Cleveland Browns 2011 NFL Mock Draft: A.J. Green vs. Julio Jones
The Cleveland Browns are in dire need for playmakers on the outside at wide receiver.
Currently, the mix of Mohamed Massaquoi, Josh Cribbs, Chansi Stuckey, Brian Robiskie and the absent rookie Carlton Mitchell are not cutting it.
Together they have a combined 76 receptions for 820 yards and three touchdowns.
By comparison the NFL's leading receiver, Denver's Brandon Lloyd, has 54 receptions for 1,046 yards and seven touchdowns.
The Browns' receiver position is easily the weakest link on the offense, and you can bet it will be addressed after the 2010 season ends.
Both fans and draft experts are picking the Browns to take one of two receivers in the 2011 NFL Draft in juniors A.J. Green (Georgia) and Julio Jones (Alabama), if they come into the draft early.
Here is a quick comparison on both of these young prospects, and it seems to be a win-win whether the Browns get either one.
Height Comparison
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Both Green and Jones are 6'4" and are the ideal height for a prototypical No. 1 receiver in the NFL.
With defensive backs averaging 5'11" in height, either receiver will be an asset and have a height advantage lining up against the cornerbacks in the AFC North.
Plus, add in their vertical leap, and Green and Jones can go up high for a ball, which is perfect in endzone fade routes and sideline passes.
Advantage: Even
Weight Comparison
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Green has been very thin in his first two years in college, weighing in around the 185-190 pound area, but this season he has finally been able to add both muscle and body mass weight, growing to 208 pounds.
Jones is a solid 211 pounds and is stronger than Green, especially in run blocking.
Since the Browns are a run heavy team, they could really use the best blocker between these two players.
Advantage: Jones (barely)
Speed Comparison
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Green has been clocked at around 4.49 in his 40-yard-dash time, and Jones has been clocked in at around 4.45 in his 40 time.
Even though a 40-yard-dash time really does not translate onto the football field as it does while running on a track, but these receivers are tremendously fast and their game speed looks to be even faster.
The Browns need to stretch the field, and using speed on the outside is the best way to get open out of coverage—A problem that currently plagues Browns receivers in 2010.
Advantage: Even, due to both 40 times being unofficial
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Drops Comparison
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Both receivers have been plagued with the "dropsies" so far in their college careers, and that is all part of their individual learning curves.
But once they get into the NFL they need to curb those drops, otherwise, they will not see the field much.
Of course receivers can and will drop the ball from time to time, but it is also something that needs to be constantly worked on too.
The Browns are more than familiar with receivers who drop the ball (...cough...Braylon Edwards) but they had rid themselves of those issues. Plus, with Colt McCoy said to throw "a very easy and catchable ball" by several NFL analysts, that only makes it easier for a receiver to clamp his hands around the ball in midair.
Advantage: Even
Stats Comparison
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With both receivers being in their junior year, we can get a good comparison with their stats.
Obviously having a better quarterback will help in having better stats, but let's take a look anyway.
Note, stats are based on all games prior to the Thanksgiving weekend games.
Green:
Junior year—41 receptions, 674 yards, nine touchdowns
College career—150 receptions, 2,445 yards, 24 touchdowns
Jones:
Junior year—65 receptions, 885 yards, six touchdowns
College career—166 receptions, 2,405 yards, 14 touchdowns
Advantage: Green, he has less receptions for more yards and more touchdowns
Final Take
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Let's look at who has the advantage in each category.
Height—Even
Weight—Jones
Speed—Even
Drops—Even
Stats—Green
As you can see, both of these two receivers are evenly matched, and no clear-cut winner can really come from this brief comparison.
The X-Factor is if the Browns are willing to pick Green in the top half of the first round, since that is where he is currently projected to be selected. Or, if the Browns can wait until the top of the second round for Jones, which is where he is currently trending to be selected as of right now.
Obviously, if both these players come out of college early, their respective draft projections will change especially after the NFL Combine, but until then, the Browns would be smart to grab one of these two if one of them is still on the board when the Browns pick in the first two rounds.
Which one?
We'll leave that for the guy who drafted DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin, former Philadelphia Eagles general manager and current Browns GM Tom Heckert, to decide in April 2011.
Odds are Heckert will chose wisely.
(Also posted on Dawg Scooper: A Cleveland Browns Source)
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