The Cleveland Browns bolstered their receiving corps with the addition of veteran receiver Davone Bess in a trade with Miami, and drafted cornerback Leon McFadden, who is expected to challenge for a starting spot in training camp. Watch video
BEREA, Ohio -- On a day in which the Browns had only one pick in the draft, they kept things lively in Berea by introducing first-rounder Barkevious Mingo, trading for veteran receiver Davone Bess and adding a potential starting cornerback in San Diego State's Leon McFadden with their third-round pick.
In taking McFadden (5-9, 163) at No. 68 on the second day of the draft, the Browns passed on three big-name quarterbacks in Southern Cal's Matt Barkley, Syracuse's Ryan Nassib and North Carolina State's Mike Glennon. It means Brandon Weeden's starting job appears safe for now.
"We were more focused on trying to improve the positions of the secondary, defensive line, offensive line, those areas," said Browns General Manager Mike Lombardi.
They also passed on the controversial "Honey Badger," LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu, who was picked a notch after McFadden.
"I think you do the research on all the players and you make a decision on kind of what you really feel is the best for your organization, and we just felt Leon was ideally suited," Lombardi said. "He played a lot of football in college. He's competitive, and he's been productive."
During their barren second round, the Browns completed the anticipated trade with the Miami Dolphins for Bess and rewarded him with a three-year extension. He'll arrive in Cleveland Saturday and sign the deal, as long as he passes his physical.
In exchange for Bess, the Browns moved down seven spots in the fourth round (104 to 111) and swapped their fifth-round pick (164) for a seventh-rounder (217). The Dolphins had been believed to be seeking a fourth- or fifth-round pick for the slot receiver.
"Bess is a really talented, productive receiver," said Lombardi, who addressed the media after the selection of McFadden. "I think he's the 14th-most-productive receiver in the NFL over the last four years. He's caught a lot of passes, converted a lot of third downs for the Dolphins. They signed a couple of other receivers this year, so it was a good opportunity for us to bring him in here and see what he can do. In terms of being inside the slot, play outside, he's done both. He'll certainly give us a chance."
A five-year veteran, Bess caught 61 passes for 778 yards and a touchdown in 13 starts last season, but he became expendable when the Dolphins signed free agents Mike Wallace and Brandon Gibson last month. He leaves a team that finished 27th in the NFL with just 18 points per game last year for one that finished 24th with 18.9. Of course, both teams had rookie quarterbacks last season in Weeden and Ryan Tannehill.
In his five seasons with the Dolphins, Bess caught 12 touchdown passes -- and reportedly irked some of his coaches last year when he sat out the final three games with a back injury.
Signed as an undrafted free agent out of Hawaii in 2008, Bess' best season was in 2010, when he caught 79 passes for 820 yards and five touchdowns. He caught 50-plus passes in all five seasons and gained no fewer than 537 yards.
During his career, Bess has accounted for 130 third-down receptions, which is the second most in the NFL in the five-year span from 2008 to 2012, trailing only Roddy White (146).
Bess will provide an insurance policy for fellow slot receiver David Nelson, who was signed as a free agent from the Buffalo Bills. Nelson is coming off a torn anterior cruciate ligament and sat out the recent minicamp.
"I think David will be healthy -- he's close to being healthy coming off of the ACL," Lombardi said. "So it gives us great competition for the coaches to evaluate the players and see what roles they define and how they play. Both players have produced in NFL games and have made plays and scored touchdowns and converted third downs, which is always something you . . . want to have."
Bess, who will face his former team in the opener here Sept. 8, should also help mentor young receivers Greg Little, Josh Gordon and Travis Benjamin.
In McFadden, the Browns drafted a smaller but highly productive corner who's expected to challenge for the starting job opposite Joe Haden. McFadden set the San Diego State record for pass deflections (39) and has eight career interceptions.
"Leon's a four-year starter," Lombardi said. "He's got good mirror skills. He's competitive, can make plays on the football. He's got the attributes that we're looking for, certainly, at the position."
As to whether he'll start, Lombardi said: "I think that's a coach's call. I think he's got the skills to certainly compete, and whoever wins the job will be determined based on their play on the field."
Lombardi doesn't feel McFadden's lack height is an issue.
"He's 5-9, but he weighs 193, so he's got good size to him," Lombardi said. "Obviously, we all want 6-1 corners. We all want Willie Brown from the old days. Sometimes, it's harder to find. But he makes plays on the football, which is important. He's got great awareness and he's got balance. He's got the skills to play inside or out, and he's done both."
McFadden, the son of former Major League Baseball player Leon McFadden Sr., enrolled at San Diego State as a receiver but switched to defensive back and excelled right away.
"Words can't explain how excited I am to be a part of the Cleveland Browns organization," he said. "I'm looking forward to working my butt off on the field and helping the team get wins."
McFadden was caught off guard by the Browns calling his name.
"I didn't really speak to the Cleveland Browns," he said. "This was a big surprise to me. I didn't talk to them much, probably some basic questionnaires. Other than that, I didn't know their interest in me at all."
McFadden, who runs a 4.5 in the 40, believes his ball skills and man-to-man coverage are his biggest assets. He also registered 188 tackles in his career.
"I became a lot more aggressive in the last couple years," he said. "My IQ for football, studying my opponent, is really big for me. The main thing I would like to work on is my press man and polishing up my technique and keeping my eye discipline."
McFadden said his technique makes up for his size and that he's eager to play with Haden.
"Joe Haden is a great corner," he said. "I've seen some clips of him back when he was at Florida and a couple plays in the NFL. He's a competitor and about the same size. I think I can add to that as a DB. You want to win every battle. It will be a good addition."
As for whether he'll start right away, he said: "I believe I'm going to be a competitor in the NFL. I'm going to try to better myself every time I hit the field. My career in the NFL, I'm going to work hard and have a successful one."
The Browns are counting on it.
Video and links:
Video: Leon McFadden making some plays for San Diego State:
Video: The focus is on San Diego State cornerback Leon McFadden (2) during the Aztecs' 14-13 win at Boise State last Nov. 3.
Video: Leon McFadden at the NFL scouting combine: