2010 NFL Draft: Could C.J. Spiller Be the Cleveland Browns' Pick at No. 7?

Every mock draft, Browns fanatic, and NFL analyst have the Browns pegged to draft either Eric Berry of Tennessee or Joe Haden of Florida.  But what happens if Berry is gone and the Browns aren't sold on Haden at number seven overall?  C.J. Spiller happens, that is what.

Don't get me wrong, I realize that the Browns have glaring needs in the secondary, but we also have a strong need for playmakers on offense.  One writer suggested that we draft Dez Bryant from Oklahoma State, while others have suggested that we draft a quarterback to satisfy this need.  But why not draft the guy that is compared to Chris Johnson?

A running back of C.J. Spiller's caliber would not only add another weapon to put beside the smaller, emerging feature back in Jerome Harrison, it would add a new dynamic to the passing game as well. 

If the Cleveland Browns are sticking with Brady Quinn for another year under center, then the addition of C.J. Spiller out of Clemson would be perfect for the type of offense that Brady ran before he got hurt.

Spiller excelled when he was given the opportunity to create in the open field: which caused Clemson to run a lot of screen plays and tosses.  This was very similar to the Browns' offensive play calls prior to Quinn being knocked out for the remainder of the season.

Just imagine if the Browns incorporated Spiller and Josh Cribbs together on wildcat formations, or lined one up in the slot and one in the back field.  It would create mismatches all over the place that would give the opposing defensive coordinator nightmares.  Furthermore, the addition of Spiller could take some of the pressure off Quinn, and hide his inabilities to throw the ball down field well.

Obviously choosing Spiller in the first round would come with some conditional free agency moves to be made before hand.  The Browns would have to sign either an impact starting cornerback or safety: which would free them up to select the best offensive playmaker available.  And they would also have to commit to selecting the position they did not address in free agency with their pick in the second round.

Overall, adding a player with the playing making capabilities of C.J. Spiller would not only make the Browns' offense more dynamic, it would make it relevant in the NFL.  With an offense that was ranked at the bottom of the league in 2009, the Browns need some sort of spark to get the ball moving down field: and that spark is C.J. Spiller from Clemson.