2012 NFL Draft: Cleveland Browns Select QB Brandon Weeden
April 26, 2012While We’re Waiting… NFL Draft First Round Reactions
April 27, 2012With Alabama’s Trent Richardson and Oklahoma State’s Brandon Weeden being the latest additions to the Cleveland Browns, focus turns to the second round where the team will look to address additional needs.
Per ESPN’s Mel Kiper and Scouts Inc’s Todd McShay, the sites have officially been set on the wide receiver position as both analysts feel the Browns will select Georgia Tech’s Stephen Hill with the 37th selection. Hill, a player whom many would have been comfortable with had he been selected with the 22nd-overall selection, is one of the few wide receivers who have fallen a bit further than anticipated.
Hill only had 28 receptions last season, but was running in an offense that was focused priamarily on the quarterback option and wishbone formations. He is 6-feet-4-inches tall, has top end speed and excellent length. Per ESPN, he “flashes the ability to make the first defender miss and can rip off a chunk of yards when gets a seam.”
Other players who could be selected include offensive lineman Cordy Glenn, offensive lineman Bobby Massie and wide receiver Reuben Randle. The two linemen would be instant upgrades at right tackle while Randle’s transition to a West Coast Offense has seemingly drawn praise from the Browns front office.
[Related: Browns Select Trent Richardson #3 in the 2012 NFL Draft]
40 Comments
I’ll be ok with any of these guys, I guess. I don’t think they can afford to wait any longer on WR. I have this weird feeling that Hill will be gone by 37 and that Weeden pick is going to look even worse.
Hill and then package the third, and other fourth to move up and get Massie
I think this is great. If memory serves, the Browns have never, ever missed with a second-round wide receiver selection.
Hill will be gone by 37. If he isn’t all of a sudden the Weeden pick is validated…
I say we keep our hand on the panic button and take Hebron Fangupo at 37 before anyone else gets him.
Well said.
I have to think that Hill is a consideration for the Rams at 33. I’d be happy with Hill, Randle, Massie or Glenn though…however, if we get a WR in the 2nd round, we’ve officially become the Detroit Lions of the 2nd round.
Another thing of note: Lots of experts/mocks had the Browns taking Jonathan Martin at 22. I think with Wright off the board and no other teams jumping at some of these OL high in the draft, it makes the Weeden pick a little less of a reach…imagine how much of a reach it would have been to get Martin at 22!
The other 4th round pick is a compensatory pick given to them by the NFL. Compensatory picks can’t be traded, we HAVE to use it to make a selection.
Like others have said, if they get Hill at 37, it will make the choice to flip Weeden and Hill moot. I don’t see it happening. I have a feeling that Hill is going to be one of those guys that falls and falls, and we have a chance to take him in the 4th round but don’t.
Looking back, yesterday was not as bad as it seemed at the time. It could be worse – we could have ended up with Tannehill. As it stands, we got a game changer with the 4 pick, and if nothing else, recognition that this offense is broken with the 22 pick.
Hill should still be there. Jim Brown’s mock projects him as a late 6th rounder, so we should be okay.
Not true. Browns have two 4th rounders, one from ALT trade last year, the other is their own. We gave one to MIN for #3.Compensatory picks started in 5th round for us, but your right, those can’t be traded.
wrong
the only way the Browns could make me more upset about the draft is to take a WR that has all the measurables but has a problem catching the ball and running routes (looking at both S. Hill and R.Randle in that distinction)
The upshot of this draft is that we won’t ever have to argue about Colt McCoy anymore. They spent a 22nd pick on Weeden, so newsflash — he is your starting QB on September 9th, barring some horrible injury.
The down…shot (?) of this is that if he doesn’t work out, and if they don’t find some absolute steals during the late round, we’ll be the Jacksonville Jaguars of the league; with an amazing RB and not much else.
I like Weeden, actually. That may come as a shock, but I’m confident in his howitzer arm and solid accuracy.
But, I just can’t get over his age and I don’t know what kind of mobility he posseses. And, let’s not forget; he had Justin Freaking Blackmon as his go-to man. At best he’ll have Hill and Little as his “top” receivers here, with an iffy line (unless they amaze me in later rounds) and a rookie RB with amazing potential.
This doesn’t look like anything better than 4-12 this year STILL.
there will likely be trades, so this is pointless, but here is how I think it plays out if the teams stay where they are at now:
Rams – Rueben Randle (I think it’s a mistake, but I think he’s who they want if they stay)
Colts – Coby Fleener (TE is a need and Luck’s on board with this pick)
Ravens – Cordy Glenn (sigh, he can play OG which is what they need him to do)
Broncos – Courtney Upshaw (could be WR but I think they do that later)
Browns – Jonathan Martin (plenty of WRs for late 2nd when we trade back up IMO. Martin is the last in the 1st round tier OTs IMO. I like Osemele who may be there in the 3rd, but I think we play this one safe).
I think we could have made the same kind of argument about not getting Little, too. And, he more/less worked out. He isn’t perfect but then he was a rookie with a weak QB…maybe he will improve under Sir Weeden.
I would have rather stayed pat at #4 (TB was obviously trading up for Richardson with how they immediately dropped down, then traded back up for D.Martin at the end of the first) and drafted Blackmon.
Then, traded #22, 4th,5th,7th and our 2nd to jump up for Tannehill with the Rams (all picks were for sale afterall and that is more than the Cowboys gave up).
We then have Blackmon and Tannehill (who I don’t like but like better than Weeden especially if he has to start right away). We still need a RT (3rd rounder on Osemele or Schwartz). And a RB (stuck picking between LaMichael James, Pead, Turbin and the like for a year unless Lamar Miller really drops which I doubt).
The league decision to interrupt the draft after round 1 is obviously revenge for our deluge of faxes to league headquarters after Modell moved the team.
Breathe, folks, a little early to go apoplectic about Heckert reaching and players falling. Lot of quality in first 3 rounds, and if picks can play no one will care about exactly where they were taken. Let’s take stock of the haul tomorrow morning.
And, hey, Colt and Montario, last call was 8 hours ago. Get your coats, I’ve called you guys a cab.
Haha, well said Harv about Colt and Montario. I still think they’ll let Monty stick around for another year, but he will get very few carries.
Guessing Colt will be traded today for a pick but this might be a good thing for Montario. His running should be better 2 years post-surgery but now won’t stress about second round bona fides. Thinking he’ll give us excellent RB depth or flash enough ability to move on to another team.
Don’t forget Staubach did not join the NFL until he was 27. Warner also a late comer. If Wheedon can play, age won’t matter, if he can’t it will be used to criticize the F.O.
Well thank god your not our GM.
We all love to panic, so I’m on board with this.
Of course. As it should be; they picked him, so they need to stand by their man, as it were.
I want Courtney Upshaw or LaVante David.
Yippee… so we’ll pick up a 6th rounder for Colt… if we’re lucky?
If we dont get a WR and OL that are able to start right away and excel, then the Weeden pick will haunt us. If you reverse it however, and say the Browns got Richardson at #3, a WR/OL at #22, Weeden at #37, and finally the remaining piece OL/WR, then I dont think anyone would be angry. So, it all comes down to Heckert playing the right cards at the right times. So far it looks like he botched this, but we have to wait and see.
Personally, I dont like the Weeden pick at all, but I could have lived with it provided we fill all our other needs. As it stands right now the Browns went into the offseason with a QB and RB. We have drafted a QB and RB. They’re likely better than what we had, but still not significant progress in my mind.
The only way they screw this up more is by NOT trading him.
he’s at least a solid back-up QB in a league where every team needs one at least one game virtually every year. I’m thinking that should fetch a third or fourth rounder. Unless they feel that they must cash in today to get a pick this year and better to get him out of the building to avoid the awkward situation, in which case it’s whatever they can get.
I can live with this. I am a big proponent of building from the inside-out. A running game and time to throw will help our passing game.
Oh yeah and a new QB.
I respect the strategy but would have been livid if they did that.
Or a 1st round QB. Especially one playing out if the shotgun…
I think panic button give away day would be a great promotion at the Stadium. The place would sound like the World Cup with all those woozle wuzzle things playing incessantly.
option1 for me was always to sign Flynn then use our first 3 picks on RB/WR/RT in some order. But, was trying to forge getting a QB in the 1st that was somewhat better than what we did (if that was the route we decided to go).
I would rather have waited until the 4th/5th and just gone Osweiler/Foles/Lindley/Coleman.
i thought Little’s issues were bad character and not playing his last season. McShay was basically saying on Mike and Mike that Hill cant run routes and has bad hands, basically just a physical prototype. i hope browns avoid that. its like Braylon but w/o getting open first.
i’de be shocked if they got anything better than 5th round pick for Colt. I’ve never understood the value structure and why players get delt for late picks but it happens all the time
Definitely, given that they missed out on Blackmon…
I’m hoping it’s Massie I’m not a Stephen Hill person I’d rather take Jeffrey who I think will be there in round four. But this is the problem with the selection of Weeden. It meant that either WR or OL would be hurt especially when Weeden was a first round pick.
yea what an idiot
Completely agree. At least 2 teams ahead of the Browns have OL and WR needs. I don’t see Hill dropping to the 3 round, he was graded low first, high 2nd round someone must be looking at the wrong Hill. Guess they should have looked to fill one of these needs in FA. No upgrade to OL or WR would just be painful to watch next season.