Cleveland Browns Draft Preview

Mike Holmgren and Tom Heckert enter their first draft in Cleveland armed with extra draft picks and some interesting choices ahead.
The Browns own ten overall picks with three in both the third and fifth rounds,although the Browns are missing a fourth rounder with the trade with the Eagles that hopefully brought two starters to the defense in corner Sheldon Brown and linebacker Chris Gocong.

The Browns have plenty of needs,so as long the Browns take the best player available on the board (with the exception of left tackle),I could be reasonably happy.
The Browns top needs are as follows.

1) Safety
I know some of you might say,"it is just because Shawn wants Eric Berry for the secondary" and that is true,but Abram Elam was disappointing to me last season,Brodney Pool is not returning and Mike Adams is more a nickel back than a full time starter.
Eric Berry or the second rated safety in Texas' Earl Thomas each would give the Browns the type of impact safety that they have lacked since at least the early 90's when the late Eric Turner was in Cleveland and one could argue that Turner was not even of that caliber.
If Berry is there at 7,I am hoping the Browns take him,if he is off the board and the Browns think that they can trade down and still nab Thomas,then I am fine with that as well.
In either case (or even Thomas being the pick at 7,IF Berry is gone) of all the Cleveland needs-this is the most glaring...



2) Defensive End
The Browns simply lack pass rushers and the Browns took a hit there when linebacker Kamerion Wimbley was traded to Oakland and with the uncertain future of Shaun Rogers at defensive tackle,the pass rush could be even worse.
I would like to see a DE be in the plans for round 2 or 3,but I am nervous about the rumors of interest in Penn State defensive end/tackle Jared Odrick and Georgia Tech's Derrick Morgan.
Odrick seems to me to be a tweener that will not give the Browns what they need and Morgan seems better suited to the 4-3 defense than the Browns current 3-4.
I would rather see the Browns draft a few linemen over the course of the draft than one early...

3) Wide Reciever
I know Eric Mangini used two second rounders last season on Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi,but looking at the depth chart shows just three other pass catchers behind them in Mangini favorite,but less than productive Chansi Stuckey,late season waiver pickup Jake Allen and periennal training camp roster filler Syndric Steptoe,along with Josh Cribbs,who is best suited as a all around player and not limited to the wideout.
Even if both Robiskie and Massaquoi live up to expectations,depth is still needed.
A veteran could be added after the draft (Torry Holt?),but bet on at least one reciever picked in the draft...

4) Cornerback
The Browns look to be stronger at the corner than they have been for a while with Sheldon Brown and Eric Wright,but keep in mind Brown's age (31) and some youth is needed.
Finally,the Browns have the luxury of breaking a young corner in slowly,lets see if they give this a chance.

5) Running Back
If you arent convinced that Jerome Harrison is the long term answer then a back is needed.
I have spent the last three years boosting Harrison as the feature back and he deserves the chance,but if he fails,the Browns have no fall back position unless you like Peyton Hillis,who strikes me as more of a running back/fullback hybrid.
It may not be early,but the Browns will take a flyer on someone in this draft....

Best of the rest
The Browns will take a quarterback sometime in this draft,Mike Holmgren's track record shows that he takes one a year to develop and check out and I like that philosophy.
One can never have too many passers and if eventually you have extra,you can always move them for draft picks.
Guard could be upgraded on the right side,but the Browns might stick with Floyd "Pork Chop" Womack there for another year.
Linebacker improves with D'qwell Jackson returning,the waiver steal of Matt Roth,trading for Chris Gogong and signing Scott Fujita from the Saints,but when you run the 3-4 linebacker depth might be the position that needs to be the deepest...

The Cleveland Browns have a chance to accelerate the rebuilding process with this draft.
Can they do so?
I hope.
If the Browns cannot pick Eric Berry,I am hoping they can trade down and maybe add another pick or two in the second and/or third rounds,but teams might not value the pick making the Browns unable to deal it.
In any event,for Browns fans-there is hope for at least a little while anyway.