (4/11) – I don’t know what I really need to tell you about Von Miller. He is the Butkus award winner and widely considered to be long gone before the Browns are on the clock with the 6th pick in the draft. If Miller happens to be there and the Browns decide to take him, I will scold any Browns fan who gets upset. No draft picks are guaranteed, but Miller is one of those athletes that loves to tackle and has a sense to get it done behind the line of scrimmage. You don’t want to draw comparisons to other linebackers, but we all know great ones. Miller has the potential to be one of those really great ones.
That’s all for now. As more of these visits get announced, we will continue to run the players down that the Browns have interest in. As they become apparent, it will continue to put a picture together as to what the Browns feel about their current depth chart.
