NFL Draft 2011: 10 Weapons the Cleveland Browns Should Draft to Help Colt McCoy
In his first season as Cleveland's president, Mike Holmgren wasn't expecting Colt McCoy to play a down of football.
Now, after a solid rookie season with wins over the New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints in 2010, McCoy looks to improve the Browns' chances of making the playoffs, and make himself worthy of being a franchise quarterback. How can McCoy get to the next level? Well, he needs more weapons on offense.
Cleveland's biggest need is a No. 1 wide receiver, as the team's passing offense finished last in the NFL in 2010. With new head coach Pat Shurmur furthering Cleveland's West Coast offense, he'll need better talent to achieve his goals. Shurmur helped make Sam Bradford the Offensive Rookie of the Year with St. Louis.
A.J. Green of Georgia and Julio Jones of Alabama are obvious first-round candidates for the Browns, but who should Cleveland pursue in the middle and later rounds? Let's take a look...
Randall Cobb (WR, Kentucky)
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The transformation and maturity of Randall Cobb when comparing his sophomore and junior seasons is unbelievable. He caught 84 passes and had 1,000-plus receiving yards in 2010 compared to 39 catches and 447 yards in 2009. Cobb also reeled in seven touchdowns as a junior.
He will probably be a late second-round pick, so Cleveland might have to trade down to grab him, but Cobb is an intriguing option. When looking at his numbers, Cobb might seem like more of a possession receiver, but he has lighting speed coupled with great hands.
Cobb would definitely ignite Cleveland's offense, and he'd make a nice slot receiver as a rookie with the Browns. His best strength is improvising after the catch, which will compliment the West Coast offense very nicely.
Look for the Browns to consider him, as he can make an immediate impact for Cleveland if selected late in the second round.
Jerrel Jernigan (WR, Troy)
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Jerrel Jernigan might be the best player to ever come out of the Sun Belt Conference.
Jernigan has been compared to DeSean Jackson because of his small stature and blazing speed. He has great versatility in the middle of the field and can burn opposing cornerbacks and linebackers if placed in the slot.
He can also be deadly on special teams, because the fact that Jernigan is only 5'9" will make it much more difficult for him to be wrapped up.
He had 84 catches for 822 yards and six touchdowns in 2010, and left Troy in sole possession of most conference receiving records.
More than anything, the fact that Jernigan is the only high-caliber receiver of senior status gives him an experience advantage. He too, like Cobb, will speed up Cleveland's offense and give the team more options in the middle of the field.
Colt McCoy's pinpoint accuracy will be great to have if Jernigan can burn the coverage.
Kyle Rudolph (TE, Notre Dame)
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After Notre Dame's pro day this past week, Kyle Rudolph proved he's still got the skills to be a late first or early second-round selection. He ran a 4.78 40-yard dash, and for a 6'6" 258-pound tight end, that's impressive.
The Browns have Ben Watson and Evan Moore, but Rudolph will be a solid blocker in the team's running situations, while also having the ability to use his body to create space. Rudolph has a similar build to Indianapolis Colts tight end Dallas Clark.
The only problem with Rudolph is whether his injured hamstring, which only allowed him to play the first six games of 2010, will be in stable condition.
Tight end isn't by any means the biggest need for the Browns, but a bigger target in the middle will put Colt McCoy at ease.
Cleveland shouldn't reach for him, but if he some how slips into the third round, Rudolph's a great option.
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Noel Devine (RB, West Virginia)
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Noel Devine is mentioned on this list as strictly a late-round pick.
He has burning speed, and can bring a different element to Cleveland's running game, which can be considered a power type.
If Devine can make his living on the outside for the Browns, Colt McCoy will be able to sell play-action fakes at a higher rate. Devine is only 5'7", but may be able to find his role in the offense similar to the way Darren Sproles did with San Diego.
As of right now, Devine is projected as a seventh-round pick by CBSsports.com, but several NFL teams will be taking fliers on him. If not for consistent toe injuries, Devine would be higher on draft boards.
D.J. Williams (TE, Arkansas)
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D.J. Williams is a heck of an athlete, and had quite a career at Arkansas.
He won the Mackey Award as the nation's top tight end in 2010, and helped take Arkansas to the Sugar Bowl against Ohio State. He was recently clocked at 4.67 for his 40-yard dash, and although he's only 6'2", Williams is electric with the ball.
He has all the tools as a receiving tight end to be successful, and can be as significant as Colt McCoy's former college teammate Jermichael Finley.
Williams is an active community service member, and would bring an enlightening attitude to any NFL locker room. The Browns are young and positive, and can definitely use Williams to move the chains.
Torrey Smith (WR, Maryland)
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How great of an athlete is Torrey Smith? He's a No. 1-caliber wide receiver who runs a sub-4.3 40.
He's 6'1" and 208 pounds, with great big-play potential. Smith has pretty much secured his position of at least an early second-round pick, which is where the Browns can grab him if they don't select a wide receiver in the first round.
Smith was a fourth-year junior at Maryland.
He has great downfield speed, which will make it extremely difficult for opposing corner backs to press him, yet Colt McCoy isn't a vertical quarterback. The Browns currently are stabilizing a West Coast offense with a new coaching staff, but Smith's special speed might be too hard to pass if he's there in the second round.
Smith had 67 catches, 1,055 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2010.
DeMarcus Love (OT, Arkansas)
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DeMarcus Love was an extremely important piece for the successful Arkansas offense in 2010. The Razorbacks' passing game was ranked fourth in the nation.
Love has immense size at 6'5" and a whopping 315 pounds. The Browns could use a new right tackle to replace John St. Clair and give Peyton Hillis more running room on the strong side of the line, too.
Offensive linemen are blessings in disguise for young quarterbacks, who need all the protection they can get when going through the maturation process.
Currently, Love can go late in the second round, or even early in the third. The Browns have several other needs ahead of the offensive line, but Love will clog pass-rushing lanes for years to come.
Colt McCoy is mobile, but that doesn't mean he won't need more protection.
Greg Little (WR, North Carolina)
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It will be hard for Greg Little to please NFL scouts since star youngster Hakeem Nicks (from North Carolina) is already excelling with the Giants.
Even worse for Little is the fact that he was suspended for the 2010 season along with several other North Carolina players.
Little won't be the fastest man on the field, but he has huge size at 6'3" and 225 pounds, along with a 38" vertical jump. He will be tougher to handle on shorter routes in the middle of the field since he can muscle defenders.
He has versatility after spending the first two seasons at UNC as a running back, but there isn't much tape on Little as a wide receiver.
If he can manage to keep his attitude in check, Little will help the Browns' passing game with his size.
Julio Jones (WR Alabama)
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Julio Jones is the second-ranked wide receiver in the 2011 draft class behind A.J. Green.
He's 6'3" and comes from a winning school in Alabama. Jones turned heads at the NFL rookie combine, even with surgically repaired foot.
He was introduced as a power receiver, but Jones ran a 4.3 40-yard dash. He was actually faster than Green, and had a better combine overall. Jones can definitely be considered an early to mid-first round pick, and if Green is chosen by Cincinnati, Cleveland could very well pick Jones.
He brings a gifted mixture of speed and size to an NFL passing game. Jones thrives for contact, and is never afraid to jump over a defender for an underthrown pass.
He also played with a broken hand at Alabama, which only further exemplifies his toughness. Colt McCoy will have a plethora of routes to choose from with Jones playing for the Browns; he's a stellar option.
A.J. Green (WR, Georgia)
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A.J. Green might be the most talented player in the 2011 draft class.
He never reached 1,000 yards at Georgia, but the highlight reels speak volumes about the skill of Green.
While making it look seemingly effortless, Green has ridiculous breakaway speed, and makes the most spectacular catches one will ever see. Green is a towering 6'4", and won't be denied when thrown to in the end zone.
He set school records in receiving yards and touchdowns (23), and walks in the footsteps of future Hall of Famer and former Georgia Bulldog Hines Ward.
Green is capable of running any route, and has been compared to Randy Moss.
Colt McCoy will have immediate relief if Cleveland is able to grab Green. There isn't any doubt that the Browns' passing offense will greatly improve, even though Green is only a rookie. He will mature faster than any other rookie receiver because of his gifted attributes, and Green will one day be a star.
Note: All stats taken from ESPN.com
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