NFL Draft 2011: 10 Reasons Why the Cleveland Browns Need to Draft A.J. Green
The Cleveland Browns last took a wide receiver in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft when they selected Braylon Edwards.
Excluding Edwards' great 2007-2008 campaign, the Browns have not had a major receiving threat on offense in a very long time.
Team president Mike Holmgren has done a great job improving the team through the draft in one season, but he can take a giant step forward if the Browns can get their hands on Georgia wideout A.J. Green. Colt McCoy's development process would be much smoother with a young wide receiver by his side, and the offense will open up with an actual passing threat.
The Browns ranked near the bottom of the NFL in passing last season, and here are some major reasons why Cleveland should do whatever it takes to draft A.J. Green.
10. New Offensive Coordinator Pat Shurmur
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Pat Shurmur is credited for the development of Donovan McNabb into becoming an NFL star, and he hopes to do the same with quarterback Colt McCoy.
Shurmur was formerly with the Rams, and did a great job with Sam Bradford in his rookie season, but the Browns' offense is arguably worse than St. Louis's.
A wide receiver threat at the disposal of Shurmur will enable him to develop Colt McCoy's pocket presence, and take some pressure off Shurmur in his first season.
9. Green Will Play Immediately
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The wide receiver position could very well have the longest development process for a rookie in the NFL.
Cleveland doesn't have very many options on the depth chart, and Green would benefit from possibly inheriting the No. 1 spot on the depth chart when training camp begins. The entire Browns receiving corps is young, and can grow together.
Nothing helps a rookie more than playing time, which Green will get with Cleveland. Green is rumored to be drafted by Cincinnati, but with both Chad Johnson and Jordan Shipley under contract, he might not get a chance to shine as a rookie.
His potential will be maximized with the Browns.
8. Green's SEC Tenure
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A.J. Green played his college football at Georgia, in the SEC. The SEC is without a doubt the most powerful conference in football, and Green torched his competition.
Even while missing four games in 2010 due to a suspension, he scored nine touchdowns and piled up 848 yards. He finished with 23 career touchdowns in just three seasons at Georgia.
Green had nine catches, 164 yards and two touchdowns in a game against the national champion Auburn Tigers this past season. He also lit up Colorado cornerback and first-round projection Jimmy Smith for seven catches, 119 yards and two scores.
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7. He's a Rare Talent in This Year's Draft
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With the exceptions of A.J. Green and Julio Jones, there aren't any standout wide receivers in the 2011 NFL Draft class.
The Browns need immediate impact at wide receiver, and shouldn't risk waiting to draft a wide receiver in a later round.
Green has been compared to Calvin Johnson because of his combination of size and speed. He has unbelievable acceleration at the line of scrimmage, and will provide an excellent spark for the Browns.
Green isn't a talent seen everyday.
6. Cleveland Fans Deserve the Excitement
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Even though Cleveland Browns fans will stuff the stadium regardless of who the team selects, A.J. Green will give the offense an electric factor that hasn't existed for the offense since returning to the league in 1999.
He will be beloved by Cleveland fans, who want nothing more than to watch their young prodigy Colt McCoy grow to become a star with the rest of the young offense.
The fans know the Browns won't improve immediately, but drafting offense weapons gives the team security, and adds to an excellent young core. Green will be jumping into the "Dawg Pound" for years to come.
5. Peyton Hillis and the Running Game
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Peyton Hillis was the most exciting part of Cleveland's offense last season, but the NFL world watched him decline in the final weeks, only because opposing defenses figured out he was the only threat the Browns had.
Green will open up the passing game, which will allow quarterback Colt McCoy to develop his play-action skills, and give the Browns more versatility on offense.
Cleveland has Montario Hardesty on the running back depth chart too, and he will need the passing game to open up in order to use his fantastic speed.
4. Size and Speed
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Green isn't just an average-sized wide receiver. At 6'4" with ridiculous leaping ability, Green will be jumping over the depleted secondaries of the AFC North for years to come.
Some people often forget that both Baltimore's and Pittsburgh's biggest weakness is their cornerback depth. As a result, Green might experience more success in his rookie season than expected, especially if Colt McCoy plays well.
As for his speed, he ran a 4.48-second 40-yard dash at the combine, but his acceleration at the line of scrimmage is the most impressive characteristic about him.
Green's vertical leap was also an astounding 34.5 inches at the combine.
3. Relationship with Mohamed Massaquoi
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Both Massaquoi and Green played together for one season at the University of Georgia. Green, in fact, considers "Mo" to be his mentor, and expressed his desire to play together with him in the NFL.
The Browns would seemingly add chemistry to the wide receiving corps with both Massaquoi and Green playing on opposite sides of each other, and both players would start.
Green said Massaquoi "showed him the ropes as a freshman," and that he looked up to him. The Browns are a young team trying to establish a tight bond, especially on offense. Green's presence in the locker room would surely assist the chemistry process.
2. Expanding the Playbook
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Green is the kind of player that NFL teams accommodate with brand new plays, in order to compliment his strengths. The Browns are still in the process of developing a West Coast offense, but maybe Green will have Pat Shurmur considering more down-field plays.
Green stretches the field, and even though Colt McCoy doesn't have the strongest arm, he'll be more willing to throw the "bomb" knowing that A.J. can jump up and grab it.
Green is lucky to have a passing-oriented offensive coordinator, and a West Coast offense master in terms of Mike Holmgren.
The Browns can threaten for the AFC North title within the next few years, but only if the offense finds consistency and structure. Green will give them both.
1. Colt McCoy's Development Process
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McCoy is trying to make his case as the Browns' future franchise quarterback, but he needs some offensive weapons around him to achieve his full potential.
Through all four years at Texas, McCoy had great receiver Jordan Shipley by his side, and set several records at Texas because of it.
Cleveland fans watched McCoy manage the game well for the majority of last season, including two wins against the New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints.
A.J. Green will give McCoy a definite No. 1 option, and a "go-to guy." The Browns rarely threw downfield last season, and the receiving corps is probably the worst in the NFL. McCoy and his young surroundings will grow together, and eventually be contending for the playoffs at some point.
Green can be McCoy's right-hand man, and maybe they can achieve great things together.
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