2012 NFL Draft: RG III Gone, 7 Options for the Browns at No. 4

"For the merchant, even honesty is a financial speculation." - Charles Baudelaire

Three first round picks. Ad minimum. The Browns may have needed to offer their two in 2012 plus 2013 and 2014 to top the Redskins' offer. In which case, I'm almost worried we considered it. 

I hope every Browns fan who learned that reality late last night or early this morning flinched. No player in NFL history merits the investment of four first-round picks from a rebuilding franchise.

Bleacher Report's own Barbara Bruno said it best: do you really want to play chicken with Dan Snyder and the Washington Redskins? Sign-the-most-recognizable-guy-in-the-offseason-every-offseason-cost-be-darned Dan Snyder, when this offseason, that guy happens to be Robert Griffin III?

The Browns have a better chance of competing for a Super Bowl than getting an available player Dan Snyder fancies.

That said, say what you will about Randy Lerner's loyalty to Aston Villa FC, but Snyder is on an entirely different level of signing aging, expensive and ineffective veterans who set the franchise back multiple seasons. 

So, now that RG III can exit our system this morning, who, if anyone, would return our investment at that No. 4 spot? 

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Trent Richardson

GM Tom Heckert addressed the running back stable in the media this week, describing them as the "most-injured," which he communicated through the team website. Some may consider this an acquittal for the likes of Hardesty, Jackson and Hillis.

Not at running back. Not in the NFL, where the most compelling argument for avoiding a running back in the early rounds tends to be average career length, or lack thereof.

Trent Richardson dominated the best conference in college football in 2011, averaging nearly 6 yards a carry, 11 yards a catch and 22 yards a return.

He turns 21 this summer, and his legs have endured only 15 college starts. For another player in another conference, this may smell like a liability. Barring injury, Trent Richardson will enjoy a prolific NFL career.

Drafting Richardson could provide the Browns with a young, elite running back. We missed on LaDainian Tomlinson, Dallas got Felix Jones with our pick, we missed Jamal Lewis (the first time) and Cedric Benson.

The Browns don't need to draft a Hall of Famer, they need to draft a serviceable, consistent starter and Richardson's a solid move in that direction. 

Justin Blackmon

Greg Little would face regular single coverage. Colt McCoy, or any other quarterback, would have two very large, very fast targets to find downfield.

If the Browns use their other first-round pick and second-round pick and free agency to invest in pass protection and establishing a credible run game, we could have a breathtaking offense in Cleveland sooner rather than later.

Blackmon's been the top receiver in the country for two years. The Browns need a legitimate target to either test Colt McCoy or break in a new quarterback. Blackmon's a prototypical move for that role. 

Still, the Browns need only look to Detroit to witness the folly of the top-5 receiver. Browns fans remember No. 3 pick Braylon Edwards none too fondly, but rest assured, Blackmon's two Biletnikoff Awards weren't by default.

Matt Kalil

The Minnesota Vikings will most likely enjoy Matt Kalil's services when all is said and done, but in the event the top OT prospect falls to the Browns at four, we would be insane to leave him on the board.

Kalil could start from day one and the Browns would have all their edges sealed up. Not to mention, Kalil's athleticism would contribute significantly to the Browns' rushing attack.

 

Morris Claiborne

A lockdown partner for fan-favorite Joe Haden would harken back to the days of the original Dawg Pound, patrolled by Hanford Dixon and Frank Minnifield.

Claiborne's talent reads way off the charts and the Browns' already stingy pass defense would certainly rank among the league's best for the foreseeable future.

That said, the Browns' need at cornerback is hardly as desperate as some other positions and may not merit a top-10 draft pick this season. If Heckert feels Claiborne is a once-every-few-years talent at the cornerback position, he may pull the trigger regardless. 

Ryan Tannehill

The Texas A&M gunslinger famously began his career in College Station at wide receiver, an aspect of his history some draft wonks consider a liability.

I think it indicates tremendous athletic ability that Tannehill played receiver, something not every NFL quarterback could have done, and it demonstrates outstanding confidence that Tannehill successfully returned under center.

When this guy failed to get the job at quarterback, he went out and almost set the freshman record for receiving yards. What's not to love?

But Tannehill could fall all the way to the Browns at 22 under the right conditions. Should that occur, Tom Heckert and Mike Holmgren will have a massive decision to make. 

Riley Reiff

Reiff, like Kalil, would establish bookend OT's for the Browns and hopefully contribute to the running game while upgrading the Browns' QB protection.

But do the Browns want to select the second-best tackle in the draft, and pay him top-five money?

Like many other talented players, Reiff could very likely draw significantly less financial commitment a mere three to five picks later.

Trade Down

Depending on their free agency activity, the Browns may consider the players remaining at the fourth draft spot simply fail to merit the guaranteed money associated with a top-5 selection.

Players like Reiff, David DeCastro, Quinton Coples, Tannehill and Melvin Ingram could all start on opening day for the Browns.

Arming himself with an additional second- or third-round pick in exchange for trading down and still filling a team need in the first round would play right to GM Tom Heckert's strengths.