Browns DT Taylor awaiting MRI on Torn Pectoral

The Cleveland Browns are holding their collective breath as they await the MRI results of Defensive Tackle Phil Taylor’s test results to see if he did in fact tear his Left Pectoral muscle during workouts.

Taylor, a massive Tackle who clogs the middle, played exceptionally well in his first year as a pro an the Browns have high hopes for his future anchoring their Defensive Line.

According to a statement the team released:

“Defensive tackle Phil Taylor injured his left pectoral today lifting weights as part of the club’s off-season program. He will be further evaluated on Monday to determine a course of treatment.”

Hopefully for Phil, the news is a good one and he won’t miss too much time. As of right now it’s a waiting game to see what the exact damage is. We wish him and the Browns organization the best of luck with this tough blow to a young and rising player.

Browns: Meet The 2012 Draft Class

ROUND 1: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Richardson instantly becomes the most dynamic and promising running back prospect the team has had since Jim Brown, a No. 6 overall pick in 1957. Richardson’s versatility fits into any scheme. He will be an every-down back who will run inside, outside and get plenty of work as a receiver. His blocking and toughness will be factors, too. It got Cleveland’s attention when he bowled over their running backs coach, Gary Brown, at his pro day. His trademark on film is consistently driving the pile and making key yards after contact. That’s perfect for the cold-weather AFC North.

The Browns got that sort of running from Peyton Hillis on his good days. Hillis’s speed was in a different ZIP code than Richardson’s. Moving the pile is especially important to the Browns while they try to develop a passing game. Until Colt McCoy, or whomever, gets the hang of the West Coast offense, opponents will stack the box. Richardson is one of those rare runners who can be effective against a stacked box.

The Browns didn’t trade three draft picks not to use Richardson immediately, and often. Richardson becomes an instant feature back. Care will be taken not to overwork him, but the talent gap between him and whomever becomes his backup is wide. The Browns will use training camp to assess young veterans Montario Hardesty, Brandon Jackson and Chris Ogbonnaya. One or two of them will be used to spell Richardson. One will be cut.

Offensive coordinator Brad Childress is perfect for Richardson, in that he was head coach in Minnesota when the Vikings spent a No. 7 pick on Adrian Peterson in 2007. Childress learned valuable lessons about yielding to the temptation of overworking a rookie back. He will apply them to Richardson.

ROUND 1: Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State

Weeden lacks the mobility of a classic West Coast quarterback, but ownership advised the top personnel men to quit experimenting with projects and get the best option available. A full-court press to trade for Robert Griffin III failed. Ryan Tannehill had the physical tools but too many rough edges.
The believe that Weeden’s strong suits, particularly his strong arm, made him worth a gamble. Former Browns QB Bernie Kosar loves Weeden’s ability to stick the back-shoulder throw. Coaches want to establish more of a downfield throwing game, and he brings that instantly. His arm is much stronger than that of incumbent Colt McCoy.

There is no question that Weeden was drafted to be the No. 1 quarterback sooner rather than later. The best guess is that the brass will take a long look at him in spring practice and the early part of camp with an eye on starting him immediately. If he doesn’t seem ready, McCoy and Seneca Wallace provide excellent fall-back options.

At worst, the Browns have assembled the best group of backups on the planet. If McCoy wins the job, he would be baby sitting it for Weeden until 2013 or late this season, although things would get interesting if McCoy started leading the Browns to wins.

ROUND 2: Mitchell Schwartz, T, California

Schwartz can play left tackle, right tackle or even guard, but it’s a no-brainer that he will plug in on the right side in Cleveland. The Browns were tempted to take a wide receiver here, but they are in such need of a right tackle, and were so convinced that Schwartz was the best one available, that they pounced. Schwartz has an almost dumpy build and can look almost sloppy in his approach, but he is a scrapper who consistently earned high grades for finishing assignments at Cal.

Schwartz was drafted this high because the team intends for him to be the opening-day starter at right tackle. The only man in his way is young veteran Oniel Cousins, who was not good enough last year to beat out Tony Pashos, who played hurt and was ineffective. There is some concern that the Browns are young on the right side, with third-year pro Shawn Lauvao entering his second year as the starting right guard. The anchors of the line are center Alex Mack, Schwartz’s teammate at Cal as recently as 2008, and Thomas. Even though Schwartz is a rookie, he is a big upgrade over Cousins.

Round 3: John Hughes, DT, Cincinnati

How he fits: Hughes is a big, aggressive run-plugger who was needed to fill the crucial role of spelling starting tackles Ahtyba Rubin and Phil Taylor, both of whom played far more snaps than the team wanted in 2011. He is a strong, aggressive stack-and-shed guy. He understands that he is primarily a run-stopper, and so do the Browns, although they hope he can develop into at least a representative pass-rushing threat. He was the first player drafted on the defensive side after three picks were spent on offense.

When he’ll play: The Browns used undersized veteran Brian Schaefering in their tackle rotation last year, and he did an adequate job, but coordinator Dick Jauron wants to expand and upgrade the rotation. The early plan is to give Hughes a heavy workload in preseason games and have him ready to be the third defensive tackle. He will be used on the early downs. He is at least a year away from helping on passing downs, on which end Frostee Rucker will slide inside to help provide a push up the middle.

ROUND 4: TRAVIS BENJAMIN, WR, Miami (Fla.)

Benjamin instantly gives the Browns needed speed. He ran a 4.34 in the 40 during pre-draft workouts and says his best 40 time is a 4.26. Game tapes show him flying past Ohio State players on punt returns. The Browns understand he instantly becomes the fastest man on the team. He also will be the smallest man (5-10, 172) on the team, which is why he fell to the fourth round. At minimum, he projects as a replacement for Joshua Cribbs on punt returns.

ROUND 4: JAMES-MICHAEL JOHNSON, LB, Nevada

This could be a great pick. Before landing the versatile, experienced Johnson, the team was exposed at linebacker. Johnson basically split his 50 college starts between inside and outside linebacker positions and projects as an option for any spot in Cleveland’s 4-3. He needs to bulk up on the strong side, Johnson he has a high motor and is a mature player who can help early in a rotation.

ROUND 5: RYAN MILLER, OL, Colorado

This pick should make Jason Pinkston and Shawn Lauvao nervous. Miller was a standout guard at Colorado who also has played tackle. Miller is a mature, tough and resourceful player. He also is extremely tall at 6-foot-7. Miller is a former wrestler with the tenacious mentality G.M. Tom Heckert is trying to stockpile. At worst, he will make the team and upgrade the O-line depth.

ROUND 6: EMMANUEL ACHO, OLB, Texas

Acho has a knack for big plays as evidenced by his 41 stops behind the line in college. He was highly productive, starting only 26 of the 41 games in which he played, but delivering 280 tackles. He is a bit stiff and will struggle to make the team, but his instincts and tenacity should enable him to compete for a backup job on the strong side.

ROUND 6: BILLY WINN, DE, Boise State

Winn’s size and athleticism give the Browns options for their defensive line rotation. At 6-3, close to 300 pounds, he will be tried as an end on running plays when the starters need a spell. He also will be developed as an inside bull rusher. Winn was rated much higher than Round 6 on the Browns’ board but dropped because of injury concerns.

ROUND 7: TREVIN WADE, CB, Arizona

Wade, added for depth, has ordinary overall ability but enough first-step quickness to function as a nickel back. He has plenty of experience after starting for three years. For now, he will try to make the team as a fifth corner.

ROUND 7: BRAD SMELLEY, TE/FB, Alabama

This was a karma pick. He was a teammate of Trent Richardson. His presence will help his pal make the big adjustment to the pros. He could be a threat to incumbent fullback Owen Marecic, or he could make the team as a backup at both fullback and tight end. He is a good receiver as he showed while catching a few early balls in the national title game. He could provide a needed upgrade on special teams grunt work.

NFL Draft: Winners & Losers

SkinnyPost TV sits down to take a look at who won in this years NFL Draft and who didn’t! From value picks to teams that reached and everything in between!!

Final Draft Grades!!

It’s very difficult to “grade” a draft just days after the selections however it isn’t difficult to see where we feel value was found and how teams did or didn’t manipulate the board to fit their needs. Certain players are sure to reach the dreaded “bust” status while others will ascend to “late round gem” status. Here is how we grade all 32 teams in the 2012 NFL Draft! Read more

Breakdown of All The Draft Day Trades

Draft Trade Breakdown

DAY 1 – Thursday Trades

Read more

Professor Schloss’s 1st Round Draft Grades

Professor Schloss’s 1st Round Draft Grades
First my notes:

This was a super quick draft that was over before you knew it. I never understood the reason for dragging it on and on. Teams have had months to figure this out, so unless something really unexpected happens and your guy is taken or if you’re exploring a last minute trade, there really isn’t any reason to take the entire clock.

Trades, trades, and more trades. There is nothing more exciting on draft day than trades. Given the new rookie wage scale, this will probably be a trend more than an anomaly. Teams that traded down in the draft received great value and teams who traded up knew exactly who they wanted and what it took to get him. It’s always a good sign to a fan when your team has a plan and does what it takes to execute.

The first 20 minutes were super boring. Why did the first 3 teams announce who they were taking ahead of time? What do they have to gain? Totally took the luster and excitement out of the top of the draft. I really don’t understand why the Colts have to announce they are taking Andrew Luck 1st until they need to submit their pick. This is competitive league, so why throw your cards on the table before the game even starts. Only good thing that came out of this was it gave RG3 the chance to wear those fantastic Redskin colored socks which he proudly showed everyone.

How does the NFL have the jersey for the rookies as soon as their drafted? The only explanation is they print up 1 for each player they think will be drafted. What happens to all of those other jerseys?? What if a team picks someone out of left field, does that guy get a blank jersey?

Looks like the NFL heard my complaint last year and stopped showing the player before they were drafted. I take full credit. The draft was so much more enjoyable with this improvement. I actually looked forward to hearing what Roger Goodell had to say for once.

Draft Grades:

1.Indianapolis Colts – Andrew Luck – A+
Everything that can be said about Luck basically has been. Slam dunk of a number 1 pick and perhaps the best transition of quarterbacks ever with a #1 replacing a #1. Luck doesn’t have a ton of talent surrounding him yet, so hopefully expectations are tempered in year 1 in Indy. Let’s all remember Peyton came in and won only 3 games while throwing 28 picks his first year. Just because the recent crop of rookie quarterbacks have excelled year 1, doesn’t mean Luck has to. Side note on Luck, anyone else think he came off as kind of a dork? If I were him, I’d grow that ugly beard again he had before his senior year started. The dorky 15 year old look might not be too imposing to NFL defenses.

2. Washington Redskins – Roger Griffin III – A
Really liked what RG3 said after he was drafted. His focus remains on the team and showing the veterans he is there to work. A Cam Newton esque rookie campaign might be a little much to ask, but RG3 with Shanny coaching him up, can be a star from day 1 in Washington. The Skins gave up the house for him so I imagine they think this pick is pure gold. The massive haul is the only thing keeping this from being a top grade. Of course if he ends up being a franchise QB, all the picks will be more than worth it. Btw, could we be in for a Steve Smith like rejuvenation for Santana Moss this season?

3. Cleveland Browns – Trent Richardson – A
Brad Childress is the Phil Jackson of football (except for the 11 rings and ability to know what you’re doing). Phil went from Jordan to Kobe while Childress goes from Peterson to Richardson. Trent may go down as the best player to come out of this draft and the Browns made sure they nabbed him. While the entire league goes pass happy, the Browns will take a different approach and utilize the best RB prospect to come out since Peterson. I will say I’m not sure the Browns “had” to trade up and swap spots with the Vikings for this pick though. I realize other teams were interested in doing just that, Tampa perhaps, but my gut feeling tells me Vikings would have still just picked Kalil and Richardson would have been sitting there still at #4. Obviously I know a lot less than Cleveland did, or at least think they did, so perhaps this was necessary to get a much needed running back. After missing out on RG3, it’s tough to blame Cleveland for not taking any chances with the other player they loved in the draft. The city of Cleveland needed a star player, and they get one here.

4. Minnesota Vikings – Ryan Kalil – A
Anyone else wonder why Ryan was kissing Valerie Bertanelli after he got drafted? Anyway, the Vikings trade down, get 2 more picks, and still get the guy they wanted at 3. I’d say that’s Minnesota highway robbery. No one is happier about this pick than Christian Ponder though. I realize the sentiment these days are left tackles aren’t as important as they were thought to be a few years ago, but getting a cornerstone guy there for the next 10 years will only help the Vikings. They didn’t seem to fall in love with any one player in this draft, so picking probably the safest bet while trading down for more picks is smart play by the Vikes. Big question remains for Minnesota fans, how many years will they get to enjoy Kalil before the team picks up and leaves??

5. Jacksonville Jaguars – Justin Blackmon – A
Didn’t’ really understand the backlash as of late for Blackmon. A lot of scouts and talking heads didn’t feel he was a true #1. Did they watch him in college? The guy was dominant the past two seasons at OK State. There is no team starved more for wide receiver talent than the Jags so this pick is a no brainer. Even if Blackmon never develops into Calvin Johnson (who f’n does???) he is the best receiver they have had their since Jimmy Smith who retired over 7 years ago! Probably had to trade up to leapfrog the Rams to take Blackmon, so I applaud the initiative.

6. Dallas Cowboys – Morris Clairborne – B+
This grade doesn’t reflect the player, but more what Dallas gave up to get him. If a Pro Bowl CB in Asante Samuel is worth only a 7th round pick, giving up a #2 and their #1 to move up to draft Morris is a huge price. Dallas does get the last of the ‘big 6’ though and do get the top cover man in the draft. As a Cowboy fan I had my heart set on Barron, but I guess I never thought they had a chance for Claiborne. Any Dallas fan will tell you how poor their secondary played last year so with Claiborne and the addition of Carr this offseason, along with the banishing of Terence Newman, suddenly cornerback is a position of strength for the Cowboys. I am just still a bit concerned about a playmaker at the safety position and a another pass rusher, which cannot be addressed now until the 3rd round.

7. Tampa Bay – Mark Barron – A
That awful Tampa defense just got a lot better on draft night. Barron is the real deal and seems like one of those rare playmakers in the secondary who seems to always be around the ball and make things happen. Bonus points for trading down and still getting one of the top 2 impact secondary rookies. Can we just start calling him “The Baron” now? Awesome nickname. I wish Dallas got him…

8. Miami Dolphins – Ryan Tannehill – C
The first real boom or bust pick of the draft. The Dolphins were a mess this off-season so this pick needs to be a homerun or they will continue to fade into obscurity. We have seen so many quarterbacks enter the league with all of the tools Tannehill possesses, but flame out rather quickly. This pick is so tough to grade because you really don’t know what Tannehill will become. If Miami seriously thinks he is the answer as QB then this pick makes total sense. A part of me thinks they talked themselves into him though. He probably won’t play much at all in year 1 so the Fins might find themselves at the top of the draft next season where there are some stud signal callers available. Then what will they do? Ryan does win the award for hottest WAG in the draft room though, so that counts for something. (http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/ryan-tannehill-wife-stole-show-thursday-nfl-draft-161434718.html)

9. Carolina Panthers – Luke Kuechly – A-
Carolina could have used help at receiver and picked the ND product Floyd, but elect to go defense here and it found a gem in linebacker Luke Kuechly. Luke is the poster child for productivity, and his ability to play the pass will allow him to be a three down linebacker. Cam can’t do anything while the defense is on the field, so upgrading that unit has Carolina back on the path to relevancy in the NFL. The only hesitation I have is the recent lack of success top 10 linebackers in the league has had. Kuechly seems as poised as anyone to break that mold though.

10. Buffalo Bills – Stephon Gilmore – A
The Bills needed a top flight corner to match up against #1 receivers and they grab one with Gamecock product Gilmore. The Bills have dedicated themselves to building a top defense and continue with a great secondary addition. While the offense might still need work, they are hoping Fitzpatrick gains some of his magic back while the defense becomes one of the best in the AFC.

11. KC Chiefs – Dontari Poe – B-
I hope KC fans like Vegas, because their team just took one of the bigger gambles in the draft. Poe is the typical workout wonder who everyone seems to become obsessed with right before the draft. His lack of productivity at Memphis is puzzling though and raises some major red flags. At the very least he should turn into a space eater. Chiefs fans are probably hoping Poe isn’t the second coming of Glen Dorsey though. Poe massive size should prevent that from happening hopefully.

12. Fletcher Cox – B+
The Eagles trade up to get a player they really liked and given Andy Reid’s draft history, we have to trust he knows what he is doing. While Cox wasn’t necessarily a position of need, he will certainly help sure up the between the gap defense that struggled mightily at times last season. The Eagles front four is pretty nasty but Cox gives them some nice depth, flexibility, and youth. Again, I trust Andy Reid here.

13. Arizona Cardinals -Michael Floyd – C
This pick seems like the Cards were nostalgic for the days of Fitz and Boldin catching passes together. Big difference between then and now though, those guys had Kurt Warner throwing to them. Fitz and Floyd will have the pu pu platter of Kolb and Skelton. Can’t help but think the Cards could have used some offensive line help here. Rief or DeCastro would have made sense. You can have Moss and Rice out there, but if Kolb or whoever else can’t get it to them due to lack of protection or “talent’ it won’t matter.

14. St. Louis Rams – Michael Brockers – A
Rams get a talented and much needed player in Brockers here while at the same time amassing multiple picks by trading down. They put themselves in the driver’s seat for round 2. If I’m a Rams fan, I’m somewhat distraught they didn’t come out with either Blackmon or Floyd, but looking back at draft histories, some of the best wide receiver talents have come in round 2, and I can’t imagine they don’t select at least one with all the picks they have. Besides lack of guys to throw the ball to, the Rams porous run defense was their achilles heel last year. Brockers immediately upgrades that unit. Great job of the Rams this draft to maximize their draft position and getting a ton of picks in return. RG3 might be fantastic, but they seem invested in Bradford and shouldn’t have let one poor season deter them from sticking with him. Bravo St. Louis.

15. Seattle Seahawks- Bruce Irvin – D+
Eek, this was a reach. Irvin goes from former high school drop out to #15 pick in the NFL draft. Not exactly the poster child for staying in school campaigns. While I don’t think Irvin can’t be a productive starter on the NFL level, with so many teams finding ways to trade down and accumulate more picks, it’s hard to figure out why the Hawks’ felt they had to reach at 15 for the WVU linebacker. Hard to imagine he wouldn’t have been there much later in the 1st round or even on day 2.

16. NY Jets – Quinton Coples – C+
Coples could have easily gone top 10 given his talent. His effort and motor remain a question mark though, as does his consistency. Rex Ryan sometimes brings out the best in defensive players so I’m sure that was the thought process here. The Jets defense was vastly over rated last year so if Coples plays like his raw talent suggests, this unit has received a huge upgrade. Given the locker room issues that plagued the Jets last year, you do have to wonder if this is the best environment for someone like Coples. I think they would have been better served to pick Ingram here but Rex and Co. swing for the fences with this pick.

17. Cincinnati Bengals – Dre Kirkpatrick – B+
“Dr.” Dre Kirkpatrick is exactly what the Bengals needed to replace Jonathan Joseph, who was sorely missed last season when Leon Hall went down. With Hall and Kirkpatrick, Cinnci has a secondary duo who can match up with pretty much any receiving tandem in the league. Given Kirkpatrick’s unique size, he can match up against the bigger wideouts while Hall shuts down the quicker ones. Hard to imagine the Bengals nailing two drafts in a row, but it appears they are on their way.

18. San Diego Chargers – Melvin Ingram – A
Great job by the Chargers to get the guy many thought was the best pass rusher in the draft, all the way at 18. Ingram is the hybrid pass rusher that has become so popular these past few years, and gives the Charger defense some much needed flexibility. When a guy’s biggest knock is he has “short arms”, I’d say SD did well with this selection. Besides, it’s not like he has T-Rex arms. http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/prehistoric/tyrannosaurus-rex/

19. Chicago Bears – Shea McClellin – C+
McClellin was a big riser coming into the draft and seems like another pass rushing specialist, which we are finding out teams cannot have too many of. Any pressure that gets taken off Julius Pepper is also a big positive. I’m just left feeling the Bears could have done more to protect Cutler and shore up a shaky offensive line. With Riley Reiff and DeCastro still sitting there, this pick is a bit puzzling to me.

20. Tennessee Titans – Kendall Wright – C
I’m not convinced about Wright. He’s fast but he’s not exceptionally fast. He isn’t tall. He was productive but he also had RG3 tossing him the ball. He is great after the catch and in space, but will he be able to get open against top corners in the NFL? If there is concern Kenny Britt cannot come back fully healthy this pick makes a lot more sense. Wright should be a nice slot receiver, but I want a little more with pick #20.

21. NE Patriots – Chandler Jones – A-
The Pats weren’t the best pass rush team last year and they might be without their top two sack men next season so this pick makes sense. Jones has as much upside as a pass rusher as anyone in this draft. Being a fellow Syracuse Alum, I am quite proud that our awful football team finally had a 1st round pick. Cuse grads tend to over achieve in the NFL (Marvin Harrison, Dwight Freeny, Mike Williams, etc…) so this pick could be special. The Super Bowl runner ups finally traded up in a draft instead of trading down, and they come away with a premier pass rushing talent.

22. Cleveland Browns – Brandon Wheedon – D
This was interesting… It was reported earlier in the day that the Browns gave Colt McCoy a vote of confidence and assured him they wouldn’t be selecting a quarterback in round 1. Lesson learned, never trust your bosses… This pick signals the white flag for McCoy as the starter in Cleveland as I can’t imagine he is willing to stay and mentor Wheedon who is about twice his age. Cleveland obviously plans to address who their QB will be throwing to in the later rounds as there isnt much to work with. A little unfair if you ask me though as Wheedon gets to work with Richardson right off the bat while McCoy had a list of cast offs last season. This selection seems like a medium risk medium reward type of pick. Wheedon probably won’t be worse than McCoy, but how much better will he actually be? Thoughts of Chris Weinke comes to mind…

23. Detroit Lions – Riley Reiff – A-
What is going on Detroit these days… The Lions are not only relevant again, but they have drafted well in the last few years, and their star player is now on the Madden Cover. (I fear for Megatron with this win. The Madden Curse is alive and well (just ask Peyton Hillis) ). Detroit is not without their weaknesses though and they address one of them right here with the second best tackle prospect in the draft. Even if Reiff doesn’t turn into a starter at LT, he should hold down the RT fort for a decade. Anytime you give Matthew Stafford more time to throw to Calvin, you are doing something right. Keeping Stafford healthy should be the #1 concern for the Lions going forward.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers – David DeCastro – B+
I was certain pre draft they would take one of the Alabama linebackers with Upshaw or Hightower. Both guys screamed steel curtain defense. But with DeCastro slipping, the Steelers make a great pick here as keeping Big Ben upright is the most important to the Steelers success. Roethlisberger ran around like a chicken with his head cut off last season. Pouncy and DeCastro equals great anterior anchors for Pitt, and should also help what was a less than spectacular running attack last season.

25. NE Patriots – Don’ta Hightower – B
The Saban Belichick connection continues. For the second time in the 1st round the Pats trade up to get their guy. Hightower is a winner and should instantly help with the Pats new pass rush attack pairing with Chandler Jones. Hate to say it, but the Pats just got a lot better already, which is terrible news for the rest of the AFC.

26. Houston Texans – Whitney Mercilus – B
I can’t imagine a guy named Whitney really making an impact in the league, but what’s in a name. Mercilus will have his work cut out for him to prove he is not a one year wonder. With the Ryans and Williams defections, this pick makes total sense as the Texans get a guy who had 16 sacks a year ago in the Big 10. You don’t get that many without having some unworldly natural ability. I bet the Texans were hoping DeCastro would fall to them here but Wade Phillips just got another toy to use for next year.

27. Cincinnati Bengals – Kevin Zeitler – B
Perhaps the most boring pick of the 1st round. Cincinnati needed a RB and another WR but resisted the urge of the sexier pick and probably makes the smart play here. The more time Dalton has to throw deep passes to AJ Green the better. Besides, there is always value in backs in the later rounds and Zeitler should help the running game whoever is back there in 2012, so they indirectly improve.

28. Green Bay Packers – Nick Perry – B+
Good news, we no longer have to hear how Clay Matthews has no pass rushing help in Green Bay. Perry is exactly what the Pack needed to add a second dimension to their pass rushing attack.

29. Minnesota Vikings – Harrison Smith – B-
The Vike’s needed help in the secondary and address some of that here with the #2 safety on the board in Smith. I watched the ND product play for 4 years, and while he never stood out, he always seemed to be around the ball and constantly making tackles and plays. Smith is never going to be a shutdown safety a la Ed Reed or Eric Berry, but he will help prevent the big plays that plagued Minnesota all of last season. Most importantly, Harrison seems like a great candidate to defend the ever dangerous Tight Ends in the league.

30. San Francisco 49’ers – A.J. Jenkins – C-
I got burned last year by questioning the Niner’s selection of Aldon Smith so I choose my words carefully with the evaluation of this year’s surprise selection. Forgetting the fact that SF essentially drafted a receiver who was much lower on most scouts boards than some other receivers still available (Hill, Randle), after an offseason that saw Manningham and Moss brought in, why did the Niners feel they had to reach for a WR in this spot? With Crabtree still there, Jenkins comes in essentially as the #4 on the depth chart. I’d want more out of my first round pick. San Fran didn’t have any pressing needs but probably could have used the pick to trade out of the 1st round of or at least sure up the offensive line and secondary. They are an elite team and should be in win now mode. Just not sure how this pick lines up with that.

31. Tampa Bay Bucs – Doug Martin – B-
Two Boise State guys in the 1st round??? The Potato state must be going nuts. LaGarret Blount was probably ecstatic they didn’t land Trent Richardson, but this can’t be too pleasing at the end of the round. Regardless, Blount and Martin should make a pretty interesting 1-2 punch for the Bucs. As much as a like Martin and think he can be productive, I can’t help but wonder if the Bucs should have continued to go defense here and hope to get a back in a later round. “The Baron” isn’t going to fix this awful defense by himself. I am also still confused who is playing cornerback for them next season. Ronde Barber will be looking at homes to retire at while Aquib Taliq will be looking at jail cells to serve in.

32. NY Giants – David Wilson – C
Ahmad Bradshaw is not an every down back in the NFL so teaming him with another back makes a lot of sense. What doesn’t make to me is why the Giants didn’t feel more inclined to pick the #1 rated Tight End on the board when their top 2 TE’s on last year’s depth chart are essentially out for the 2012 season. Do the Giants not remember they plucked Bradshaw out of the 7th round? First round TE’s have given teams a ton more value than RB’s over the last decade. The league seems to be moving to a more TE oriented offense to create mismatches and Fleener would have fit that mold. Wilson is a talented back and should provide some new energy into the Giants backfield, but I can’t help but wonder if the Giants let this pick go a bit by not shoring up the TE position or the offensive line. Fleener or Cody Glenn would have been better picks in this spot.

McCoy’s Days Are Numbered in Cleveland

Gayle Saunders
Follow Him on Twitter

Well it looks like Colt McCoy’s days in a Browns jersey are numbered, as a trade should happen by the end of the weekend.

It’s already been admitted by Browns GM Tom Heckert, that the organization will move him after drafting Brandon Weeden with the 22 pick in the 1st round of the draft.

Via the The Plain-DealerHeckert said “It’s something we’ll talk about tonight and tomorrow,”

The Skinny: When a GM publicly talks about trading their current starting QB, it only means that he expects to hear offers during this weekends draft. This is just another prime example of a team pulling out the smoke & mirrors prior to the draft, as it seemed like the Browns were previously content with McCoy’s services. The Browns wanted Weeden the whole time and even though there is controversy with the pick it doesn’t concern them, as they see Weeden as their starter.

1st Round Draft Results!

The 1st Round of the 2012 NFL Draft is in the books and as we had speculated, there was a lot of trading going on. The new Rookie wage scale eliminated any contractual issues and made for trades to happen easier. The Browns, Cowboys, Patriots, Vikings and many others all made some big trades that effected the board. Impossible to say who was a winner or loser after one round of Drafting, we will wait a while to see how the players actually pan out. Here is a list of the 1st Rounders selected and what we thought the of picks and the slot in which they were selected.

Here are the Draft Results from the 1st Round of the 2012 NFL Draft:

PICK TEAM PLAYER POS HT WT COLLEGE
1 – Colts Luck, Andrew QB 6’4″ 234 Stanford (No Brainer, great pick)

2 – Redskins (From Rams) Griffin III, Robert QB 6’2″ 223 Baylor  (Same as Luck, great pick, big arm huge upside)

3 – Browns (From Vikings) Richardson, Trent RB 5’9″ 228 Alabama (Maybe a bit much to move up but great pick)

4 – Vikings (From Browns) Kalil, Matt OT 6’6″ 306 USC  (Got extra picks and the guy the wanted, good job)

5 – Jaguars (From Buccaneers) Blackmon, Justin WR 6’1″ 207 Oklahoma St. (Need Weapons for Gabbert, solid pick)

6 – Cowboys (From Redskins through Rams) Claiborne, Morris CB 5’11″ 188 LSU (HUGE pick for Dallas, great move)

7 – Buccaneers (From Jaguars) Barron, Mark SS 6’1″ 213 Alabama (Great pick for the Bucs, hard hitter with range)

8 – Dolphins Tannehill, Ryan QB 6’4″ 221 Texas A&M (Least favorite Pick, could have traded down & still got him)

9 – Panthers Kuechly, Luke ILB 6’3″ 242 Boston College  (Solid MLB, will help day one)

10 – Bills Gilmore, Stephon CB 6’0″ 190 South Carolina (My favorite Corner in the draft, knack for the ball)

11 – Chiefs Poe, Dontari DT 6’3″ 346 Memphis (A bit of a reach, combine numbers got him to 11 not game tape)

12 – Eagles (From Seahawks) Cox, Fletcher DT 6’4″ 298 Mississippi St. (Great pick, will help clog the Wide 9)

13 – Cardinals Floyd, Michael WR 6’3″ 220 Notre Dame (Should have went O-Line but Floyd too good to pass up)

14 – Rams (From Cowboys) Brockers, Michael DT 6’5″ 322 LSU (Rams need DT’s in a bad way, solid pick)

15 – Seahawks (From Eagles) Irvin, Bruce DE 6’3″ 245 West Virginia (Bit of a reach, bulk needed, great rusher though)

16 – Jets Coples, Quinton DE 6’6″ 284 North Carolina (Jets need rushers, Coples should be a good one)

17 – Bengals (From Raiders) Kirkpatrick, Dre CB 6’1″ 186 Alabama  (Bengals got a good, hard hitting CB, solid pick)

18 – Chargers Ingram, Melvin DE 6’1″ 264 South Carolina (Good fit for the 3-4 at OLB, will bring needed pressure)

19 – Bears McClellin, Shea DE 6’3″ 260 Boise St. (Versatile, can play End or OLB good looking player)

20 – Titans Wright, Kendall WR 5’10″ 196 Baylor (Bit of a surprise but adds needed Deep Threat to pair with Britt)

21 – Patriots (From Bengals) Jones, Chandler DE 6’5″ 247 Syracuse (Great pick, huge upside and fills a big need)

22 – Browns (From Falcons) Weeden, Brandon QB 6’4″ 221 Oklahoma St. (Like Weeden better than Tannehill)

23 –  Lions Reiff, Riley OT 6’6″ 313 Iowa (Great pick, protecting their top 2 investments, QB & WR)

24 – Steelers DeCastro, David G 6’5″ 316 Stanford (Steelers delighted this run masher fell to them, perfect fit)

25 –  Patriots (From Broncos) Hightower, Dont’a ILB 6’2″ 265 Alabama (Another great pick, brings leadership & attitude)

26 –  Texans Mercilus, Whitney DE 6’3″ 261 Illinois (Lost Mario Williams, found another long & lean DE to replace him)

27 –  Bengals (From Saints through Patriots) Zeitler, Kevin G 6’4″ 314 Wisconsin (Need to protect Dalton, get RB later)

28 –  Packers Perry, Nick DE 6’3″ 271 USC (Very good edge rusher opposite of Clay Matthews)

29 –  Vikings (From Ravens) Smith, Harrison FS 6’2″ 213 Notre Dame (Very solid pick, Vikings need D’ help back there)

30 –  49ers Jenkins, A.J. WR 6’0″ 192 Illinois (A big of a head scratcher, Coby Fleener would have been better)

31 – Buccaneers (From Patriots through Broncos) Martin, Doug RB 5’9″ 223 Boise St. (Good pick)

32 – Giants Wilson, David RB 5’10″ 206 Virginia Tech (Speed back to pair with Bradshaw, GMen built off the run game)

The only thing that we hope fans keep in mind is that is absolutely impossible and honestly not smart to try and grade teams after one round or even one year for that matter. True Draft evaluation takes years.  The Broncos stockpiled picks and are targeting players that they see will be available in Rd. 2 and the Ravens did the same. There is no reason to reach for a player that you don’t fall in love with. Let the draft come to you, however if you see a guy fall a little like Morris Claiborne and he fills a huge need than you take him, just like the Cowboys, Patriots and Vikings did.

After one day we will not proclaim Winners and Losers but will say we were impressed with the Browns, Vikings, Cowboys, & Patriots and were slightly confused with the Dolphins & 49ers.

If Tannehill turns out to be the second coming of Dan Marino than we’ll all be proven to be wrong, however they most certainly could have traded down and received the same player with more compensation. As far as the Niners, just think they have a glut at WR and believed that Coby Fleener would have helped the Passing Attack a bit more than their now 3rd WR acquired via Free Agency or the Draft.

Rounds 2 and 3 are on deck this evening, should be just as exciting as Round 1…as Bart Scott says, Can’t Wait!!

Draft Buzz!

As I’ve said all along, this is the season of deceit and smoke-screens when it comes to teams providing NFL Draft news. Most of the time, stories are planted as diversions in order to get a team to perhaps to stay away from the player that they really want. At times however we do get nuggets of insight about teams and perhaps some moves that they would like to make. This is the latest draft buzz.

Philadelphia Eagles : have reportedly shown interest in trading into the Top 5 perhaps interested in a Left Tackle to replace the injured Jason Peters. At 15 they have a realistic chance of moving into the Top 5 and with reports that the team is actively shopping Asante Samuel, he could perhaps be involved in a Draft Day deal.

New York Jets: have reportedly been rumored to be secretly targeting Alabama RB Trent Richardson to help bolster their sagging Run game. The Jets hold the 16th pick and would have to put a considerable package together in order to land Richardson who is expected to go either 4th to Cleveland or 5th or Tampa Bay. Some speculate that the Jets will target DE/LB Melvin Ingram from South Carolina if they are unable to land Richardson. Ingram is heralded as one of the best pure pass rushers in this years draft.

Denver Broncos : have recently been reported to have an interest in trading up, if necessary, for Cornerback Stephon Gilmore. The Corner out of South Carolina has been a very hot prospect lately and many teams, including the Jacksonville Jaguars have reportedly shown interest in him. NFL Network’s Michael Lombardi said that Jacksonville has a higher grade on Gilmore than the top rated CB Morris Claiborne. As for the Broncos, they have apparently reached out to teams to see what it would take in order to make a deal happen in the projected slot that Gilmore is expected to go.

Cleveland Browns: While the Browns hold two first round picks in this years draft, there is more and more “feeling” around NFL circles that the team will look to draft Oklahoma St. QB Brandon Weeden. The 29 year old draftee is a great talent but many teams are shying away from his age. In my opinion he is the 3rd best QB available and if you don’t mind him turning 30 soon, as a rookie, then you should grab him. The Browns certainly won’t take him at 4 but maybe interested in a trade down at 22 and try to get him later all while stocking up on picks.

Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings have reportedly been weighing their options between Left Tackle Matt Khalil, Wide Receiver Justin Blackmon and Cornerback Morris Claiborne. If the Vikings leave Khalil on the board, I would expect the trade lines to heat up for the Browns at 4. Many teams, including the aforementioned Eagles, might be looking to move up and snag him.

PLAYER NEWS:
Ohio St. O-Lineman Mike Adams recently tested positive for Marijuana at the NFL Combine per reports. It’s unknown how these reports get out, as they are confidential in nature. It could be a leaked story or could be made up in an attempt for teams to pass on him so another team can take him.

Nebraska CB Alfonzo Dennard was arrested recently for allegedly assaulting a Police Officer during an altercation after leaving a night club. Not a huge deal and might or might not effect his draft stock but it certainly isn’t the best time to get into trouble.

Other Tidbits that could effect the draft:
The Patriots have been looking at Running Backs recently, hosting Ryan Grant, Joseph Addai and Tim Hightower on Friday. The team maybe looking to add a veteran RB to pair with up and comer Stevan Ridley. The Patriots have always liked veteran players and perhaps they are looking to fill the RB void via Free Agency and not through the draft.

The Eagles have reportedly dropped the asking price for CB Asante Samuel after they failed to move him and his big contract. Scheduled to make around $11 million this year and with a glut of CB talent the Eagles are looking to move Samuel but have been unable to find compensation they feel fair. Reports now say the team is looking for a 5th to 6th round pick. The Broncos have shown the most interest recently trying to work out a deal as recent as a week ago.

Pre Draft Visits: Cleveland Browns

By Gayle Saunders
Follow Him on Twitter

League rules allow each team to bring in 30 players for predraft visits. No on-field work is allowed. The visits are simply an opportunity for the players to sit down with the coaches, as well as the personnel people, for any additional questions, football or otherwise.

Not every player accepts every invitation he receives, so teams don’t always get the first 30 players they requested. But coaches often will look at video with players to get a sense of their football awareness, or put them to work, marker in hand, on the dry-erase board to see how they dissect certain game situations.

One important fact to note from last years draft is, 21 of the NFL’s 32 1st round selections had confirmed pre-draft visits and/or workouts with the NFL teams they were selected by. So there is a good shot that he players below will get drafted if they’re on the board during the teams draft selection.

Below we’ll be updating the chart of pre-draft visits, if you have a player visit you’d like us to add to the chart leave a comment and I’ll add it. Thanks for your help in advance!

LAST UPDATED 4/19/12

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Mike Adams -OT from Ohio State
Justin Blackmon -WR from Oklahoma State
Kirk Cousins -QB from Michigan State
Lovonte David – LB from Nebraska
Michael Floyd -WR from Notre Dame
Stephen Gilmore -CB from South Carolina
Cordy Glenn – T/G from Georgia
Ladarius Green – TE from Louisiana-Lafayette
Jayron Hosley -CB from Virginia Tech
Bruce Irvin -LB from West Virginia
Chandler JOnes – DE from Syracuse
Matt Kalil – OT from USC
Doug Martin -RB from Boise State
Jonathan Martin – OT from Stanford
Whitney Mercilus -DE from Illinois
Isaiah Pead -RB from Cincinnati
Nick Perry -DE from USC
Mitchell Schwartz _OT from California
Amini Silatolu -G from Midwestern State
Brian Stahovich – P from San Diego State
Donald Stephenson – OT from Oklahoma
Ryan Tannehill – QB from Texas A&M
Bobby Wagner – LB from Utah State
Brandon Weeden- QB from Oklahoma State
Kendall Wright -WR From Baylor
Jonathan Martin -OT from Stanford
Ladarius Green – TE from Louisiana-Lafayette
Whitney Mercilus -DE from Illinois
Chris Rainey – RB from Florida
David Wilson -RB from Virginia Tech
Bruce Irvin -LB from West Virgina
Morris Claiborne – CB from LSU
Robert Griffin III -QB from Baylor
Michael Brockers -DT from LSU
Trent Richardson – RB from Alabama
____________________________________________________________________________________________

Next Page »