Update: Browns' NFL draft

4/24/09: My April 22, twenty-something paragraph post analyzing the Cleveland Browns' upcoming NFL draft contained plenty of disclaimers. For good reason. As anticipated, it looks like some key things have changed in the last two days. (I'm sure not the last of the changes and surprises.)

-- Braylon Edwards may not be traded, at least to the NY Giants. The teams are reported to be at an 'impasse'. We'll have to see about this one. It doesn't necessarily mean that Edwards won't be traded on, or after draft day. (Even still to the Giants.) But it may mean that this player trade isn't quite a "sure thing". That said, I'm not changing my previous analysis/guesses completely, though I have some big changes at pick #5, below: Cleveland may still be interested in drafting a receiver in the second round or later. But, if no lower first round pick is obtained (from Edwards) it increases the likelihood of Cleveland either: Drafting a defender at selection #5, trading the pick down a few for additional picks (and then still taking a defender), or picking Mark Sanchez (if available....Seattle?) and then perhaps trading him for additional picks. It also makes me think that Cleveland may have a lower first rounder available to them for a Brady Quinn trade. But as said in my previous post don't forget that Derek Anderson could be the one to go, probably for a second rounder. Watch this possibility especially if Detroit does not select Matthew Stafford.

I'm sure many Browns fans wouldn't really understand a scenario where Edwards perhaps stays, Quinn gets traded, Sanchez is drafted at #5 and kept; and Derek Anderson ends up the starting QB in 2009....

But otherwise (e.g., Sanchez drafted and not kept, Quinn traded), maybe Cleveland thinks Pat White or Brian Hoyer are legitimate future NFL QB possibilities.

-- DT BJ Raji seems to be getting more prominent mention (from a few sources) for Cleveland's no. 5 selection. And a recent name, DE Tyson Jackson is supposedly moving up fast and could be an option for KC at #3, or the Browns. (Though I haven't read much of anything about Cleveland being interested.) If Jackson goes to KC, it may increase chances that Aaron Curry and/or a top OT could be available for the Browns. But there's still much talk of KC making a trade, too.

-- A bit more speculation about Cleveland going for a center at some point (after pick #5) has surfaced. Alex Mack and Eric Wood are two names mentioned.

--I don't think Cleveland may like S Louis Delmas as much as I indicated. If they're looking for a safety in round 2, they may go for bigger William Moore or perhaps Patrick Chung, as guesses. Also, I'm no longer sure that Connor Barwin would be available beyond late round 1/early round 2. Otherwise, at this point too much depends on possible trades to be able to accurately project the Browns' second round picks and beyond.

Winding it up: I may regret this, but I'm going to update/change my probabilities (guesses) for the Browns pick at #5, understanding that only Coach Mangini and GM Kokinis might have an idea at this point. (Not sure they do either, at least until right before the first pick.) And also, that things depend upon what other teams do and who the Browns end up trading (and with whom):

1. Raji 2. Sanchez 3. Tyson Jackson 3a. Curry 5. M. Crabtree 6. Trade pick down 7. Orakpo


As said previously, no one really knows right now. We'll see what unfolds beginning tomorrow.