June 19, 2013

The NFL Draft: Best Athlete Available or Position of Need?

March 2, 2011 by 28 Comments

With the 5th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the Arizona Cardinals select OLB Von Miller.

And just like that the Browns are on the clock. But what should they do?

Using Mel Kiper’s latest mock draft strictly for the purpose of establishing an order, we see that Fairley, Bowers, Newton, Green and Miller are off the board. Mel has the Browns selecting J.J. Watt, DE from Wisconsin. That would certainly fill a need, but is Watt the best player available? Is he even the best player available that fills a need?

The Browns will certainly be taking a hard look at Watt, as well as other defensive linemen such as Marcell Dareus and Robert Quinn. Wide receiver is also a need however, and many say that Julio Jones’ excellent performance at the combine may have vaulted him up draft boards.

It has been inferred that the Browns might not be opposed to taking one of a few top tier defensive backs as well, even though that isn’t perceived as a big area of need. Guys like Patrick Peterson and Prince Amukamara could potentially give the Browns the best young CBs in the league paired with Joe Haden.

So who would I like to see the Browns select?

The player most likely to make an impact.

How’s that for a weak answer? We’d all love for the Browns to have a 2011 draft that rivals the Steelers’ 1974 offering, or even the Cowboys’ 1991 or 1992 classes. The reality is those types of drafts are few and far between.

Every draft has a Pro-Bowl player or two in the first round. What I want for the Browns is to find one or two of those players. Outside of center and left tackle, is there not room on this team for a star at just about any position? If Heckert believes Patrick Peterson is that kind of player then take him. If he thinks Julio Jones is that guy, then grab him. If Akeem Ayers ends up being that stud OLB from this class then I hope he’s wearing Cleveland orange and brown.

Forget about position. Easy to say for a team with a lot of holes anyway. Grab the best players you can get, and use free agency to fill holes. No, we aren’t likely to sign big money, high profile guys to step in and create a dominant defensive line. The truth is no team really accomplishes that through free agency anyway. They add a piece to an already good unit and it becomes better.

We’re kidding ourselves if we expect the Browns to be a playoff team next year. But they can get better. A solid draft again this year and the Browns will have a foundation to build on.

Related Posts

Zemanta
Filed Under: Browns Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
  • Stinkfist

    It took me a while, but I have talked myself into Peterson. I want to be great at something, and Peterson, Haden, and Ward would certainly be great

  • http://www.60bpm.com/ Robbie

    When picking at #6, I would think the Browns should take BPA when their time comes. The team doesn’t have any positions that couldn’t use superstar starters, aside from LT. Use rounds 2+ to fill positions of need and build depth.

  • Chris

    We’re committed to at least 1 more year of rebuilding with the regime change in Cleveland, switch of defensive scheme, etc… So I’ve changed my stance from “fill needs” to “get the best athelete”, at least for the first round.

  • Oppie

    Definitely go best player available and I would be angry if JJ Watt is the pick b/c he doesn’t seem to fit that title.With the mock drafts that are out there, it looks like Marcell Dareus or Patrick Peterson or both may be available and seem to have a greater chance to be one of those Pro-Bowl type players being mentioned. It seems that there would be some great options available and I’d jump at the chance to grab either Peterson, Dareus, Julio Jones (after his amazing combine performance), or AJ Green (may be available with some rumors swirling that the Bengals make look to draft Carson’s replacement).

  • http://twitter.com/lilOUmikey lilOUmikey

    BPA for sure especially with the top WR prospect and possibly the #1 talent in this years draft in AJ Green. Like previously stated this team has many holes and needs playmakers no matter where they play on the field. Patrick Peterson is this player. He will give Coach Jauron a lot of flexibility with 3 solid CBs in Haden, Peterson, and Sheldon Brown.

    Heckart has shown to find All-Pro caliber WRs in the late first to second round in the draft with picking Desean Jackson in the mid 2nd round and Jeremy Maclin in the late first.

    The Browns are in a fantastic spot in this years draft with all the talent on top. There is not a ‘dream’ player like the past 2 in Aaron Curry and Eric Berry. As long as we don’t take Cam Newton I’m happy.

  • ben

    In all sports (especially in the NBA) just draft talent in the early rounds.

    In the NFL, you should follow this rule as well, except in the rare occasion that the best player on the board is a Quarterback and you already have Peyton Manning.

    On a team like the Browns, where the only “Peyton Mannings” on our team play left tackle and center, we can pretty much draft anybody whenever they fall to us.

  • Mark

    Let me add my voice to the growing chorus – best player available. No doubt about it. If that player is a d-lineman, all the better. If not and Petterson is there, fantastic. When we have needs everywhere, then just about any young talented player should help. Just hope they get it, and all the rest of the rounds, right.

  • Ohrly

    Any of these 5 guys sound good to me: Bowers, Fairley, Dareus, Peterson, and AJ Green. If none of them are left, I say trade down.

  • http://gooddoctorzeus.blogspot.com DocZeus

    If the Browns can’t draft A.J. Green, they need to take the best player available.

  • Horace

    Pretty much any Cowboys draft from the late 80′s to early 90′s would be fine. From ’88 to ’90, they picked a HOF WR, QB, and RB (respectively) in the first round. In fact, in ’89, 4 of their top 5 picks (rds 1-4) each ended up making multiple pro bowls. Insanely good drafting.

  • CoachA12

    Draft the Best Player Available! I’m shocked no one has mentioned this. ;)

  • Clown Baby

    Best Buckeye Available.

  • Harv 21

    When you draft for need in the first rounds you are, by definition, leaving better players on the board. That is a sure-fire way to slide downhill quickly as an organization.

    If you must fill needs, start that in the 3rd round, where a horrible whiff (Travis Wilson) doesn’t leave your future a shambles like in the first (Touchdown Tommy, Mike Junkin, Clifford Charlton) and second(Rahim Abdullah, Craig Powell).

  • Clown Baby

    It seems like there are elite pass rushers/defensive linemen every year. From what I’ve read Peterson seems like one of those CB talents that come along only every few years. I say take him.

  • B-bo

    Generally, I’m a believer in drafting for need. As it happens, the Browns are in a situation where they can’t help but do both, given the vast number of holes in the roster.

  • Nicky Z

    I can’t believe Kiper says the Browns will take Watt. That sounds ridiculous, especially since there will be better talent available. Any person the Browns draft will fill a position of need, so they’ll go with the best talent. I hope the Bengals take A.J. Green, I’m not a fan, Julio Jones on the other hand… I say the Browns get either Dareus, Fairley, Quinn or Peterson.

  • BrianRut4

    Dareus or Peterson please.

    Imagine Peterson playing CF (he has the size to play FS) ranging for picks while Ward roams the box knocking heads.

  • ben

    Wasn’t it “alleged” that Mel Kiper’s draft boards are more a result of “who is friends are” and “who give him access” than they are “honest evaluation?”

  • ben

    wow – nice typing. “who HIS friends are” and “who GIVES him access”

  • sealedhuman

    I’m with you, BrianRut4. My personal favorites are Peterson and Dareus.

    Is anyone else skeptical about Fairley? Between his one year of production and his seemingly bad attitude, I hope he isn’t our pick.

    Fairley also showed up 1-2 inches short for the combine! Who does that?

  • Stinkfist

    @20 – I know, what a lazy bum. You think he would have worked on that

  • Oppie

    @20. You’re not alone. I’m hesitant about Fairley. For some reason, he seems to remind me of our good friend Gerard Warren, but I can’t put my finger on why. I feel much better about a number of the other DL prospects out there.

  • Foghorn Leghorn

    I want Peterson. He’ll make Haden and Ward better, more confident, and they in turn will do the same thing. I dont think Peterson would be very excited to play in Cleveland if this was a few years ago, but if we got him those three have an opportunity to work together to become the most feared secondary in the NFL. 3 young guys with that common goal is going to motivate them and we’ll get the best performance we can from each individual.

  • jimkanicki

    there’s some buzz in boston about the pats moving up for a von miller. i’d love to swap our #6 and #37 for their #17, #28, #33 (plus some additional pick next year). 3 first rounders? hell yes.

    but if we stand pat at #6, i’d suggest the SAFEST player available. no whiffs please. this makes peterson my choice if he’s there.

  • jimkanicki

    and one more thing — grab justin boren. i’ve seen some projecting him to last till the 6th round. !!

    denny will tell ya… the kid plays him some FOOTBAWW.

  • S-Dub

    I’m torn between Peterson and stud DT X. I think if we can pair Rubin with another really good DT then that will help improve out DE’s because the interior O-Line will have to double team. Freeing up Matt Roth, Marcus Bernard, etc to rush the passer 1-on-1.

    If we take Peterson or Prince we might have the best secondary in the league. Haden, Ward, Brown to FS, and Peterson and Wright as your #2/#3 CB’s. That’s excellent.

    BUT, as we’ve seen before, if there’s no pass rush then it doesn’t matter whose in coverage.

  • http://www.KeshawnDurant.com Keshawn Durant

    As a former athlete and two brothers who are now in the pros, it’s an understatement to say that I just “keep up with” the Browns. I have good friends that play for the Browns. I am hoping that they can get some get players in the needed positions. Browns fans and the team deserves a better shot this season.

  • DBLM

    I would love to see a premier corner finally fall to us, Patrick Peterson seems like a game changer in my eyes, if AJ Green isn’t available, I say take Peterson, if Peterson isn’t available I say take that DT from Bama, but what do I know? I’m just another A-hole Brownies fan!!!