Category: Cleveland Browns (Page 109 of 114)

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.

The Browns got their top-rated player in Braylon Edwards, a promising defensive back in Brodney Pool and their apparent quarterback of the future in Charlie Frye. Terry Pluto from the Beacon Journal says years from now, Browns fans may be able to point to this draft as the day the team pulled itself out of a six-year funk.

Tony Grossi from the Plain Dealer says the Browns caught a star in Braylon Edwards and GM Phil Savage stuck to his gameplan throughout the draft.

The PD’s Bud Shaw says Savage passed on trading down in order to grab a top-talent like Edwards with the third pick.

The ABJ’s Scott Fagerstrom says getting the playmaking Edwards at #3, where he also was the best available player, was definitely the right choice.

Patrick McManamon from the Beacon Journal says getting selected by the Browns was a dream come true for second-round pick Brodney Pool.

For third-round pick Charlie Frye, there’s no place like home, reports the Plain Dealer’s Joe Maxse.

The ABJ’s Marla Ridenour reports that Frye became the highest-drafted player in Akron history when the Browns selected him in the third round with the 67th overall choice.

ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” is running an episode on Browns first-round pick Braylon Edwards, profiling the former Michigan receiver while also documenting his draft-day experience.