From a business sense, I understand why the Browns traded the picks. But I still wish they had drafted more players.
1. From a pure business standpoint, a case can be made that if you can turn a fourth-rounder in 2013 into a third-rounder in 2014, you do it. Even if it means trading with Pittsburgh. And the same is true if you can turn a fifth-rounder in 2013 into a fourth-rounder in 2014, as the Browns did in their deal with the Colts. That does give the Browns six picks in the first four rounds of 2014, nine total selections.
2. I also know most fourth-and-fifth round picks don't become starters, much less stars. But there are gems in the lower rounds, not just sixth-rounder and future Hall of Famer Tom Brady. Even with the Browns and their spotty (to put it kindly) recent draft history, Jerome Harrison (2006), Kaluka Maiava (2009), Lawrence Vickers (2006), Billy Winn (2012), Buster Skrine (2011) and Jason Pinkston (2011) were picked in the fifth round or later. All have started some games. If healthy, Pinkston is projected to start at guard this season. Skrine will be in the nickel coverage defending slot receivers. Winn is a significant part of the rotation on the defensive line.
3. In 2011-12, the Browns had four picks in the fourth round: Travis Benjamin, Owen Marecic, James-Michael Johnson and Jordan Cameron. Marecic is a miss, but the other three are viable players heading into 2013.
4. My point is the Browns need an influx of talent -- I know, that sounds brilliant. But after the trades with the Steelers and Colts, the draft delivered only two players in the first 174 picks: Barkevious Mingo and Leon McFadden. The front office talked of assets and building, but the fan in me says, "Man, the Browns need some players...right now."
5. ESPN's Mel Kiper on the Browns draft: "At No. 68 overall, they took Leon McFadden, a much-needed CB who knows how to operate on an island. As I look at the depth chart, I don't see a reason why McFadden can't break camp as the starter across from Joe Haden. That's not a small deal because it also maximizes Buster Skrine, who will be able to spend more time in the slot, where he's much better."
6. While LSU's Tyrann Mathieu received lots of attention because of his speed and troubles off the field, I looked at three different scouting reports along with talking to former Browns general manager Phil Savage (now an Alabama radio voice) -- and all four sources said the Honeybadger was best as a "nickel back" and return man. In other words, he's not like Haden, who defends wide receivers by himself.
7. Hope Kiper is right on McFadden, because the Browns cornerbacks are Haden, Skrine, McFadden and Trevin Wade. Only Haden has more than two years of experience. Kiper gave the Browns a "C-plus" for the draft. He grades on a curve, as no team received lower than a C-minus. I think it's dumb to put a letter grade on drafts, so I refuse to do it. But a draft can be critiqued for its general approach, and the Browns approached this draft with one eye on next season.
8. The Browns made some good moves in free agency such as signing Paul Kruger and Desmond Bryant, both immediate starters. Free agent outside linebacker Quentin Groves will compete with Jabaal Sheard and Mingo for the other outside linebacker spot. But it's easy to imagine defensive coordinator Ray Horton having three of his outside linebackers on the field at the same time to produce a powerful pass rush.
9. Be it their draft or free agency, the Browns approach is measured. They had no desire to overpay for free agents, or draft picks. It's just hard on the fan base where the team has either been 4-12 or 5-11 in each of the last five seasons.
10. A nice move for this season was trading for Davone Bess. Adding a veteran receiver has been a need for years. Give CEO Joe Banner and General Manager Mike Lombardi credit for targeting Bess. They knew Miami spent big money on receivers Mike Wallace, Brandon Gibson and Brian Hartline, making Bess available. The price was almost nothing, swinging middle-round picks for a guy who has averaged 64 catches over the last five years.
11. This from Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald: "Bess’ story is one of perseverance. Big schools overlooked him because of his size (5-10, generously) and his checkered past (he spent more than a year at a juvenile facility as a kid after running afoul of the law). But he got a shot at Hawaii and flourished. Bess went undrafted out of college, but earned a training camp shot with the Dolphins. Five years later, he has nearly 3,500 career receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. Bess also emerged as one of the most likeable people in the Dolphins’ locker room."
12. An impressive part of Bess with the Dolphins is he consistently caught more than 60 passes a season, and did it with four different starting quarterbacks: Ryan Tannehill, Matt Moore, Chad Henne and Chad Pennington. Obviously, the Dolphins believe Bess wouldn't play much this season. But the door is wide open for even an average NFL receiver with some leadership skills to mentor Josh Gordon, Greg Little and Benjamin.