3 Takeaways from the Cleveland Browns' 2012 NFL Draft

The Cleveland Browns came into the 2012 NFL draft with 13 picks and left with 11 players—not bad for a team that is notorious for trading down.

All 11 of those players may be able to make an impact this year (and at least more than a handful will), but the one thing made clear by this draft class is that we're able to tell a few preliminary things about what kind of team the Browns are trying to become this year.

Here are my three biggest takeaways from their showing in last week's draft.

The Browns will Run the Ball

The Browns ran the ball well in 2010 behind Peyton Hillis, but that dropped off considerably in 2011, thanks to a combination of injuries, Hillis' trouble staying focused and an offensive line struggling in run-blocking.

Now, the Browns' starting tailback is none other than Trent Richardson, who shouldn't share either Hillis' issues with durability or work ethic. The Browns also improved their offensive line, which bodes well for their chances to return to having one of the most consistently-strong run offenses in the league.

Richardson is more than a running back, but what he does on the ground is what matters to Cleveland most.

His 21 rushing touchdowns last year at Alabama were one more than the Browns had from both the passing and running games combined (with only four of those 20 coming from the run), and considering scoring is, you know, important in the NFL, expect him to get a ton of carries this season.

The Browns will be Better at Stopping the Run, Too

Not only did the Browns struggle to run the ball last season, averaging just 95 yards per game on the ground, they struggled to stop their opponents from running, giving up 147 rush yards per game on average.

Neither statistic bodes well when it comes to the Browns' chances to win, so it was imperative the team address these two needs in the draft.

They certainly did so, with every defensive player they selected save one (cornerback Trevin Wade) being a run-stopping specialist.

Their defensive haul includes defensive tackle John Hughes, linebackers James-Michael Johnson and Emmanuel Acho, and defensive end Billy Winn, all of whom are known for their ability to get at running backs and make tackles.

If even half of these players can find their way into the starting rotation, it's a safe bet the Browns won't be giving up so many yards on the ground in 2012.

The Browns Must Believe that Greg Little is their No. 1 Receiver

Everyone expected the Browns to take a top receiver early—and indeed, that may have been in their plans for their Round 1, 22nd overall pick, where they were reportedly targeting Baylor's Kendall Wright.

Wright ended up going 20th to the Tennessee Titans, so the Browns went with their backup plan, taking quarterback Brandon Weeden at that spot. It seemed like the receiver position would eventually be a priority for Cleveland, but instead they waited until Round 4 and grabbed Miami's Travis Benjamin as their sole receiver pickup.

Cleveland did bring on a number of intriguing receiving prospects as undrafted rookies, but none seem capable of challenging Greg Little for his roster spot, meaning that beyond Wright, there was little chance the Browns wanted to bring in anyone who could end up with the No. 1 designation.

Little had 14 drops last season—tied for second-most in the league—despite having just the 17th-most targets, and that certainly needs to improve this year. The Browns averaged just 193.1 passing yards per game last year, so every reception counts, even though they're projected to do better with Weeden under center this year.

So, it's surprising they didn't pursue someone who is more reliable and dynamic in the draft. Perhaps they feel they found a gem in Benjamin or another of their free-agent pickups, or maybe they'll add a veteran down the line.

But, for now it seems the Browns are comfortable with Little as their primary receiver.

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