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It was announced earlier this morning that the Browns have signed rookie second round pick David Veikune out of Hawaii.  It is reportedly a four year contract at  $3.5 million and around $1.8 million in guaranteed money.  Veikune was a defensive end in college but was drafted by the Browns to be an outside linebacker in Rob Ryan’s 3-4 defense.  In the PD  this morning, Terry Pluto suggested that he thought the Browns might even try out Veikune in the middle of the 3-4 where people believe the D is very thin behind D’Qwell Jackson and free agent Eric Barton:

Which brings me back to the linebackers, where they don’t have a star such as Rogers as an anchor. The Browns believe inside linebacker D’Qwell Jackson has Pro Bowl potential, but he’s not arrived yet. Barton is solid with 101 starts in 11 seasons. Since 2001, he played all 16 games every year except 2005, when injuries limited him to four games. Leon Williams is an inside linebacker, but he doesn’t seem to be starter material. It appears Beau Bell is more of a special teams guy. Maybe that’s why the Browns have looked at rookie David Veikune. While he is supposed to be an outside linebacker, the Browns also have played him inside — perhaps a hint they are looking for depth behind Jackson and Barton.

Veikune is 6’2 and 257 which would definitely be on the heavier side for a middle linebacker.  The undersized but productive Jackson is 6’0 and 240 which is definitely on the smaller side of MLBs in the league.  As always though, it is unknown what we will get on the outside this year from Kamerion Wimbley and promising Alex Hall.  Linebacker, both inside and out, is a concern and there are a lot of question marks so it will be imperative for Veikune to produce having come out of the second round.

The Browns have had smooth sailing so far when it has come to negotiations for rookie contracts.  It may not be as smooth signing their final two picks – second round WRs Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi.  I have heard personally that Robiskie is nowhere near signing and getting into camp and Tony Grossi has heard from his sources that negotiations have not even begun.  Wide Receiver is also very clearly a position of need and the Browns may be able to put something together rapidly and get both of these guys into camp to get this extra week of rookie work in before the rest of the team reports this Saturday.  Either way, it is fun to be talking about training camp again as the season is upon us.