Keys to Success: The Cleveland Browns 2009 NFL Draft

The Browns come into the 2009 NFL Draft needing an immense upgrade in talent in some areas of the team, and needing depth in other areas. The biggest area of need is arguably at the outside linebacker position, while fullback probably will not be addressed in this draft.

The Browns drafted Kamerion Wimbley 13th overall in the 2006 draft, and he is looking more and more overrated. I would hesitate to call him a bust just yet since he is productive still, but he could be more productive than he has been.

Opposite him has been a revolving door the past several seasons, which has not helped Wimbley's productivity. First, Willie McGinest tried to play opposite him, but that did not work.

Then former Coach Romeo Crennel tried Antwan Peek. Peek was signed because he had played for former defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, when Grantham was the linebackers coach in Houston.

Peek did not work either, mainly due to the fact Peek could not stay healthy (remind you of anybody? Courtney Brown). Peek was released in February

The Browns then signed Shantee Orr. But when former GM Phil Savage signed Orr, he failed to realize that there was a reason the Texans had not tried to hard to resign Orr.

I think Savage realized that when Alex Hall, a seventh-round draft pick in last year's draft, beat out Orr for a roster spot in training camp.

Orr was only resigned after Peek went down for the year after tearing his patella tendon in training camp just prior to the season opener.

All of this leads to my point, the Browns have to draft someone to play opposite Wimbley. Aaron Curry is out there, but will he be when the Browns draft at No. 5?

The word out of the Chiefs camp is that they are pretty infatuated with Curry. But then again, the word out of Cleveland is that Mangini is pretty infatuated with USC QB Mark Sanchez.

The Browns were be pretty wise to really try to upgrade their defense this year, and wait to tinker with the offense next year.

Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford will both be available. McCoy will also be a senior this year. History show that QB's that stay for their senior year do better than QB's that come out after their junior year (Vince Young v. Matt Ryan).

This will also give the coaching staff the chance to evaluate Brady Quinn over more that two and a half games.

The is one last key to a successful draft by the Browns: Defense wins championships.

Work on fixing the porous defense that the Browns played with last year in this year's draft and that will allow the Browns to work on the offense in years to come.