BEREA -- The first day of flash led to a second day of ... well ... not flash.
The Cleveland Browns went to the line with their two NFL Draft selections Friday, adding a much needed right tackle in the second round and then trading down in the third round to take defensive tackle John Hughes.
Hughes' name was a surprise, including to Hughes himself.
"I invited my family to come over (Saturday) morning to watch the draft," Hughes said. Meaning, of course, he did not expect to be taken until the fourth round at the earliest. The Browns came close, taking Hughes 87th overall and 24th in the third round.
There was logic behind the choices, but it left the Browns pointing to the last day of the draft -- and the last rounds -- to improve at receiver, a position that needs improving. Browns GM Tom Heckert said the team liked three receivers -- presumably Justin Blackmon, Michael Floyd and Kendall Wright -- but did not consider the position that strong otherwise.
"We'll see what happens after (Saturday)," Heckert said.
Heckert said there is no frustration that the Browns have not added a receiver.
"We think we got really good players," Heckert said. "We're happy with the guys we took."
Second round pick Mitchell Schwartz will be penciled in as the starter at right tackle. He joins Alex Mack as fellow Cal guys on the line. With Joe Thomas, Jason Pinkston and Shawn Lauvao, the Browns have five young linemen who can grow together.
"He (Schwartz) is a big kid," Heckert said. "He's athletic. He plays left tackle. He's played right tackle in the past. He's a very, very solid guy. He played well at the Senior Bowl. We just think he's a good player."
Hughes projects as a third tackle. Heckert called him "a big, powerful guy."
"You just can't have enough defensive linemen," he said. "The more you can get, the better off you're going to be."
As a senior, Hughes had 51 tackles, 12 1/2 for loss, with five sacks. He has a degree in Criminal Justice, and did his best to make something of himself after a bad spring practice. He said he expected to be drafted by the Browns, Saints or Bears.
"He's not a great pass-rusher," Heckert said, "but he is a really, really good run player."
Last season, Phil Taylor and Ahtyba Rubin played a lot of snaps, and the Browns wanted to add depth to the defensive line to give their tackles a break. Hughes figures to do that.
The Browns traded out of the fifth pick in the third round because they felt they could get Hughes later in the round. They added a fourth-round pick in the trade.
Fans did not react well to the pick, but Heckert shrugged. He said he doesn't pay attention to the Mel Kipers of the world. Heckert said the two linemen make the Browns "a lot" better.
"We feel Mitch is going to be a really good player for us," he said. "We will improve at that position. John ... we have to really good players at defensive tackle. But especially on the defensive line, you need three or four guys that can rotate."
