2012 NFL Draft: Predicting Full 7-Round Draft for Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns head into the 2012 NFL draft with 13 picks to improve their roster from top to bottom. 

While the first round of the draft receives all of the hype and is the focus of thousands of hypothetical debates, the best teams are able to secure contributing talent throughout the draft. With more picks than any other team and five of the first 100 picks, the Browns find themselves in a great position to build through this draft.

The Browns enter the draft with many needs, including for better overall depth across the board. Among the team's most pertinent needs are offensive playmakers, offensive line help and depth on the defensive side of the ball.

The 2011 draft was largely a success as most of their picks were able to contribute right away. Highlighted by a promising defensive line tandem in Phil Taylor and Jabaal Sheard the Browns did a good job of finding pieces that fit well and will look to do the same in 2012.

Here's a look at what the Browns could do in all seven rounds of the draft.

Round 1

Pick 4: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

The Cleveland Browns will have at plenty of options at number four with the likes of Morris Claiborne, Justin Blackmon and Ryan Tannehill all mentioned by various draftniks as possible selections for the Browns. There is also a very real chance that the Browns elect to trade down a few spots and grab whichever player they like at that point.

When all is said and done, Richardson has to be the pick. While taking a running back this early in the draft is generally not a good idea, Richardson is simply too good to pass up. The Adrian Peterson comparisons are absolutely legitimate and his pass-catching abilities make him an ideal fit to succeed in the West Coast offense.

Unlike Justin Blackmon, there are no other prospects at Richardson's position with comparable talent in this class. Richardson would immediately top Cleveland's depth chart (over current backs Montario Hardesty, Chris Ogbannaya and Brandon Jackson), not to mention the team's best offensive weapon who can provide Colt McCoy with a stable option to hand off to.

Pick 22: Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

In 2011, we saw the Browns double dip on the defensive line with back to back picks when they selected defensive tackle Phil Taylor late in the first round and Jabaal Sheard early in the second. This strategy worked well and it is one they should look to employ again, this time scooping up back to back weapons on offense.

While Blackmon may be the most polished wide receiver in the draft, Hill's upside is undeniable and would make a great complement to Greg Little in Cleveland.

At 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds Hill provides a huge target with superb athleticism. His style of play is very similar to that of fellow former Yellow Jacket Demaryious Thomas for the Denver Broncos. Hill's speed and ability to stretch the field vertically will play well with Greg Little's physicality and ability to run shorter routes.

Adding Hill and Richardson to the roster in the first round gives the Browns the weapons they need around quarterback Colt McCoy to give him the fair evaluation he needs, plus it allows the Browns to focus on other holes with their later picks.

Round 2

Pick 37: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

If Adams falls to the Cleveland Browns at 37, they should be ecstatic. Adams played left tackle at Ohio State but with his solid run blocking skills he should be able to make the transition to right tackle seamlessly.

Consistent offensive line play will vastly improve the Browns offense as the right side of the line was constantly an issue in 2011, with the largely underwhelming duo of Oneil Cousins and Tony Pashos playing most of the snaps at right tackle. Adams has an NFL body and will be able to start right away, a must-have attribute as the Browns are not in position to take project players in the early rounds.

In Adams, they are able to fill a position of need while getting a good value for the pick, a key to successful drafting.

Round 3

Pick 67: Kelechi Osemele, OG, Iowa State

While it may be tempting to use this pick on a linebacker like Demario Davis of Arkansas State after three straight offensive picks the chance to add a mauler like Osemele will be too much for the Cleveland Browns to pass up on.

Osemele has great bulk at 6-foot-6 and 330 pounds and the athleticism to play left tackle at the collegiate level. Osemele would serve as a great guard that could play either beside Joe Thomas on the left side or beside Mike Adams on the right and could even fill in at tackle if necessary.

Osemele's versatility and skills make him a great value pick and potentially a consistent starter for years to come—everything you want out of a third round draft pick.

Round 4

Pick 100: Keenan Robinson, OLB, Texas

Clearly the Cleveland Browns' biggest need is on the offensive side of the ball after the defense played well in 2011. That's why it shouldn't be a huge surprise if the Browns wait until the fourth round to address that side of the ball.

With linebacker Scott Fujita entering his 11th NFL season, the Browns would be wise to begin the search for an upgrade. Robinson would offer the Browns a solid prospect that could see some time in 2012 while also contributing on special teams.

Robinson started in 39 games for the Texas Longhorns and was a second team all-Big 12 selection in 2011. Robinson is a versatile linebacker who plays well in coverage and against the run. He may not be a star but he is the kind of player that will develop into a solid starter.

Pick 118: Aaron Henry, S, Wisconsin

In the final pick acquired by the Browns in the Julio Jones trade, the Browns could take a potential year one starter in Aaron Henry from Wisconsin. With the departure of free safety Mike Adams in free agency, the Browns are left with a hole in the secondary.

Henry's blend of size and skill set would allow him to compete for the starting free safety spot from day one. Henry also played cornerback at Wisconsin and provides the invaluable versatility that NFL teams covet in the secondary.

Round 5

Pick 139: Jaye Howard, DT, Florida

The duo of Ahtyba Rubin and Phil Taylor are one of the Browns' greatest strengths—and unfortunately they're among the only ones. As the Giants showed in 2011, you can never have too many defensive lineman.

Jaye Howard gives the Browns another young defensive lineman to add to an impressive core of Jabaal Sheard, Rubin and Taylor. Howard lacks the bulk of Taylor and Rubin at 300 pounds but offers a quick, athletic three-technique that could come in on passing situations. Howard is also versatile enough to play at defensive end in spots.

Howard offers great value as a utility defensive lineman that will make the Browns' front four more deep.

Pick 160: Nick Foles, QB, Arizona

The Browns acquired this pick from Denver as the final piece of the Brady Quinn-Peyton Hillis trade in 2010. Ironically, the Browns could just find their quarterback of the future with the selection.

While taking a quarterback early in the draft is a popular train of thought, Mike Holmgren likes to take quarterbacks in the later rounds and develop them. Foles is a great gamble as a late round pick as he has a high ceiling and could develop into a starter under the tutelage of Pat Shurmur if Colt McCoy fails to impress this season.

Foles has the type of frame that scouts love and the build to take the punishment that quarterbacks in the AFC North take weekly. He has an above-average arm and put up gaudy numbers at Arizona.

The knock on Foles is that he comes from a wide open spread system in college, so his ability to transition to an NFL offense is an unknown but he has the accuracy on shorter routes to be successful in the West Coast offense once he adjusts to taking snaps from under center.

Round 6

Pick 204: Keith Tandy, CB, West Virginia

At this point the Browns' chances of drafting a long-term starter across from Joe Haden are slim to none. Keith Tandy could come in as a project player with good ball skills that lacks the straight line speed that corners need to be successful in the NFL.

Tandy's build lends himself to potentially transfer to safety if needed so he makes a for a good project player in the sixth.

Pick 205: Ryan Miller, OG, Colorado

Miller is a four year starter at Colorado who spent time playing both right tackle and guard spots. At 6-foot-7 320 pounds Miller has an excellent frame and solid footwork for his size.

Miller isn't a mauler by any means and his ceiling is probably a solid backup with some versatility but at this point in the draft that's a solid pick.

The Browns get some much needed depth on the offensive line at a cheap rate by taking Miller here.

Round 7

Pick 211: Michael Smith, RB, Utah State

If the Browns draft Trent Richardson in the top five you would think that they wouldn't address the running back position for the rest of the draft. But in the seventh round, you aren't taking much of a risk and the speedy Smith could make a good change of pace complement to Richardson.

Smith ran a blazing 4.35 at his Utah State pro day and was used in a similar backup role in college as he will likely be taken after his fellow Utah State running mate Robert Turin.

Pick 245: Donte Paige-Moss, DE, North Carolina

Paige-Moss wins the award for fastest plummeting draft stock (just barely edging out Arizona State's Vontaze Burfict).

Once considered a top ten talent, attitude issues, lack of production and a torn ACL have absolutely submarined the defensive end's stock. Rather than return to school, rehab his injury and improve his stock he has elected to enter the draft.

If he falls this far the Browns should absolutely take a chance on him. It may be a year before he can see the field but he has a much higher ceiling than anyone else that will be taken this late.

Pick 247: LaVon Brazill, WR, Ohio

The Browns could be getting a good value here as Brazill has the frame and route running ability to develop into a decent slot receiver.

With the current crop of wide receivers on the Browns' roster it's easy to see Brazill being taken with Browns last selection as he would have a high chance of making the team.