Sunday, April 28, 2013

Browns pay it forward on day three

The Cleveland Browns "paid it forward" on the final day of the NFL Draft as the Browns traded their first two picks for future picks down the road.

Cleveland traded its 4th round pick to the Steelers for a 3rd rounder next year and then swapped their fifth rounder to the Colts for a 4th rounder next draft.
Now,I would say that's pretty good value,but that does not address the teams needs for this season,especially at safety,where one was needed badly.

Cleveland did take a safety in round six,but it's a player that is coming off a torn Achilles tendon in Notre Dame's Jamoris Slaughter.
Slaughter says he is 90% recovered,so that's a good sign,I suppose to possibly be ready for training camp.
Slaughter was injured in the Irish's third game of the season,so I would say that's likely.
Slaughter is a strong hitter and likely could have been drafted higher without the injury....

Cleveland took two small college players with their seventh round picks and added players on each line.
Armonty Bryant is a defensive end with good size (6'4 263) and dominated at the level for East Central Oklahoma.
Bryant has had off the field issues having sold marijuana to an undercover policeman,but this is the round you take chances with little risk.

Garret Gilkey is a huge (6'5 300 lb+) tackle from Chadron State (home of Don Beebe) that again dominated at his level by sheer size.
That works at Chadron State,but Gilkey will be a project for the Browns,but the size is right....

I don't have too much of a problem that the Browns traded picks for the future,if they truly did not like the available talent in this draft.That part I understand,but it did little to add depth this season.

As far as the draft goes-I like Barkevious Mingo and Leon McFadden is fine in round three,so talent wise I am OK.
What I am concerned with are the reports that the Browns could have moved down to 12 with an reported offer from the Rams that would have landed Cleveland a second round pick.
Assuming this is true and it is similar to the trade the Rams made to move to 8 with Buffalo,the Browns could have landed Jarvis Jones there as a pass rusher,a corner or safety in round two and the other in round three,making the Browns a better team.
I like Barkevious Mingo and think he will be fine for Cleveland,but considering the whole picture,I might have preferred the trade with the Rams.
It will be an interesting thing to watch with Jarvis Jones being drafted by the rival Steelers....

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