Cleveland Browns: 2010 NFL Draft Is A Step in the Right Direction

Browns Backers,   

Let me first start this column off by saying, that me being off on the Browns taking Clausen at No. 7 is a serious understatement.   

Obviously, Tom Heckert and Mike Holmgren know more about football than I'll ever know, and with their first draft as president and general manager in the books, I can safely say that they scored a solid B+ grade.   

As much as the national media from FOX Sports, CBS SportsLine, and even ESPN have stated, the Browns got players based on needs and not by best player available—and in my opinion, I couldn't be happier with how this draft turned out, no more Opie amateur drafting in Cleveland!         

Going into this draft, the Browns had the 32nd ranked offense and the 31st ranked defense and after having to watch the inept QB debacle that was both Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn, Holmgren clearly went into his first draft as Browns czar determined to find his franchise QB.      

Many mock drafts had the Browns taking either Eric Berry, Jimmy Clausen, or even Sam Bradford, mine included.

Clearly, Holmgren and Heckert did the right thing in addressing needs in this draft by selecting CB Joe Haden who will form a DB corps alongside Eric Wright and newly-acquired CB Sheldon Brown

Many will disagree with me on Haden and as much as I THOUGHT the Browns would take Clausen at No. 7, Haden makes the most sense with the NFL being a "passing league" and having to face the likes of Joe Flacco, Carson Palmer, and Big Ben twice a year.    

As for the rest of the Browns' 2010 draft class, I have to say I really like the pick of T.J Ward out of Oregon.

At first i didn't know who he was at all and was a little baffled about the selection, but after watching some of his hits on YouTube, let's just say that the Steelers game takes on a whole new meaning and I'm sure every Browns fan would love to see T.J. knock the smile right off of Hines' face.

The Browns need a hitter the same way Lindsay Lohan needs rehab. Solid pick.  

I'm also really pleased about the Carlton Mitchell pick in the sixth round out of South Florida, I can see Mitchell as a real burner in the Browns new hybrid West Coast offense.

He reminds me of a cross between Brandon Marshall and Marques Colston and can hopefully blossom into a solid No. 2 WR. Nice pick.    

Besides former Longhorns QB Colt McCoy being a no-brainer fit in the Holmgren-led Browns, the pick that really stands out is former Tennessee RB Montario Hardesty, 59th overall in the second round as he will fit the new run-oriented offense that Mangini seems to love.

Hardesty was one the top rushers this past year in the SEC and although injuries have hindered him, I look for Hardesty to eventually become part of a full-house backfield alongside RBs Peyton Hillis and Jerome Harrison.    

One thing that seems to get me is how people say that Cleveland reached for Hardesty and Ward when they were two of the Browns' most pressing needs, it all comes down to this: 32nd ranked offense, 31st ranked defense.    

Reach and value mean nothing when they translate into wins. Not even Mel Kiper and Todd McShay can argue those facts.   

Dawgfather