May 16, 2012

Kiper: Browns Select Robert Griffin III, Kendall Wright in First Round

January 18, 2012 By 60 Comments

ESPN’s resident draftnik Mel Kiper Jr. has officially published his first mock of the 2012 NFL Draft. Wherein NFL.com’s Steve Wyche has the Cleveland Browns trading up to select Baylor’s Robert Griffin III, Kiper feels the shifty quarterback will still be on the board come the fourth-overall selection where he will be promptly taken by Tom Heckert, ushering in a brand new era of Browns football.

After Stanford’s Andrew Luck, Oklahoma State’s Justin Blackmon and USC’s Matt Kalil are selected with the first three picks, respectively, Kiper says the following:

If a team moves ahead of the Browns for Griffin, they also could be in play for Blackmon, or even the guy I have at No. 5, Trent Richardson. However, the questions on Colt McCoy’s ceiling as a starting NFL quarterback are getting louder, and if the Browns don’t go after a solution such as Matt Flynn, a quarterback certainly could be in play here. Griffin made big strides this past season, particularly with his deep accuracy. He is a big-time athlete at the quarterback position but has developed a very good pocket presence and the ability to read the game, and his big arm comes with a nice touch on intermediate throws. He is a leader and has intangibles that should really impress evaluators during the draft process.

And if one Baylor product was not enough (two, if we want to group in last season’s first-round selection DT Phil Taylor), Kiper comes through with the hopeful answer to Cleveland’s wide receiving prayers.  With the twenty-second-overall selection:

Quietly, [Baylor WR Kendall] Wright had a season that almost matched Blackmon’s in the Big 12. The Browns might not end up with Griffin with the No. 4 pick, but his teammate would make a lot of sense here. Greg Little is a developing big target and had a pretty good rookie season given the overall performance of the Cleveland offense. Wright is smaller at about 5-10, 190 pounds, but could add a speed threat this offense really needs. He can beat teams over the top with straight-line speed but also works underneath and will do a lot of damage after the catch. The Browns need weapons, and Wright, who also has great hands, fits the profile.

Stay tuned for the next edition of Kiper’s mock where he has the Cavaliers selecting Perry Jones III and Brittney Griner.

[Related: Report: Packers Unlikely to Use Franchise Tag on Matt Flynn]

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  • Anonymous

    Well, if Kiper is predicting it, we can rest assured that it’s the wrong thing for the Browns to do (and probably won’t happen, anyway). 

    [Comment not based on any fact or evidence from prior years' predictions, just a prevailing impression that Kiper is a blowhard always-wrong weatherman.]

  • Harv 21

    Kiper wrong, Garry? But the certainty of tone, the clothes and grooming bespeak such self-assurance.

    Anybody know anything about Kendall Wright? Is he legit or a creation of his QB?

  • Harv 21

    Kiper wrong, Garry? But the certainty of tone, the clothes and grooming bespeak such self-assurance.

    Anybody know anything about Kendall Wright? Is he legit or a creation of his QB?

  • Anonymous

    Since I’m not an Insider, where does Mel (or anyone else for that matter) have Alshon Jeffery going? To me, he seems the most prototypical NFL wideout. 

    [Floyd's injury concerns have me likewise concerned.]

  • Anonymous

    Since I’m not an Insider, where does Mel (or anyone else for that matter) have Alshon Jeffery going? To me, he seems the most prototypical NFL wideout. 

    [Floyd's injury concerns have me likewise concerned.]

  • Anonymous

    I couldn’t have said it better myself, Garry.

  • Ryan

    Kiper has him going to the 49ers at 31. 

  • Anonymous

    Instead of “mock drafts,” can we start calling these “wild-a– guesses”?

    BTW, for those of you who think we’re doomed if we don’t take RG, please remember that there are franchise, can’t-miss QBs in every draft, so if we don’t get our savior this year, we can always  grab next year’s model.

  • Anonymous

    Ah, the tone . . . garnered at the Phil Simms Voice Coaching Academy, where you learn that ”the louder you yell, the righter you are.”

    Don’t really know anything about Wright, but your question is going to cause us to go down the “draft-RG3-because-he’ll-make-the-WRs-better vs. draft-a-WR-because-he’ll-make-Colt-better” route.  That might be the well-traveled road best not taken.
     

  • Anonymous

    Is this the area where we come to complain about the possibility of the Browns taking RG3 with our first pick?  Because I’d like to do that.  Except that I don’t think the Browns are actually going to do that.  If you didn’t want RG3, wouldn’t your first move be to sucker the Redskins and other supposedly interested teams into thinking that you want that player?  That way you basically assure yourself of getting the player you want (Justin Blackmon please).  But hey that’s just me.

  • Anonymous

    We are in complete agreeance.  (Just wanted to see how this over-used non-word looks when used in a written sentence.) 

    In 12 months, regardless of whether we draft RG3, we will all be arguing the merits of drafting Matt Barkely with the 4th* pick.

    [With payment of an "Insider's" subscription, you can get my official 2012 National Football League Game-by-Game Wilda-- Prediction.]

  • Anonymous

    That’s me, too. 

  • Anonymous

    Kendall Wright is legit.  Burner w/ good hands. 

  • Anonymous

    personally, i’m hoping we are not picking in the top10 next year.

  • Steve

    If you put in the amount of hours he does studying college football players, you would be called a blowhard too. He knows more than you about college football players, deal with it. Not everyone is perfect.

  • http://www.redright88.com/ Titus Pullo

    For what it is worth, NFL.com has Wright as their No. 3 prospect, writing that:

    “Wright has
    scouts drooling over his extraordinary combination of speed, athleticism
    and burst. He routinely blows past defenders on vertical routes but
    also flashes the ability to wreak havoc on “catch-and-run” plays on the
    outside. While he still remains unpolished as a route runner, the
    potential for Wright to make a Mike Wallace-like impact on the NFL has
    sent his stock soaring in war rooms across the league.”

    RG3 was passing the ball to himself, so maybe there is something to Wright as a legitimate NFL talent.

  • Anonymous

    Okay then.  Tell your dad I meant no offense.  Again, just a prevailing impression. 

    (But isn’t “knowing more than you about college football players” his job?  It isn’t mine.  Unfortunately.  Seems like a great gig, particularly if you don’t have to be right.)

  • Anonymous

    Sorry, I meant RG3 was not passing the ball to himself

  • DocZeusX

    You can rest assured that whatever the Browns decision ends up being it will be the wrong one.

  • Anonymous

    If that assessment is true, I’d happily take the tandem – but if that assessment is true, he’ll not likely be available late in the round.

  • Anonymous

    i like it.  never hurts to have a little chemistry..  hopefully they bring back hillis (3 year $15m with $8 guaranteed? he turns that down, then shame on him.. if Browns are too cheap to offer that, then shame on them..) and that could be a real interesting offense to watch.  Wright, Little, MoMass, Norwood, Moore, Hillis, RG3 and some packages for Cribbs.  don’t like it, love it.

  • Mark Fejedelem

    My problem isn’t with RG3 but drafting any QB high this year. We finally have a loaded gun in the draft (3 picks in the top 37 I believe). Give me a WR, O-lineman for the right side of the line, and a DB to pair with Haden and I am a very happy fan.

  • Harv 21

    ok, just read some scouting reports and those say Wright is absolutely legit as a #1. Especially like the reports that he is explosive deep and fearless across the middle and a fiery leader who wants the ball more than anyone else on the field.  Smirked at the contradicting “great hands” and ”smallish hands means expect some drops.” Smallish hands was why Ricky Williams was going to be a chronic fumbler. Not.

  • Mansoor Khan

    The reason I hear for why he can’t be a #1 is that he’s too small. He’d be like a Desean Jackson type as a number one. Which wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.

  • Bigtrav425

    I hope to god this does not happen!!..I DO NOT want rg3 and I DO NOT want to trade up…we need to much to lose other picks or to waste. 1st rounder on a QB this yr….best rg/rt at 4 and wr or lb at 22

  • REEPJP

    I’ll pass on Kendall Wright (having never watching him play). How was I supposed to know to watch the QB AND WR in that bowl game!?!

    If I’m going to take a small-ish burner, I’ll take my chances on Eric Page out of Toledo in a middle round.  I think he could turn out to be a Lance Moore type player in the league.

  • Steve

    What a clever and eloquent response. Unfortunately, you’ll have to deal with my skepticism about your ability to evaluate Kiper. Not only do you not demonstrate that he is taking away from our ability to understand where players should/will get drafted, you wear your ignorance of his ability as a badge of honor.

    If it’s such a desirable position, and he’s performing poorly at it, you would think there are hundreds, if not thousands, of candidates out there who would take his position and outperform him. Let me know when that starts to happen.

    His job is a difficult one to begin with, even without average joe’s selective memories harassing him.

  • nanceforprez

    I know this might sound like a horrible idea, but hear me out.  What if we were able to draft Kalil and David DeCastro, OG, Stanford.  They are both OL studs.  Then we get Steinbach back and we would have easliy the best O-Line in the NFL.

    Thomas>Steinbach>Mack>DeCastro>Kalil

    I know that we wouldn’t have playmakers, but we would own the running game and give the QB more time.  We would be able to run like the texans and be able to give Colt more time to throw.

    just curious of your thoughts

  • Anonymous

    does that mean that the Browns will cut him and he’ll have a nice career with an elite QB elsewhere?

  • Anonymous

    that’s a ton of investment on the OL and I’d like to think that either Pinkston or Lauvao could lock down the RG spot (odds on favorite to Pinkston).

  • Anonymous

    Nah.  I wear shiny military medals as badges of honor (but not very often).  This is just a fun distraction from the real world. 

    Look, the guy does his job (however arguably difficult it may be) in front of the public for public consumption.  He’s perfectly deserving of public criticism, however unwashed the public may be.

    And I’ve never actually harassed him.  That would be illegal, nay, criminal, and I’m all about law and order.  Every time.   

  • Dickfratus

    Gary:  Barkley not coming out this year.  Why all the hype about him, anyway?  About Colt’s size, with about Colt’s arm strength, I hear.  Colt had a better college record, too.  I know he has curly blond hair and he plays at a sexy WC school, but he ain’t Andrew Luck by a long shot.

  • Shamrock

    If Hillis is gone you won’t have a running game that’s the problem with using multiple picks on OL. A RT is needed I agree that Pinkston or Luvao could fill it. Other unknown is whether Steinbach will return to his old form. I’m hoping they use FA to improve the line and don’t draft Griffin. Use those picks elsewhere. Address the QB situation after you improve the other parts of the team (if needed).

  • Fenstemakeram08

    I would take Blacmon, or Jefferies before Wright, a good RB could be had in Rd 2 or 3, Browns could also use another DT, a CB, and possibly a safety… I favor giving Colt another year and maybe taking a look at a guy like Thad Lewis if he blows it. If he does not show improvement with a full offseason in the WC then the Browns will pick top 10 and can give a guy like Matt Barkley a try..it is to soon, and unfair to judge Colt based on what he faced this season. My concern is that he is too shell shocked after this year to succeed, if that is the case, next year will show it. Bringing another QB into the same situation is unlikely to produce better results. I would love to see how a Drew Brees or Tom Brady would have done in this offense, with this supporting cast… my guess is they still would have missed the playoffs and Browns fans would be calling for a new QB….

  • REEPJP

    In fairness to the Browns on Lance. He didn’t play any games for the Saints in 2005, and only 4 in 2006. He was definitely a project at the beginning of his career plus we had Braylon, Antonio Bryant, and Northcutt…three receivers we all thought were young and somewhat decent at the time. Can we fault them for not putting him on the practice squad, maybe…but definitely not for keeping him off the active roster.

  • steve-o

    It’s early in the draft season, and a lot will change. Lets say the Browns sign Flynn as a FA. The team to jump for a QB would then be Washington (assuming they don’t acquire Manning). That probably means Blackmon is off the board, and RG3 is there at 4. Could put us in the mix for a blockbuster trade. If not and we do end up with RG3, I sure hope it’s because he fell in our laps. Don’t want to get into a bidding war for the second best QB in the draft.

    Wright is a good reciever but it would not shock me if he’s available in the second round due to his small size. He’s a slower version of D. Jackson minus the attitude. Broyles is a similar type reciever and can be had in the mid rounds due to an injury. Might be worth a gamble. Jeffrey has red flags regarding his work ethic and weight. Floyd is boom or bust. Sanu is another one that could be good. Not the best draft for #1 WR’s, and this FO is more likely to join the polar bear club than it is to sign a legit WR as a FA.

  • JM

    RG3 played in the Big 12, which plays no defense, so of course he put up huge numbers. I say try to find one a QB via trade or free agency and use the pick on WR or another position of need. 

  • Ike

    This is what I feel like Browns fans don’t get; we didn’t go 4-12 because of our O-line.  They went 4-12 BECAUSE THEY COULDN’T SCORE POINTS.  Sure, the loss of Steinbach was a huge blow, but to use a #4 pick on guards and tackles when this team is completely and literally devoid of any offensive weapons is just not a good idea.

    You mention that we would own the run like Houston; did you eveR consider thaT when healthy, Houston has one of the best QBs in the league (Schaub) and a top 3 WR (Andre Johnson)?  Much harder to stack the box when you have those playmakers (there’s that word again) outside of RB.  Who would our RB be anyway?  Montario Hardesty?

    If you can’t tell, I would be ecstatic if the Browns came away from the 1st round with Griffin and Wright.

  • Anonymous

    Yep.  That’s why I said “in 12 months.”

    My point was only an agreement with Mr. Cleaveland that there will be an overly-hyped “can’t miss” QB like RG3 (not Andrew Luck) in every draft.  By no means am I suggesting that the Browns draft him or his golden locks.  Frankly, I still can’t get over his preening after the game in the ’Shoe in ’09.    

  • Anonymous

    Everyone: Feel free to rub Steve’s troll gem.

  • Ike

    As a Browns fan, I just have a major problem with your last sentence.  And then Browns fans wonder why we’ve been mired in mediocrity for the past 13 years.  Look around your division and tell me what those teams have that the Browns don’t (hint: it’s the most important position on the team).

    Quite simply, the Cleveland Browns will never do anything of significance until the find a franchise QB, end of story.

  • Ike

    For those that don’t know anything about Wright, 14 of Griffin’s 37 passing TDs were caught by Wright.  The guy was a very good college and very much overshadowed by Griffin and fellow Big 12 WR Justin Blackmon.

  • Anonymous

    We all have dreams. 

  • Anonymous

     So just take the best RG/RT at #4 even if Kalil is gone and the next best RG/RT is like 35th on the big board?

    So glad you are not calling the shots.

  • bleedinBrown

    I don’t believe the Browns select Griffin. But he does go at 2 or 3. At 2 means rams don’t select Kalil/Blackmon. At 3 means Minni did not select Kalil/Claiborne. That leaves a very likely Kalil or Claiborne available to the Browns. I dont think Browns take Blackmon. With 22 Browns could very well select Wrght. Over the top speed and can catch. They already have Little as a big body. Griffin is wrong but Wright is RIGHT. They will also add another fine receiver in FA, like Meachum/Colston/either Jackson  (Vincent/Desean). They also fix the right side of the line with Pinkston and a FA (Demetrius Bell/Carl Nicks/Ben Grubbs) since Steinbach returns to LG. At 37 watch for RB-Lamar Miller Hillis is gone) or QB-Tannehill. The most pressing needs now would be a speedy LB (DQ gets resigned) and DE opposite Sheard. Browns just got over the hump in an offseason.

  • Anonymous

    it’s January, so I’m allowed that one for now :)

  • Anonymous

    well, that depends.  if we take Kalil at #4, then we could still take Lamar Miller at #22 and Sanu at #37.    or K.Wright/Floyd/Jeffrey at #22 and Polk at #37.

    we could fix RT and still get playmakers.  i prefer getting Blackmon/L.Miller/Z.Sanders myself, but I wouldn’t be upset if those other options played out.

  • Anonymous

    Wright’s more Maclin than DeSean.  but, I think Mike Wallace is still the best comparison for him.  possibly Manningham when he was starting for the Giants.

  • Ike

    Would be very shocked if either Floyd or Jeffrey were still available at 22.  Hope I’m wrong, though..

  • Ike

    It’s amazing to me the reasons Browns fans come up with as to how we can avoid drafting a franchise QB…..then be the first in line to complain after each losing season.  Skip Griffin because he played in the Big 12!?  You can’t be serious.

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