May 23, 2013

Kiper: Browns to Draft Baylor’s Griffin, Wright

February 15, 2012 by 23 Comments

ESPN’s resident draftnik and hair product connoisseur Mel Kiper released the latest edition (2.0!) of his 2012 mock draft on Wednesday afternoon, and has the Cleveland Browns leaving with a pair of Baylor Bears after the first round.

With the fourth overall selection:

Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

Given the makeup of the roster, and the fact that they have two first-round picks and can really enhance the level of young talent, I think the Browns are far more likely to look at a young QB prospect than get into the bidding war for a veteran like Manning, or even Matt Flynn. One question I have is whether Cleveland stays at this spot and hopes Griffin is still around, or gets aggressive and moves up to No. 2 and guarantees they get their guy. Given his experience, leadership qualities and overall skill set, I don’t see it as much of a leap for Griffin to be a Week 1 starter in 2012.

And with the 22nd-overall pick, Griffin’s speedy teammate at Baylor.

Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Cleveland needs help at wide receiver but may not be able to get it in free agency, and Wright is a player who can provide an element the Browns don’t have right now. The pick makes sense on both need and value. Wright quietly had a season that almost matched Blackmon’s in the Big 12. Greg Little was inconsistent but certainly showed a lot of promise as a rookie, and Wright is a good complement. He’s smaller at about 5-10, 190 pounds, but adds a speed threat this offense really needs. He’ll stretch the field with speed. The Browns need weapons, and Wright fits the profile.

Kiper does state that he’s not allowed to reflect or predict trades. Thus, Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon goes second-overall to the St. Louis Rams. The Browns have been rumored to be in the mix for a potential trade-up scenario, but have also been linked to running back Trent Richardson with the forth pick.

Kiper’s colleague Todd McShay also has the Browns selecting Griffin fourth overall, pairing him with Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd.

[Related: SB Nation: Mock Draft Pegs Browns With Richardson, Tannehill]

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  • Andrew

    Has any NFL team ever taken three straight first round picks from Baylor?!

  • TheRobot57

    Would be two great pick ups. Don’t care for the trade up though. I want Wright on the team, his speed and explosiveness would add so much to the offense. The guy is lightning. 

  • Nobody1231234

    Is Holmgren going to finally draft a first round QB this year, with all the years there are better available QBs in the first round? For some reason, I still don’t buy the Browns drafting Griffin at #4.

  • MrCleaveland

    Kiper’s “not allowed to reflect or predict trades”????? Why, this makes a mockery out of his entire mock draft! In fact, it renders the entire concept of mock drafts as a completely pointless exercise! Meaningless, even! How are we supposed to maintain our undying faith in the process if he’s “not allowed” to consider trades? I’m so disillusioned.

  • TSR3000

    Now this draft is more like it. 

  • Justaguy

    I’m curious to think if Joe Adams could have been this year’s Kendall Wright (small speedy guy) or at least compared to him if he didn’t get hurt. He was a player who made plays in the SEC – similar size – possibly as fast (we will see come the combine?)… would hate to ‘waste’ a pick on a guy at #22 if you see them as comparable players. You could get Adams in the 3rd and it still might be a reach…

  • Vindictive_Pat

    At this point, shouldn’t we be more inclined to believe that if H&H and the front office supposedly “like” someone that there’s almost no chance they will be picked?  All you hear right now is misdirection… so the fact that Kiper thinks the Browns will select RGIII and Kendall Wright at this point in time makes me believe that those are two players in whom the Browns have zero interest.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_I6423N7UCT3SVURBC55JGXFYAU Bobby

    I would love this draft.

  • Henry Brown

    Luck and Griffin are the 2 best QB prospects since Manning.

  • Henry Brown

    So H&H are pulling the puppet strings for Kiper? Wriiiight.

  • Henry Brown

    Would love to get both but don’t want to lose Griffin to get Wright. If you need to trade the pick then do it to secure him. There are other receivers all over the place and Griffin will immediately upgrade ours.

  • mgbode

    i think someone grabs Adams in the mid-to-late 2nd.

    Criner is the mid-round guy I would target.  Or Broyles (and just understand he’s probably on PUP to start the year)

  • mgbode

    let’s just be thankful that none of them were Danny Watkins

  • Vindictive_Pat

    Oh, I see what you did there!

  • Vindictive_Pat

    You mean Manning and Leaf right?  Because they were equally touted coming out of college.

    Hardly anybody I’ve heard agrees with you about RGIII being as good of a prospect as Andrew Luck though.  And you’re forgetting about Michael Vick, Matthew Stafford, Matt Ryan, and of course, Tim Couch, among others.

  • sbc

    If he falls to 4 I say take him. And wright would be a good pick to since the chemistry will already be there. We’ll just have to see if they can take it to the next level

  • erchoov

    I want RGIII but don’t want to trade up to get him.  If he’s not there then try and trade down.  If we draft Richardson and Griffin is still on the board, I swear I’ll eat a stray cat.  Only the Vikings have tried to build a team around a running back, and that doesn’t really work. 

  • gren

    I see no reason to trade up this year, so I hope Kiper is right and RG3 falls to us. If he doesn’t why trade down ? We have needs and the prospects are there.

    1. RG3
    2. Blackmon
    3. Richardson

    With Luck going at number one, we are sure to get an offensive playmaker at 4 and can draft to compliment that pick later.

  • Gbwoy

    I’d be quite happy with drafting RGIII, although I don’t like the idea of trading up much.  Too many holes to fill on this roster to give up draft picks. 

    I’d probably prefer Wright to Floyd, but I wouldn’t mind seeing either picked at #22.  Either one would help us, although Wright makes more sense if we take a QB who can throw the deep ball.  If we stick with Colt, I’m not sure getting an ultra-fast wideout will help much.

  • Steve

    I’m never quite clear on whether the mock drafter thinks these picks should happen or will happen, or if possible, a mixture of both.

  • BuckeyeDawg

    I think we can all agree that the goal here is to win the Super Bowl.  With that in mind, let’s take a look at the QB’s who have won the last 10 SB’s. 

    Tom Brady (x2)
    Eli Manning (x2)
    Ben Roethlisberger (x2)
    Peyton Manning
    Drew Brees
    Brad Johnson
    Aaron Rodgers

    (I would call Brad Johnson an outlier here)

    If we take a look at all the others, these guys all have several things in common. 

    They are all big guys (except Brees) with big arms that can stand in the pocket and deliver a strike down the field.  They all have above average arm strength and above average accuracy.  None of them are a real “dual threat”, although they can be elusive at times and extend plays with their feet. 

    The question is: Does RG3 remind you of any one of these guys?        

    The stats say he is an excellent passer.  His yards, TD/INT ratio, and completion % are great.  But can he stand tall in the pocket and deliver that strike under pressure on 3rd down to keep a drive going?  Or does he depend on his feet to bail him out when things get hairy?  He has rushed for 1279 yards on 310 attempts the past 2 seasons.  That seems like a lot to me.  You can’t get away with that in the NFL.  You might win some games with that, but history says it doesn’t win championships.

    Everyone loves to watch the “dual threat’ QB’s in college.  Terelle Pryor was fun to watch.  So was Vince Young.  But that style doesn’t translate well to winning in the NFL.  Drop back, in the pocket passing is what wins in the NFL.  If RG3 can do that, I’m listening.  If his “game” is based on the system he was in, and his scrambling and rushing ability instead of his passing ability, I’m out. 

    I honestly haven’t seen enough of him to have a good judgement, so I am looking for some honest input here. 

  • The_Real_Shamrock

    Please, please, please let Washington or someone else move up to #2 or #3 so they draft Griffin and all of this madness ends. 

  • Schmoker

    There is no chance that RG3 will be there at four. He’s going second whether it’s us or someone else, mark it down in ink.