The Cleveland Browns Should Consider Trading Down for USC's Taylor Mays

Before I get into my article, I would like to make some points about the Browns upcoming draft.

A.) Since their return to the NFL, the Browns rarely draft defensively in the first round.

1999- QB Tim Couch (one overall)
2000- DE Courtney Brown (one overall)
2001- DT Gerard Warren (three overall)
2002- RB William Green (16 overall)
2003- C Jeff Faine (21 overall)
2004- TE Kellen Winslow Jr. (six overall)
2005- WR Braylon Edwards (three overall)
2006- OLB Kamerion Wimbley (13 overall)
2007- OT Joe Thomas (three overall), Brady Quinn (22 overall)
2008- none
2009- C Alex Mack (21 overall)

In 11 years (11 picks), the Browns have only drafted three defensive players in the first round.

Browns was a bust, Warren left via free agency, and Wimbley lacks coaching and pass-rushing help. This is exactly why the Browns defense ranks near the bottom. They put their focus on offense.

They haven't really made bad picks on offense, just didn't groom the players right. Winslow could have been the Browns best TE in history but injuries and lack of consequences screwed up his chances.

Edwards could have been great, but his ego and work ethic got to him. Romeo Crennel's laid back style of coaching didn't exactly help that.

Couch wasn't a bad pick, but the team that he played with wasn't so impressive. This led to his downfall in Cleveland then to his early retirement.

The Browns have bad luck with offensive picks, and need defense to compete in the AFC North. Defense is the way to go in the first-round.

B.) The Browns defensive picks are good but not great

The Browns more commonly draft offense first, defense later. They have made some good draft picks defensively in the later rounds, but it just isn't enough.

Players like D'Qwell Jackson, Leon Williams, Sean Jones, Brodney Pool, Eric Wright, Brandon McDonald, and Ahtyba Rubin come to mind. These players are all good but just aren't great.

Drafting a defensive player in the first-round could be exactly what the Browns need. They have strict coaching in Eric Mangini and a strong leader in Mike Holmgren. Their potential will be reached.

C)The Browns are missing out.

The Browns draft looked pretty good before their two game winning streak. Now, DT Ndamukong Suh, S Eric Berry, and OT Russel Okung might be gone by the time they pick.

Many others thought they would draft QB Jake Locker but he didn't apply for the draft so they can rule that out as well.

It seems like their best options are CB Joe Haden, DT Gerald McCoy, and S Taylor Mays. But which one is more needed?

Wright is the only starter quality corner and McDonald is in question. Sean Rogers mans up the defensive line with many veterans around him. Abram Elam is as good as a backup and Pool's career is in question.

It's clear safety is the best option here. Taylor Mays is predicted to be drafted in the top 15, and the Browns are drafting somewhere around five. If they can ind someone willing to trade down for their first and 2nd/3rd round picks, the Browns should jump on it and take Mays.

With an additional pick (12 total), the Browns can be much more versatile in their draft.

Mays, an instant starter at safety, would be a nightmare for opposing defense. His 6'3" 230 pound frame just screams power. He has been compared to Adrian Wilson (size) and Sean Taylor (hitting-ability).

This leaves room for the Browns to draft a corner, defensive lineman, and another player that is needed for next season. Trading down for Taylor Mays makes the most sense.