Author: JEC (Page 30 of 46)

Just one day after drafting Akron quarterback Charlie Frye, the Browns traded second-year QB Luke McCown to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a sixth-round pick (#203) in this year’s draft.

With that pick, the Browns selected Andrew Hoffman, a 6-4 defensive tackle from Virginia. Hoffman, who projects as a nose tackle in Cleveland’s new 3-4 defense, is “only” 296 pounds so he’ll likely have to bulk up a bit if he wants to have a productive NFL career in the trenches.

Then, to close out the 2005 draft, the Browns chose Virigina Tech offensive tackle Jon Dunn. At 6-7 and 328 pounds, this guy is a mountain. He’s a project, for sure, but with a seventh-round pick, what can you expect?

As for McCown, his days were numbered as soon as Savage took over as GM, though I imagine the Browns would’ve hung on to him had they been unable to find a young QB in the draft. Now the question is, who will the back-up be in 2005? Frye? Doubtful, though a possibility, I suppose. Still, I see Crennel slotting him third on the depth chart during his rookie season. Josh Harris? Call me crazy, but I doubt Savage and Crennel would be all that comfortable with the thought of Harris being just one Trent Dilfer injury away from running the team. I wouldn’t be surprised if they went out and signed a cheap veteran to back up Dilfer, at least for the early part of the season.

Here are the front seven guys. The Browns drafted David McMillan, a 6-3 defensive end from Kansas, and Nick Speegle, a 6-6 outside linebacker from New Mexico, in the fifth and sixth rounds Sunday, #139 and #176, respectively. McMillan doesn’t really seem like a good fit for Savage and Crennel, a guy who kind of underachieved during his junior year and has questionable motivation on the football field. Still, he’s pretty quick and excelled at rushing the passer in college, earning All Big-12 honors as a senior with seven sacks. Speegle, on the other hand, looks like a keeper. A four-year starter at OLB, Speegle is extremely tough and intelligent, earning a 3.97 GPA as an undergraduate, and his NFL.com profile says he’s the “total package of size, speed, strength and attitude” while also comparing him to legendary linebackers Ray Nitchke, Jack Lambert and Dick Butkus. Sounds like a Savage/Crennel guy to me.

Considering that all three of their AFC Central rivals feature power running games, it’s kind of puzzling that the Browns are devoting so much attention to their secondary during this draft while neglecting the defensive line. Still, fourth-round pick Antonio Perkins, a cornerback from Oklahoma who also excels as a punt returner, is a hard worker who should contribute as a nickel corner and on special teams during his rookie year. He was timed at 4.31 in the 40 and is extremely dangerous in the open field, and while he’s not a punishing hitter scouts say he is a reliable tackler.

I don’t know if Day One could’ve gone any better for the Browns and their fans. While I would’ve loved to see them trade down to stockpile a couple extra picks, the Braylon Edwards selection is huge. This guy is a player, he’s humble, intelligent and hard-working. You can’t ask for more out of your first-round pick, and with Edwards and Kellen Winslow paired together, this offense could actually be fun to watch.

Admittedly, I wasn’t a big fan of the Brodney Pool pick in the second round but that was more due to who else was on the board at the time than anything else. The more I read about this guy, though, the more I like him. He’s big (6-1, 207), fast and athletic, and while the Browns seem to have a glut of talent at safety, the newly acquired Brian Russell won’t be around in a couple years. Pool will be, either at safety or maybe at corner. Mel Kiper said Pool could’ve been a top-10 pick next year had he stayed in school for his senior season. Sounds like a winner to me.

I’ve already gushed about the Charlie Frye pick, and what makes it even better is that the Browns got a projected second-round talent in the third. He’s got all the things you’d want in a quarterback — size, accuracy, intelligence, toughness and athleticism — and they have the time and patience to groom him behind Trent Dilfer. In a couple years, Frye’s going to be putting up huge numbers throwing downfield to Edwards and Winslow.

But as well as the first day of the draft went, there are still plenty of holes to fill on this roster. I’d love to see Savage get a young tackle somewhere along the way, though I’m willing to bet most of today’s picks are defense-oriented considering two of their first three choices were on the offensive side of the ball. A defensive end and a linebacker or two are no doubt at or near the top of Savage and Crennel’s list, but they may also implement the “best available player” strategy throughout the second day. Either way, judging by yesterday’s picks, I’m sure day two will be a success as well.