By Benjamin Knisley
The Browns –
There was nothing fancy about the Browns’ 2010 NFL draft, in fact it was a little anticlimactic considering they may have reached on each of their first three picks. With Eric Berry gone the Browns chose the next best defensive back, Joe Haden.
He is a solid player, having never given up a touchdown while playing at Florida and he will come in and start right away for a defense that was one of the worst in the league statistically last year. I thought the Browns could have traded down a few picks and still drafted him, but that didn’t happen. But no matter who plays in the Browns secondary, no one can cover a receiver for much longer than four seconds and if the Browns front seven can’t find a way to disrupt opposing quarterbacks sooner and more often than last year. Haden will have virtually no impact this year.
The Browns were obviously trying to add some physicality with their two picks in the second round, safety T.J. Ward and running back Montario Hardesty. Both are bruising, powerful players that could change the mentality of Browns football between the hash marks. However, physical football players with a history of injury problems don’t usually end up with long, impactful careers in the NFL.
Colt McCoy was the best pick for Cleveland in this draft. To get a quarterback predicted to be a late first round, early second round pick in the third round is a steal. There will be little pressure on him or the coaching staff to get on the field right away. The ability to sit back and learn from Delhomme, Wallace and even Holmgren will set McCoy up for future success.
The Browns last four picks, guard Shaun Lauvao, safety Larry Asante, wide receiver Carlton Mitchell and defensive end Clifton Geathers, addressed specific team needs. Lauvao, Asante and Mitchell add depth where the Browns need it most, the offensive line, the secondary and wide receivers. Mitchell on the other hand is a physical freak at six foot, eight inches tall, gigantic for a defensive end. If any of these guys make significant contributions this year it will be on special teams.
The Draft –
I might be in the minority here, but I do not like the new schedule. The Draft spread out over three days? Give me a break. Literally. Does anyone in the real world with jobs, kids and any kind of life outside of NFL football have the time to spend three evenings in a row watching hours of draft coverage? Not to mention before every pick ESPN took out all the suspense by showing player X on the phone smiling, crying, wearing the hat of the team getting ready to pick before the commissioner was even at the podium. It drove me nuts. Give me draft Saturday so I can dedicate a whole day to watching the important picks, eating meat and drinking adult beverages. And let the commissioner tell us which kid had just become a millionaire. Tell the ESPN cameraman to hold his horses and get the shot after the announcement.
The Future –
Joe Haden will be the only player picked this year to make a significant contribution week in and week out. T.J. Ward will play and probably struggle adjusting to NFL speed. Montario Hardesty will play a lot one week and won’t see the field the next. Colt McCoy, hopefully, won’t see the field at all this year. And everyone else drafted this year will make hay on special teams. We will see signs of improvement, but don’t expect a wildcard this year. They still have to play the Ravens, Steelers and Bengals a combined six times. The Browns have the tenth hardest schedule this coming season and will probably have another top ten pick in 2011.