Cleveland Browns' 2009 Draft: Hopefully There Are No More Rebuilds

Around 5:00 on Saturday, the Browns held the fifth pick in the NFL Draft. By 6:45, they still had not drafted a player, after trading down three times all the way down to pick No. 21.

Outside of the New England Patriots, the Browns were the busiest team of the first round, moving out of three different spots and acquiring a third pick in the second round, along with picking C Alex Mack from Cal.

Cleveland dealt the fifth pick to the New York Jets so that they could select USC's Mark Sanchez, exciting the New York fanbase at Radio City Music Hall.

In return, Cleveland acquired three players including S Abram Elam, pick No. 17, and the Jets second round pick.

Cleveland, in turn, subsequently traded down twice with Tampa Bay and Philadelphia, sliding down in the first round and acquiring two sixth-rounders in the process.

The pick of Mack seemed to be a surprise to most fans expecting to land a defensive playmaker. However, that plan was thrown out of the window by Seattle's selection of LB Aaron Curry with the fourth pick.

Mack is a very physical and imposing center prospect, and was reported to have been the top prospect on the Pittsburgh Steelers' draft board.

In the second round, GM George Kokinis drafted two consecutive WRs: Ohio State's Brian Robiskie and Georgia's Mohamed Massaquoi. Hawaii DE/OLB David Veikune was drafted with pick 52, ending the Browns' first day of the draft.

If there was one common denominator in the Browns' acquisitions, it was that they were  smart, solid, and physical football players that could help improve a roster that went 4-12 in 2008.

No, Braylon Edwards did not become a New York Giant. But the regime provided either Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson with some decent targets in the open field, and a powerful center to help open the running game.

The drafting of these two receivers might also help soften the blow of Edwards' potential departure in 2010.

Among the other Cleveland draftees were USC OLB Kaluka Maiava and Clemson RB James Davis.

In addition, the Browns signed several undrafted free agents including Penn State RB/WR Jordan Norwood, while also offering Texas Tech QB Graham Harrell a tryout.

The main emphasis of the draft was, as mentioned, good football players who are smart players and lack character issues.

Time will tell whether or not these guys will produce right away and lead to a Miami-like turnaround, or if the Browns are in for yet another long rebuilding process which may lead to another failure.

Of course, the result could be somewhere in the middle.

Regardless, Cleveland sent a message in the draft by adding extra draft picks; the aim is to acquire as many potentially talented players as possible.

They would rather have a few good players than just one superstar surrounded by average players.