Cleveland Browns: Who Actually Thinks They'll Have First Pick in 2012 NFL Draft?

The Cleveland Browns look like a team on the rise. After a 5-11 season, Mike Holmgren brought in a new head coach, they had another great draft (along with the rest of the AFC North) and they look to improve their record thanks to a rather easy schedule next year.

Imagine my surprise when I read up on Todd McShay's 2012 Mock Draft on ESPN. He's already admitted that it was handed down to him, so it being too early is not the surprising thing. What is surprising is that he has the Browns drafting first overall.

Where did he get that idea? According to him, "The order below was determined by reversing NFL power rankings provided by Scouts Inc.'s Matt Williamson after the 2011 draft."

It's a shock to think that the Browns are alongside the Panthers and Redskins as teams likely to be the first to draft players next year. Is it because of the lockout, seeing as how the Browns are one of the teams most in need of a quick solution so they can get all players on the same page?

Perhaps it's because they have a new coach, along with a new defensive line, and because Peyton Hillis may succumb to the Madden Curse.

All discussion of it being much too early to tell which teams will be great and which teams will be bad aside (free agency hasn't even happened yet), it's still surprising to see people writing off the Browns already, especially since they had convincing wins against the Saints and Patriots last year.

The Browns have matchups against the Seahawks and Cardinals that should be easy victories, and at worst they'll split the season series with Cincinnati. Add in potentially likely wins against Jacksonville and Tennessee due to when they are played, and that's five wins right there.

Having said all of this, there is only one thing I am certain of: Once training camp starts up and everything is set in motion, you can bet this will be bulletin board material. Cleveland teams play at their best when many have given up hope, and this year has already been no different.

Colt McCoy has been heralded as a solid quarterback who has been making great strides locally, but ranks like that will be a slap in the face to him, especially when the mock drafts end up having the Browns draft Andrew Luck.

Besides, can one just automatically assume Peyton Hillis will suffer the curse? Yes, the Browns will struggle if Hillis goes down, but it's not the end of the world.

I'm probably making too much of this. Browns players who have seen that mock draft have probably already laughed it off, but once the 2011 season starts, trust me, they'll remember that utter lack of confidence.