2011 NFL Draft: Why the Cleveland Browns Have the Most Flexibility in the Draft

The 2011 NFL Draft is a few short weeks away, and although the Cleveland Browns are picking just outside of the top five, their pick might be the most flexible of any team in the top part of the draft

At this point, it seems all but a foregone conclusion that Cam Newton, Marcell Dareus and Von Miller will all be gone by pick No. 6.

But other than those three, there doesn't seem to be much of a clear consensus as to who else will go into the top five.

The Browns are casting a wide net of prospects. They are hosting almost every top ten prospect at some point in the week, including Robert Quinn and Da'Quan Bowers, who are probably the biggest wild cards of the top 15 picks.

While the Browns have a lot of needs, especially in the front seven defensively, what happens should A.J. Green and Patrick Peterson also fall to six?

For an organization that has long since been deprived of true playmakers, they can't possibly pass up both of these players who could be sure things for question mark players on the DL.

Of course, there is the possibility of the Browns trading down should Peterson fall, and a team like Dallas or Houston jumping into the No. 6 slot, meaning the Browns would probably pick up an extra pick early in the second round.

Also, there is a possibility that a team like Tennessee or Washington will want to move up should a top QB like Blaine Gabbert be there, which those teams among others desperately need.

Whatever Cleveland decides to do, fans should feel they are in good hands after the stellar draft that GM Tom Heckert pulled off in 2010, landing three starters and a potential for two more in OG Shaun Lauvao and RB Montario Hardesty.

Most likely, if A.J. Green falls past Cincinnati, there will be no situation, unless a team below Cleveland drastically overpays for the No. 6 pick, in which he doesn't end up in a Browns uniform.

Although the defense will need some help in the overhaul, none of that matters if the Browns can't get an offensive weapon to not only help score points and move the chains, but also to keep the D off the field.

Colt McCoy needs offensive weapons besides RBs Peyton Hillis and Montario Hardesty, and TEs Evan Moore and Ben Watson.

The team needs a true No. 1 wideout at some point to help McCoy out in Pat Shurmur's West Coast Offense.

Whether that be Green, Julio Jones, or a sleeper like Torrey Smith or Titus Young, they need a game-breaker to open up the offense.

But there is no doubt that what Cleveland does might trigger some of what happens in the Draft.

If Heckert does this right and gets a stud not only at pick No. 6, but in the second round and later once again, the Browns may not be picking in the top ten for a long time.

And if the Detroit Lions can finish out of the bottom ten, so can anyone.

At six, Cleveland can really go with the best player available, but they need to be sure their pick can not only be good right now, but that they will be great in the long term.

Position is almost less of a necessity than skill for a young team since they won't contend for a Super Bowl in the near future.

The Browns just need playmakers. The foundation is there, now it's time to build the walls and eventually the roof.

The 2011 NFL Draft should have Browns fans very excited, as the franchise for the first time since they returned in 1999 might finally be turning the corner.

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