It's reported the Browns were offered 16th pick and second- and seventh-rounders for No. 6, which was used to draft outside linebacker Mingo. An early ranking reflects the draft and most free agency movement. More Browns story links.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns don't play their first exhibition game until Aug. 8, when they host the St. Louis Rams.
They don't open the season until Sept. 8, when the Miami Dolphins visit.
It seems there's always conversation, though, especially before and after the draft.
Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Browns coverage includes Mary Kay Cabot's story on the road to the NFL for receiver Davone Bess, acquired in a trade with the Miami Dolphins last week; Terry Pluto's podcast; Cabot's story that the Browns have dismissed senior national scout Pat Roberts.
The Browns drafted Louisiana State outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo in the first round with the sixth overall pick last Thursday night. Cleveland did not have a second-rounder. It was given up last summer in the supplemental draft to acquire wide receiver Josh Gordon.
Minutes after the Browns selected Mingo, it was announced that the Buffalo Bills traded the eighth pick in the first round to the St. Louis Rams for the 16th pick in the first round and picks in the second (No. 46) and seventh (No. 222) rounds. The teams also exchanged third-round selections, the Rams getting pick No. 71 and the Bills getting No. 78.
St. Louis took West Virginia wide receiver Tavon Austin with that eighth pick. Buffalo, at No. 16, selected Florida State quarterback EJ Manuel.
Jim Thomas writes for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that the Browns passed on a chance to trade with the Rams:
The Rams talked to the five teams that held picks No. 6 overall through No. 10 about the possibility of moving up.It soon became apparent that they might have to get ahead of the New York Jets at No. 9 to nab Austin. And for a while, they wondered if they might even have to draft ahead of Buffalo at No. 8 for Austin.
So Cleveland, at No. 6 overall, was offered the same deal as Buffalo. But for the second year in a row (See: RGIII trade), the Browns declined to pull the trigger on a major deal with the Rams. Cleveland wanted Louisiana State outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo and decided to stay at No. 6 to do just that.
Thomas' mention of the "RGIII trade" refers to events that Plain Dealer Browns beat writer Mary Kay Cabot reported on March 16, 2012. Cabot wrote that Mike Holmgren, then the Browns president, said Cleveland made as good an offer to the Rams as did the Washington Redskins, who completed a trade with St. Louis that enabled them to draft quarterback Robert Griffin III.
Browns story links
Following the draft and most free agency movement, the Browns are ranked 28th among the 32 NFL teams. (By Jamison Hensley, ESPN.com)
Browns GM Mike Lombardi liked Tim Tebow going into the 2010 draft. (By Steve Doerschuk, Canton Repository)
Making sense of the Browns' draft, including the trades of picks for other picks. (By Steve DiMatteo, Dawg Pound Daily)
Five reasons why the off-season has been a good one for the Browns. (By Josh Finney, Dawgs By Nature)
Browns get a low grade for their draft decisions. (Sports Illustrated)
Not much to say either way in this grading of how the Browns' draft went. (USAToday.com)
Ranking 50 prospects eligible for the 2014 NFL draft. (CBSSports.com)
Getting receiver Davone Bess from Miami was a good move by the Browns. (By Fred Greetham, FoxSportsOhio.com)
Davone Bess wants to lead and produce for the Browns. (By Nate Ulrich, Akron Beacon Journal)