Browns NFL Draft Preview: Offense - Part 4

After taking a look at every position on offense, we can begin to get a grasp on the needs on that side of the ball and make like we’re Phil Savage. As we compile this list, it’s important to remember the obvious: NFL teams don’t always draft for need. There are plenty of instances where a team will take the best player available in certain spots during the draft, especially during the first round where talented players may be too good to pass up. Keeping that in mind, let’s move on and see what the Browns could use on the offensive side of the ball ranking the level of importance from top to bottom:

1. RB – Lee Suggs is about as injury prone as NFL injury legend Chris Chandler. How are you going to rely on him to spell Ruben Droughns? The Browns have enough players on the depth chart at RB, but they could really use a reliable RB that could help Droughns, and act as a change of pace.
2. OT – Nat Dorsey has the potential to be a good NFL Tackle, but there’s no guarantee he’s going to figure it out. Beside him on the bench is a group of weak players that really aren’t effective when handed playing time.
3. WR – Not to discredit guys like Frisman Jackson, but the Browns are a little weak at WR after Braylon Edwards, Joe Jurevicious, and Dennis Northcutt. The start of the season will be even worse with Edwards out. They may need another talented WR to throw into the mix and compete with the young, unproven players rounding out the current WR corps.
4. C – This is implying that Jeff Faine is traded. The Browns may need to get their hands on a true backup Center if that happens. After LeCharles Bentley, it’s really soft if Faine isn’t around to fill in. I personally would prefer to keep Faine for this very reason (especially if they can get him some work at Guard), but the odds are that he doesn’t want to be a backup.
5. FB – I’m not a big fan of Corey McIntyre. Every time I see him out on the field, it seems as though he does something really stupid. So if the Browns really want to cover all their bases in the event of an injury at any position, they would see to it to find a better backup for Terrelle Smith.
6. G – I advocate stacking the OL as much as possible and while Bob Hallen will be an excellent backup, the Browns would do themselves a favor by grabbing another young talent to add to the mix.

Positions that may be deep enough: TE, QB

Next Wednesday I’ll begin the breakdown of the defensive side of the ball, which is agreed to be the higher priority going into this year’s draft. I will be breaking the positions down and going through the same numbered ranking system at the end of the week.