WFNY Grades the 2009 Browns Draft
Every MSM and football-based sports blog out there will attempt to inundate you with “grades” from this past weekend’s festivities. So, instead of grading each player individually, or giving an all-around letter, we decided that it would be good to look at a few different aspects of what Eric Mangini and George Kokinis did during their first draft with the Orange and Brown.
First grade goes to Denny, who get’s an A+ coupled with this gold star that I just pealed off of a 22-year old spelling test. He did an excellent job this weekend, giving WFNY one of the biggest weekends since inception. Very well done, sir.
And now for the actual draft…
Addressing team needs: B-
Rock: “Yeah, I know the Browns needed help at WR and even at C, but still, I felt like defense was the most pressing need and I wish more had been done to address that. Elam and Coleman could be fine players, but there were players with higher upsides available.”
Denny: “[We] got a franchise center, a solid lb in rounds 2 and 4 and CBs late”
Scott: “When you have so many holes, entering a draft with five picks and coming away with 11 players without trading either QB or Braylon Edwards seems like a step in the right direction to me.”
DP: “It’s hard not to give this positive marks, since let’s face it: this team has A LOT of needs. I like Mack, as there’s never NOT a good time to bolster your lines. Obviously, receiver is a need, though I think they might have gone overboard with two WRs in the second round. And, of course, pass rushers are a team need. I like the potential of Veikune and Maiava, though I would have liked some pass-rush help a bit higher. I think James Davis should make the team, and can be a solid contributor in a few years.”
Value Received in Trading Picks: B
Craig: “The Browns value received looks a bit low at first glance, but the cap money saved on their first rounder is going to look monumental if Alex Mack plays up to his potential for 5-6 years on a rookie contract. If he plays at pro bowl caliber on that rookie deal it will be nothing short of genius.”
Rick: “I thought they could have traded down further and still got Mack, and I wonder how much the 6th round picks they got for moving will really matter in the long run. Wouldn’t they have been able to trade with Philly to move up four spots and maybe gotten a fifth rounder instead? The key to this draft could be how well Elam and Coleman contribute. If they are productive players, and Mack lives up to his billing it would certainly make the trades worth it.
TD: “The New York media seems to think the Jets rooked the Browns, but to me, it was a complete no-brainer move. The Browns needed more picks and got players that Eric Mangini obviously liked from the Jets. With the move down to #21 with Tampa, why not move back two spots to grab the guy you want and grab an extra pick. Sometimes sixth round picks turn into gold (see Tom Brady, Terrell Davis, etc).”
DP: “I’m sure by “the chart” the Browns didn’t get as much as they should have to move back from #5 to #17, but I choose to look at it this way: there was no one at #5 that they wanted after Curry was gone, and why pay someone that kind of money when you don’t have to? Think of it this way: with the #5 pick, the Browns drafted Alex Mack, Mohamed Massaquoi, Coye Francies, James Davis, Abram Elam, Kenyon Coleman, and Brett Ratliff, and will pay all of them combined probably the same or even LESS than Mark Sanchez will get from New York. That’s value, no matter how you slice it.”
First Day Overall: B
Rock: “As much as I would have gone in a different direction, I still like Alex Mack and Robo and Massaquoi. Mack can join Joe Thomas as anchors on the line for years to come, Robo can fill Jurevicius’ role as a solid and dependable possession receiver, and the few times I saw Massaquoi play I was always generally impressed with him. I think they’re good picks, just not the picks I wish they would have made.
Rick: “I keep reading and hearing about how polished Brian Robiskie is. Yes, he may run crisp routes, but does any Buckeye fan really like this pick? Was Robo really that great a player for the Buckeyes? I think we need to hope for a Chris Sanders type career from Robo. Mack could help the running game immensley if he does not need a double team to block nose tackles.”
Craig: “The Browns first day was going at A+ level until they picked two receivers in a row. Not to say that these receivers won’t work out, but it seemed to me that the Browns could have crushed it out of the park with one receiver and one player at some other position of need.”
Second Day Overall: B+
Scott: “The second day is nothing to scoff at. Phil Savage left us with two picks, Kokinis and Mangini walked away with four. All needs that fans felt weren’t addressed on day one were most definitely addressed on Sunday via the linebacker, two cornerbacks and a running back. I’m very excited about Coye Francis and James Davis – any impact by Maiava and Carey will be an added bonus.”
Craig: “Given what the Browns had to work with in terms of picks, they did exceptionally well. I love drafting cornerbacks in the later rounds because that position is historically stocked with so many great athletes you can sometimes find the next Leigh Bodden (undrafted,) or Asante Samuel (4th rounder.)”
TD: “Im can’t say I know anything about the two CB’s (Don Carey and Coye Francies), but I like drafting CB’s since the Browns could use one. Kaluka Maiava gave the Browns a USC Linebacker after all! Hands down the best pick of the day was RB James Davis in the sixth round. I watched his entire career at Clemson and I love his game. A very fast North/South runner who will much better than you think.”
Pick We’d like Back if Possible: Round 2, Pick 4
Rock: “I think picking Robo over Maualuga will haunt the Browns for years to come, especially since they will have to face him twice every season. They had a chance to take a first round caliber LB in the 2nd round. I’ll probably never understand why, because we’ll probably never know what it was about Rey that turned off not only the Browns, but every other team, so much.”
Denny: “Robo for [an] impact LB (see Rey Rey). Robo or Massaquoi would have still been available with the next pick.”
TD: “I sound like a broken record -Brian Robiske over Rey Maulaluga. I don’t care what his Wunderlich score was or if he may be shady off the field (according to reports), they kid is a player. Everytime I saw him, he looked like a dominator to me. Now he gets to play with the added chip on his shoulder of being passed over in the first round, and he will do so in the AFC North (Cincinnati).”
Rick: “Coming in I didn’t really like the overall depth of this draft, so adding late round picks doesn’t excite me. I have to look at the Robiskie pick here. I don’t know that there was a WR I liked better, but there were certainly LBs that would have made the Browns better. Perhaps 2 of those 2nd round picks could have been packaged to get back into the end of the first round and get a RB? Even McCoy would have been nice with the Veikune pick.”
DP: “Sorry, OSU fans, but you won’t convince me Robiskie was the right pick at that spot. I think he’ll help this year in a Steve Smith (NY Giants’ version) kind of way, but no way was he the 36th best player in the draft. Especially when they took another WR at 50.”
Scott: “As much as I think Brian Robiske will be a great receiver for this team, I would have rather had Alphonso Smith or Darius Butler at the corner or Everette Brown on the outside. Sure, Malaluga was there, but I’m firmly in the camp that thinks this guy is a two-down player and would be better suited in a 4-3. Cincy can have him.”
Craig: “This has been cause for much debate, but I would still like the first 2nd round pick back. I think in hindsight there were a lot of people on the board that could help the Browns more than Brian Robiskie.”
April 27th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
Wow. I hope Brian Robiskie doesn’t read our blog.
April 27th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
This Buckeye fan likes having Robo on the team. I wouldn’t have taken him with that pick if I was the GM of the team, but I think Robo is going to be solid for the Browns.
April 27th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
I wasn’t saying he’d be a bad player. Just that he was not close to the best player on the board at that pick.
April 27th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Grossi was surprised that the Colts passed on him at 30, FWIW.
April 27th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
The more I think about it the more I like Mack where they took him. A road grader at center can only help keep the Steelers and Ravens defenses at bay twice a year. It’s the Robiskie pick that just sounded wrong when they did it and still leaves a bad taste. He would have been there later, and with the chance to finally get an impact player at defense there … can’t shake the feeling that they just missed a great first day, by THAT much. In reality, 6th rounders are usually special teams players, if they even make the team. It’s mostly about the salary cap dump, I suspect.
April 27th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
from a far, it looks like fraley must really suck. to the local cleveland people: do you think the media softpedals on fraley because he’s popular and has that radio show?
April 27th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
I think he’ll be ready to step in and start day 1…over anyone else on the roster. The added depth of Massaquoi will give them a season to survey the situation and let BE walk after next year if they feel comfortable enough with the 2 young WRs.
However, Edwards, Robiske and Massaquoi are all tall, fairly fast WRs…that’s a nice stable of guys. I agree we needed help at LB, but i am excited about their group of WRs now.
April 27th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
I do agree with Scott about the 2nd round pick. I would have loved to have had Alphonso Smith on our team. I think he is going to be a solid CB. would have looked nice opposite E-Wright
April 27th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
I’m enjoying New York’s giddiness over drafting Sanchez. Jets fans are acting like those guys in the Heineken’s commercial.
Yes, Sanchez is the greatest can’t-miss franchise QB draft pick since Vince Young or Matt Leinhart or Alex Smith or Joey Harrington or Ryan Leaf or Tim Couch or Akili Smith or . . .
April 27th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Fraley was to blame for Brady’s thumb injury, as he completely whiffed on a block on a defensive player coming right up the middle.
April 27th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Statistical evidence shows Sanchez will be a bust (based on his number of collegiate starts).
April 27th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
This is why Im glad they got out of 5. I wish they would have gotten another pick out of it too but…..
DP: Think of it this way: with the #5 pick, the Browns drafted Alex Mack, Mohamed Massaquoi, Coye Francies, James Davis, Abram Elam, Kenyon Coleman, and Brett Ratliff, and will pay all of them combined probably the same or even LESS than Mark Sanchez will get from New York. That’s value, no matter how you slice it.”
April 27th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
What kind of grading scale is this? B’s in everything? Way to go out on a limb…
You guys seem to have forgotten that the Browns offense was much, much worse than our (admittedly poor) defense last year.
As a USC football follower, I can tell you that although Ma’aluga was a presence on defense, he often missed tackled and overpursued. He drove USC coaches nuts, and even got sat down a few times for his erratic play. Add this to his weak combine and that’s why he fell so much. In other words, he’ll fit in perfectly with the Bungles…
If anything’s clear from this Browns draft, it’s that Mangini wants smart players who he’ll have complete control over.
Robiskie might turn out to be our Hines Ward…
April 27th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
Someone should create a Browns current depth chart.
Someone with a blog.
Get on it.
April 27th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
“Way to go out on a limb…”
We’re not making comments just to be different. For what it’s worth, there were plenty of As and Cs, but with a handful of guys, it all tended to average out.
April 27th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
@ Scott – shielding yourselves in the cloak of collective anonymity, eh? I’d be interested to see everyone’s individual grades…
April 27th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
I bet in 3 years we will look back on this draft and say it was one of the best in the new history (hopefully second after Thomas/Quinn). The thought of Thomas, Steinbach, and this Mack along the left side of the line is very interesting….and could be so for a long time. Robiskie may have been a reach, but WR is arguably our least depth position, and he certainly seems like a perfect “replacement” for Jurivicius. Plus, the veterans we received in the trades WILL have an impact on day one.
No one going into this draft thought we would get this kind of quantity without giving up Edwards and/or Quinn. Well done, Brownies.
April 27th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
This is a little off topic, but there are some people on here that have given Branson Wright some harsh words in the past. Prepare to eat those those words because his latest offering has Pulitzer written all over it.
http://www.cleveland.com/ohio-sports-blog/index.ssf/2009/04/starting_blocks_video_owner_of.html
April 27th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
It isn’t a matter of being out on a limb or not. This was a solid B draft. Only one pick made me wrinkle my nose and it wasn’t so bad that I can damn the whole deal.
They attempted to address every position, they turned their picks into a lot of prospects. Now, we just have to see if any of these prospects are any good. Mel Kiper can give you someone’s value coming out of college, but nobody knows how to mitigate all the risks.
April 27th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
“shielding yourselves in the cloak of collective anonymity, eh?”
Ha. More like having edges rounded due to simple math.
April 27th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
I agree with everyone else who thought the Robo pick was only bad because of where it happened… he’s a good player who can contribute immediately, and let’s not forget that he had a freshman QB known for his running prowess throwing him the football in his senior season. He had great stats his junior year and I think that’s a more accurate view of how he can play with BQ or DA. I generally dislike the pro-OSU bias of most of the commentors on this site (as I’m a Cleveland fan, but I went to Virginia Tech)… however, I really like Robiskie. I just remember the last time we took a “can’t miss” center in the first round and wonder if Alex Mack isn’t the next Jeff Faine. I sure hope he pans out, otherwise the Browns squandered yet another first round pick to go along with Tim Couch, Courtney Brown, Gerard Warren, Jeff Faine, William Green, and Kamerion Wimbley (if he continues his lackluster efforts).
April 27th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
Good lord enough of the Ma’aluga talk. If Ozzie didn’t take him when they had the chance that tells me something. I know they don’t play the same position but I am going to stick my neck out and say Alex Hall has a better season then Ma’aluga.
April 27th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
“Think of it this way: with the #5 pick, the Browns drafted Alex Mack, Mohamed Massaquoi, Coye Francies, James Davis, Abram Elam, Kenyon Coleman, and Brett Ratliff, and will pay all of them combined probably the same or even LESS than Mark Sanchez will get from New York. That’s value, no matter how you slice it.”
I love that!
April 27th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
I was pretty sure that Faine is having a relatively productive career these days? The difference between Mack and Faine is the low cost that a Mack-bust would cost the Browns as compared to how much they lost in the Faine signing. Besides salary difference, the Browns also got proven veterans so I don’t see this situation being a bust compared to Faine.
April 27th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Exactly… Faine wasn’t a bust. He was a pro bowl alternate in 2007 and took a lot of flack because Butchie took him too high at 21. He was made an escape goat when the rest of the team was bad.
April 27th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Even worse than Rey M. for Robiskie….
Denver gave away their 2010 1st round pick for #37….it should have been on the table for our #36 as well. I really would have loved that trade as Seattle got a steal (Denver could very well be picking mid-round again next year).
April 27th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
somehow, this draft got me hyped for the year to come. browns football will at least be entertaining wont it?! im glad we didnt trade braylon he will return to form this year…
April 27th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
I look for Braylon to be great this year. It’s a contract year and he’s playing for his financial interest for the next 4 years of his life. If nothing else, he has a lot of pride and I don’t think he’s going to let his legacy in the NFL be a pass-dropper. If nothing else, he’s going to play his a#$ off to get that big deal elsewhere and stick it to Cleveland.
April 27th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
WFNY….When Taylor Mays could be our starting SS
April 27th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Don’t forget that Faine was pretty miserable in his first two years in the league and didn’t become an adequate center until near the end of his rookie contract. I think he was overrated in that pro-bowl year… the guy is of no help in the running game whatsoever. It’s tough to properly grade a center, but in my mind, the guy is and was a bust.
April 27th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
Who is Taylor Mays and why is he taking over for Peralta?
Wait…
Never mind.
April 27th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
Actually, let me put it this way… if he were selected in the 3rd round, Faine is a decent pick… in the 1st round, he is not a good pick.
April 27th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
About the only thing more pointless than grading teams the day after the draft is doing countless mock drafts for three months before the draft.
I seem to recall that Vince Young was the steal of the draft a couple years ago, while Houston was being crucified for taking Mario Williams.
But what the heck, I give the Browns a B+.
April 27th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
You aren’t grading on results. This is like grading someone’s bet in poker even if they end up losing the hand.
So, if you look at all of the picks from over the weekend, what would their corresponding poker hands be?
Alex Mack is that like A-J? A decent hand before the flop, but you definitely wouldn’t be afraid to fold it post-flop. You expect this hand to keep you in the game against the pretenders.
Robiskie is like a pair of 4’s. You are going to call the big blind and potentially bet it up a little depending on positioning, but you aren’t pushing all in. It is a pair that puts you in the game, but you definitely have no idea if you are going to win or not.
April 27th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
Yeah, but post-draft grades are still totally meaningless except for their temporary entertainment value. If you want to issue grades that mean something, let’s go back three years and grade that draft, which went:
1. Kameron Wimbley
2. D’Qwell Jackson
3. Travis Wilson
4A. Leon Williams
4B. Isaac Sowells
5A. Jerome Harrison
5B. Demario Minter
6A. Lawrence Vickers
6B. Babatunde Oshinowo
7. Juston Hamilton
As I recall, back then we were all pretty happy with that draft, especially with Wimbley. Today you’d give it probably a D, right?
April 27th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
MrCleaveland, I have no idea what this draft grade letter is on the scale because I have no experience with the grade letter A.
Maybe if I saw a good draft, I could tell you. Ha.
April 27th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
Taylor Mays or Eric Berry would be a nice addition next year, and both are probably going to be top-10 guys, where the Browns will likely be picking. Both 4.3 guys who can hit and make big plays.
April 27th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
And another thing, the day after the 2005 draft, one of the national publications rated the Browns very highly, partly because we got a total steal with Charlie Frye in the third round.
The only two players left from that disaster are Edwards and Poole.
April 27th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
I really don’t mind where Robiske was taken. Before the draft, I would say its a stretch, but he was the best WR on the board there. If he’s there at 47, Miami isnt getting a Wildcat QB, but reuniting Robo and Ginn. Point is, without the possession receiver in Joe J last year, this offense stalled. Braylon and Massaquoi can be deep threats when Robiske is catching 50-60 balls a season, and 20-30 of those are first downs. I am looking at a realistic 8-8 season.
April 27th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
i think robo can be the next jj…
reliable hands, will never be mistaken for a #1 guy, but you will miss him when he’s gone (see 2008 season)
April 27th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Taylor Mays wasn’t listed in Mel Kiper’s chat as his top ten
… that being said I wanted Mays this year so nothing is going to change that at all
April 27th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
Why is everyone so in love with Rey Maualuga?
Maybe all of you Clevelanders just get to see his highlights, but I live in Los Angeles and watched just about every USC game last year. He is so overrated.
He runs around like he doesn’t know where to go half the time. He is so slow his pass coeverage skills are non-existant. He has plenty of big hits, but whenever he is in open space, he gets juked out of his jock.
Did anybody see the USC vs. Oregon State game? Freshman Jacquizz Rodgers faked out RM so many times. All of Rodger’s runs were right up the middle. RM ended up having a ton of tackles, but they were all 15 yards down the field.
Rey Maualuga was benched for the next game against Oregon. Pete Carroll said RM had a sprained knee, but there was no swelling, he had full range of motion, and was jogging and working out.
This guy is going to be a total bust. He is always overweight, can’t shed blockers, has poor tackling technique, and never knows where he is supposed to be. It seems like all of the teams did their homework and watched actual game film on him except Cincinnati (surprise). The Bungholes must have just watched his youtube highlights like the rest of the fans.
April 27th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
Outstanding draft. Mack was my man but I thought he would be gone by our 2nd pick. Mack will be pro bowl. We needed O more than D in this draft. I also said that Ray M was overrated and the NFL agreed with me. He was a 2 down LB in college for a reason. He would make a few great hits and then play out of position for the rest of the game. Another Brian Bosworth. By the way, DeQuell is close to pro bowl now.
April 27th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
I like when people make fun of 6 averaged drafts for not being “bold” – just like the Tribe predictions article. Can’t win with some people.
April 28th, 2009 at 12:14 am
Yeah Mad Dog I agree 100% with you about Maualuga, and so dies every team in the NFL but the Bengals, so I’d say that we’re in good company.
And is it too soon to loook to next years draft? Nope. I don’t really care where he s projected to be (barring injuries, off the field stuff, yadda yadda yadda…) I’d like the Browns to take Mays to take over at SS.
April 28th, 2009 at 3:50 am
I’m pumped about the Robiskie pick and less enchanted with Massequoi…..I would have picked Aaron Kelly out of Clemson that set all kinds of ACC receiving records. Not that I would have picked him before another LB or CB…….but I’m pumped about this year. With Winslow and JJ out so much last year, hopefully we see BQ throwing to a couple of huge fast targets. After all, 6 games without a touchdown was the worst feeling ever.
April 28th, 2009 at 7:32 am
@ Scotty – yes. It’s too soon. Far, far, FAR too soon.
April 28th, 2009 at 8:56 am
For two weeks prior to the draft all we heard was how next-to-impossible it is to trade out of a top ten pick. Then for two days all we hear is how the Browns should have gotten more for moving out of the #5 pick. Sheesh.
James Davis doesn’t have to be the second coming of Jamal Lewis…all he has to do for now is replace that RB from Northwestern…whose name I’ve already forgotten.
April 28th, 2009 at 9:14 am
#48: well, he technically has to replace Noah Herron, who already replaced the running back from Northwester (aka Jason Wright).
April 28th, 2009 at 9:41 am
If a player has a history of problems in college, he will surely bring them with him to the NFL. Trouble doesn’t disappear once you are drafted, where is your common sense. With the new commissioner at the helm, the NFL is a no tolerant league. The Browns do not need any disruptions in the locker room from troubled players. Nor having a player suspended for creating a problem that warrants a suspension.
You (those who would take back the 2nd pick) also forgot that Jurivicius and Stallworth will not be with the team. Therefore, who has the ability to really fit the bill as the second or possession receiver? Robiskie is that receiver, who can and will start immediately. That’s the position that is instrumental in getting first downs, moving the chains and keeping the drive alive. I doubt that Robiskie would have lasted til pick #50.
April 28th, 2009 at 11:57 am
This blog is worthless.
Your comments are stupid. They need at least 2 WRs because they had bush-leaguers like Steptoe starting last year -and what if someone gets hurt. Are you ready for Steptoe to start again?
Amazingly dumb analysis (if you can even call it analysis). Most of it is about guys you would rather have drafted.
Thanks for nothing. Won’t bother to read this crap again.
April 28th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Wow, someone needs a hug.
April 28th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
1) the pats had a chance to take maualuga at #34 and passed on him to take patrick chung. if that doesn’t say something, i don’t know what will.
2) we added two, possibly three players who will go a long way towards allowing us to run a ball control clock-eating offense in mack who will bolster the running game, and robiskie as a wes walker type possession receiver who can keep the chains moving. if our offense stays on the field, that has to help the defense.
April 28th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Anyone doesn’t think the Browns got good enough value out of the #5 don’t understand the value of established players and avoiding huge cap bonuses. Or they choose to ignore these things.
April 28th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
Looks like the Browns were trying to address the fact that in the past, we have drafted freak athlete game-changers with attitude problems and look where that got us.
They’re done with the high-risk high-reward players for now.
I like the Robiskie pick. He blocks well, is smart, and will fill the JJ role well.