Alex Mack Made The Most Sense, Is A Steal For The Cleveland Browns

Everybody who pays attention to the headlines knows that the Browns had a unique draft. Trading down three times in the first-round isn't something you see on draft day.

They went from having five picks to having eight, while adding three current NFL players. Eric Mangini is obviously a product of Bill Belichick.

It's no question that the Browns have many needs and holes to fill heading into draft weekend, especially the offensive line struggling last season.

That's why Mangini did what he did on draft weekend.

"With the 21st overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns select Alex Mack, Center out of California."

These words are the best words the Browns could have heard in the 2009 NFL Draft.

Overall, I would have to say that the Browns selecting Mack may have been the least-sexy high profile pick in the entire draft. Nonetheless is was a great pick.

The Browns could have taken receivers, Jeremy Maclin or Percy Harvin, or running backs, Chris Wells or Donald Brown, but they would have only been successful as thier offense.

Taking an offensive lineman helps the current offense as a whole. Something that at times teams tend to overlook.  Bottom line, drafting Mack was the smartest thing the Browns could have done for their offense.

The reason that Mangini should be believed in is the 2006 NFL Draft. In that draft, Mangini took two offensive lineman in the first-round, with left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson fourth and center Nick Mangold in 29th.

Both of these players have started all 33 games since joining the Jets, helping the teams offense thrive. Mangini got overlooked in this draft, even though he got two franchise O-lineman in the first-round.

So what does this mean for the Browns? That Mangini obviously knows what he is doing.

In the 2006 NFL Draft Mangini drafted Mangold, the best ranked center in the draft, 29th overall. In the just recently passed 2009 NFL Draft, Mangini again got the best ranked center in Alex Mack, 21st overall.

Mangini did good in this department in the past so who is to say Mack won't have the same success as Mangold.

Many saw drafting Alex Mack questionable considering who was still on the board, but Mangini knew what he was doing. Alex Mack is a steal for the Cleveland Browns.

So, with Alex Mack, Cleveland should look forward to the 2009 season.

Mack can play center or guard giving the Browns O-line versatility. The starting lineup should look like this:

LT- Joe Thomas
LG- Eric Steinbach
C- Hank Fraley/Alex Mack
RG- Rex Hadnot/Alex Mack
RT- John St. Clair/Ryan Tucker

There is going to be plenty of competition for spots on the line, making the team better.

There is also going to be a QB competition between Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson (at least as of now). Having a great offensive line will make distinguishing the better QB easier, both for Mangini and the winning QB.

Jamal Lewis had a statistical drop-off last season, and the O-line is partly responsible for that. With a strong running game, pressure will be taken off whomever the starting QB is again making it easier to distinguish a winner.

Braylon Edwards had a bad year last season, no doubt about it. Now the Browns have Edwards, David Patten, and two rookie receivers in Brian Robiskie and Mohammed Massaquoi.

Having a strong line will make things easier on the rookie receivers giving them more time to get open. With the other receivers getting involved, pressure will be taken off of Edwards loosening his stone hands up.

Despite Alex Mack not being a sexy pick, choosing him obviously made the most sense. Once again, he is a steal. Look for him to be something special for the Browns in the future.