by Nick Wershing
With the top two picks in tomorrow’s NFL draft locked up, the only thing anyone seems sure of is that there are only three elite players left: USC Tackle Matt Kalil, LSU Corner Morris Claiborne, and Alabama Running Back Trent Richardson. Most experts expect the Vikings to take either Morris Claiborne or Matt Kalil with the third overall pick. This brings us to the Browns. Supposing the Browns don’t trade out, and the Vikings go with Kalil, they seem to have three options: they can go with another of the elite players in Richardson, they can bring in the top weapon in the draft in Oklahoma State’s Justin Blackmon to help Colt McCoy, or they can bring in a new quarterback in A&M’s Ryan Tannehill.
Richardson is the hot pick for experts right now, seeing as he is touted as the best back since Adrian Peterson. If Richardson can be anything like Peterson, this pick is a home run. Richardson clearly has the ability to run both between the tackles and bounce it outside, but what makes him more dynamic are his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and his willingness to stay in the backfield and block. Richardson is a do-it-all back. There are only a handful of teams at this spot that would not take Richardson. If the Vikings did not have Peterson, they would be taking Richardson one spot earlier. So why is Richardson not a lock here? Well, let’s look into this further…
The Browns just invested a 3rd round pick two years ago into Texas QB Colt McCoy. The Browns have been behind McCoy since the beginning, saying that he is their QB going forward despite the criticism he has received from those outside the organization. So maybe this pick should be invested in someone who can help McCoy develop into the Quarterback the Browns need him to be. McCoy doesn’t deserve all the blame, seeing as his top two targets this past year were TE Ben Watson and rookie WR Greg Little. Tom Brady would struggle with that group of pass catchers. So let’s say the Browns decide to build around Colt, and do what is best for him. They pick Justin Blackmon, the sure-fire top receiver in the draft. He is not projected to be an Andre Johnson or Calvin Johnson, but he is a number one type receiver and he is NFL ready. A big target like Blackmon would undoubtedly improve McCoy’s surrounding cast, and his numbers should improve in turn. It would also take some pressure off Greg Little and allow Josh Cribbs to run in the slot, where his speed can be deadly. So Blackmon should definitely be the pick right? Well…
Suppose that the Browns have lost some faith in Colt McCoy—which is not outside the realm of possibility. And suppose Ryan Tannehill is high up on their draft board. Maybe the Browns invest in a new QB. They could then allow McCoy to play out his contract and fill the starting sport as long as it takes Tannehill to develop. Or say McCoy breaks out this year – then Tannehill would become great trade bait. Maybe Tannehill is ready to assume the starting role earlier than expected, then McCoy can fetch a price too.
Keep in mind that Tannehill has only been playing quarterback for two years. His ceiling is extremely high, especially given his great arm strength and athletic ability (he used to play wide receiver). The Browns have the 22nd pick in the first round too; a spot where Baylor’s Kendall Wright could be available as another receiving threat. So is Tannehill worth this high of a pick? He is most likely the biggest risk in the draft.
But let’s say the Vikings go with Claiborne, which has suddenly become a hot pick. This adds Kalil into the mix as well. McCoy would definitely love an offense line featuring Kalil, Joe Thomas, and Alex Mack. The young group would make my high school science teacher look like an All-Pro running back. Kalil is not considered to be as good as Joe Thomas or Jake Long, but he is considered an NFL-ready tackle. The Browns could then use their later first round pick to bring in a weapon, and their second round pick to bring in a running back or someone to challenge McCoy.
All this speculation doesn’t matter in the end. On Thursday night, it all comes down to who the Browns have highest on their own board. Maybe the Browns shock the world and take Claiborne. Maybe they trade down to the Dolphins or Chiefs and by doing so, they pick up an extra pick in the draft and a future first round pick. Perhaps the Vikings trade out of the number 3 spot and all hell breaks loose. You never know what could happen.
The best part about the NFL draft is that no one really knows. Behind the first two picks in this year’s draft, anything could happen, and the Browns play a key role in how the rest of this draft pans out.
Follow Nick Wershing on Twitter: @n_shing
