Report: Kyrie Irving Could Miss 10 Days
April 4, 2012Box Score: Bucks 107, Cavs 98
April 4, 2012What a wild journey it has been already since the Browns failed to acquire the second pick from the St. Louis Rams. Since that time, Browns fans mourned the loss before finally starting to come to grips with the fact that the Browns will most likely be able to get a player with really big potential at #4. So, I figured I would run through the candidates again based on where they are in the pecking order and where their stock is headed.
First, let’s look at the guys who have stocks on the rise.
Stock up
Matt Kalil – This isn’t really a guy who is on the rise, but his stock is really high and he has been announced as a player who was going to be in Cleveland for a visit. Popular belief is that Kalil will go third and never become available to the Browns at #4. Still, should he “fall” to #4 he would either be an extremely low-risk pick for the Browns or give them an increased ability to trade down for premium value.
In talking to LeCharles Bentley on Twitter, I am being led to believe that asking a left tackle to switch sides isn’t as simple as maybe everyone might think it is. While I still believe in the benefits of having two premier offensive tackles, that information from Bentley does give me pause. If anyone would know, it would be the guy who turned Alex Boone into an NFL player. It still makes me think Kalil falling to the Browns would be a good problem to have either by drafting him or by trading the pick.
Trent Richardson – Stock is way up on Richardson. The draft is deep in running backs who will probably be successful, but Richardson has a track record and a level of polish that seems to be hoisting him into the #1 contender spot for the Browns at #4. I’ve written about Richardson ad nauseum already. It seems like more and more mock drafts are sending him to the Browns at #4.
Stock Neutral
Morris Claiborne – I agree with any of the pundits who are blasting back at the leaked news of Claiborne’s low Wonderlic test score. I find it horrifying that a kid who took a test in confidence would have it leaked like that. So much so, in fact, that I think maybe guys should start skipping it, but that’s a different conversation. The fact that he might have a learning disability and is reportedly such an excellent person as well as football player makes it all the more horrible to have him downgraded so publicly. That being said, I don’t believe it hurts Claiborne’s stock with the Cleveland Browns. I believe Heckert’s track record over the last two years is that the interview means a whole lot with regard to any perceived issues or problems. The Wonderlic might be a data point for the Browns, but I don’t see it as being a major factor in Claiborne’s standing as a potential member of the team with the #4 pick.
Stock Down
Justin Blackmon – The depth at wide receiver is vast (Kendall Wright for example) just like it is at running back. Still, if Blackmon were seen as the next A.J. Green it wouldn’t matter how many other receiver prospects were going to be available later in the draft. There’s just something about Blackmon that isn’t letting him achieve the premier status among draftniks of previous runaway number ones at his position. We’ve heard rumblings about the Big 12 and the name Michael Crabtree from detractors. The big, physical playmaker will still find a home in the top ten, it seems, but I believe his stock is way down at #4 for the Browns.
Ryan Tannehill – After all the gushing after Tannehill’s workout I was really concerned that his stock would actually rise. I think the Browns do still like Tannehill, but in no way am I convinced they like him enough for #4. I do believe that Heckert and Holmgren have a bit of gambler’s mentality in them, but I just don’t think it will be #4. The biggest gambles that Heckert has taken so far have been second rounders Montario Hardesty and Greg Little and a third rounder in Colt McCoy. It is hard to envision him pushing all in on a boom / bust proposition like 19 game starter Ryan Tannehill with the 4th pick in the NFL draft.
57 Comments
I know I have an over active imagnination but I don’t see it being much of a stretch for a Drew Rosenhaus type to spread 20-50 grand among some scouts and front office assistants to get whatever info he needs. Either way, whether you or I are right about the source of the leaks, I’m convinced that they don’t happen without specific cause behind them.
I would like to see the team who leaked this, if it was a team, lose a high draft pick.
Barring any trade downs the people I want at four are 1) Tannehill, 2A)Claiborne, 2B)Blackmon. I really like Claiborne and Blackmon and we desperately need help at WR, but I also really like Alshon Jeffrey at 37 (A steal, IMO – he is probably 2nd best WR in draft). Also like Jarius Wright in 4th. Pead I think is the ideal fit at RB for this team and should be avaliable with our third round pick.
…Montario?
It was the redskins…definitely
I’d be happy with Claiborne too. I’d also be ok with Blackmon. Both are going to be studs in the NFL. The teams who deliberately hurt the stock of Claiborne and Blackmon are also the ones who highly covet them. My concern with Claiborne’s wonderlic score was that it could mean he either didn’t prepare or didn’t try at all. If it’s due to a learning disability, then it is less of a problem since he clearly understands how to play football. A team that feels the same way likely leaked his score hoping he will fall to them.
Desean Jackson? Shady McCoy? Jabaal Sheard?