2010 NFL Draft: Browns May Land Eric Berry with Seahawks' Walter Jones Retiring

The retiring of Seattle Seahawks 13-year veteran Walter Jones may have helped the Cleveland Browns get the college prospect that almost every Browns fan in the nation wants—and that is Tennessee safety Eric Berry.

Jones retiring may be the perfect opportunity for the Browns to land Berry because almost every other mock draft has Berry getting picked by the Seahawks at No. 6 overall—just one before the Browns pick at No. 7.

The other half of the mock drafts on the Internet have Berry going to Tampa Bay at No. 3 overall, but let's be logical here in saying that there is a very small chance that Berry goes in the top five.

The last defensive back to be drafted higher than No. 5 was Charles Woodson in 1998.

Berry will definitely go in the top 10, but the top five is really pushing it—especially for a safety.

If there is one thing that has come from the NFL draft the last few years, it's the fact that even though it is not a sexy pick, a left tackle is a sure thing, and the Seahawks are now in the market for one.

Just look at Browns' left tackle Joe Thomas, who has gone to three Pro Bowls in three years, and Miami Dolphins' left tackle Jake Long, who has been to two Pro Bowls in two years.

With the amount of offensive tackles projected to go in the first half of the first round, Seattle cannot afford to pass up on one of them to replace Jones—and the Seahawks could very well grab a tackle at No. 6 because it's a safer pick and a better value for the amount of money that will be paid out to a No. 6 overall pick.

Because there is a very small chance that Berry gets picked at No. 3 by Tampa Bay, and the Seahawks need to replace their retiring left tackle right before the Browns pick at No. 7, there is a very high percentage that Berry will now be there for the taking.

With Browns' safety Brodney Pool a big question mark because of his history of concussions, Berry is a much-needed piece of the puzzle in the secondary for Cleveland.

UPDATED: 2-11-10 @ 10:12am: ESPN's Todd McShay has just updated his mock draft and he corroborates this theory that has Berry is going to the Browns at No. 7.

(Article also posted on Dawg Scooper)