NFL Draft 2011: 6 Draft Scenarios for the Cleveland Browns at No. 6
In just under two weeks, the Cleveland Browns will be on the clock with (presumably) the sixth overall pick. The million dollar question, then, is what will they do with that pick?
This is a draft in which defensive lineman will dominate the first 20 picks.
It also is a board that will continually be in flux until teams decide on the prospects on the two quarterbacks at the top, Auburn's Cam Newton and Missouri's Blaine Gabbert.
What direction will the Browns go in? That depends on quite a few factors.
Here are six scenarios (some likely, some not so much) that the Browns could choose on draft day.
The Good: Cleveland Selects A.J. Green
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For fans, pairing the explosiveness of University of Georgia receiver A.J. Green with the developing Colt McCoy would be a dream come true.
Putting the quickness and hands of the 6'4'' Green in a West Coast offense could truly maximize the potential of McCoy and speed up the rebuild of Cleveland's offense.
Currently, the cupboard looks bare for the Browns in the receiver department, so drafting Green at the sixth slot would be welcomed by most fans.
The only thing holding back this pick is what Cincinnati chooses to do with the fourth pick.
If they in fact decide to move in a different direction from Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens, Green will be the Bengals' pick. If not, Green will likely fall to Cleveland.
The Bad: Cleveland Selects Robert Quinn
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If Cincinnati chooses A.J. Green with the fourth overall pick, Cleveland will have a wide open list of players to choose from.
It isn't unreasonable to think that defensive lineman Robert Quinn of the University of North Carolina could be the player Tom Heckert chooses to rebuild his defensive line.
It isn't that Heckert should not choose Quinn, it's that the risk he poses makes him not worth taking.
Quinn sat out the entire 2010 season for taking improper benefits from an agent. Granted, others have done much worse and revived their careers; however, the risk Quinn poses is enough to at least warrant questions.
At defensive end, Quinn has the raw athletic talent to make scouts and coaches salivate, but his inconsistency when he did play is concerning.
His ability to overrun plays and get blown off the ball on some run plays make him a high-risk selection at No. 6.
The Ugly: Cleveland Selects a Quarterback
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This is the scenario that would (and probably should) send chills up the collective spine of Cleveland fans.
While the team would most likely not have a chance at Auburn's Cam Newton, it is entirely reasonable to think that Missouri's Blaine Gabbert will be available at the sixth pick.
Both Newton and Gabbert have all the potential in the world, however, choosing a quarterback would completely destroy the progress the Browns have made under Colt McCoy.
If Tom Heckert and Mike Holmgren are even considering this scenario, they haven't given any indication to the media.
At this point, it seems more reasonable that a third or fourth-round pick will be used to select a project quarterback.
However, this is Cleveland. So any scenario is possible.
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The Wild Card: Cleveland Selects Julio Jones
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While fans would love to see A.J. Green in Brown & Orange next season (if there is one), Cincinnati may force them to choose the second best receiver on the board, Alabama's Julio Jones.
The 6'3'' Jones is slightly smaller than Georgia's Green, but his 4.34 speed and toughness after the catch make him an attractive option for Cleveland.
Despite a fractured foot, Jones showed blazing speed for his size at the combine. He starred in a pro-style offense at Alabama, a system that should help him in his adjustment to the NFL.
Jones showed inconsistency catching the football, a Braylon Edwards-type flaw that could scare some fans. However, his ability to create after the catch and willingness to block in the open field.
Jones could be the wild card at sixth overall that could make Cleveland's offense that much more explosive.
The Trade-Down: Cleveland Swaps with Minnesota
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Under this scenario, the Minnesota Vikings decide to call Cleveland in an effort to draft their quarterback of the future at No. 6.
For this to happen, the Browns would send the sixth overall pick and their third-round selection (No. 70) for the Vikings' 12th overall and their second-round selection (No. 43) along with their fifth-round pick (No. 150).
With the 12th pick, the Browns would have quite a few options available still at the defensive line position.
At 6'4'' 287, California's Cameron Jordan makes sense for Cleveland. In his college career, Jordan played multiple positions in both a 4-3 and a 3-4, displaying the versatility that Tom Heckert covets.
Jordan is strong against the rush, but needs work in the passing game. Strength is his best quality as a lineman, and his hustle makes him attractive to many teams.
Since the combine, his stock has risen and he would be a good value for the Browns at twelve.
The Trade-Down, Part 2: Cleveland Swaps with New England
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This scenario is less likely than Minnesota making a deal with the Browns, but Bill Belichick has made stranger decisions than trading up to select a player he covets.
In this scenario, Cleveland would send the sixth overall pick and their fifth-round selection (No. 137) to New England in exchange for their first-rounder (No. 17), their third-round pick (No.74), and a conditional 2012 selection.
This would allow New England to select A.J. Green or Julio Jones with the sixth pick and fill the hole in their passing game created by Randy Moss' departure. It is an unlikely Belichick risk, but a plausible one.
This trade would allow Cleveland to gain more flexibility in the middle rounds and select a solid player in Wisconsin's J.J. Watt.
At 6'5'' 290, Watt would provide stability and a flexible presence at defensive line for the Browns. He has a non-stop motor that leads him into the backfield against the pass and the run.
Watt is a high energy, high character player that would play until the whistle every play. He would seem to fit in with the work ethic-driven culture Holmgren and Heckert are trying to create in Cleveland.
Conclusion
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While not all six scenarios would improve Cleveland, all seem reasonable to expect based on decisions the team has made in the past.
Holmgren and Heckert seem committed to the rebuild of Cleveland through the draft, and all indications are that wide receiver and defensive line are huge priorities.
Considering the fluidity of the draft board anything can happen, but it is safe to assume that one of those two positions will be filled.
This draft alone will not fix the Browns, but solid selections this year paired with the players drafted in the last two years will put the team on its way to relevance.
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