The Browns spent a fair amount of time last week not saying much about their plans for the upcoming NFL Draft.
Tough to predict.
Best player available.
All drafts have strong and weak areas.
It’s about preparation.
Those were the buzzwords.
It was predictable in one sense, because no team is going to say much in detail about their plans. But while their owner makes statements about a federal fraud investigation into his company, the Browns have refined the art of holding a news conference without saying anything.
It would be nice to hope that the draft will make a difference for the Browns, but it’s tough to see a team doing much in a season when its owner is under investigation. Especially when the owner came out and essentially called this a building year by saying the team will not go 13-3.
Add on the distraction of an ongoing federal investigation that could lead to the owner and … well … 2013 could be another tough year.
That being said, the best way for the Browns to approach this draft is to think “three or flee.”
That is: Take one of the three best defensive players that fits their team, or flee out of the sixth spot with a trade down for more picks.
Three players stand out as good fits for the Browns.
Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner would be great. Milliner fits a need, and could be an effective tandem with Joe Haden.
Oregon defensive end Dion Jordan would be a great pick as well. Jordan can play in the three-four and bring pass-rush pressure.
Brigham Young’s Ziggy Ansah would be greater still. Ansah is a tremendous athlete. He’s learning the game, but the one thing the Browns have in another season of building is time. Ansah could grow into a special player.
Any of those three players would be good fits and should be good players in Cleveland.
But if all three are already selected the Browns are left picking at leftovers. Because the general feeling is there is a dropoff in talent after those three.
Which makes the “flee” option more attractive – and no, it has nothing to do with fleeing from federal agents. It has to do with trading out of the spot to acquire an extra pick (or two) and make up for not the second rounder used to take Josh Gordon in the supplemental draft. If the talent level from pick six to pick 22 is pretty much the same, it makes great sense to flee from the spot for an extra pick.
This draft is loaded with players at the position where the Browns are best set: Left tackle. A team that wants a left tackle might be willing to move up.
Why the three?
This draft really does not have a quarterback worthy of the sixth pick. The only reason a team may take one high is because he’s the best available, not because he’s that talented. It also lacks receivers. It has guards, but teams typically don’t and won’t take a guard that high.
The Browns greatest need is on the defense -- yes, greater than at tight end -- and there are good defensive players to be had.
The three best for the Browns are Milliner, Jordan and Ansah.
It’s one of those three, or flee.
