Perhaps the 2012 draft was about the Cleveland Browns making sure they did not miss out an opportunities.
Team president Mike Holmgren said he urged General Manager Tom Heckert to trade up for Trent Richardson, and he added the Browns were not willing to take a chance on missing Brandon Weeden when they picked 22nd.
Regarding Richardson, Holmgren said the one bit of advice he gave Heckert in the days leading up to the draft was to make sure he didn't lose Richardson once the team decided he was their guy.
"My conversations with Pat (Shurmur) and Tom in particular were, 'If you even think someone is going to hop over there, if you even think someone is going to jump us, then what are we going to do to prevent that happening,'" Holmgren said.
The Browns could have waited to see if Weeden was available in the second round. They decided not to -- especially once wide receiver Kendall Wright went to Tennessee.
"We said, 'Let's not run the risk,'" Holmgren said.
-- Holmgren said he talked to the Indianapolis Colts twice about acquiring the first overall pick, which presumably would have been used on Andrew Luck. But the conversations -- at the NFL Scouting Combine with owner Jim Irsay and at the NFL Meetings with GM Ryan Grigson were very brief.
-- Holmgren spoke warmly of Colt McCoy, the starter at quarterback last year. He said he has "great affection" for him, and he appreciated that McCoy was playing last season without a dependable back and in the face of serious pressure.
"I like him a lot," Holmgren said. "But, it's our job to make the team better."
As for what happens with McCoy, the Browns weren't giving away their intentions.
"Now we have four quarterbacks and they're going to compete," Holmgren said. "That's how I see that. That's the way it's always going to be. Who can determine the future?"
It still seems most likely that McCoy will be with a new team in 2012.
-- One factor in the Browns choosing Richardson over WR Justin Blackmon and CB Morris Claiborne: The gap between the top running back and second was wider than at other positions.
-- The Browns waited until the fourth round to take a receiver and took one of the smaller ones available. They also took one of the faster ones: Travis Benjamin of the University of Miami. Benjamin claimed he's been timed at 4.26 in the 40-yard dash. "I can run past any defender on the field," he said.
-- The other Browns picks on the final day were LB James-Michael Johnson, who has played the middle and both outside spots at Nevada; OG Ryan Miller of Colorado, who stands 6-foot-7 and can play guard or tackle on either side; LB Emmanuel Acho of Texas, who led the Longhorns in tackles; DE Billy Winn of Boise State; CB Trevin Wade of Arizona, and FB Brad Smelley of Alabama. Shurmur said the Browns will sign 15 undrafted players.
The Browns took six players on offense, five on defense. The first three picks and four of the first five were for offense.
