The Browns entered draft weekend with multiple needs and a roster that seemed miles behind those of their AFC North Division rivals.
Three days and three trades later, Browns general manager Tom Heckert has boosted that roster and sent a subtle message to those rivals in the process.
See you in 2012.
The Browns took baby steps toward plugging those holes and adding to a team that's basically starting from scratch — again — with new coach Pat Shurmur's West Coast Offense and coordinator Dick Jauron's 4-3 defense. More than that, though, they addressed specific needs and made moves that point toward a brighter future for a team that's won 14 games in the last three seasons. It's a team that, more than anything, keeps changing everything while chasing teams with proven players and proven systems.
The Browns have changed again, but they've been pointed toward doing more than showing up against the Steelers and Ravens. And general manager Tom Heckert spent this weekend getting guys who should be able to physically and athletically match those teams.
When Heckert traded out of the sixth overall pick Thursday night and added a 2012 first-rounder in doing so, the Browns could already be counted as winners in the 2011 draft. They simply had too many holes to spend the sixth overall pick on wide receiver Julio Jones when the Falcons were offering a bounty to take him themselves.
The draft is much simpler for teams that already have players and are trying to take that next step. The Browns have blown too many drafts to be in that zip code, but Heckert's moves should give the Browns a much-needed boost in overall talent, toughness and athleticism. What it comes down to with the Browns is if Colt McCoy is good enough, they're a tad closer to being able to compete than they were at the beginning of the week.
Add in a few free agents, a year in the new systems for everybody and another year of growth for a young core Heckert started to assemble a year ago, and in March and April 2012 the Browns will be pointing toward a playoff run.
As for 2011? It's about getting there. Ahtyba Rubin and first-rounder Phil Taylor form a young and interesting wall up front. Defensive end Jabaal Sheard, the first of the Browns' second-rounders, is aggressive but is facing a learning curve. The other second-rounder, Greg Little, didn't play at all last year due to NCAA sanctions. Depending on what happens whenever free agency does begin, they might all start — and the Browns might also start a rookie at fullback and play another in their nickel and dime defenses, too.
In this draft Heckert showed he isn't afraid to take chances. Little might not win many citizenship awards, but he might muscle a bunch of cornerbacks. Jordan Cameron might not be ready to play early this season, but he brings rare athleticism. It's much easier to find — and polish — blocking tight ends than tight ends who can run past linebackers and jump over safeties in the red zone.
Eric Mangini's Browns might have been the most prepared team in the league, and last October and November there's no doubt they showed improvement. But being the league's slowest team — and mixing that with a constant quarterback shuffle and very few big-play threats — means being a team with a low ceiling. And in the AFC North, well, you can look up past results.
Heckert's out to fix that. Cornerback Buster Skrine has legitimate 4.3 speed but faces a steep learning curve in coming to the NFL from the NCAA I-AA level. The Browns traded up again in the fifth round to get offensive lineman Jason Pinkston, who might find a role in a year or two. The Browns, it seems, are trying to fix their weaknesses and add to their few strengths. A solid O-line is in place. There are some young guys with upside. A healthy Montario Hardesty joining Peyton Hillis in the run game would help. If Joe Haden is going to be the kind of real star he looked like he might be last winter, that would help tremendously.
There's no guarantee any of these moves will work, but the Browns are due for some luck. They'll be better athletically, from 1-45, this season than they were in the last two. With new systems in place, they'll be able to judge growth and identify the most glaring needs. With two first-rounders a year from now, maybe they'll be able to fix them.
Heckert undoubtedly holds the juice in the organization. He now holds more cards than he has at anytime in his previous 16 months on the job. Will he be overseeing a team 16 months from now that's ready to play with anybody?
Browns fans will be waiting anxiously. More than almost anybody, they're fine with waiting on next year.
