Talkin' Draft: Browns Style

Almost every year, loyal Browns' fans main reason of excitement is an event that occurs after the regular season. The playoffs? Surely not; just once in the past decade has Cleveland accomplished such a feat. This event is so great that it takes place after the playoffs, after the AFC Championship and even after the Big One.

If you think about it, as the year goes on, the level of significance tends to rise each week of the NFL season. If it is supposedly at its highest for the Super Bowl, just imagine that of the NFL Draft!

Consistent disappointing seasons evidences the Browns' sheer dominance of achieving top-10 selections in such a marquee event. When it comes to picking high due to the tearing out the hearts of fans through monumental disappoint, Cleveland seems to have the advantage against any opponent. The Browns are truly a juggernaut.

It's too bad the NFL cannot seem to appreciate such a feat.

Thus, perhaps due to this lack of appreciation, the Browns will once again trudge forward. With the fifth pick in the draft, they will be looking to find a playmaker, likely on the defensive side of the ball, to help take them to the promised land in the coming years.

After a decade of getting no recognition for such dominance in the category of futility, it appears Cleveland will try to act conventionally and simply try to win like most other organizations.

Strangely, this conformity to the norm may somehow please Browns fans, even though it takes away from the individuality and uniqueness of the Browns' epic losing. Here are a few personnel suggestions and possible scenarios to help achieve such a norm:

1. Take a linebacker that will be the leader of the defense.

Rey Maluauga from Southern California has all the makings to be such a player. He brings a combination of toughness and skill that has been lacked by Browns linebackers for a long time. Defense wins championships. When the best two defenses in the world are in your division, you need little more reason to build a great one of your own.

2. Trade Kellen Winslow Jr.

Although this perhaps seems unwise, especially with a new coach and front office that Winslow could potentially get along with, this has to be done now.

No matter how tough he is, this soldier is awfully prone to battle wounds. These wounds prevent him from leading the army to victory. Perhaps swapping him for a player and/or a draft choice with another platoon would be wise.

The Philadelphia Eagles, in lack of such a promising cadet, would surely give their third cornerback, Lito Sheppard, and perhaps a third or fourth round choice for Winslow.

Anyone who believes the Browns could get a first round pick for Winslow is dreaming. His injury history kills his trade value, but a “win now” team such as the Eagles would gladly trade their nickel back and early-to-mid round choice in hopes this soldier wins their ultimate battle.

3. Trade down.

Players such as Maluauga will not likely be top-8 choices. No third, fifth, and seventh round choices leaves the Browns in a hole. Trading down helps them dig themselves out. Players such as Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia and Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech could be hot commodities that teams behind the Browns will want to snag (Oakland and Jacksonville come to mind).

4. Trade Derek Anderson for a mid-round draft pick.

Teams such as Minnesota, Dallas, and San Francisco could all be looking to add Anderson (Anderson would prevent a future slide when Tony Romo goes down again). Recouping draft picks should be in high priority. Kyle Boller and Rex Grossman lead the list of top backup free agent quarterbacks. Finding one should not be difficult.

5. Bring back strong safety Sean Jones.

The Browns have too many holes not to bring a quality starter back to their defense. Hopefully he does not demand an outrageous price.

6. Use other picks on the front seven for defense, but try to strike gold with a mid-round running back.

Do your homework and maybe find a fourth round starter.

The only reason I would act in such a satire such as that seen at the start of this article is because I, like thousands of others, am a frustrated Browns fan. Here’s to hoping they get it right this time.