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Dawghouse Blog

Blogging the Cleveland Browns plus other Cleveland-area blather, plus other blather about other things.

Entering Draft Mode

Pre-draft articles are usually light on interesting information, but I do find it somewhat interesting that Phil Savage is upfront about the usual drafting for need vs. drafting the best player available issue.
"The question's always asked, best available versus need?" Savage said. "I think it's really a combination of the two. It's best available for your team, and that's how we try to set up our board."
This is one of those things that is instinctively obvious to most football fans, yet a lot of GM's are reluctant to even admit they drafted anyone but the best player available. I think need, and how a player would fit in on a team over the next 3-5 years, is the primary consideration for high draft picks; you don't pick a player at a position if your roster is already stacked at that position. Of course, most teams aren't set at more than 2 or 3 positions so in some respects it's easy to identify a need. The Browns need more than most teams, but even here it's easy to see where we need players: DL, LB, S, OL, WR, in roughly that order.

My for-the-moment guess for the Browns in the upcoming draft -- they go with a defensive lineman in the first (N'gata or Bunkley, hopefully) because it's comparatively easier to project a nosetackle or d-end than it is to project an outside linebacker. Then in the second they get a guy like ILB D'Qwell Jackson of Maryland to play next to Andra Davis. And, since McGinest probably has a few years left in the tank, they pick up an OLB or two in the middle rounds.

Also in the above article -- Jeff Faine, still not traded. No real news there, but Savage did say he expects possible trade activity to heat up around the draft. We'll see. The more I think about it I think it would be better to trade Faine for a player or a 2007 draft pick rather than a 2006 pick. We already have some extra middle round picks and there's only so many rookies you can bring to camp each year and give a legitimate shot to.

It's obvious and been mentioned frequently -- but it would be a very good thing for the Browns for all three top QB's to be selected in the top 10 (or, rather, 11) picks. If Cutler slides I see that as being the worst case scenario. If Young slides it could be an opoortunity for the Browns to trade down, depending on who else is still on the board.

I'm still not a big Reggie Bush fan as the number one pick. But I'm coming around to accept he is probably going to be a very good pro. Sort of a Steve Smith-at-running-back type of player.

I'm still hoping LaVar Arrington remains unsigned for a long time, long enough for the Browns to have a shot to sign him at a modest price for a year or two. I think he'd be a nice asset to have for a short-term contract because, after basically being left out to dry all offseason this year, he's going to extremely motivated this season in order to get a monster contract from some other team.

I think LenDale White would be a very good addition to the Steelers. Sure, he's come off as a bit lazy, unmotivated, and a general jackass in the pre-draft buildup. But his on-field performance in 05-06 was 1st-round material, and if the Steelers think they can get him into their program you can say goodbye to the days of Willie Parker getting the ball 20+ times a game.
Published Apr 19 2006, 01:48 PM by MikeB
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Comments

 

Tom B said:

I come to similar conclusions at <a href="http://cleveland64.blogspot.com/2006/04/things-we-think-we-know-we-think-we.html">Cleveland '64</a>.
April 19, 2006 2:39 PM
 

Bob said:

I agree that we should draft more for need.  The steelers have been doing that for the past 6 years, sometimes "reaching" inthe draft to get the player they need and want. Troy Polumolu was picked 16 spots ahead of were he was projected to go.  I guess that worked out.  Too bad we didn't do that last season with Shawn Merriman.
  On the other hand, I think the Browns need LB more than DL.  In the 3-4 the LB make the plays, and we have only two.  We really need a pass rusher at LB.  I don't think we will be able to get one past the 1st round.
  Then again you won't see me cry if we draft N'gata, but Bunkley is a ?.  He is pretty much one-dimentionable and is small for a DT.  He also has injury questions.  That's all the Browns need.
  I just wat to see the Browns draft a playmaker, and on defense, that spells pass-rush.  My pick would be Wimbley or Carpenter.
April 19, 2006 4:40 PM
 

Fred Tuttle said:

I am also concerned about Bunkley. He seems to be one of those guys who shoots up media draft boards just because he has some decent stats and he had a great workout. Where was he his first couple years of school? Sounds like a Gerard Warren type to me.

Savage had a great quote during his press conference, along the lines of: "We only have 1 first round pick, and we have more than one "need" position. Don't say that we failed to fill our 3 "need" positions when I only have 1 first round pick to use."
April 19, 2006 7:23 PM
 

Tom B said:

I have similar concerns about Bunkley, but I also think all the defensive ends/outside linebackers are question marks and the Browns already have McGinest and McMillan.  They need inside backers, but this draft is deep with those guys so which one do you take at 12?  Like I said in my draft preview, I think everyone is going to kick themselves for passing on DeAngelo Williams and Michael Huff, and I wouldn't mind if the Browns took either of those guys, needs be damned.  

I think process of elimination and need is going to make the Browns draft Bunkley, and we can only hope he is Neil Smith and not Gerard Warren.  
April 19, 2006 10:19 PM
 

Brett68 said:

A friend of mine and I were going over all the possible scenarios for the Brownies last night. One of four players HAS to be available at 12. Justice, Cutler, or one of the DL guys. This is a pretty good situation for us and here's why. It is undisputable that the biggest area of need on this team is run defense. Since we have been back in the league the power backs of the AFC North have torn through our defense like it was wet toilet paper. Ngata is my ideal choice.

Wimberley makes me uncomfortable because he is a boom or bust type guy, that as Fred mentioned about another Creminole he seems to be a media darling with a few good workouts undedr his belt. Since we are the Browns, we all know how that turns out. Even "sure things" are problems (motorcycle accidents, torn ACL's, etc.). If the two DT's are gone than we get calls for Cutler and San Diego is a real possiblity for a trade if Justice falls to us. Then you get a Manny Lawson who if FAR more athletically gifted than Wimberley and some scouts have said has been more impressive in certain workouts than Mario Williams. Then again, would it be the worst thing to add a little depth to the OL with Justice?

I hope Phil goes with ILB in the second and if we don't get our tackle in the first round, keep your eyes out for a massive kid out of Stanford (name escapes me right now). Only eight days and nineteen hours till draft day, but who's counting?
April 20, 2006 8:26 AM

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