Browns NFL Draft Preview: Finale - Part 2

We’re two days away from the draft. Finally, after months of speculation, we’re going to get this thing under way. It seems to be getting a little overblown isn’t it? I feel like ESPN has had a NFL Draft special on for the last two months. Nevertheless, it’s fun to see what your team is going to do, so for us, it’s time to take a look at some of the options in front of the Browns going into this draft. With an idea of what this team needs, let’s first take a quick look at some of the players that will be available to them at #12 in the first round:

The Front Runners:

-Kamerion Wimbley (Florida State) DE/LB 6’3” 248 – Showing up on more mock drafts recently as the Browns’ pick at #12, Wimbley projects as an edge rusher in the 3-4, thus fitting the mold of current Browns’ veteran Willie McGinest. Wimbley is young and very athletic, but is not quite big enough to line up as a regular DE. Thanks to his athletic ability though, this will allow him to move to OLB in a 3-4. Wimbley can get after the QB in this situation with a great motor and would have a great teacher in McGinest to learn from. There ARE concerns about his health at this level. He’s battled injuries in college (a knee injury his Senior year) and one wonders how he’ll hold up at this level. There’s more of this with other top talents too.
-Haloti Ngata (Oregon) NT 6’4” 338 – A tank in the middle, Ngata could be a big time Nose Tackle at this level if he adjusts some of his techniques. Ngata has a massive frame, is extremely strong, and could be the player that the Browns could plug in behind Ted Washington and see time in the rotation as he learns. There’s a chance he’ll be there for them at #12 now since Brodrick Bunkley may have moved passed him and everyone is talking about Bunkley going to Buffalo at #8 so the Browns may have to pick between him and Wimbley (or others) at this pick. There’s a bit of a red flag though with Ngata and his injury history that hasn’t been mentioned too much. He suffered a year-ending ACL injury in 2003 and had hamstring issues in 2004.
-Ernie Sims (Florida State) LB 5’11” 231 – A little small, but plays with a fierce mentality that could be compared to legends like Dick Butkis (please note that’s where I stop the Butkis comparisons!). He’s quicker than most, and he can make some big plays out there. Unfortunately, he’s got some areas to improve on. He can play with reckless abandon at times and miss his assignments as well, missing gaps, and his keys. That kind of play hurt the Browns’ LBs that Butch Davis drafted. Sims will need to embrace the coaching at the NFL level and play with a little more control over himself, yet somehow maintain the killer instinct he possesses.
-Manny Lawson (NC State) DE/LB 6’5” 241 – A slight step below Wimbley as an edge rushing OLB in the 3-4. Lawson has blazing speed (4.4 40 times), and will need a little time transistioning to LB in the NFL, but it’s hard not to ignore the package this guy has a football player and as a gifted athlete.
-Brodrick Bunkley (Florida State) DT/DE 6’2” 306 – One of the high risers in the year’s draft, Bunkley may have performed himself out of the Browns’ pick at #12. As mentioned above, Bunkley is being talked about as being the Bills’ pick at #8. Bunkley is being considered more as a 1 gap DT, but teams have also talked about bouncing him out to DE, even though scouts aren’t sure he’s quick enough for that. Bunkley has an injury history that could turn some heads. He’s had knee and ankle problems. He’s also had some character concerns, but he’s seemed to have moved past that.

The long shots:

-Santonio Holmes (Ohio State) WR 5’10” 188 – The Browns probably don’t have Holmes ranked high enough on their board to take him over the top defensive talent they have ranked. Still, Holmes is right up at the top of the WR rankings, and the Browns could use an extra guy to help out.
-Chad Greenway (Iowa) LB 6’2” 242 – Aside from strength questions, Greenway remains one of the top LBs in this draft. I’m not sure what teams plan on using him for though. He’s probably an OLB who won’t be going after the QB very often, so that may hurt his chances with the Browns if they aren’t completely comfortable moving him inside in the 3-4. I like him and wouldn’t mind if the Browns took him.
-DeAngelo Williams (Memphis) RB 5’9” 214 – Williams is widely considered the 2nd best RB in the draft behind Reggie Bush. Williams would be a perfect guy to bring to Cleveland behind Ruben Droughns. The fact of the matter is, where is he ranked on the Browns’ draft board, and do they really want to sacrifice a talented defender to fill a major need over filling a backup role which will benefit them more in the future.
-Tamba Hali (Penn State) DE 6’3” 275 – His workout hurt him, but I have the feeling Hali will be the classic example of a great college player, having a great NFL career despite, what he did in a stupid workout. Chances are slim that the Browns would take him this high though, even though he could end up better than the players they have ranked ahead of him.
-Bobby Carpenter (Ohio State) LB 6’2” 256 – Unless the Browns find a way to trade down, adding Carpenter seems like a pipe dream. Carpenter would be the fan favorite pick on this team, but picking him at #12 would be considered reaching way too far. I think he’ll be a tough SOB though, who I hope doesn’t become a Steeler.
-Mathias Kiwanuka (Boston College) DE 6’5” 266 – Another top notch DL in college who was hurt because of his workouts, I think Kiwanuka will have a damn good career and like Tamba Hali, he may be better than the players who are probably going to get picked ahead of him. The Browns haven’t been linked to him much, but they moved down a few spots in the first round, I would think he’d be a good pickup.
-Vince Young (Texas) QB 6’4” 229 – I’m putting him here for one reason: If he is there at #12, the Browns will most likely want to use that trade idea and move down. At this point, it appears Young won’t make it out of the Top 10, but just in case he does, the Browns could be in an interesting spot with him. They have made a commitment with Charlie Frye and I think it would be the wrong move to go against him at this point.

It doesn’t stop here, and we can’t be so sure that the Browns will stay at #12. As we discussed, they could move down if one of the remaining 3 QBs are on the board, and someone wants to move up in front of the Ravens to grab one of them. The Browns could benefit from this by moving down 5 or more slots in the draft and still ending up with one of the defenders like Manny Lawson if they were lucky, and they would pick up another few picks in the process. That remains a slim chance at this point.

I’ll spend more time discussing later round options tomorrow and how some late guys may fill some of the Browns’ needs. Stay tuned…