NFL Mock Draft 2013: Browns Expected To Pick At Top Of The Draft Again Next Year

With the 2012 NFL Draft just completed, it's never to early to start predicting what will happen in next year's draft.

2012 NFL Draft: Best Available Players Leave Browns With Plenty Of Options To Start 2nd Round

After trading up to select running back Trent Richardson with the third overall selection and picking their apparent 'quarterback of the future' in Brandon Weeden at 22, the Cleveland Browns are expected to look to continue to upgrade the offensive side of the ball when Round 2 picks back up on Friday night.

Courtesy of Matthew Fairburn of Mocking The Draft, here his best available players that may be of interest to the Browns when they make their pick at 37:

15. Jonathan Martin | 6'6, 305 pounds | Offensive tackle | Stanford

Martin was a senior last year and protected the first overall selection, Andrew Luck at Stanford. Some have compared him to Matt Kalil and believe he will be a solid pro.

25. Cordy Glenn | 6'5 1/2, 346 pounds | Tackle/guard | Georgia

34. Alshon Jeffery | 6'4, 232 pounds | Wide receiver | South Carolina

The best remaining receiver on Fairburn's board, it is widely believed that Jeffery will be who the Browns target with their first pick in Round 2.

45. Mohamed Sanu | 6'2, 215 pounds | Wide receiver | Rutgers

55. Rueben Randle | 6'4, 208 pounds | Wide receiver | LSU

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Round 2 Mock Draft: Walterfootball Has Cleveland Selecting Guard, Linebacker On Second Day Of Draft

The Cleveland Browns had two picks in the opening round and will get two more in Day 2 of the 2012 NFL draft. They made two offense oriented moves in the first round, and WalterFootball's new re-draft adjusted to the first round's moves has them continuing that theme in the draft's second round.

In Round 2 the Browns pick up Georgia G/OT Cordy Glenn. Glenn fell out of the first round surprisingly along with a couple of other guys who have been projected as possible NFL left tackles. The offensive line is a need for the Browns and Glenn was projected as first round talent.

I get the feeling that some of the teams at the bottom of the first round didn't realize that Cordy Glenn was still on the board. The Browns have shown interest in him, so maybe they know he's still available.

Round 3 sees the Browns take their first defensive player of the draft in Levonte David, an OLB out of Nebraska. WalterFootball has given him good reviews before.

As discussed many times this offseason, the Browns need a third linebacker. Lavonte David is too good to pass up.

This would leave the Browns with only wide receiver left in their offensive needs list.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, head over to Dawgs By Nature. More news on the NFL can be found at the SB Nation NFL hub, and more news on the 2012 NFL Draft as it continues through the weekend can be found at the SB Nation NFL Draft hub.

Round 2 Mock Draft: Browns Get Their Wide Receiver In 2nd Round

With the first round in the books, Tom Heckert and Mike Holmgren will now turn their attention to the second evening of the draft. As was the case on Thursday, Cleveland will have an early pick again, holding the No. 37 pick which will be the fifth of the evening. They made waves in the first, trading up to take Trent Richardson and then grabbing the quarterback of the future at No. 22. Will they go with another offensive skill position in the second round?

Dan Kadar of Mocking the Draft thinks the Browns will do just that, grabbing the wide receiver that many thought they would get on Thursday. It's been reported that the Browns were going to take Kendall Wright at No. 22, but when he went off the board two spots ahead of them to Tennessee, they went with Weeden. Kadar thinks they'll now go another route on the outside, taking Alshon Jeffery out of South Carolina. Via Mocking the Draft:

It's likely the Browns go with the best offensive player on their board with this pick. If they want Weeden to be successful, he needs a few targets. Jeffery's motor may run hot and cold, but he can run the same type of routes Justin Blackmon did at Oklahoma State.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, head over to Dawgs By Nature. More news on the NFL can be found at the SB Nation NFL hub, and more news on the 2012 NFL Draft as it continues through the weekend can be found at the SB Nation NFL Draft hub.

NFL Draft Order 2012: Cleveland Browns Pick At No. 4 and No. 22

The NFL draft begins tonight and just as a reminder, the Cleveland Browns are picking at No. 4 and No. 22. All indications are that the Browns will be looking at either Alabama running back Trent Richardson or Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon with their first pick.

For more news, analysis, and discussion on the Browns, visit Dawgs By Nature. For all your draft and news, be sure to check out SB Nation's NFL news hub. For analysis of the draft, visit Mocking The Draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: McShay Says Trent Richardson, Kiper Says Justin Blackmon

There are just a few hours until Cleveland has it to make its first round pick, and at least two of the NFL's draft experts are split on who the Browns will take. ESPN's Todd McShay says it will be Alabama running back Trent Richardson and his colleague Mel Kiper Jr. thinks the Browns will pick Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon.

Kiper Jr. believes the Browns can find a running back later in the draft:

The Browns may go running back here, but I think they could target the best wide receiver on the board and look for help in the running game later, possibly at No. 22.

With their second pick of the first round, Kiper Jr. has the Browns choosing Boise State running back Doug Martin. McShay, however, believes this will be the time the team goes with a wide receiver, which will be Baylor wideout Kendall Wright. Concerns about Wright's weight have been made in the last few days.

For more news, analysis, and discussion on the Browns, visit Dawgs By Nature. For all your draft and news, be sure to check out SB Nation's NFL news hub. For analysis of the draft, visit Mocking The Draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Browns Could Target Trent Richardson, Kendall Wright In First Round

The Browns enter Thursday night's first round of the 2012 NFL Draft with two picks in the top 22, and many expect Tom Heckert to zero in on the offensive side of the ball with both picks. Cleveland certainly has needs at all the offensive skill positions, and a variety of mock drafts think they will choose a running back, wide receiver, or even quarterback with their two first round selections.

The latest edition of Mocking The Draft's first round projection has Trent Richardson going No. 4 overall. Dan Kadar thinks Richardson is simply too elite a talent to pass up, especially consider the current running back situation in Berea. Via Mocking The Draft:

Any number of players here would help the Browns, but none more so than Richardson. It's true, Cleveland's front office leaders Mike Holmgren and Tom Heckert have never drafted a running back this high. But when your running backs are Montario Hardesty, Chris Ogbonnaya and Armond Smith, an elite prospect like Richardson may be difficult to pass up. The Browns will also be considering Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon and Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

With their second first round selection at No. 22, Kadar thinks the Browns will fill another need at an offensive skill position, selecting Baylor wideout Kendall Wright. He has tumbled a bit in recent mock drafts after several originally projected him at No. 22. Kadar, however, thinks the Browns will still target Wright:

Forget his body fat index or 40 time. No wide receiver in this year's draft can get separation and make plays like Wright. Even though Colt McCoy doesn't have the strongest arm, Wright will find a way to get open for the Browns.

For more news, analysis, and discussion on the Browns, visit Dawgs By Nature. For all your draft and news, be sure to check out SB Nation's NFL news hub. For analysis of the draft, visit Mocking The Draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Browns Target Offensive Skill Positions With 2 1st Round Picks

The first round of the 2012 NFL Draft is less than eight hours away, and we still have no idea which way Tom Heckert and the Cleveland Browns will go with the No. 4 pick. There will certainly be plenty of rumors and smokescreens between now and the Browns time on the clock, but the mock draft projections seem to be narrowing the choices down to Justin Blackmon and Trent Richardson. The latest edition of the SB Nation mock draft from Ryan Van Bibber has Cleveland taking the wide receiver prospect out of Oklahoma State:

The silly world of constant speculation has devalued Blackmon's stock, only because he is not as high of an upside guy as last year's receivers in the draft. Whatever. He is still a good player. Cleveland is sticking with Colt McCoy this year, and Blackmon is a good pick for that offense.

While many others project Richardson going at No. 4, Van Bibber has the Browns filling their running back needs with their second first round selection at No. 22. He thinks Heckert will take Boise State running back Doug Martin:

By doubling down on Colt McCoy for another year, the Browns have to draft a running back. Martin can play all three downs and keep them in close games within the division.

By tonight, all the projections and predictions will be over and the Browns fans will likely have two new top prospects to get excited about.

For more news, analysis, and discussion on the Browns, visit Dawgs By Nature. For all your draft and news, be sure to check out SB Nation's NFL news hub. For analysis of the draft, visit Mocking The Draft.

NFL Draft Rumors: Browns Could Trade Down If Events Play Out Just So, According To Report

The Cleveland Browns could trade down from the No. 4 pick in the NFL Draft, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Plain Dealer.

It's worth noting, though, that a series of dominoes would first have to tumble. And moreover, that one of those dominoes is, at present, merely a rumor.

Let the conjecture begin.

Charlie Casserly of NFL Network and CBS Sports reported Wednesday that the Buffalo Bills are enamored with USC offensive lineman Matt Kalil. So much so, in fact, that they might be willing to trade their second-round pick with the Minnesota Vikings, who own the No. 3 pick.

Now, the "if" game:

If the Bills knock on the Vikings' door at No. 3 and find that Minnesota has already struck a deal for a team wishing to draft Trent Richardson, they could reach out to the Browns at No. 4....

Would Browns GM Tom Heckert be up for moving back? If [sic] depends on who's available when the Browns are on the clock. They'll likely draft either Justin Blackmon or Richardson if they stay at No. 4, but they're open to dealing. At No. 10, they could most likely land Notre Dame receiver Michael Floyd, who's not rated much below Blackmon on many teams' boards. Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill could also be an option.

A lot of things would have to fall just right. But Draft time means guessing.

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2012 NFL Draft: TV Schedule, Start Time And More

The NFL Draft airs tonight on ESPN and NFL Network, bringing closure to the pre-Draft media orgy -- and officially kicking off the post-Draft media orgy.

Unless they trade down, the Cleveland Browns will draft fourth overall. There have been rumblings over the past 24 hours that the New York Jets were eyeing the Browns' pick -- they apparently have a thing for Alabama running back Trent Richardson, who Cleveland is expected to take -- but as of Thursday morning the Browns were still penciled in at No. 4.

There is a maximum of 10 minutes between each first-round pick. And while the top two picks are pretty much already set in stone -- Andrew Luck to the Indianapolis Colts and Robert Griffin III to the Washington Redskins -- there could be some excitement right before Cleveland, at No. 3.

We'll know tonight.

Draft time/date: 8:00 p.m. ET, Thursday, April 26, 2012

Location: Radio City Music Hall, New York, New York

TV: ESPN, NFL Network

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2012 NFL Mock Draft: Cleveland Browns Select RB Trent Richardson With The 4th Pick

In Mel Kiper's latest 2012 NFL Mock Draft (insider), he projects that the Cleveland Browns will select former Alabama running back Trent Richardson with the fourth overall pick. Via Kiper:

I'm sticking with Richardson here. The Browns are in serious need of help on offense, and given they have some talent along the offensive line, Richardson can be successful early, and take a lot of pressure off the quarterback. The Browns have other needs, but need and value line up here.

ESPN recently reported that the New York Jets are considering trading up to the third pick in order to select Richardson. In the event that Richardson is off the board, the Browns would likely select former Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon.

Aside from Greg Little, Colt McCoy doesn't have many weapons to throw the ball to and Blackmon would certainly improve the offense.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, go to Dawgs By Nature. You can also get all of your professional football news over at SB Nation's NFL hub.

2012 NFL Draft: Jets Potentially Interested In Trading Up For Trent Richardson?

The 2012 NFL Draft is just a day away at the time of writing this, and if you believe the various mock drafts around the league, there's a very good chance that the Cleveland Browns are going to replace running back Peyton Hillis with Trent Richardson out of Alabama. There's been plenty of mocks with Richardson to Cleveland, and the pick could be considered the majority opinion at this point.

Many are of the opinion that if the Browns don't draft Richardson, he could fall out of the top ten given the general lack of need for a running back around the league (most teams are happy with their situation). But there could be another suitor if they don't, and, really, potentially if they plan to, providing the Minnesota Vikings are willing to deal at No. 3. It was revealed that the New York Jets have Richardson as the top player on their board.

On top of that, Richardson himself said that the Jets met with him to confirm his contact information just in case they move up to draft him:

"They wanted to know my information as far as whether it's the right number to reach me in case something does happen, with them trading up," Richardson revealed.

Richardson would follow-up by saying he'd love to play for the Jets, according to ESPN. It's certainly an interesting situation, really. Could the Jets be interested in trading with the Vikings to get in front of the Browns? Or could they be interested with trading up to deal with the Browns to get in front of some other team?

One would think the Jets were referring to a scenario in which Richardson makes it past the Browns, prompting them to trade up from No. 16. It seems pretty drastic to think they'd go into the top five from that position, but not totally unlikely at this point. It adds an interesting dynamic, at the very least.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, go to Dawgs By Nature. You can also get all of your professional football news over at SB Nation's NFL hub.

Mel Kiper Mock Draft Lands Browns Trent Richardson And Brandon Weeden

The first round of the 2012 NFL Draft is just over 24 hours away, and while there's little drama with the first two picks, teams are scrambling to figure out what will happen with the Vikings at No. 3 and the Browns at No. 4. There are plenty of smokescreens and rumors out there, with recent rumblings that both the Jets and Rams may try to move ahead of the Browns to take prize Alabama running back Trent Richardson.

But Mel Kiper's latest mock continues the conventional projection that Richardson will land with the fourth overall pick:

I'm sticking with Richardson here. The Browns are in serious need of help on offense, and given they have some talent along the offensive line, Richardson can be successful early, and take a lot of pressure off the quarterback. The Browns have other needs, but need and value line up here.

While Tom Heckert is said to be enamored with Justin Blackmon and Morris Claiborne as well, the Browns seem to be the likeliest destination for Richardson, barring a trade up to No. 3.

With the No. 22 pick, Kiper has the Browns addressing the quarterback position, selecting 28 year-old Oklahoma State product Brandon Weeden:

For weeks we've seen Weeden as a great fit for the Browns at No. 37 overall. The problem is Weeden is the last QB in the draft after RG3 that most front office folks believe can start games early if called on. The Browns really want to find competition for Colt McCoy. If they don't get Weeden here, they risk losing him. They know they can still get a good player early in Round 2. I think you secure the QB here.

Weeden has stated his desire to come to the shores of Lake Erie and compete for a job with Colt McCoy, and Kiper thinks that will come to fruition with Cleveland's second pick on Thursday night.

For more news, analysis, and discussion on the Browns, visit Dawgs By Nature. For all your draft and news, be sure to check out SB Nation's NFL news hub.For analysis of the draft, visit Mocking The Draft.

Tim Couch Says He Would Still Be With Browns, If Not For 2002 Injury

NFL Mock Draft 2012: Trent Richardson Among Others Going To Browns In NFL.com Seven-Round Mock

With questions in the air about what the Cleveland Browns will be doing with the fourth overall selection, Chad Reuter of NFL.com has projected what he expects the team is going to do in the 2012 draft with his most recent mock:

1 (4) Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
1 (22) Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor
2 (37) Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State
3 (67) Mitchell Schwartz, OT, California
4 (100) Ron Brooks, CB, LSU
4 (118) Frank Alexander, DE, Oklahoma
5 (139) Josh Kaddu, OLB, Oregon
5 (160) Trenton Robinson, FS, Michigan State
6 (204) Asa Jackson, CB, Cal Poly
6 (205) Dwight Jones, WR, North Carolina
7 (211) Hebron Fangupo, DT, BYU
7 (245) Markus Zusevics, OT, Iowa
7 (247) Brian Stahovich, P, San Diego State

With speculation swirling around the prospects of the team selecting Texas A & M quarterback, Ryan Tannehill as the "quarterback of the future," Reuter has the team picking Alabama running back, Trent Richardson with their first pick at number four overall.

With the team's third selection at 37, he projects that, that is where the Browns wil select their quarterback, when he has them taking Brandon Weeden of Oklahoma State.

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2012 NFL Draft: Trent Richardson-To-Browns Starting To Pass As Conventional Wisdom

The Indianapolis Colts and Washington Redskins have been credited with -- or accused of -- sucking the drama out of the first few picks of the NFL Draft.

But if the legion of mock drafters are to be believed, then there isn't all that much suspense about who the Cleveland Browns will take at No. 4 either.

You haven't heard? The Browns are taking Trent Richardson. End of story.

Here is a list of pundits who hypothesize that it'll be Richardson:

ESPN's Todd McShay

ESPN's Mel Kiper

Sports Illustrated's Peter King

NFL.com's Greg Cosell, Bucky Brooks, Chad Reuter and Steve Wyche (and others)

CBS Sports' Pat Kirwan

CBS Sports' Rob Rang

CBS Sports' Dane Brugler

CBS Sports' Pete Prisco

To be fair, not everyone is picking what is, at this point, the "chalk" selection. In fact, SB Nation's own mock draft has the Browns nabbing Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Time will tell.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, go to Dawgs By Nature. You can also get all of your professional football news over at SB Nation's NFL hub, or check out SB Nation's YouTube channel:

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Cleveland Selects RB Trent Richardson, WR Reuben Randle In 1st Round

In Greg Cosell's first 2012 NFL Mock Draft on NFL.com, he projects the Cleveland Browns taking former Alabama running back Trent Richardson with the fourth overall pick and former LSU wide receiver Reuben Randle. Cosell's mock draft is based on his own film study and assessment of team needs.

Here's what Cosell had to say about the fourth pick:

4. Cleveland: The Browns select my highest rated player, RB Trent Richardson. Richardson is a special runner, the best to enter the NFL since Adrian Peterson. Cleveland will not compete in the AFC North trying to outscore Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Cincinnati. They will not sustain offense throwing the ball. They must shorten the game, limit the number of snaps their defense is on the field, and try to win 17-14. You need a foundation back to do that.

There are some draft experts that believe the Browns will take Ryan Tannehill with this pick, but Richardson seems to the safer, more sensible pick. Tannehill is not ready to take over a team right away, especially one without any weapons on the offense. Richardson will certainly makes things easier for Colt McCoy. Randle, with the 22nd pick, will also help McCoy, according to Cosell:

22. Cleveland: The pick here is LSU WR Rueben Randle. Having chosen Richardson at #4, the Browns now select the big (6’3", 210 pounds) and athletic Randle. He pairs with another big WR, Greg Little, Cleveland’s second round pick a year ago, to give the Browns a young and physically imposing tandem that is a nice scheme fit in the Pat Shurmur/Brad Childress version of the West Coast offense.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, go to Dawgs By Nature. You can also get all of your professional football news over at SB Nation's NFL hub.

2012 NFL Draft: Weather Delay Prevents Ryan Tannehill, Mike Holmgren From Meeting

While the SB Nation mothership seems to think that the Cleveland Browns are going to make quarterback Ryan Tannehill the No. 4 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, his chances may have taken a hit, at least, if Daryl Ruiter is anything to go by. But before that, we'll get to the interesting bit of pertinent news: Tannehill didn't get to meet with Browns team president Mike Holmgren due to a weather delay:

Tannehill tells @BullandFox he was supposed to meet w/ Holmgren but the weather delay w/ his trip forced it to be cancelled

— Daryl Ruiter (@RuiterWrongFAN) April 23, 2012

So there's that - Tannehill didn't meet with Holmgren, or at least he didn't recently. It's likely the two have talked, of course, but Ruiter followed it up with some Tweets suggesting that there was now no chance that Tannehill is the pick because Holmgrem is a big quarterback guy and not meeting with him is detrimental to the selection.

This would seem to imply that Tannehill isn't going to to be able to meet with Holmgren prior to the draft on April 26, but one has to think that, if he felt it was going to seriously get in the way of being selected No. 4 overall, he'd have found a way to meet with Holmgren. Still, interesting to see that Ruiter is so set in his opinion based on this one missed trip.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, go to Dawgs By Nature. You can also get all of your professional football news over at SB Nation's NFL hub.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: SB Nation Sticking With Ryan Tannehill To The Browns

Over the past couple weeks, the mock drafts have started to even out a little in regards to the Cleveland Browns: most are of the opinion that they will draft some sort of skill player - wide receiver or running back at this point. There were earlier murmurs of the Browns taking a quarterback at No. 4, but given the fact that it's all but guaranteed that Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III will already be gone, they'd be getting the third best player at the position four picks into the draft.

That doesn't stop the SB Nation mothership from mocking Ryan Tannehill to the Browns in their latest mock draft, just three days out from the real deal:

Call me cynical, but at the very least Mike Holmgren and Pat Shurmur could buy themselves another year in Cleveland if they draft a quarterback. At least they can say they're trying. No need to rush Tannehill, let Colt McCoy and Seneca Wallace work another year.

What makes the particular explanation interesting is the bit about Tannehill sitting for a year. Most assume that if the Browns drafted Tannehill, they'd still roll with McCoy at quarterback, as the Browns have said they'd be fine with him. That would give Tannehill a year to learn the ropes of the NFL and potentially take over in 2013. Is that the smartest choice? Nobody knows for certain, but it is a somewhat different perspective.

Below, check out the SB Nation scouting video on Tannehill:

For more on the Cleveland Browns, go to Dawgs By Nature. You can also get all of your professional football news over at SB Nation's NFL hub.

2012 NFL Draft: Mike Mayock Says Browns Should Take Trent Richardson

NFL Network's Mike Mayock is one of the preeminent draft minds out there when it comes to talking about the NFL Draft. Last Thursday he had an interview with Charlie Yook, talking about pretty much everything and anything related to this season's draft including a lot on the Cleveland Browns and how he thinks that they should take Alabama RB Trent Richardson with their fourth overall selection. He cited the toughness of the division the Browns play in as to why a solid tailback was a necessity.

So long story short, this is a big boy division. It's all about physicality, toughness, and winning games 17-14, not winning games 42-39. So to me, if you get a tailback that's as good a tailback as I think Richardson is, you can shorten the football game.

And when you have to go to Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, and play them twice a year, sometimes in bad weather, you might not even be able to get the football out to Justin Blackmon, whereas you can turnaround and hand the ball to this kid and stay in the game.

So that's a long way of saying that I think Richardson is a guy at four.

Later in the interview, Mayock also says that the Browns could get to the playoffs based on defense and a solid running game, citing Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco's early successes in their careers. Colt McCoy is also a young QB that hasn't seen as much success as those two, partially because of a slight lack of talent around him in Cleveland.

I mentioned a little while ago, Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco when they went to the playoffs, they had a run game and they had a strong defense. You have a pretty good defense, by the way. You get a run game, you've got a chance.

If all it will take is a Trent Richardson type to get the Browns with Colt McCoy at the helm to the playoffs, why not pick him up?

For more on the Cleveland Browns, head over to Dawgs By Nature. More on the NFL draft can be found at the SB Nation NFL Draft hub.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Cleveland Browns Select RB Trent Richardson At No. 4 Pick In 1st Round

In SportingNews' annual beat writers Mock Draft, Steve Doerschuk of the Canton Repository selected former Alabama running back Trent Richardson for the Cleveland Browns with the No. 4 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. Via Doerschuk:

The win-starved Browns (18-46 over the past four years) need to appease their fans and feed their game plans ASAP. Richardson is the choice over Justin Blackmon because running backs make a difference sooner than wideouts—especially one this good.

According to most draft experts, the Browns decision will likely come down to Richardson or Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon. Both are considered the top prospect at their respective positions; however, Richardson is being touted as the best running back in the draft since Adrian Peterson in 2007, while most scouts don't think Blackmon will quite measure up to recent wide receiver prospects such as Calvin Johnson, Julio Jones or A.J. Green.

The decision will ultimately come down to which position the Browns offense values more.

For more news, analysis, and discussion on the Browns, visit Dawgs By Nature. For all your draft and free agency news, be sure to check out SB Nation's NFL news hub. For analysis of the draft, visit Mocking The Draft.

Mike Adams Tests Positive For Marijuana, According To Report

Former Ohio State offensive lineman Mike Adams tested positive for marijuana at the NFL combine in February, according to a Thursday tweet from La Canfora:

Ohio State T Mike Adams, 1st rnd prospect, tested positive for marijuana at combine. Has already completed counseling: bit.ly/JOuaup

— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) April 19, 2012

Adams, who was among the players suspended in the wake of the Ohio State tattoo and merchandise scandal that broke in late 2010, has visited the Cleveland Browns.

La Canfora also wrote an article about Adams, claiming that the positive test won't be a death knell to his draft status:

Interested teams have been in close contact with Adams, and have been impressed that he has already completed counseling.

The positive result will make him a moderate risk, and could result in him sliding to the second round, but other players with positive results in years past still have ended up in the first round. Adams has told people he was unaware of the positive result at the time of combine interviews, which is why he did not tell teams then.

...Several teams picking late in the first round and early in the second round are in the market for offensive linemen in this draft.

Alabama cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, also projected as a first-round pick, was arrested on marijuana charges in January.

ESPN The Magazine recently ran a feature story about college football and pot use.

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NFL Draft 2012: Tom Heckert Holds Pre-Draft Press Conference, Discusses Quarterback Prospects

Cleveland Browns General Manager Tom Heckert held his pre-draft press conference on Thursday morning, and as expected, he revealed little details about the Browns plans in the first round. He said that the club is very comfortable, from a character standpoint, with all the players they're discussing at the top of the draft.

Most notably, he was asked if the front office was considering a quarterback with one of the Browns' top three picks, at Nos. 4, 22, and 37. "That's a big question mark," Heckert replied, and quickly tried to move on (he was asked about Colt McCoy several times, and gave the stock answer we've heard over past few months - "Colt looks great. We like him, we do. We think Colt can play.")

One quarterback the Browns could target with those top three picks is Ryan Tannehill. Heckert said the Texas A&M QB has not flown up any draft boards, and that's a misperception by the media. Tannehill's slot on the board did not move up or down because of a workout, and Heckert implied most teams were high on him before the media reported a "skyrocket." The limited time working under center in college is a challenge for evaluating Tannehill, and Heckert compared it to the small sample of film on Mark Sanchez when he came out of USC. The Browns' GM did say Tannehill has an advantage in that he already knows the Browns system, playing under former Packers coach Mike Sherman at A&M.

Another quarterback some project the Browns drafting is Brandon Weeden, of Oklahoma State. Heckert was asked about Weeden's age, and if it was a concern that he will be 29 years old as a rookie. He said it's certainly not something they have dismissed, and that "it's not a big deal, but it's there. You want all your draft picks to play ten years." Age is not as big a concern at quarterback as it would be at running back or cornerback, according to Heckert.

Whether it's a quarterback or another skill position player, the Browns will get two players at No. 4 and No. 22 that the front office has assigned first round grades. Heckert indicated the Browns have 18 prospects listed as first round talents, and that he is certain one will be available at No. 22. He said there are no ties at the top of the draft, and that they have each player distinctly rated as better or worse than the next and again alluded to the great risk in drafting for need as opposed to best available.

For more news, analysis, and discussion on the Browns, visit Dawgs By Nature. For all your draft and free agency news, be sure to check out SB Nation's NFL news hub. For analysis of the draft, visit Mocking The Draft.

2012 NFL Draft: A Lot Is Riding On The Browns' Pick At No. 4

While there is little suspense surrounding the top few picks of the NFL Draft, the rest of the first round is pretty fluid. And the fate of many a pick will depend on what the Cleveland Browns do at No. 4.

Or so says SB Nation's Ryan Van Bibber, who hashed out the myriad twists and turns transpire depending on who the Browns draft fourth -- or if they draft fourth.

From Van Bibber's article:

Now, the entire first round of the draft hinges on what the Browns do with the fourth pick. Why Cleveland? The first two picks are sewn up with Andrew Luck and Griffin. Cleveland, in need of a quarterback, missed out on the RG3 trade, and may or may not be considering Tannehill, the Texas A&M product, as an answer. Minnesota, picking third, drafted a quarterback last season. They could be players in shaping the draft, but the other teams in need of a quarterback will be eyeing Cleveland's fourth pick, especially with Cleveland also making noise about trading down.

Van Bibber goes on to look at the top candidates at No. 4: Tannehill, receiver Justin Blackmon, running back Trent Richardson and corner Morris Claiborne, who the Browns could make the highest-drafted corner since Charles Woodson went fourth overall in 1998.

Van Bibber, in the end, thinks the Browns will trade the pick.

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2012 NFL Draft: Latest Don Banks Mock Gives Browns Trent Richardson

If there's one consensus opinion in regards to the NFL Draft that doesn't have to do with Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck or Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III, it's that the Cleveland Browns are in a position to change the landscape of the entire first round based on which direction they go with their pick. The most popular picks have been wide receiver Justin Blackmon and quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

That is to say, that's what's most popular in the mock drafts. Tannehill hasn't exactly been a favorite among Browns fans, to say the least. That being said, Browns fans should be happy with the latest mock draft from SI's Don Bank - dubbed Mock Draft 6.0 (creative!) - in which Banks doesn't go with Tannehill. Instead, he's going with Alabama running back Trent Richardson:

We all know running backs aren't great long-term bets in the NFL, but if you're trying to give your third-year quarterback some weapons to work with to help him over the hump, are you really worried about six or seven seasons down the road? Why not get Colt McCoy the best running back available and roll the dice on him?

If Tannehill and Blackmon are the top two picks in the mocks for the Browns, then Richardson is No. 3, so it's not exactly a new revelation. However, Banks' explanation is a good one - why not go with him now and lean on him heavily, to limit how much the game is in Colt McCoy's hands? They already tried to replace him twice this offseason, despite saying that they're content with him under center.

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NFL Mock Draft 2012: Browns Taking Ryan Tannehill At No. 4?

The first round of the 2012 NFL Draft is just over a week away, and the biggest mystery at the top of the draft is which way the Browns will go at No. 4. Mock draft experts have the Browns taking a variety of top prospects, including Matt Kalil, Trent Richardson, Morris Claiborne, and yes, Ryan Tannehill. Rob Rang of CBSSports.com has Tom Heckert selecting Tannehill with the fourth overall pick, explaining that the Texas A&M product can be the franchise quarterback for the future. Via Rob Rang:

In trading down in the 2011 draft to acquire a first-round picks for the 2012 draft, Mike Holmgren and Co. set the stage for the franchise to find a quarterback of the future. The argument that Colt McCoy could be successful with greater help, there is no question that Tannehill possesses better traits. Bypassing arguably the safest player in the draft in running back Trent Richardson, as well as wide receiver Justin Blackmon won't be popular with Browns' fans initially, but until Cleveland finds a quarterback worthy of building around, fans won't be happy anyway.

Later in the first round, Rang has the Brownies sticking on the offensive side of the ball and taking tackle Cordy Glenn out of Georgia. Glenn is considered one of the better tackle prospects in the draft, and would be a nice bookend opposite Joe Thomas. The Browns have brought in Ohio State's Mike Adams recently, and right tackle could be a spot their targeting at No. 22.

For more news, analysis, and discussion on the Browns, visit Dawgs By Nature. For all your draft and free agency news, be sure to check out SB Nation's NFL news hub. For analysis of the draft, visit Mocking The Draft.

2012 NFL Draft: Cleveland Hosts Matt Kalil For Private Workout

The NFL Draft's top three picks are pretty much set in the minds of a lot of people, with the Indianapolis Colts taking Andrew Luck and Washington Redskins taking Robert Griffin III before the Minnesota Vikings pick up USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil. As Adam Schefter tweeted earlier on Wednesday though, Kalil to the Vikings might not be as much of a lock as people expect.

In that regard, you can't overlook the fact that the Cleveland Browns have now planned a workout with Kalil on Wednesday, as reported by The Plain Dealer.

Kalil is widely considered the third best prospect in the draft, and the best prospect that isn't a quarterback. The Browns offense is the usual target in the various mock drafts out there so the most solid LT prospect in the draft would certainly not be out of the ordinary if the Vikings decide to pass on him.

Even better, Kalil being at pick four could provide plenty of trade bait if the Browns are looking to move down.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, head over to Dawgs By Nature. More on the NFL Draft can be found at the SB Nation NFL Draft hub.

2012 NFL Draft: Cleveland Browns Torn Between Justin Blackmon and Ryan Tannehill?

SI.com’s Peter King wrote in his recent Monday Morning Quarterback column that Cleveland Browns GM Tom Heckert likes Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon, while Mike Holmgren is trying to decide whether or not to take Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

Some have fudged those words into saying the Browns are “torn” between the two, but to me, it reads that the Browns are still undecided with what they will do with that fourth overall pick.

Will they shock the NFL world and take Tannehill? Will they make a huge reach and take Justin Blackmon? Or will they do what I believe to be the smart thing, and take Alabama’s Trent Richardson?

To me, Richardson is the most proven player of this group, both in terms of his performance on and off the field. Taking Blackmon would be a huge reach for need if you ask me, and grabbing Tannehill would be taking him about 20 picks too soon.

However, if the Browns decide that Tannehill can be a franchise quarterback someday, and Colt McCoy cannot, I think you have to make the pick. Cleveland is desperate for an identity as much as anything else, so snatching up a guy they believe could represent the franchise wouldn’t be a bad move. Despite their struggles as rookies, Jake Locker and Christian Ponder look like they will turn out to be pretty good picks.

For the Browns, though, Tannehill would have very high, very unfair expectations given the state of his current development. I don’t think you can expect him to come in and be awesome right away like Cam Newton was, but that’s certainly not out of the question.

Ryan Tannehill is, indeed, a great athlete, but to me, his upside is as a developmental player, not an immediate plug-and-play guy. I could be wrong there, certainly, but I’m not willing to bet that Ryan Tannehill would be an effective opening day starter in 2012, especially with the added pressure of being a top five selection.

I think the Browns need to keep building this team, and if they want a quarterback to come in and play sooner rather than later, wait until your second round pick and take Brandon Weeden from Oklahoma State.

Justin Blackmon Not Exactly Enthusiastic About Browns And Colt McCoy

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Browns Could Take RB Doug Martin At 22nd Overall

With Robert Griffin III completely out of the picture for the Cleveland Browns after they lost out on the second overall pick to the Washington Redskins, there have only been a couple of options being thrown around. In the newest SB Nation 2012 Mock Draft, the Browns take one of the more popular ones, Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill. That's nothing new, though Alabama RB Trent Richardson has been popular as well.

It's the 22nd overall pick of the draft that is interesting. Mock drafter Ryan Van Bibber admits that it's a simple Armchair GM move, but it's certainly an interesting one as he gives the Browns Boise State RB Doug Martin. With Trent Richardson not the pick at fourth overall, the Browns offense still lacks running talent. That move would give them a brand new rookie one-two punch, something exciting for the fans if nothing else.

This is pure armchair GM'ing on my part. I think Cleveland needs to think offense early and often in this draft. I had LSU's Randle here, but they can get one of a good group of receivers in the top of the second round. Martin can do it all, and help out whoever is at quarterback.

This is, of course, contingent on the Browns not trading their picks around in the first round, which the latest gang of rumors seem to indicate might be happening. Seemingly every single team in the league seems to want Tannehill at this point so there could be some juicy offers for that fourth overall selection.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, check out Dawgs By Nature. For more on the NFL Draft, head over to the 2012 NFL Draft hub on SB Nation.

2012 NFL Draft: Eagles Reportedly Have Interest In Trading Up To Browns 4th Overall Pick, But Chances Are 'Slim To None'

There have been some trade rumors swirling around in recent days involving the Cleveland Browns trading their fourth overall pick. Originally the Browns had been the favorite to actually trade up before the Redskins stole away their chances by offering a king's ransom for the Rams second overall selection.

The Rams are actually one of the teams that have supposedly contacted the Browns, likely to trade their new sixth overall pick for the fourth. The more intriguing situation is the Philadelphia Eagles, who according to the Cleveland Dealer have had a source confirm that the Eagles have indeed contacted Cleveland. The Eagles currently hold the 15th overall pick in the first round, which would give the Browns two mid-round selections if it came through; the Browns also hold the 22nd pick.

The 700 Level contacted a team source as well through CSN's Reuben Franks and they said that it was 'just another draft rumor' as well as saying there was little chance or 'slim to none' that it would happen -- which isn't quite the same thing as outright saying no, you might notice.

A possible trade may depend on what the Minnesota Vikings do, since Matt Kalil would be a good haul for the Eagles and if the Vikings trade down instead, Kalil may be on the board when Cleveland is up. They may also be after Ryan Tannehill to act as backup QB to Mike Vick or another top prospect, though nothing solid has come out.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, head over to Dawgs By Nature, and for more on the rumors of the Eagles trading with them you can check out Bleeding Green Nation as well. More on the NFL Draft can be found at SB Nation's NFL Draft hub.

2012 NFL Draft: What Direction Might The Browns Go If They Trade Down?

The Cleveland Plain Dealer is reporting that at least four teams, including the Eagles and Rams, have inquired about the Browns’ fourth overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. Depending on which team trades up, the Browns might be able to get a steal at the top of the draft if there are multiple players they are okay picking.

I’m not exactly sure why the Browns would want to trade down here, or why a team like the Rams would want to trade up, but if they do, both the Rams and Eagles have great ammo to move up.

So where would such a trade leave the Browns? If Cleveland trades down with St.Louis, their target list could very well stay the same—just take the best available between Justin Blackmon, Trent Richardson, Morris Claiborne, or Ryan Tannehill. It’s likely that St. Louis would want one of the first three names on that list, but I think the Eagles’ trading up would be much more pointed.

If Philadelphia makes a move into the top five, I think they would be targeting Tannehill as a quarterback of the future. It would be a move that would likely cost the Eagles a lot, and a move their fans probably wouldn’t like.

If the Browns traded down to the 15th pick, I’d be interested to see what they were planning to do. With all of their extra picks acquired from trades, they could probably use some to move up and acquire a third first round pick. Suppose they trade down to 15 overall and are able to select Michael Floyd, the wide receiver from Notre Dame. They could take Doug Martin with the pick they acquired from Atlanta and maybe trade back into the first round for Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden.

The options are pretty endless, but the Browns already have 13 picks in this year’s draft, so acquiring more would give them serious ammunition to trade up and get pretty much whoever they want.

With the new CBA cap rules on draft picks, this is a very interesting scenario to keep an eye on.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, check out Dawgs By Nature. For more on the NFL Draft, check out SB Nation's main Draft hub.

2012 NFL Draft: As Many As Four Teams Interested In A Trade With The Cleveland Browns

After missing out on a deal with the St. Louis Rams for the second pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns may yet make a deal with the Rams, or the Eagles, to move down from their fourth-overall spot in the first round.

According to the Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, league sources say the Rams, Eagles and other teams picking in the top 20 have signaled an interest in the Browns' fourth pick. Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill is one player of interest to teams in need of a quarterback, including the Eagles who have talked about Tannehill as a player to groom behind Michael Vick. Other teams are interested in LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne, USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil and Alabama running back Trent Richardson, the group of players widely considered among the top tier of talent in the draft.

St. Louis and Philadelphia have the purse to make it happen with each team sitting on two second-round picks. Just how much it would take to move up depends entirely on where the other teams are picking and what they are willing to offer.

A trade is unlikely to happen until the April 26, the first day of the 2012 NFL Draft.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, go to Dawgs By Nature. You can also get all of your professional football news over at SB Nation's NFL hub.

2012 NFL Draft: 26 Players Invited To NFL Draft

The NFL announced that it has invited 26 players to the 2012 NFL Draft, according to Daryl Ruiter of Cleveland 92.3 The Fan.

When the 77th Annual National Football League Player Selection Meeting kicks off on Thursday, April 26 – a record 26 potential first round prospects will be in attendance the league announced Thursday.

Here is the complete list of potential first round draft picks who will be in attendance. Potential Browns picks Justin Blackmon, Morris Claiborne, Ryan Tannehill, Trent Richardson and Kendall Wright are among the confirmed attendees.

Cleveland has two picks in the first round--the fourth pick and the 22nd pick (via the Atlanta Falcons). The Browns have 13 total picks in the NFL Draft, with their biggest needs coming on the offensive side of the ball.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, go to Dawgs By Nature. You can also get all of your professional football news over at SB Nation's NFL hub.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Browns Select WR's Justin Blackmon And Kendall Wright In The First Round

The first round of SB Nation's NFL bloggers 2012 NFL Mock Draft is over and Dawgs By Nature selected Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon with the fourth overall pick and Baylor wide receiver Kendall Wright with the 22nd pick. Via Dawgs By Nature:

The Browns are thin enough at receiver where Blackmon would start immediately, probably alongside last year's second-round pick, Greg Little.

If Wright is still available at their second selection, NFL Draft expert Todd McShay believes the Browns will take him. The Browns need weapons on offense and had the worst receiving corps in the league last year by popular opinion. Blackmon and Wright would be an explosive tandem who would give McCoy some comfortable targets next season.

The concept of drafting both Blackmon and Wright is one that says, "let's just start over at receiver already." For several years now, the Browns' group of wide receivers has been regarded as one of the worst in football. If the Browns stick with Colt McCoy at quarterback, the only chance he has at growing is if the receivers around him do a better job at getting open.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, go to Dawgs By Nature. You can also get all of your professional football news over at SB Nation's NFL hub.

2012 NFL Draft: Todd McShay Mock Has Trent Richardson, Jonathan Martin To Browns

Todd McShay has released his latest 2012 NFL Mock Draft - dubbed 5.0 - and it's an interesting take on the mock draft. It's not the first time it's been done of course, but it's still something ESPN doesn't generally dabble in. McShay's latest mock has multiple scenarios, with the top one being what's "best" for the team in their situation or rather, what the time likely believes is the best for them.

Below, McShay's reasoning for pick No. 4, where he officially has running back Trent Richardson out of Alabama as the pick:

Scenario 1: I've said all along that this pick will decide how much of the rest of the first round plays out, and I still feel that way. From an overall standpoint, Richardson ranks ahead of Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon and Tannehill, in that order, but from a positional-value standpoint the list would be reversed. The Browns face a tough decision, but Richardson is likely to be the pick.

Scenario 2: Blackmon would offer current QB Colt McCoy the kind of perimeter weapon he has been lacking since entering the league.

Scenario 3: Take Tannehill. It all comes down to how Cleveland feels about Tannehill and his potential, and whether the team is content to stand pat with McCoy and build around him.

Admittedly, those are the three scenarios that were already known to be the most popular picks for the Browns, and they're just assembled, but McShay has created a heiarchy of sorts, so that's worth noting. As he says, the Browns' pick can change an awful lot about how many of the teams around them will be drafting. There's some very coveted guys and some very needy teams that will be affected.

Now, for the Cleveland Browns' second pick in the first round at No. 22, McShay has them taking Jonathan Martin, the offensive tackle out of Stanford:

Scenario 1: Cleveland would like to see Wright fall here to give McCoy another playmaker to work with.

Scenario 2: Not taking Tannehill in the top five shows a willingness to build around McCoy, and with Wright gone Martin offers a plug-and-play option who is familiar with the West Coast offense and zone-blocking principles.

Scenario 3: Reach for a second-tier quarterback. However, not taking Tannehill makes it unlikely the Browns would reach for a player like Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden, who would be a bigger reach and offer significantly less upside at this point.

Martin is the pick for Cleveland, but it's their No. 2 scenario, according to McShay. Kendall Wright, who he is referring to in scenario one, went to the Cincinnati Bengals the pick prior at No. 21 in McShay's mock. Wright would be a pretty big pickup for the Browns if he were to fall to them, though.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, go to Dawgs By Nature. You can also get all of your professional football news over at SB Nation's NFL hub.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Cleveland Browns Select Trent Richardson, Mike Adams With 1st Round Picks

In Don Banks' 2012 NFL Mock Draft 5.0 for Sports Illustrated, the Cleveland Browns select Trent Richardson with the fourth overall pick and former Ohio State offensive lineman Mike Adams with the 22nd pick.

Richardson is the only running back projected to go in the first round of the NFL Draft. After losing Peyton Hillis to free agency, the Browns need a feature back to take some pressure off Colt McCoy, or whoever will play quarterback for the Browns this season.

Not only is Richardson a powerful rusher and blocker, but he also has good hands and can catch passes out of the backfield. Here's what Banks had to say about the pick:

You're starting to hear some draft experts characterize Richardson as the guy who is better at his position than anyone else is at theirs in their entire lottery, quarterbacks included. That kind of thing should give Mike Holmgren and Co. a sense of peace about making this pick.

If Colt McCoy is going to improve behind center this season, Cleveland will have to protect him much better. McCoy was sacked 32 times last season. Adams, a 6-foot-7 314-pound right tackle, could fill a major hole on the right side of the offensive line. Via Banks:

By taking the 6-foot-7, 314-pound Buckeyes tackle, the Browns would be getting a player ready from day one to plug in and play on the right side of their line. Better protection for quarterback Colt McCoy should help the third-year quarterback progress.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, head over to Dawgs By Nature. For more on the NFL, you can check out the SB Nation NFL Hub and the SB Nation 2012 NFL Draft Hub for more on the upcoming draft.

NFL Mock Draft 2012: Browns Shore Up Offensive Skill Positions In 1st Round

Many project the Cleveland Browns to target the offensive side of the ball in April's NFL Draft. With the top two quarterbacks off the board, the Browns could look to add a game-changer at running back at No. 4 and then add a quarterback in the later rounds, or even with their second first rounder. The latest SportingNews mock draft has just that, with the Browns taking Alabama running back Trent Richardson with the fourth overall pick. That's starting to become a near consensus among mock drafters, with Richardson impressing as a top-five talent during his pro-day workout and visits with teams.

Then, with the No. 22 pick, SportingNews has Tom Heckert drafting a quarterback, albeit an aged one out of Oklahoma State.

Via SportingNews:

After passing on Ryan Tannehill with the fourth overall pick, the Browns make the bold move of selecting Weeden, who would be a top 10 pick if he wasn't 28.

That would surely be a backfield overhaul in the first round, but as we've seen over the past month or so, this is the route many project the Browns take with their two first rounders.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, head over to Dawgs By Nature. For more on the NFL, you can check out the SB Nation NFL Hub and the SB Nation 2012 NFL Draft Hub for more on the upcoming draft.

2012 NFL Draft: Cleveland Browns Team Needs

Sports Illustrated has released a list of the three biggest needs for every team in the AFC, and the Cleveland Browns list is pretty much what you would expect out of a team that has weaknesses all over the offense -- which is to say, three different offensive positions.

Running Back is the top position on their list with Peyton Hillis leaving the squad. With the top draft guess for the Browns right now probably being Alabama RB Trent Richardson, it fits right into that narrative.

Wide Receiver and Quarterback are the other two spots on the list, with WR being one of the most depth starved parts of the organization. Quarterback isn't an incredibly pressing need with Colt McCoy showing some - not much, but some - promise since being drafted out of Texas.

The offensive line does not feature and of course, the Browns have defensive needs as well as the article points out, but an offense led by Colt McCoy and Montario Hardesty is not going to be winning any Super Bowls any time soon and they need to make quick fixes on that as fast as they can. Trent Richardson, Justin Blackmon and Ryan Tannehill provide top flight answers to all three problem areas that could potentially be drafted with that fourth overall selection that the Browns have.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, head over to Dawgs By Nature. For more on the NFL, you can check out the SB Nation NFL Hub and the SB Nation 2012 NFL Draft Hub for more on the upcoming draft.

2012 NFL Draft Coverage: Cleveland Browns Doing Due Diligence on Boise State's RB Doug Martin

While the Cleveland Browns are widely expected to take Alabama’s star running back Trent Richardson, they are certainly doing their due diligence with the second best back in the draft—Boise State’s Doug Martin. Martin is a similar type of back to Richardson by many accounts, he’s just not quite as good at everything as Richardson is.

Martin was very productive for the Broncos the last couple of years, and has drawn comparisons to Ray Rice for not only his height deficiencies but his ability to use that low center of gravity to his advantage and his superb receiving skills.

Martin isn’t blazing fast, nor does he appear to be a big home run threat, but he could be the type of guy that comes in as a featured back and helps your team put points on the board, as he did so well for Boise State.

According to Pro Football Talk, the Browns are bringing in Martin for a visit as well as putting him through a private workout, so their interest is either legitimate or they’re trying to get someone to use a pick on him so they can have someone else. I think if they choose to go with Ryan Tannehill or Justin Blackmon at number four overall (a mistake, if you ask me) they could easily go with Martin with their 22nd overall pick.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Browns Select Alabama RB Trent Richardson

The Cleveland Browns have a lot of holes to fill, and the mock drafts have reflected that by having the team go a number of ways with its No. 4 overall pick. In the latest from Will Brinson of CBSSports.com, the Browns use the pick to grab Alabama RB Trent Richardson.

As Brinson writes, the addition of Richardson could be a huge help to Colt McCoy.

Both Tannehill and Blackmon could make sense here, but the gap between Richardson and the next-best running back is a gulf compared to Blackmon and the next-best wideout. Colt McCoy actually looked good his rookie year when the Browns had a capable back in Peyton Hillis. Richardson becomes all that and more.

If Richardson isn't selected by the Browns, many mock drafts have suggested that he would not make it past the No. 5 pick, held by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, go to Dawgs By Nature. You can also get all of your professional football news over at SB Nation's NFL hub.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Cleveland Selects Justin Blackmon At No. 4

In the latest edition of Ryan Van Bibber's 2012 NFL Mock Draft on SB Nation, the Cleveland Browns select Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon with the fourth overall pick.

Despite an underwhelming performance at the NFL Combine, Blackmon is still considered the top wideout in the draft. He won the Biletnikoff Award, granted to the nation's best wide receiver, in both 2010 and 2011. Blackmon caught 121 passes for 1522 yards and 18 touchdowns last season.

Here's what Van Bibber had to say about the pick:

Blackmon is the perfect receiver for Pat Shurmur's offense. He can catch most anything, pick up yards after the catch and work the shorter branches of the route tree with aplomb. Draft yakkers cringe at the thought of Blackmon in the top five. It works in this case.

The Browns are desperate for help on the offensive side of ball, especially at wide receiver. Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill and Alabama running back Trent Richardson have also been mentioned in this slot.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, go to Dawgs By Nature. You can also get all of your professional football news over at SB Nation's NFL hub.

Is Trent Richardson Trying To Tell Us Something?

Trent Richardson Tweets Plea To Bring Back Browns' Old Logo

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Browns Trading To Take Ryan Tannehill, Trent Richardson, Says NFP

Most are wondering if the Cleveland Browns will actually consider taking a quarterback with the No. 4 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. It's not that taking a quarterback in the top five is anything other than the norm for teams without a long-time solution at the position (unlikely if picking in the top five), it's just that, by the time the Browns come up to pick, two quarterbacks will have already been selected in Andrew Luck of Stanford to the Indianapolis Colts and Robert Griffin III of Baylor to the Washington Redskins.

In other words, the Browns would then be picking the consensus third-best quarterback in the draft, whom many believe is Ryan Tannehill out of Texas A&M. They're kind of all over the place with their mocks though, with some suggesting they'll take Alabama running back Trent Richardson, and others insisting that Justin Blackmon out of Oklahoma State is the pick.

Well, there's some interesting choices in the latest mock draft from Wes Bunting of the National Football Post. His mock draft includes two of the options above. First, a look at the No. 4 pick:

4. Cleveland Browns: Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill - I would not be shocked if the Browns bite the bullet and overpay on a QB like Tannehill at four.

So there's the quarterback - whether you believe they're overpaying for him or not. The Browns do have another first-round pick though, way back at No. 22. But instead of that, Bunting has the Browns trading back up into the top ten to make a trade with the Miami Dolphins:

8. -TRADE- Cleveland Browns via Miami Dolphins: Alabama RB Trent Richardson - The Browns move back into the top-ten from pick 22 in order to secure their workhorse back. Richardson could fall outside the top-five picks, but he isn't going to last much longer than that.

That's an interesting scenario, to say the least. Cleveland is lacking in offensive weapons at all of the skill positions, with few inspiring players at quarterback, running back and wide receiver. Colt McCoy is the guy going forward, but that's just because there's nobody else right now, while the Kansas City Chiefs signed Peyton Hillis. At the receiver position, there's not much, which is why Blackmon has been a popular pick. But in this scenario, the Browns gear up for a strong offense by getting signal caller and running back down.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, go to Dawgs By Nature. You can also get all of your professional football news over at SB Nation's NFL hub.

Trent Richardson Enjoys PreDraft Visit to Cleveland Browns

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Browns Load Up On Offense In Don Banks' Latest

Deciphering the Cleveland Browns' intentions for the 2012 NFL Draft has become a popular parlor game in NFL circles. Do they go with a quarterback like Ryan Tannehill? Trent Richardson to replace Peyton Hillis? Justin Blackmon to give Colt McCoy another weapon? Or do they make a trade somewhere else in the first round?

Don Banks goes the weapons route in his latest 2012 NFL Mock Draft at SI.com. In his vision for how things unfold in April, the Browns hang onto their two first-round picks and stock up on offensive skill players.

Alabama running back Trent Richardson is the fourth pick in Banks' mock. Here is his explanation:

Like others, I've come around to the conclusion the Browns don't view Tannehill as a clear-cut upgrade over incumbent quarterback Colt McCoy. That leaves Cleveland choosing between a pair of offensive weapons in Richardson and Oklahoma State receiver Justin Blackmon. On the premise that a quality receiver can be had by the Browns at No. 22, taking the only elite running back in the draft is the logical path for the team that lost Peyton Hillis in free agency.

With the 22nd pick, Banks has the Browns selecting Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd.

If the Browns could come away with Richardson and Floyd in the first round, adding two impact playmakers on offense, maybe Colt McCoy really would start to look like the long-term answer at quarterback.

Get even more 2012 NFL Draft coverage, scouting reports, teams needs, etc. at Mocking the Draft. For more Colts coverage, check out Dawgs By Nature. Be sure to visit SB Nation's NFL hub for the broader view.

2012 NFL Draft: Browns Keeping Their Options Open

Keeping your options open might be an understatement when talking about a team that has 13 selections in the up-coming NFL Draft, including two in the first round, but that is exactly what the Cleveland Browns are doing.

When day one of the draft comes to pass, the Browns likely will have at least one new offensive weapon, but the smart money right now has them adding a couple. There is a chance Cleveland could go for LSU’s star cornerback Morris Claiborne with the fourth overall pick, but right now the favorite appears to be Alabama’s Heisman candidate, running back Trent Richardson.

The Browns are also hosting a visit with USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil, and have a private workout in the works with Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill, one of the hottest players out there right now.

What the Browns do with the fourth pick is a mystery, and that makes their second first round pick nearly impossible to guess. They could go a number of different directions, but there’s a very good chance they will wind up with a tailback in the first round. They have had visits lined up with Virginia Tech’s David Wilson and Boise State’s Doug Martin, both of whom are potential first round talents and potential featured backs.

As of right now, I think the absolute best case scenario for the Browns is to take the best possible player at both picks. In that case, right now I believe their picks should be Richardson and Baylor’s Kendall Wright, if he is available. Both would fit this team perfectly, and adding Richardson could be like adding a face to this franchise.

With the rest of the picks, the Browns can continue to upgrade the offensive side of the ball and add some more pass rush as well as depth at linebacker. The Browns have a ton of different options available to them, and right now, they are exploring all avenues.

Matt Kalil Will Visit Browns This Week, According To Report

The reports of pre-draft visits continue to trickle out. The Cleveland Browns had already hosted David Wilson, Lavonte David, and Kendall Wright this week. The Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot is now reporting that Matt Kalil, the massive offensive tackle from Southern Cal, will be in Berea this week as well.

Many project Kalil to go No. 3 overall to the Minnesota Vikings. But the Vikes may try and trade out of that spot if teams are aggressively trying to move up to take Ryan Tannehill, Trent Richardson, or Justin Blackmon. But some mocks have the Browns taking Kalil at No. 4 if he falls. General Manager Tom Heckert told the media last week that he would have to take a good look at Kalil if the tackle is available. The Browns would put him at right tackle opposite Joe Thomas, instantly setting up perhaps the best tackle duo in the league.

For more news, analysis, and discussion on the Cleveland Browns, go to Dawgs By Nature. You can also get all of your professional football news over at SB Nation's NFL hub, or at SB Nation's YouTube channel:

2012 NFL Draft: Browns Hosted Kendall Wright, Others On Tuesday

Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot reported on Wednesday that the Cleveland Browns had hosted a slew of draftable players on Tuesday. The biggest name among them -- indeed, the only one she mentions in her tweet -- was Baylor wide receiver Kendall Wright.

#Baylor wide receiver Kendall Wright among high-profile draft prospects that visited Browns Tuesday, source said.

In 2011, Wright had a whopping 1663 yards on 108 receptions along with 14 touchdowns playing as the number one receiver on a powerful Baylor offense that featured Robert Griffin III at quarterback.

Wright has been a popular pick for the Browns with their 22nd pick in the first round of the draft, assuming they don't draft another receiver like Justin Blackmon higher with their fourth overall selection. It was a more popular selection back when the Browns were considered the favorite to pick up Robert Griffin III just because they were so used to playing with each other, but Wright would still be a solid selection at 22 with or without his star QB going to the same team.

Colt McCoy needs all the help he can get at receiver, especially if the Browns are unable to get Ryan Tannehill for their new franchise QB of the future with their fourth pick.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, go to Dawgs By Nature. You can also get all of your professional football news over at SB Nation's NFL hub, or at SB Nation's YouTube channel:

NFL Draft 2012: Cleveland Browns Hosting Pair Of Running Backs, According To Report

The Cleveland Brows will host Virginia Tech running back David Wilson and Boise State running back Doug Martin, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

#Brownshosting Virginia RB David Wilson today, lg source tells PD. Candidate for No. 22, along with visiting Boise State RB Doug Martin.

— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) April 3, 2012

(Just to be clear -- Wilson went to Virginia Tech, not Virginia, as the tweet says.)

The Browns have a pair of first-round picks -- No. 4 and No. 22. Some experts project the Browns to take Alabama running back Trent Richardson with the No. 4 pick. Others, though, think the Browns will nab Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon, which would leave a void at running back and make Wilson and Martin options at No. 22.

Wilson quietly put together one of the best seasons in the country last year. He averaged 5.9 yards per carry en route to 1,709. Martin, meanwhile, had 1,299 yards last season to go with 16 rushing touchdowns.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, go to Dawgs By Nature. You can also get all of your professional football news over at SB Nation's NFL hub, or at SB Nation's YouTube channel:

VIDEO: 2012 NFL Draft Profile: Justin Blackmon

VIDEO: 2012 NFL Draft Profile: Trent Richardson

2012 NFL Draft: Browns Taking Ryan Tannehill In Latest SB Nation Mock

Many are wondering if there's actually a real possibility that the Cleveland Browns select a quarterback with the No. 4 overall pick. Most think it's pretty crazy to suggest, given that there will likely already have been two quarterbacks selected in the top three (Andrew Luck to the Indianapolis Colts and Robert Griffin III to the Washington Redskins), and that would mean that the Browns are taking the third-best player at the position with the No. 4 pick in the draft.

Doesn't seem like very good value when you look at it that way. As such, many are still suggesting some other offensive weapons to help out current quarterback Colt McCoy might be better. Justin Blackmon and Trent Richardson are two names that come up pretty frequently.

In SB Nation's latest mock draft, they're not going for either of them, though, and are going the quarterback route with the selection of Ryan Tannehill of Texas A&M:

Cleveland's brass has been expressing their love for Colt McCoy, even after coming close to trading with the Rams for the second pick. Professional talkers heaped praise on Tannehill after he reminded everyone how well he makes throws while on the run at his pro day. The Browns have some time set aside with Tannehill before the draft, and Jason LaCanfora of the NFL Network recently suggested that the Texas A&M quarterback could be the pick here.

While it's not likely to be the popular choice, it's still one that could happen. The Browns have shown that they aren't totally committed to McCoy, despite what they're saying now. They tried to trade with the Rams to get to Robert Griffin III, and apparently inquired about Sam Bradford as well.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, go to Dawgs By Nature. You can also get all of your professional football news over at SB Nation's NFL hub.

Browns 2012 NFL Mock Draft: Cleveland Selects Trent Richardson

Brad Wells at SB Nations's Mocking The Draft completed his first Friday Mock Draft, in which he had the Cleveland Browns selecting Alabama running back Trent Richardson with the fourth pick.

The Browns seem set on moving on from Colt McCoy at quarterback if they have the chance, but, in this simulation, the Kansas City Chiefs trade up to third pick to select Ryan Tannehill. Cleveland's offensive coordinator Brad Childress raved about Tannehill after seeing him workout at Texas A&M's Pro Day, but if he is off the board, there's not another quarterback worthy of being drafted this high.

The Browns desperately need to improve their offense and Richardson is a stud, both running the football and catching the ball out of the backfield. Here's what Wells had to say about the pick:

Once again, the Browns are left holding the bag when it comes to trading for or drafting a potential franchise quarterback. So, instead of making moves to find an elite QB, they do what everyone expects them to do. They take Richardson. Don't get me wrong. I think Richardson is a very talented back. However, in the modern NFL, talented backs don't win games. Quarterbacks do.

For more news, analysis, and discussion on the Browns, visit Dawgs By Nature. For all your draft and free agency news, be sure to check out SB Nation's NFL news hub. For analysis of the draft, visit Mocking The Draft.

NFL Draft 2012: Ryan Tannehill Has Scouts Raving After Texas A&M Pro Day

Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill had an incredible pro day workout, according to all the draft scout experts. Many are now saying the Browns would be foolish to pass on the tall athletic quarterback with the No. 4 pick, and that the Dolphins will be there to snatch him up at No. 8. Todd McShay went so far as to say on TV that the Dolphins may trade up even to No. 3 to select Tannehill. McShay sees the Browns as a good fit:

"I would say the Browns, because they are a better team," McShay said when asked which team was a better fit for Tannehill. "They have better parts around the quarterback position. Miami, I'm not sure what the plan is when I look at the Miami organization. While they have Matt Moore and they brought in [David] Garrard, I just don't know if you want to bring in a young quarterback with everything else that's going on in Miami."

NFL Network scout Mike Mayock raved about the workout as well, imploring the Browns to take him at No. 4:

"I believe if you've got a franchise quarterback available and you can upgrade your position, you have to do it," Mayock told NFL Network. "This kid ripped the football, he ran 4.63, his foot is fine. Is he ready to play Day 1? Absolutely not. So what do I see with Ryan Tannehill? I think Cleveland has to take him at four. They upgrade the position both athletically and with arm strength."

Charley Casserly joins Gil Brandt and Mayock, also writing that Tannehill is well worth the top ten pick. Brad Childress, who was in attendance while Tom Heckert and Pat Shurmur attended Trent Richardson's workout, told the Forth Worth Star-Telegram that Tannehill showed that he's capable of doing things at an NFL level.

Via @MaryKayCabot:

#Browns OC Childress told Ft. Worth S-TTannehill is "capable of doing all the things you need to be able to do.''

— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) March 29, 2012

This was the first time he really got to put on a show for the scouts, after sitting out the Senior Bowl and combine due to injury. With his stock already soaring, it appears today solidified his top ten status and perhaps even top five status.

For more news, analysis, and discussion on the Browns, visit Dawgs By Nature. For all your draft and free agency news, be sure to check out SB Nation's NFL news hub. For analysis of the draft, visit Mocking The Draft.

2012 NFL Draft: Ryan Tannehill Has A Great Workout At Texas A&M Pro Day

Ryan Tannehill impressed scouts in his workout at Texas A&M's Pro Day Thursday, according to Gil Brandt of NFL.com.

Dolphins coach Joe Philbin, along with GM Jeff Ireland, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll and a large contingent from the Cleveland Browns, including offensive coordinator Brad Childress, were among the personnel on hand from 21 teams. I think that everybody that was there were pleased with what they saw.

Tannehill, in a workout scripted by former NFL quarterback Chris Weinke, threw 68 passes--15 of which were on the goal line and the rest from the 30-yard line going downfield. He completed 65 of the 68 passes with two drops from receivers. He also ran the 40-yard dash in 4.62 seconds.

Tannehill has garnered interest from the Cleveland Browns, who have the fourth pick in the draft. He has reportedly scheduled a pre-draft meeting with the team.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, go to Dawgs By Nature. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NFL hub at SBNation.com/NFL.

NFL Draft 2012: Todd McShay Mock Gives Browns Mike Adams And Quarterback

The Cleveland Browns and their No. 4 pick have been the topic of much debate when it comes to mock drafts. Most figure that the Colts will take Andrew Luck, the Redskins will take Robert Griffin III and the Vikings will take Matt Kalil. After that, the first real question mark is Cleveland, with multiple needs, almost all on offense. Many are suggesting Justin Blackmon, Trent Richardson or Ryan Tannehill at that pick, and they're all feasible.

Todd McShay, in his latest mock draft, went with Blackmon, as noted earlier. But his mock spanned two rounds, and the Browns also had a pick later on in the first. McShay ended up giving the Browns offensive tackle Mike Adams out of Ohio State:

Adams is a little risky because of his lack of consistency and killer instinct, but he has the size (6-7¼, 323), agility and long arms that teams look for in left tackles. The Browns have a need at tackle, and Adams has plenty of upside.

Cleveland does need a tackle, especially if they end up taking a quarterback in the first round before they get to Adams. Even if they proceed with Colt McCoy, they'll still need to protect him better as they look to improve the entire offense. McShay doesn't think they'll go with a quarterback in the first though, and in stead has them selecting Brandon Weeden out of Oklahoma State at pick No. 37, their second-rounder.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, go to Dawgs By Nature. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NFL hub at SBNation.com/NFL.

VIDEO: Trent Richardson Crushes Browns' Coach During Pro Day Drills

PHOTO: Browns Scout Trent Richardson At His Pro Day Workout

NFL Draft 2012: Browns Will Host Justin Blackmon, Trent Richardson, Morris Claiborne For Pre-Draft Visits

The Cleveland Browns have added several top ten talents and quarterbacks to their list of 30 pre-draft visits, according to a report of Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Cabot reports that the Browns will host LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne, Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon, and Alabama running back Trent Richardson for pre-draft visits.

In addition to those projected top ten picks, the Browns will also host second-tier quarterback prospects Brandon Weeden and Kirk Cousins. They join Texas A&M quarterback prospect Ryan Tannehil, who will have his pro-day workout on Thursday. The Browns will also scout Tannehill at a private workout on A&M's campus. Tannehill is soaring up the draft boards, with many solidifying him as a top ten talent.

Weeden and Cousins, on the other hand, would be potential options with the Browns second pick in the first round at No. 22 or their second-round pick at No. 37.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, go to Dawgs By Nature. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NFL hub at SBNation.com/NFL. For analysis of the draft, visit Mocking The Draft. And click here to follow SB Nation's NFL bloggers mock draft.

2012 NFL Draft: Trent Richardson To Work Out At Alabama Pro Day, Airing On ESPN3

ESPN3 will broadcast the University of Alabama's Pro Day, starting Thursday at 11:30 a.m. ET.

Here is a link to the stream.

The workout could be of extra significance to the Cleveland Browns, who are projected by some to take Bama running back Trent Richardson with the fourth overall pick.

It's also significant for Richardson, who didn't participate at the NFL Combine because of a minor knee surgery.

As a junior last season, Richardson had 283 carries for 1,679 yards, good for a 5.9 yards per carry average. He was fifth in the nation in rushing yards and had an incredible 21 touchdowns. He had 20 carries for 96 yards in the national title game against LSU and its top-rated defense.

If the Browns don't take Richardson, then they are likely to take Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon.

For more NFL news, check out SB Nation's NFL home page. For more on the NFL Draft, check out Mocking the Draft.

NFL Mock Draft 2012: Todd McShay Projects Justin Blackmon To Browns

ESPN football analyst Todd McShay released a mock draft Wednesday projecting the Cleveland Browns to take Justin Blackmon with the fourth overall pick.

Blackmon had 121 receptions for 1,522 yards and 18 touchdowns last season at Oklahoma State. He had three touchdowns in the Cowboys' Fiesta Bowl win over Stanford.

A recent SB Nation Mock Draft had the Browns taking Alabama running back Trent Richardson, but McShay thinks otherwise:

With the top two quarterbacks on the board already gone, Blackmon's size, hands and physical style offer the Browns a playmaker who can help current QB Colt McCoy.

McShay projects Andrew Luck to go first overall to the Indianapolis Colts, and Robert Griffin III to go second to the Washington Redskins (a pick that previously belonged to St. Louis). He has the Minnesota Vikings taking Matt Kalil, an offensive tackle from USC, and Trent Richardson going to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 5.

McShay's draft pegs Morris Claiborne, a cornerback from LSU, as the top defensive pick, going No. 6 to the Rams.

For more NFL news and draft updates, check out SB Nation's NFL home page.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Cleveland Browns Select Justin Blackmon

In the latest SB Nation NFL Mock Draft, in which individual team bloggers select players for their respective teams, Dawgs By Nature selected Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon with the fourth pick for the Cleveland Browns.

Blackmon was the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year last season as well as a two-time Biletnikoff Award winner. Though the Browns have been in search of a replacement for Colt McCoy at quarterback, they are in desperate need of upgrading the wide receiver position. Blackmon is the best available at the position.

Here's what Dawgs By Nature had to say about their selection:

I'm not making excuses for quarterback Colt McCoy, but the only way he is going to have a chance at getting better this coming season is if he has better talent around him. That's where Justin Blackmon comes in. The Browns are thin enough at receiver where Blackmon would start immediately, probably alongside last year's second-round pick, Greg Little.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, go to Dawgs By Nature. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NFL hub at SBNation.com/NFL. For analysis of the pick, visit Mocking The Draft. And click here to follow SB Nation's NFL bloggers mock draft.

NFL Draft 2012: Browns Potential Trade Partners With Rams, According To Jeff Fisher

According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, St. Louis Rams head coach Jeff Fisher says the Cleveland Browns are “a potential trade partner” with them on draft night. There have been rumors floating around that the Browns would like to move down, and that they have a few players in mind that they’d like to select with their first round pick, but that they also would not move out of the top 10, in all likelihood.

That would make the Rams a sensible trade destination, since it looks like the Rams want Justin Blackmon bad enough to trade up for him, and the Browns are potentially confident enough to keep Blackmon out of their future plans. It would be interesting for the Rams to trade back up after moving down with the Washington Redskins, but it would make sense and would allow the Browns to get one of their preferred targets, which likely at this point includes Blackmon, LSU CB Morris Claiborne, Alabama RB Trent Richardson, and Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill.

There have been rumors that the Browns could be interested in taking Tannehill at the fourth overall pick, but perhaps they feel like they can get a couple of extra picks out of the deal, still get Tannehill (in front of the Dolphins), and continue to be flexible throughout the process with 13 picks come April.

As inactive as the Browns have been in the free agency process, they could be an interesting team to watch on draft weekend.

2012 NFL Draft: Browns To Work Out Quarterback Ryan Tannehill

The speculation about three quarterbacks going in the top five of the 2012 NFL Draft is alive and well, helped along by the fact that the Washington Redskins moved into the top two and the fact that the Cleveland Browns hold the No. 4 overall pick. Many considered the prospect of the third quarterback going in the top five to be a long shot, but when the Browns didn't go after a quarterback in free agency, it became a real possibility for most.

Naturally, the fire needs some fuel, as Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer reports that the Browns are set to work out Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill as one of their 30 pre-draft visits. Tannehill is the consensus No. 3 quarterback behind Andrew Luck of Stanford and Robert Griffin III of Baylor, who are likely to go to the Indianapolis Colts and the aforementioned Redskins, respectively.

Could the Browns feasibly use their No. 4 pick on Tannehill? Of course it's a possibility, just like it is a possibility that they trade down a few spots and pick him a bit later, though they've said they won't trade lower than the No. 8 pick. It's still a bit of a longshot to think that Tannehill could go in the top eight, given the small amount of hype surrounding him.

That being said, the Browns have to do their due diligence, and this isn't some big sign that they're going to draft him. In the same way that the Colts working out Luck doesn't mean that a bad workout will lead to them going a different direction, a good workout for Tannehill doesn't mean he becomes a must-draft for them. To their credit, they've said in the past that they're happy with Colt McCoy at the helm.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, go to Dawgs By Nature. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NFL hub at SBNation.com/NFL.

Complete 2012 NFL Draft Order With Compensatory Picks Awarded

The NFL has awarded all of the compensatory draft picks for the 2012 Draft, which means the draft order is officially complete. Compensatory picks only affect rounds 3 through 7.

The Cleveland Browns received four of compensatory picks. Here they are:

(Round/Pick/Overall)

6 35 204 Cleveland (Compensatory Selection)

6 36 205 Cleveland (Compensatory Selection)

7 38 245 Cleveland (Compensatory Selection)

7 40 247 Cleveland (Compensatory Selection)

The Browns' other draft picks are:

(Round/Pick/Overall)

1 4 4 Cleveland

1 22 22 Cleveland from Atlanta

2 5 37 Cleveland

3 4 67 Cleveland

4 5 100 Cleveland

4 23 118 Cleveland from Atlanta

5 4 139 Cleveland

5 25 160 Cleveland from Denver

7 4 211 Cleveland

Because of compensatory slots, the Browns have a few dense spots. They will draft back to back in the sixth round at Nos. 204 and 205, and in the seventh round they'll draft at Nos. 245 and 247.

Here is an article with a complete list of all NFL Draft picks, including compensatory picks.

NFL Draft 2012: Browns Awarded 4 Compensatory Draft Picks, Now Have 13 Total

The NFL handed out compensatory draft picks on Monday afternoon and the Cleveland Browns were awarded four picks -- tied with the Green Bay Packers and New York Jets for most in the league. Mary Kay Cabot first reported the picks:

#Browns, Packers and NYJ tied for most compensatory picks with 4 each. 32 picks going to 15 teams.

— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) March 26, 2012

The picks will fall in the sixth and seventh round, at numbers 204 and 205, and 245 and 247.

As she also noted, this brings the total number of Browns picks in the 2012 NFL Draft to 13. That is tied with the expansion year of 1999 for the highest number of picks they have had in one draft. The 13 picks are tied for the most any team has had since the draft went to seven rounds in 1994.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, go to Dawgs By Nature. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NFL hub at SBNation.com/NFL.

NFL Draft 2012: Browns Not Moving Up, Won't Trade Down Beyond No. 8

While the Cleveland Browns are listening to offers for the No. 4 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, they're not necessarily actively looking to move out of the spot. The NFL owner's meetings are underway, and from it comes plenty of quotes from coaches, general managers and, of course, owners. As noted, there's some potential interest for other teams to move into the Browns' spot, but they're not making it a priority to move down.

Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer had some quotes from general manager Tom Heckert from the meetings, in which Heckert sheds some light on their plans at the pick. One Tweet confirms that they're not likely to move at all, but also notes that the team isn't likely to move past the No. 8 overall pick, narrowing the list of suitors to Tampa Bay, St. Louis, Jacksonville or Miami. The latter is a team that could be considered quarterback-needy and thus willing to trade up, so who knows?

On top of all of that is the fact that the Browns aren't likely to trade up with the Minnesota Vikings, to the No. 3 overall pick, also via Twitter:

#Browns GM Tom Heckert said at owner's meetings "there's no way'' the Browns will trade up to No. 3. "There's five players we really like.''

— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) March 26, 2012

That last sentence is a good indication of what it's like to pick in the top five ... in so many words, it's a chance to get one of the five best players in the country. If you're satisfied with five different players, then you're guaranteed to get at least one of them.

It'd be hard to see a team jumping ahead of Cleveland to take somebody by trading with Minnesota anyway, so it makes sense to stay put or move down for the Browns. This is true especially if they're going after a wide receiver, which remains a possibility given the team's pursuit of wide receivers in free agency. Either way, it is, after all, tough to screw up picking at No. 4.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, go to Dawgs By Nature. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NFL hub at SBNation.com/NFL.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Cleveland Takes Trent Richardson In SB Nation Draft

Ever since the Washington Redskins traded up to guarantee themselves Robert Griffin III with the second overall pick, the Cleveland Browns have been wide open in their fourth overall pick. Ryan Tannehill has been brought up as an option, but he's kind of in a strange spot where a lot of people consider him a reach up that high in the draft. It might come down to how desperate Cleveland is to have a QB other than Colt McCoy.

If they feel like keeping McCoy around for another year or two, they can go a different offensive route like the new SB Nation 2012 NFL Mock Draft suggests. Alabama running back Trent Richardson is the name they go with.

Ryan Tannehill has become the popular pick here. People assume that Cleveland will address its quarterback need after failing to in the offseason and then sniveling about Washington getting preferential treatment. I am less convinced. Richardson gives them some offensive talent to stand by Colt McCoy for one more season, after which they will probably have first dibs on Matt Barkley.

With Peyton Hillis off the team now, a new running back prospect makes sense. Richardson has enough talent to jump start a Browns offense that was pretty awful last season. Perhaps a strong running game will also be the big boost that McCoy needs to look like an NFL starting QB.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, check out Dawgs By Nature. If you want more on the 2012 NFL Draft, check out the SB Nation 2012 NFL Draft hub.

Report: Cleveland Browns Listening to Offers for Fourth Overall Pick

At the NFL meetings, there are multiple teams vying to the Browns' fourth overall pick, according to a report from ESPN Cleveland based reporter Tony Grossi. This is a very interesting scenario, as lots of ideas have been thrown around lately about what the Browns might do with that pick.

A lot of rumors right now are saying that Cleveland could take Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill with that selection, while others believe they could go for either Morris Claiborne or Trent Richardson, possibly even a receiver like Justin Blackmon.

Obviously, Cleveland has not been active in free agency to this point, and they need to add as many players as they can. If they can get some extra picks in this draft out of the deal, it might be interesting for them to be able to move down and still get a player they like, perhaps another pass rusher.

The Browns have added defensive end Frostee Rucker, formerly of the Bengals over this free agent period, but perhaps the biggest move was the one they didn't make in not trading up for Baylor's Robert Griffin III, which many people believed not so long ago that they were the favorites to do.

With this development, it will not only be interesting to see who is trying to move up with the Browns, but how far down they are willing to go. Last year, we saw the Atlanta Falcons make a huge jump up to number six overall, ironically with the Cleveland Browns. The Falcons gave up five picks in that deal, including an additional first round pick which Cleveland owns in this year's draft.

The Browns were able to strike big on their first round pick despite moving up down and all around, netting Baylor defensive tackle Phil Taylor in the later portion of the first round.

Similarly the Browns could be looking at a receiver in the first round of this year's draft, or possibly a pass rusher, and the value is simply not there with the fourth overall pick and they might not value Richardson or Claiborne highly enough to take them with that selection if a great offer is out there.

2012 NFL Draft: SI's Don Banks Giving Browns Justin Blackmon

There is increasing sentiment that the Cleveland Browns may want to draft a quarterback at the No. 4 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, even if Robert Griffin III and Andrew Luck are both gone, which now appears to be a certainty with the Washington Redskins moving into the No. 2 slot. It's not the popular choice, but again, it's starting to seem like a real possibility with some people, along with the thought that Cleveland could try to move back in the draft, on top of that.

Still, the most popular pick for Cleveland in mock drafts has been and continues to be wide receiver Justin Blackmon. That remains the case for Don Banks of Sports Illustrated in his Mock Draft 3.0:

The Browns have a lot of different options sitting in the spot where this draft starts to get interesting, but I don't sense they're in love with any of them. They seem to think it's too high to take Tannehill, and are going to hew back to Colt McCoy as the answer at quarterback. Claiborne would make sense here, but how do you go defense with your first-round pick when you've got a crying need for an offensive playmaker who can help out McCoy's game? Alabama running back Trent Richardson seems to be the popular choice here, and he could be their guy. But I'm going with Blackmon on the logic that there have been more top-10 impact receivers of late than running backs. Because of that, Richardson could fall into the teens.

When most suggest Ryan Tannehill as an option, they assume that the Browns are done with Colt McCoy. But that's not Banks' opinion, nor is it one illustrated by how the Browns have been handling free agency, either. Cleveland didn't make a run at Peyton Manning or really, any of the quarterbacks available. Still, Blackmon makes a ton of sense, given the lack of weapons on that offense.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, go to Dawgs By Nature. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NFL hub at SBNation.com/NFL.

NFL Mock Draft 2012: Ryan Tannehill Climbing Up To Browns At No. 4?

In Russ Lande's latest NFL Mock Draft at Sporting News, the Cleveland Browns will select Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill with the fourth overall pick.

The team's public statements supporting Colt McCoy as their quarterback sound too much like the classic "vote of confidence" given to coaches. Expect them to draft Tannehill.

Tannehill, 6-foot-4, 222 pounds, threw for 3,745 yards in his senior season at Texas A&M, completing 61.4% of his passes. He connected for 29 touchdown passes net to 15 interceptions.

The Browns failed in their attempts to move up to the second pick to select Robert Griffin III. Holmgren expressed his disappointment that Cleveland failed to make the trade, however he has said his efforts to move up in no way reflect on his judgement of Colt McCoy as a player.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, check out Dawgs By Nature. For more on the NFL Draft, check out the SB Nation NFL Draft hub.

NFL Draft 2012: Morris Claiborne Will Undergo Wrist Surgery On Friday

Former LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne will undergo surgery Friday to repair a torn ligament in his left wrist, he told the New Orleans Times-Picayune after his Pro Day Thursday. Via Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer:

Claiborne said he suffered the injury during LSU's 9-6 overtime victory over Alabama Nov. 5, but played with it the remainder of the season.

It's not yet known how long Claiborne will be out of football activity. Some teams have minicamps the weekend after the NFL draft, which is April 26-28. Claiborne is expected to be a top five or six pick in the draft and is widely regarded as the best defensive player in his class.

Peter Schrager of Fox Sports has the Cleveland Browns taking Claiborne with the fourth overall pick in his latest mock draft. Claiborne is considered a better NFL prospect than fellow former LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson who went fifth in last year's NFL Draft.

Claiborne ran a 4.39 second 40-yard dash at LSU's Pro Day on Thursday, besting his time of 4.47 seconds at the NFL Combine.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, check out Dawgs By Nature. For more on the NFL Draft, check out the SB Nation NFL Draft hub.

2012 NFL Draft: David Wilson Visiting With The Browns

Many have scrambled to find an appropriate pick in their latest mock drafts for the Cleveland Browns at No. 4. Most had them taking Robert Griffin III, to instantly solve their problems at quarterback, but with the Washington Redskins already trading up for what most assume is that right, folks are scrambling to figure out where to go. Do the Browns take another quarterback, or some other player?

Most are assuming that they'll just take running back Trent Richardson, which is probably the lazy option. The Browns do need to invest in the running back position in the future, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're going to do it at No. 4. Or if they do, it doesn't mean that they're going to go with Richardson. Scout.com is reporting that the Browns are set to bring in David Wilson, who is the second-highest ranked running back on their rankings.

It's not out of the realm of possibility to think Wilson could go at No. 4 - or perhaps it means the Browns could be interested in trading down. At the very least, the Browns are aware they have a need at the running back position, and are doing their due diligence. Wilson rushed for 1,709 yards in 2011, and had nine touchdowns.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, go to Dawgs By Nature. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NFL hub at SBNation.com/NFL.

NFL Mock Draft 2012: Browns Back To Square One, Which Could Mean Trent Richardson At No. 4

The Browns did not win the Robert Griffin III sweepstakes which means they're back to square one on which direction they'll go with the No. 4 overall pick. There's no consensus on who they're most interested in, with potential selections ranging from Matt Kalil, Ryan Tannehill, Morris Claiborne, and running back Trent Richardson. ESPN's Todd McShay released his third version of his mock draft, reflecting the Redskins trade and re-shuffled top five. And McShay has the Browns back to selecting Richardson.

Via Todd McShay of ESPN:

The Browns couldn't get over the top in the RG3 derby, but they do get a possible franchise running back. Richardson is the most complete prospect to enter the draft at that position since Adrian Peterson in 2007.

Drafting a running back at the top of the draft is against conventional wisdom, but as McShay notes, Richardson is the kind of back that could break the conventional mold.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, check out Dawgs By Nature. For more on the NFL Draft, check out the SB Nation NFL Draft hub.

NFL Mock Draft 2012: Could The Browns Draft For Defense At No. 4?

The Washington Redskins' trade to acquire the No. 2 pick to draft Robert Griffin III has completely changed the game and opened things up for the Browns in the top five of the 2012 NFL Draft. Until recently, the projections for drafting an offensive player, whether that be Matt Kalil, Trent Richardson, or now even Ryan Tannehill, were near unanimous. Now, some project the Browns to go with defense at No. 4. Among those mock experts is Peter Schrager of Fox Spots, who has Tom Heckert taking a stud cornerback to play opposite Joe Haden.

Via Peter Schrager of Fox Sports:

Everyone's got Trent Richardson going to Cleveland with the fourth overall pick, but I can't see the Browns passing on a talent like Claiborne. Scouts like him more than Patrick Peterson, Claiborne's LSU teammate and the fifth overall selection from a year ago.

The league's a passing one now. You can't have too many elite cornerbacks. Joe Haden and Claiborne would make for one heck of a starting cornerback duo.

Like Kalil with Joe Thomas, matching Claiborne with Haden is certainly an enticing proposition which would give the Browns a huge advantage on the defensive side of the ball.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, check out Dawgs By Nature. For more on the NFL Draft, check out the SB Nation NFL Draft hub.

NFL Draft 2012: Agents For 3 Top Ten Picks Do Not Want Their Players Drafted By The Browns, According To Report

The rumblings that a top ten pick did not want to play for the Cleveland Browns first popped up at the NFL Combine in February. Now, according to one NFL reporter, the agents for three separate top ten picks have said they do not want to play for the Browns.

Via @NFLDraftScout:

I have now heard from three agents, all with Top 10 picks, who don't want to play for the #Browns.

— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) March 21, 2012

The Browns hold the fourth overall pick in this April's draft, and there's far from a consensus on projections of what they will do now that Robert Griffin III is likely off the board with the Redskins trading up. There was some indication that Justin Blackmon, the dynamic wide receiver from Oklahoma State, preferred not to play for the Browns but that has not been corroborated.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, check out Dawgs By Nature. For more on the NFL Draft, check out the SB Nation NFL Draft hub.

NFL Mock Draft 2012: Browns Still Looking At Quarterback At No. 4

The latest edition of SB Nation's NFL Mock Draft is out, and Ryan Van Bibber has the Browns drafting a quarterback with the No. 4 pick. Mike Holmgren told a Seattle radio station this week that the Browns have looked at 10 or 12 quarterbacks this offseason, either in free agency or through draft scouting. But Holmgren also stated that he's not "down on Colt McCoy." Well, Van Bibber doesn't buy it and has the Browns drafting Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who has rocketed up the draft board with Robert Griffin III now unavailable. Van Bibber takes a shot at Holmgren's approach:

Invading Russia in the winter is just another bad decision compared to what the Browns have done this month. Mike Holmgren's sniveling over his team's losing out on the trade with the Rams for the second pick may signal some awareness of the situation in Cleveland -- desperation and just how perilously close he is to living out his life in relative obscurity as just another old fat guy draped in Tommy Bahama, puttering around a Florida golf course. Ryan Tannehill has plenty of potential, and the Browns cannot afford to wait and take a chance on whatever falls to them with the 22nd pick.

There's plenty to question, and drafting Tannehill this high seemed unthinkable just a month ago. Regardless, Holmgren also said this week that he will discourage GM Tom Heckert from trading down and out of the No. 4 spot. With a little over a month to go, there's still plenty of time for movement.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, check out Dawgs By Nature. For more on the NFL Draft, check out the SB Nation NFL Draft hub.

Browns Free Agency 2012: Mike Holmgren Discusses Failed Trade Attempt, Colt McCoy

Cleveland Browns President Mike Holmgren once again spoke on Seattle radio to discuss the Browns missed attempt at acquiring the second overall pick in the NFL Draft and his view of quarterback Colt McCoy.

Last week, Mike Holmgren spoke to Browns season ticket holders about his disappointment regarding the failed bid at moving up to select Robert Griffin III and he believes his comments were overblown. Via Daryl Ruiter of CBS Cleveland:

"I think that, as happens on occasion with the media, got overstated just a little bit," Holmgren told Mahler.

"We were involved in discussions, let’s put it that way," Holmgren said. "I thought we had enough bullets in the gun to perhaps make a run at that, and it turned out we didn’t.

Holmgren said on Monday morning that his courting of Griffin III in no way reflects on his judgement of McCoy. He said that, including potential draftees, the Browns "looked at 10 or 12 quarterbacks, maybe even more." Holmgren acknowledged that free agent Matt Flynn was among that group, but little else regarding the newly-signed Seattle Seahawk.

"Listen, I want to make something pretty clear… I like Colt McCoy as a player," Holmgren said. "I think he’s a fine player and has a chance to be a fine player in this league. I thought last year, one, he got beat up pretty good. We didn’t protect him quite as well. I thought our running game after Peyton Hillis got hurt wasn’t helping him enough in my opinion. And then we had the lockout, so you had a new coach, new system, new quarterback. So you put all that together, and I think it was a little bit of a short deck. So I’m not down on Colt McCoy at all."

For more on the Cleveland Browns, check out Dawgs By Nature. For more on NFL Free Agency 2012, check out the specialized SB Nation hub.

Mike Holmgren Sounds Off On Trade For No. 2 Pick, Robert Griffin III

Browns And Tom Heckert Did Not Know Redskins Offer For Rams Pick, According To Report

NFL Mock Draft: Browns Projected To Take Ryan Tannehill With Robert Griffin III Out Of The Picture

Robert Griffin III is not going to be the future of the Cleveland Browns. After weeks after weeks of speculation, the Washington Redskins ended up trading seemingly every draft pick of theirs for the next 32 years to the St. Louis Rams for the second overall selection and the rights to RGIII.

The question at this point is if the Browns will panic or not with their fourth overall selection. They still need a quarterback if they don't think Colt McCoy can be the future of their franchise, and Peyton Manning isn't really an option for Cleveland with Denver and Arizona quickly becoming the favorites to get his services. This is really only a two QB draft though, with Andrew Luck and RGIII the big names.

The new SB Nation 2012 NFL Mock Draft is out, and they have the Browns taking the third best QB in the draft, and a QB that is considered a low third choice by a lot of people, Texas A&M's Ryan Tannehill.

Leave it to the Cleveland Browns to find a way to lose in March. After letting Washington woo second pick away from the Rams, the Browns should be a little panicked. Tannehill has the makings of a fine NFL quarterback. A poor substitute for what might have been, but it is a least a step forward. Can he buy the leadership there another year?

This could be construed as a bit of a panic move by the Browns by a lot of draftniks, but if they think he's worth a high first round draft pick, it'd be hard to argue with them. Perhaps he might still be there with their 22nd overall pick as well?

For more on the Cleveland Browns, check out Dawgs By Nature. For more on the NFL Draft, check out the SB Nation NFL Draft hub.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Mel Kiper Sees Robert Griffin III In The Browns' Future

The 2012 NFL Draft is almost two months away, but the speculation about which teams will pick which players is running wild. Mel Kiper at ESPN rolled out his most recent 2012 NFL mock draft on Wednesday. What did he predict for the Cleveland Browns?

The Browns pick Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III in Kiper's mock, though he does not include trades.

The assumption is they'll need to move up to No. 2 to get RG3, but I can't reflect that until anything is official. I don't think the combine changed anything in terms of where Griffin was likely to land, but it certainly didn't hurt him. He showed off athleticism that would have been impressive for the top wide receivers and running backs. Given his experience, leadership qualities and overall skill set as an accurate passer with a potent arm, I don't see it as much of a leap for Griffin to be a Week 1 starter in 2012.

With Washington flirting with the idea of signing Peyton Manning, the Browns might not have much competition for moving up in the draft. That could allow them to swing a deal with the St. Louis Rams much cheaper than imagined.

For complete Browns coverage, check out Dawgs By Nature. For all things NFL Draft, visit Mocking the Draft.

NFL Draft 2012, Michael Brewster: Will The Ohio State Center Go Undrafted?

It was not a good in Indianapolis for Ohio State offensive linemen. After tackle Mike Adams disappointed many with his bench press results, Buckeyes center Michael Brewster is also finding himself on some falling stock reports in the wake of the Combine.

Russ Lande, draft analyst for the Sporting News, gave Brewster low marks for his work in position drills at the Combine, a theme that carried over from the Senior Bowl in January. said Lande:

Brewster's postseason struggles continued in Indianapolis after a bad week in Mobile at the Senior Bowl. He looked stiff and mechanical throughout his workout and was constantly battling to stay over his feet and under control. He did not show the athletic ability NFL teams want in a center. That is why he will likely be a late-round pick if he is drafted at all.

Once seen by some experts as the second-best center in the draft, it comes as a bit of surprise to think that he might not even be drafted.

For more on the draft in general, head to Mocking The Draft or the SB Nation NFL Draft hub.

NFL Draft 2012, Mike Adams: Ohio State Lineman Falling Out Of First Round In New Mock Drafts

Ohio State offensive tackle Mike Adams may have bench pressed his way out of the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Adams fell out of the first round of the most recent 2012 NFL Mock Draft from SB Nation this week.

Adams did just 19 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press test at last week's NFL Scouting Combine. A number of wide receivers and other, smaller player bested Adams in the bench press. Because strength is highly regarded among offensive linemen in the NFL, many view the bench press as one of the more relevant evaluation of a prospect's future.

Dane Brugler, an NFL Draft analyst at CBS Sports, listed Adams as his top "faller" in the wake of the Combine.

At right tackle, he'd need more power and bulk and he's not a rare athlete as a left-side prospect.

Adams already faced questions about his character and judgement following his involvement with a group of Buckeye players who traded memorabilia for tattoos.

For more on the draft in general, head to Mocking The Draft or the SB Nation NFL Draft hub.

Trading Up For Robert Griffin III Might Be A Gamble The Cleveland Browns Can't Afford Not To Take

Acquiring the No. 2 pick from the Rams might come at a steep price tag, but it might be worth it.

NFL Draft 2012: SB Nation Post Combine Mock Has Browns Snagging Robert Griffin III Again

The Cleveland Browns have reportedly been in trade talks with the St. Louis Rams over their second overall selection so that they can trade up to get Robert Griffin III, and after watching the NFL Scouting Combine it's pretty easy to see why. Griffin was one of the stars of the week at the combine, putting together a 4.38 40 time and looking generally awesome all around.

The post combine SB Nation 2012 NFL Mock Draft is out and it follows that narrative with Griffin going to the Browns at second overall.

Griffin is a cornerstone in every sense of the word. Yes, there is his seemingly unlimited ceiling for play, but he would also become the face of a faceless franchise. With Griffin, the "Browns to the Super Bowl" joke would be slightly less hilarious three years from now.

Nobody's quite sure if Cleveland still wants to lose both of their first rounders to get RGIII, but if he turns into the player that he seems poised to turn into it'll be a hard offer for Cleveland to turn down.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, check out Dawgs By Nature. For more on the NFL Draft, head to Mocking The Draft or just check out the SB Nation NFL hub at sbnation.com/NFL.

2012 NFL Draft: Browns Talk Trade With Rams Regarding No. 2 Pick, Robert Griffin II, According To Sources

The Cleveland Browns have had "preliminary talks" with the St. Louis Rams about trading up for the No. 2 pick to select Robert Griffin III, according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (via Mary Kay Cabot, The Plain Dealer).

The Browns have both the No. 4 and No. 22 overall picks in the 2012 NFL Draft and are apparently enamored with the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback. According to the report, two other teams with top ten picks have also discussed potential trades with the Rams.

St. Louis is fielding offers for the pick because they are content with the development of their third-year quarterback, Sam Bradford and trading for multiple first-round picks could be more valuable.

Cleveland, however, is not sold on Colt McCoy as their franchise quarterback. McCoy has a career completion percentage under sixty, has thrown as many interceptions as touchdowns in his two-year career, and ranked 27th last season in passer rating.

The draft stock of Robert Griffin III raised even higher after his fantastic showing at the NFL Combine. Griffin III measured at just above six-foot-two, ran the 40-yard dash in 4.41 seconds, and led all quarterbacks with a vertical leap of 39 inches. Check out the video of Griffin III's 40-yard dash below:

For more on the Cleveland Browns, check out Dawgs By Nature. For more on the NFL Draft, head to Mocking The Draft or just check out the SB Nation NFL hub atsbnation.com/NFL.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Redskins Trade Up For Robert Griffin III In Latest SB Nation Draft, Browns Select Trent Richardson

The NFL Combine didn't need to work any wonders on Baylor QB Robert Griffin III, but it managed to do so anyway. RGIII had a sparkling combine complete with a 4.38 40 time, enough to make any General Manager drool. Unfortunately for the Cleveland Browns, Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder is well known for that sort of thing and in the latest SB Nation 2012 NFL Mock Draft his Skins are the favorite to trade up and snag Griffin.

The Browns instead get Alabama RB Trent Richardson, not a terrible consolation prize by any means. They also bolster their offense with their 22nd pick -- usually not thought about with the St. Louis Rams getting it from a trade in most mocks featuring RGIII to Cleveland -- picking up WR Alshon Jeffery from South Carolina.

The Browns passed on Justin Blackmon with their first pick, but I don't think they pass on a wide receiver with their second pick. There is some thought that they might look at QB Ryan Tannehill with this pick, but I suspect any QB addition might be a little bit later. They need more skill position players and Jeffery provides some upside for this offense. And if Colt McCoy can't make this work, time to find a new QB. There had been some concerns about weight issues with Jeffery, but he came in to the Combine at 216 pounds. He did not run the 40 though, which raises some question marks about whether he sapped strength with a crash diet. His Pro Day will be closely watched and he could slip-slide down draft boards with a poor showing.

Either way, it looks like we're going to see a lot of new offensive talent in Cleveland come 2012, be it a sparkling new QB or a bunch of position players to add points to Colt McCoy's offense. The question is, will the two picks they get without Griffin ever be able to beat the talent they would get by adding him?

For more on the Cleveland Browns, head to Dawgs By Nature. For more on the draft in general, head to Mocking The Draft or the SB Nation NFL Draft hub.

NFL Draft 2012: Cleveland Trades Up For Robert Griffin III In Latest SB Nation Mock

The NFL scouting combine is in full swing, but the Cleveland Browns probably aren't incredibly concerned when it comes to who they're planning on selecting in the first round. Baylor QB Robert Griffin III is the consensus second best QB in the draft and one of the best players in the nation, and nothing that happens at the combine is going to change that.

Cleveland have been getting mocked RGIII via a trade to the second overall selection for some time now, and that trend has resurfaced big time in recent days. The new SB Nation 2012 NFL Mock Draft follows the same trend, pointing out that the Browns have plenty of trade bait thanks to having two selections in the draft's first round.

There are a handful of teams who badly need a quarterback, but the Redskins and Browns are considered to be two of the teams that would strongly consider trading up to grab RG3. The Browns seem to be the team that is more likely to make a move for RG3, though. They have two first round picks in 2012 and they have more to offer than the Redskins do.

The Rams have a lot of big needs, so two first round selections is probably too much for them to turn down no matter what the Redskins try to throw at them. Other teams that were at one point rumored to be in on Griffin like the Seattle Seahawks seem to have left the conversation as well, so we might be down to a two horse race.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, check out Dawgs By Nature. For more on the NFL Draft, head to Mocking The Draft or just check out the SB Nation NFL hub at sbnation.com/NFL.

2012 NFL Draft: Cleveland Browns In Position To Trade Up For Robert Griffin III, According To Charley Casserly

Cleveland Browns coach Pat Shurmur told The Cleveland Plain Dealer that it's too early to tell whether or not the Browns will try to move up to select Robert Griffin III in the upcoming draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Cleveland Browns Likely To Take Justin Blackmon, Says Mock Draft

In a mock draft published Monday, CBS Sports’ Pat Kirwan says the Cleveland Browns will likely take Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon with the fourth overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Kirwan explains his logic thus:

The Browns don’t have playmakers on offense, making it is difficult to truly evaluate Colt McCoy. From top to bottom the people in Cleveland are pure west coast offense guys. So they may not be able to convince themselves [Robert] Griffin fits what they want or shell out the compensation to move up and get him.

SB Nation’s most recent mock draft has the Browns trading up to nab Robert Griffin III. To do so means Cleveland would likely have to get to No. 2, a spot currently occupied by the St. Louis Rams, a team that figures to be set at quarterback with Sam Bradford.

The possibility of the Browns moving up was bolstered by a report that came out last week saying that the Browns considered it “an intriguing prospect” to move up in order to get Griffin.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, go to Dawgs By Nature. You can also head over to SB Nation’s main NFL hub at SBNation.com/NFL.

Ryan Tannehill Could Be Option If The Cleveland Browns Don't Get Robert Griffin III

Clearly the Cleveland Browns are one of the front-runners to trade up and select Heisman trophy winner Robert Griffin III, but there is another quarterback who could entice them later in the first round if they’re not the team who makes a move to go and get him.

That player, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Mary Kay Cabot, is former Texas A&M standout Ryan Tannehill, who has played quarterback for only 20 games but is considered the consensus third best quarterback by most analysts and experts.

If the Browns don’t go for Griffin, they’ll surely take a hard look at Tannehill later in the first round. But Tannehill’s stock is rising and he probably won’t be around at No. 22. Scouts won’t see him work out at the combine because he’s recovering from surgery to repair a broken foot. But he’s widely-regarded as the third-best quarterback in the draft behind Andrew Luck and Griffin and could easily go in the top 15. Did we mention he aspires to be an orthopedic surgeon?

With Tannehill, who played for former Mike Holmgren protege Mike Sherman in college, the Browns wouldn’t have to adapt their West Coast offense to accommodate him.

The inclusion of Tannehill in this discussion is interesting because he is the only one who is not considered a consensus top 10 prospect of the five players mentioned by Cabot, which were Griffin, LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne, Alabama running back Trent Richardson, Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon, and Tannehill.

It seems more and more like Colt McCoy is going to have serious competition for his job next season, if he is even still on the roster at that point. By the looks of it, the Browns are going to be in the market for a quarterback early, and they have a few guys they’re keeping an eye on.

Cleveland Browns likely to trade up for Robert Griffin III?

The Cleveland Browns are a franchise going through a bit of a rough transition, one where their sophomore quarterback—Colt McCoy—had a pretty down second season. That has led to a lot of rumors that the Browns, who are armed with the 4th and 22nd overall picks in the first round, could make a move for Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Robert Griffin III.

Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer thinks that at this juncture, the Browns are likely to make a move for RG3:

“If the Browns determine at the Combine next week and maybe through one or two more visits that RGIII is their man, I don’t think they would hesitate to give up their No. 4 and their No. 22 to pull off this deal,” said Cabot. “… It’s almost a perfect match. I think at this point it’s very likely that could happen.”

Not everyone thinks this is a great fit, though. Mike Mayock said on NFL Network that the Browns could potentially have to change their offense to fit his style and could potentially limit what Griffin’s talent should be able to allow him to do.

If the Browns are going to take Griffin in the first round and trade both of their first round picks to move up and get him, they need to take a page out of what the Carolina Panthers did last offseason and fit the offense to fit Griffin III’s strengths. He is a fantastic athlete with a ton of upside, but to limit him would be foolish in my opinion.

Griffin has the potential to be a superstar in the NFL with his athletic ability and the fact that he can not only make every throw, he can make every throw look easy. If the Browns are going to use valuable assets to take him, they need to make sure they put him in the best place to succeed early.

NFL Draft 2012: Robert Griffin III 'Will Be The No. 2 Pick' According To Walterfootball

There's been plenty of speculation about Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III and where on earth he's going to go in the NFL draft ever since he declared he was going to the NFL. At first it looked like the Cleveland Browns were going to watch him drop to their fourth overall selection, pick him there and reap the results.

Recently, a very different trend has emerged involving no fewer than three or four teams who have been linked to picking up Griffin after trading with either the St. Louis Rams or the Minnesota Vikings to get their second or third picks. Of course the Browns are included

WalterFootball in his newest 2012 mock draft makes it very clear that he's sure Griffin will be gone before the Browns make their actual selection. Actually, he takes it even a bit farther than saying just that:

Griffin will be the No. 2 pick. He's a top-five consensus prospect, and there are too many teams that have dire quarterback needs. Besides, the Rams have way too many holes on their roster not to trade down.

If Griffin will be the No. 2 selection, the question to ask is if the Browns two first rounders will be enough ammo to get him with a ravenous Washington Redskins team likely also in the hunt?

For more on the Cleveland Browns, check out Dawgs By Nature. For more on the NFL Draft, head to Mocking The Draft or just check out the SB Nation NFL hub at sbnation.com/NFL.

NFL Draft 2012: Mocking The Draft Looks At Robert Griffin III

The Cleveland Browns have been shying away from Baylor QB Robert Griffin III in some mock drafts recently ever since it became apparent that there was some interest from teams like the Washington Redskins and Seattle Seahawks who could trade up to get the Heisman winner. It's still likely that the Browns will look to get RGIII on their team though, as they lack the sort of weapons on offense that can take their team to the next level with Colt McCoy playing the QB position.

SB Nation's own NFL draft-centric blog Mocking The Draft has a wonderful feature called 'Tale Of The Tape' where they dissect players using their college tape. Their latest target is RGIII, and it gives some nice insight as to the play style of Griffin and just what might make him so dangerous in the NFL, using footage from a game against the Oklahoma Sooners to show what a weapon he is.

Of course, there's no guarantee that RGIII will be a Cleveland Browns player by the time it's all said and done but draft rumors tend to work in cycles so there's likely a chance that when the Redskins and Seahawks type rumors start to slow down we'll be right back to seeing Griffin at the fourth overall pick for the Browns, or at least in the Browns' hands at second overall after a trade.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, check out Dawgs By Nature. For more on the NFL Draft, head to Mocking The Draft or just check out the SB Nation NFL hub at sbnation.com/NFL.

NFL Mock Draft 2012: SB Nation Gives Cleveland Trent Richardson

Oh, how the tides do turn. As recently as a week ago, the Cleveland Browns seemed destined to draft Baylor QB Robert Griffin III with their fourth overall selection in the 2012 NFL draft, and some people even said they would trade up so they wouldn't miss him. In the last few days, the Washington Redskins have suddenly emerged as the new favorites to trade a king's ransom for the second or third overall pick and get Griffin instead. The new SB Nation 2012 NFL Mock Draft has been released and that's just what they have happening.

That puts the Browns into an unfortunate situation when it comes to their selection. The consensus top three picks in the draft seem to be Andrew Luck -- who is pretty much sharpeed onto most mock drafts right now going to the Indianapolis Colts -- Griffin and USC Tackle Matt Kalil, who most people have going to the Minnesota Vikings. The Browns have had a plethora of different selections mocked to them since the Redskins trade up started becoming the favorite move, and the SB Nation mock has them going back to an old standard that we haven't seen in a while, Alabama RB Trent Richardson.

Conventional wisdom nowadays says never to draft running backs near the top of the first round. Richardson, however, is the exception that proves the rule. He is a multi-talented athlete who runs with power, explosion and straight-line speed. He is a complete running back that will significantly upgrade Cleveland's stale offense.

Certainly the Browns can use any help they can get with their offensive game, and Colt McCoy hasn't been completely terrible running the Browns offense the past few years. Then again, there's always a chance that the Peyton Manning rumor train will start chugging toward Cleveland if it becomes certain that there's no chance they'll see Griffin III on their card come draft day.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, check out Dawgs By Nature. For more on the NFL Draft, head to Mocking The Draft or just check out the SB Nation NFL hub at sbnation.com/NFL.

NFL Draft 2012: Draft Tek Says Robert Griffin III To Cleveland At Fourth Overall Pick

Draft Tek is a site that specializes in online NFL Draft simulations, and their newest 2012 Mock -- which goes a full seven rounds! -- has the Cleveland Browns selecting Robert Griffin III with the fourth overall selection yet again.

This pick would be a no-brainer if it were not for the Washington Redskins, who could offer a king's ransom for Griffin's draft rights to St. Louis or Minnesota in a blockbuster draft day trade. It is highly unlikely that the Browns will trade up for Griffin. That said, if Griffin is available here I see absolutely no chance that the Browns will pass on him.

It's important to note that Draft Tek's system does not allow for or account for trade possibilities, so the Redskins trading up with a bundle of players and money to get RGIII at the second or third overall pick remains a very real possibility even as they say that RGIII will be a Brown. Their best guess at alternate players for the Browns if Griffin is gone include LSU CB Morris Claiborne and Alabama RB Trent Richardson.

They could also always trade the pick themselves, of course. Two first round selections give the Browns plenty of wiggle room to move down a bit if they really want to, and they might need to if the recurring Redskins rumors turn out to be true.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, check out Dawgs By Nature. For more on the NFL Draft, head to Mocking The Draft or just check out the SB Nation NFL hub at sbnation.com/NFL.

NFL Draft 2012: WalterFootball Says Browns Would Be 'Insane' To Pass On Robert Griffin

There was a point in time recently where it was a foregone conclusion that the Cleveland Browns would draft Baylor Bears quarterback Robert Griffin III. Recently, that move has been a little less solid with teams like the Seattle Seahawks and Washington Redskins taking the reins and stealing the second overall pick away. That's tended to leave Cleveland with guys like Justin Blackmon and Morris Claiborne instead of the guy they really want.

WalterFootball is of the mind that the Browns will still trade up to the second overall pick in order to get their man, and in his explanation for the fourth pick, he says that Griffin might still fall that far where the Browns could get him without needing to trade, but it's doubtful.

Some mocks have Robert Griffin slipping to this spot, but I don't see how that can possibly happen, given how many teams need quarterbacks. Griffin is a stud, and the Browns would be completely insane to pass up on him.

Completely insane indeed, maybe those words of encouragement will be what Cleveland need in order to pull themselves up and trade for that second overall pick!

For more on the Browns, check out Dawgs By Nature. For more on the draft in general, check out Mocking The Draft, or just go to the SB Nation NFL hub at sbnation.com/NFL.

NFL Mock Draft 2012: SB Nation Mocks Morris Claiborne To Browns

With the Super Bowl finally over and the final draft order finally in place, NFL mock drafts can start to take on a bit more of a touch of realism. The new SB Nation 2012 Mock Draft is out now and there are some interesting new moves contained within, specifically regarding Baylor QB Robert Griffin III, a favorite pick for the Cleveland Browns in mock drafts so far in 2012.

Griffin in this mock is picked up by the Seattle Seahawks via a trade with the Minnesota Vikings, leaving the Browns rather out in the air without their favorite pick gone. In that vein, the mock draft has Cleveland instead bolstering the secondary with LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne.

If Cleveland does keep this pick and Griffin is off the board, they have some choices to make. Trent Richardson or Justin Blackmon are both viable options here. But Claiborne upgrades what was already a solid defense, which should pay immediate dividends.

Of course trying to predict trades is complete speculation at any point of a mock draft, but it's an interesting scenario to have play out in your head. The Browns are a team with several needs obviously so losing Griffin wouldn't be the biggest blow in the world to them, and of course with two picks in the first round there is always a chance that a trade could still happen for them.

For more on the Browns, check out Dawgs By Nature. For more on the draft in general, check out Mocking The Draft, or just go to the SB Nation NFL hub at sbnation.com/NFL.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Todd McShay Has Robert Griffin III Falling To Cleveland

There has been some speculation over the last few weeks that the favorite pick of the Cleveland Browns would be Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III. That was quelled a bit in recent days thanks to a short burst of mock drafts predicting that the Washington Redskins were going to go after him instead, trading up to the second overall pick to snag their man. That left Justin Blackmon as the favorite for a short while to go to Cleveland but it looks like we're back to the status quo again.

ESPN's Todd McShay released his new 2012 NFL Mock Draft on Friday and he's of the opinion that the Browns will get Griffin and won't even need to trade up to the second pick to get him this time, with Griffin falling all the way down to the fourth pick.

Current Browns QB Colt McCoy has shown good toughness, mental capacity and short-to-intermediate accuracy, but his lack of size and arm strength to drive the ball downfield put too many limitations on the offense. Assuming no team trades ahead of them to take Griffin, the Browns can add a dynamic weapon who will open things up. He still must improve his consistency as a decision-maker and with his underneath touch/accuracy, but his downfield accuracy was vastly improved in 2011.

For more on the Browns, check out Dawgs By Nature. For more on the draft in general, check out Mocking The Draft, or just go to the SB Nation NFL hub at sbnation.com/NFL.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: SB Nation Gives The Browns Justin Blakmon, Oklahoma State

The Cleveland Browns are in a tough position in regards to the 2012 NFL Draft. Sitting with the No. 4 overall pick, the player that most assume they're interested in may not be available. A lot of folks have the Browns going after Robert Griffin III, but even at No. 4 overall, the Browns would likely have to trade up to get him. Worse than that, two of the three teams above the Browns could also be after who is likely their second choice.

Well, in the latest SB Nation 2012 NFL Mock Draft, the Browns don't get Griffin, as the Washington Redskins trade up to pick him, but they do get the consensus pick for their second option:

4. Cleveland Browns, Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

It seems like the Browns always have a lot of needs. Last time I had the Browns moving up for Griffin, but that's not guaranteed to happen. With so many needs to fill, giving away first round picks hurts their efforts to field a winner, so they don't trade this pick. Adding an offensive talent, like Blackmon, will make them more competitive, regardless of the quarterback.

Blackmon would set up a young receiving duo alongside Greg Little, but the team would still be without a quarterback. Still, in the event that Griffin is gone, it's hard to see the selection of Blackmon as a negative. While it doesn't address the overall biggest need on the team, it does give a lethargic offense some a dynamic playmaker.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, go to Dawgs By Nature. Don't forget to check out Mocking The Draft for all you need on the NFL Draft. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NFL hub at SBNation.com/NFL.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Cleveland Browns First Round Mock

1. First Round, 4th overall: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

This pick is probably going to be mocked all offseason long until some team actually jumps Cleveland and makes a trade to get RG3 in the early portion of the first round. The Browns are in a really good position right now, because they have two first round picks but I don’t think they will have to use both to move up. I think the Browns could include their 2nd round pick and possibly a future 2nd or 3rd round pick and still make this move happen, keeping their other first round pick in the process.

If they are not able to keep their other first round pick, they will probably get additional picks in return, because while some think you can throw the “trade value chart” out the window here, I don’t think the Browns are going to pull some Ricky Williams type deal to get Griffin.

The Heisman Trophy winner would be a good fit for Cleveland, though I’m not 100 percent sold Colt McCoy can’t start. That doesn’t mean the Browns think the same way as I do, so there is a wide belief that they are going to draft a quarterback this year, bucking Mike Holmgren’s trend of looking for quarterbacks later on.

2. First Round, 22nd overall: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

With their second first round pick, the Browns upgrade the right side of their offensive line and get a local product in Mike Adams, who showed up at the Senior Bowl and had a pretty solid week.

Adams definitely looks the part of a first round pick at 6’7" and close to 325 pounds, and there are a lot of scouts who feel like he is a lock to be picked within the top 32.

He’s an athletic kid with long arms and big hands, but he can sometimes get caught playing high and let speed rushers by on occasion. The point with this pick is this kid has a lot of potential, and fortifying the offensive line has to take some kind of priority if you are going to take a quarterback in the top 5 of the draft.

Another area I think the Browns could upgrade here would be cornerback, linebacker, defensive line, or even running back or receiver. This second first round pick is really a wild card but I think Adams is a legit option.

NFL Draft 2012: Washington Redskins Rumored To Want Robert Griffin III

The Cleveland Browns have been the favorites to get Baylor QB Robert Griffin III for a good, long while now. The highly touted prospect has most recently been mocked second overall to the Browns, with Cleveland trading their first rounders to the St. Louis Rams in order to get the selection.

On Wednesday, CSN Washington released a rumor that 'NFL execs' were buzzing over a different plan, the Washington Redskins trying to trade up to get RGIII instead.

One of the reasons LaCanfora gave was that, "execs I talk to expect Washington to make a move for St. Louis' No. 2 overall slot in the draft, and select whichever quarterback doesn't go first overall (at this point, it looks like Griffin)."

That would certainly fit the Dan Snyder philosophy of making as big a show as possible about making a move, but it would also beg the question of who else could go to the Browns. With almost nobody mocking the Browns with anyone but Griffin, it would be an interesting twist. Alabama RB Trent Richardson would likely become the favorite.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, check out Dawgs By Nature. For more on the NFL draft in general, check out Mocking The Draft.

NFL Draft 2012: Maycock's Top Five Quarterbacks Include Robert Griffin III

The Cleveland Browns have had their pick in the NFL Draft telegraphed for a good long while now, with everyone and their mother giving the Browns Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III somewhere in the draft. There's a shot the Browns can get him at 4th overall or they could trade up to the 2nd pick to get him, but Griffin is usually the name on the docket.

Draftnik Mike Maycock had released a ranking of the best players available by position in the NFL draft which ran in a crawl along the bottom of the screen during the Senior Bowl, and Griffin naturally made the cut in a somewhat shallow overall class for QBs. Buffalo Bills coverage man Chris Brown was nice enough to type them all out for everyone and stick them online, so they're available to see for anybody who wants a record of them. Robert Griffin III is currently the 2nd Quarterback on the list as expected right behind Andrew Luck, with Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill coming in third. The fourth and fifth spots are mysteriously empty and labeled as 'open competition.'

It might be a somewhat small class for QB's but getting one of the consensus top two is hardly a loss for the Browns with such a need for a field general.

For more on the Browns check out Dawgs By Nature. For more on the draft, head off to Mocking The Draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Browns Once Again Trade Up For Robert Griffin III

The scenario has been played out almost ad nauseum in seemingly every mock draft on the internet, but once again we have a scenario where we see the Cleveland Browns trading up to get the 2nd overall pick and grab Baylor QB Robert Griffin III. The SB Nation 2012 NFL Mock Draft has the scenario where Cleveland trade both of their first round picks to St. Louis for the opportunity.

2. Cleveland Browns (Projected trade: from St. Louis), Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

Trade! Huzzah! Surprise! The Browns sent both of their first round picks to St. Louis in exchange for the No. 2 overall pick and the rights to RG3. Actually, there is no surprise here. It just looks so wrong to put Griffin any lower than this, even for a mock draft. Cleveland may or may not trade up. I wouldn't be surprised if they stayed where they are out of organizational arrogance thinking that they can get something out of Colt McCoy. RG3 would make them relevant again, for years to come. They have to do something.

Certainly it isn't a raw deal for Cleveland, getting their QB of the future is worth a 22nd overall pick. The mock is absolutely right on the Browns needing stability at the position with Colt McCoy looking less and less like the answer there every day. He'll likely be out of Cleveland regardless of what happens with Griffin, even if it means that St. Louis take him in the draft and the Browns have to pick up Packers QB Matt Flynn to take over the vacant position.

For more on the Browns, check out Dawgs By Nature.

Cleveland Browns 2012 NFL Draft Prospects: South Carolina WR Alshon Jeffery

The Cleveland Browns are presumably the favorites right now to land Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III, and rightfully so. Griffin won the Heisman trophy and has risen his draft stock a whole heck of a lot over the last couple of months, to the point where he is considered the second best quarterback in the draft only to Andrew Luck.

But if and/or when Griffin gets to Cleveland, the Heisman trophy winner is going to need some more targets. Greg Little had a solid rookie season for the Browns, but adding another receiver in the later part of the first round is certainly not out of the question.

One player who could add another dimension to the Browns’ offense is South Carolina wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, who was a sophomore phenom for the Gamecocks in 2010, taking college football by storm.

He was projected by many to be an easy top ten draft pick before a rough junior season that included his team losing their starting quarterback Stephen Garcia and arguably the entire second dimension to the offensive attack when running back Marcus Lattimore went down with an injury that ended his 2011 season.

Jeffery has great size at 6’4" 233 pounds, but some have questioned whether his speed is anything better than average or even below average, and he could slip in the first round because of it.

His loss could wind up being Cleveland’s gain, as Jeffery is an elite playmaker who can really make things happen in the red zone. He has a big body and knows how to shield defenders and go up and get jump balls. In short, he is the perfect type of playmaker for a young quarterback to develop with.

Currently, SB Nation’s NFL Draft site Mocking the Draft has him rated as the 21st best prospect available in 2012, and has a few pages of notes and analysis on him.

If the Browns can get Robert Griffin III and add Alshon Jeffery to the mix, they could be on the way to something special offensively.

NFL Draft 2012: What If The Colts Pick Griffin?

It's rare that this early in a draft season that we see such a consensus among draftniks and fans of what the first couple of picks in the draft are going to be, but it's looking quite likely that the first and fourth picks of the draft are completely decided in the minds of football people all over. The Indianapolis Colts will pick Stanford QB Andrew Luck first overall and then the Cleveland Browns will take QB Robert Griffin III out of Baylor, either with the fourth overall pick or by trading up to the second overall pick.

Pretty much every mock draft on the internet has some variation of that above scenario, but looking through Walterfootball's draft database I found an interesting variation on the theme. What happens if the Colts buck the trend and surprise everyone by taking Robert Griffin III first overall? It's unlikely, but worth wondering. If that were to happen it's likely that some other team would be completely ready to trade up, as Seattle does in that mock. Cleveland winds up taking Justin Blackmon.

It's an interesting scenario, and those of you out there who are Matt Flynn fans might be justifiably excited.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, go to Dawgs By Nature. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NFL hub at SBNation.com/NFL.

2012 NFL Draft: Browns Would Have Easier Time Trading Up For Robert Griffin III Than Other Teams

The signs continue to point to Colt McCoy essentially being done in Cleveland. The Browns are sitting with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft and most figure that they're going to use it on Robert Griffin III. Many of the mock drafts have it happening, but then again, trades aren't factored into mocks. So with trades, would the Browns be able to take him? It's certainly a possibility. Moving up to either No. 2 or No. 3 won't be as expensive for the Browns since they already have the No. 4 overall pick, and it's likely that the St. Louis Rams or Minnesota Vikings could still get the player they want at that point.

Mel Kiper, ESPN's draft expert, talked about Griffin and the fact that the he thinks the Browns will certainly go after him. Rather, he thinks the Browns are done with Colt McCoy, according to the News-Herald in Ohio:

"I think they've pretty much resolved themselves to the fact they're going to go that route," Kiper said Thursday during a conference call. "They're probably going to kick Colt McCoy to the curb. That's what happens to a lot of young quarterbacks that don't have great physical qualifications."

Aside from that, Kiper talks about Green Bay's Matt Flynn as a potential option. Either way, Kiper is convinced that the Browns will be going after a new quarterback, and they have a way to get them. Griffin is especially an option, providing he's the kind of quarterback they're looking for, which is certainly a possibility.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, go to Dawgs By Nature. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NFL hub at SBNation.com/NFL.

NFL Draft 2012: Kendall Wright A Possibility At 22nd Overall

Pretty much everyone and his mother is predicting the same thing for the Browns with their top pick in the NFL draft, Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III. Whether they're planning on trading up to get him at second overall or just hoping that the St. Louis Rams and Minnesota Vikings don't trade their picks for another QB hungry team, Griffin is the flavor of the month in Cleveland right now.

A far more intriguing story is who the Browns will take with their second pick in the first round at 22nd overall. If Cleveland get Griffin it's likely they're going to need to grab either some offensive line strength to help protect Griffin or a playmaker to boost their weak relatively receiving corps. WalterFootball has Baylor WR Kendall Wright mocked to the Browns at 22nd, and gives some fairly sound reasoning as to why:

When teams draft a quarterback early, they typically like to complement their new signal-caller with some protection or a play-maker. Think Matthew Stafford-Brandon Pettigrew, Sam Bradford-Rodger Saffold, Christian Ponder-Kyle Rudolph, and so on.

The top available offensive talent on the board is Robert Griffin's teammate, Kendall Wright. He would serve as a much-needed deep threat in Cleveland's stagnant offense, with Greg Little moving over as a No. 2 wideout, which is the role he should play.

There is of course a good chance that the Browns trade the pick, but it's hard to see how grabbing a talented wide receiver that Griffin would already be familiar with would be a bad idea.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, go to Dawgs By Nature. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NFL hub at SBNation.com/NFL.

NFL Draft 2012: Mel Kiper Mock Has Robert Griffin III, Kendall Wright To Browns

In the majority of 2012 NFL Mock Drafts, you'll find the Cleveland Browns taking Robert Griffin III with the No. 4 overall pick. It's a scenario that's probably more likely than you might think, but the possibility and probability of a trade take away from the pick and potential excitement around it's feasibility. That being said, it's still likely the smart pick to go with when you look at Colt McCoy and how the offense was completely lethargic with him under center.

That's why Mel Kiper is sticking to his guns in his latest mock draft:

Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

If a team moves ahead of the Browns for Griffin, they also could be in play for Blackmon, or even the guy I have at No. 5, Trent Richardson. However, the questions on Colt McCoy's ceiling as a starting NFL quarterback are getting louder, and if the Browns don't go after a solution such as Matt Flynn, a quarterback certainly could be in play here. Griffin made big strides this past season, particularly with his deep accuracy. He is a big-time athlete at the quarterback position but has developed a very good pocket presence and the ability to read the game, and his big arm comes with a nice touch on intermediate throws. He is a leader and has intangibles that should really impress evaluators during the draft process.

Perhaps much more interesting than the selection of Griffin for the Browns is the selection Kiper has made for their next pick at No. 22 in the draft:

Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Quietly, Wright had a season that almost matched Blackmon's in the Big 12. The Browns might not end up with Griffin with the No. 4 pick, but his teammate would make a lot of sense here. Greg Little is a developing big target and had a pretty good rookie season given the overall performance of the Cleveland offense. Wright is smaller at about 5-10, 190 pounds, but could add a speed threat this offense really needs. He can beat teams over the top with straight-line speed but also works underneath and will do a lot of damage after the catch. The Browns need weapons, and Wright, who also has great hands, fits the profile.

Wright is an excellent player, the Browns certainly need more weapons on offense. Kiper is right when he talks about Little and what it is he'll likely be able to grow into, while Wright can be an excellent compliment to that on the opposite side of the field. Add in the fact that they already drafted Griffin in this mock, and you have a pretty energized offense heading into next season.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, go to Dawgs By Nature. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NFL hub at SBNation.com/NFL.

NFL Draft 2012: FOX Mock Draft Doesn't See The Browns Trading Up For Griffin

The most popular draft selection in mock drafts these days by far for the Cleveland Browns is Baylor Bears QB and Heisman winner Robert Griffin III. Recently the trend has also been to guess that the Browns will need to trade up to get St. Louis' second overall pick if they want to snag RGIII in the draft, but the new FOX Sports mock draft released today doesn't seem to indicate that will be necessary after all.

The mock has Andrew Luck going first overall to the Colts as we all expect he will but then swaps it around by having receiver Justin Blackmon sneak into St. Louis, leaving the Browns wide open to snag Griffin. The Browns still certainly have the trade bait necessary to move up in the draft if needed with their extra first round pick sitting around. Of course, nobody has ruled out Peyton Manning going to the Browns either, but we'll leave that one in the 'highly unlikely' category for now.

For more Browns draft news, check out Dawgs By Nature. For more NFL Draft, head to Mocking the Draft.

Cleveland Browns NFL Draft Rumors: NFL.com's Steve Wyche Thinks Browns Could Trade Up

Well, it would go against the expected conservative approach, but there are many out there who feel like the Cleveland Browns are going to make a run at former Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III, and that could include using some of their assets to trade up.

Currently, the Browns hold the fourth pick, but in this mock draft on NFL.com, Steve Wyche thinks the Browns could trade up to acquire the Heisman Trophy winner with the 2nd overall pick:

PROJECTED TRADE: Several teams are going to try and move up to get Griffin but the Browns have the most ammo — the fourth overall pick and a late first-rounder or high picks in later rounds. Cleveland needs Griffin — and wants him, according to league sources — and the Rams will still get their man.

Wyche also has the Browns taking Illinois defensive end Whitney Mercilus in this mock draft, an All American who finished the year with the most sacks in FBS for the Fighting Illini.

NFL Draft 2012: ESPN Poll Results Show Majority Think Browns Should Draft Robert Griffin III

The Cleveland Browns have been pegged as the team to draft Robert Griffin III with the No. 4 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. Well, there are plenty of other teams like the Washington Redskins or Miami Dolphins, but those teams would have to trade with either the Minnesota Vikings or St. Louis Rams at picks two and three, and mock drafts traditionally do not include trades. So the Browns have been the team to draft him by fans and experts alike.

Although, perhaps including "fans" in that last sentence was a mistake. They're not as on-board with it as the National pundits seem to think. ESPN took a poll recently, asking the question: "Should the Browns draft Robert Griffin III with the fourth overall pick?" The results do favor "yes," but the percentages might actually surprise you.

The majority did answer "yes," but it was only 51 percent of the vote. Eight percent were undecided, while 41 percent of votes suggested that the Browns should use the pick on another player. This poll isn't asking whether or not the Browns are likely to be in a position to take Griffin, it's asking if they should do it if he's available. It's somewhat surprising to see so many opposed, but then again, Griffin is riding a lot of hype right now, and some might consider him to be of the flame-out variety.

Not to mention the other huge talent near the top of the draft at positions of need for the Browns.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, go to Dawgs by Nature. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NFL hub at SBNation.com/NFL.

NFL Draft 2012: The Sporting News Has Robert Griffin III To Browns

With the news that Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III has officially declared for the NFL Draft it appears that Colt McCoy's time in Cleveland is limited. The Sporting News recently released its 2012 NFL Mock Draft and like many out lets, they see Griffin as the future of the Browns franchise at quarterback:

4. Cleveland Browns: Robert Griffin III*, QB, Baylor. Yes, the Browns have a ton of needs, but if they don't address their quarterback issues, they will continue to lose. Griffin can be the solution; he has a rare combination of athleticism, arm strength, deep passing ability and character.

Cleveland also has the No. 22 pick int he first round thanks to a previous trade with Atlanta, and they could be in the market for an offensive playmaker there as well. The Sporting News see them selecting South Carolina receiver Alshon Jeffery to give Griffin a solid target to throw to.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, go to Dawgs by Nature. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NFL hub at SBNation.com/NFL.

2012 NFL Draft Order: Robert Griffin III Officially Leaves Baylor For NFL, Becomes Browns' Draft Option

The Cleveland Browns' options with the fourth pick in the NFL increased greatly on Wednesday when Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III officially announced he will leave college to enter the NFL draft.

The dynamic quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner may be too valuable for the Browns to pass up with the fourth pick after a disappointing, injury-plagued season from incumbent quarterback Colt McCoy. According to Griffin, he had done enough at Baylor and didn't want to utilize the additional year of eligibility he had after redshirting in 2009 due to a knee injury.

"I just felt it was time for me to go," Griffin said.

Griffin had a breakout season, throwing for 4,293 yards and 37 touchdowns as the Bears finished 10-3 and he won the school's first Heisman Trophy.

SBNation.com's latest 2012 mock draft has Griffin going No. 4 to the Browns. There will surely be much speculation on Griffin and team's possibly moving ahead of the Browns to take a chance on the quarterback who appears to have all of the on and off-field tangibles to thrive as a team leader.

Plus, he has a killer collection of socks.

For more on the Browns, visit Dawgs By Nature. For more on RG3, visit Baylor blog Our Daily Bears. For more NFL Draft, head to Mocking the Draft.

Cleveland Browns NFL Draft Prospect Profile: Alabama Running Back Trent Richardson

Trent Richardson is one of the best running backs I have watched in college football, and he definitely didn’t disappoint those who had high expectations going into the 2011 season. This is a guy who is relentless, and not just on the field, but off. Richardson is an absolute beast in the weight room, and consistently puts in the time and effort required to be the superstar he has developed into.

He averaged over six yards per carry as a sophomore in 2010, and really developed as a receiver as well. He is one of the best players in the country, and he might be the best RB prospect to come along since Adrian Peterson in the class of 2007.

As a junior, the Heisman trophy finalist ran the ball 283 times for 1,679 yards and 21 touchdowns. He also set a career high with 29 receptions, and showed in the national championship game what makes him such a valuable player.

Richardson’s intangibles are a huge reason why he will be selected in the top 10 of the draft, but the fact that he backs that up with the ability on the field is a reason why he will be an elite NFL running back before you know it.

This is a guy who runs extremely hard, and I saw him make a cut in the BCS title game that honestly reminded me so much of Peterson it is scary. He’s also a very effective player on third down in terms of blitz pickup, which was also on display in the Crimson Tide’s victory over Alabama.

He’s got great speed and quickness to the hole, and one of the things I love most about him is his second and third gear. I realize it was late in the game, but when Richardson scored the first touchdown of the season between both LSU and Alabama in their two games, he made a cut to the outside and then blew by the second and third level of defense like they were, well, not LSU.

He’s an elite prospect, and if the Browns decide to move on from Peyton Hillis, getting Richardson would be a great selection with their first first round pick.

With Robert Griffin III Reportedly Turning Pro, Could Browns Be Eyeing Him?

The Cleveland Browns are in a very interesting position with the No. 4 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. Aside from being guaranteed who they think is at least the fourth-best player in the nation, there are so many ways they can go with it. Cleveland needs playmakers on offense, with needs at wide receiver and a potential need at running back. But on top of all of that, the Browns could be looking at a big need for a quarterback.

One of the best quarterback prospects, who some think is the best, Robert Griffin III out of Baylor, will reportedly enter the 2012 NFL Draft. ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported, citing a family source, that Griffin planned to tell his coach on Tuesday that he intended to turn pro.

It's pertinent to the Browns due to the nature of holding the No. 4 overall pick. With the Indianapolis Colts picking at No. 1 and reports of their selection being Andrew Luck, that leaves Griffin as the top quarterback on the board by most. With the St. Louis Rams and Minnesota Vikings in front of them, Griffin stands little chance of being picked there, barring a trade. Sam Bradford and Christian Ponder are the quarterbacks of the future for those franchises. It's very possible that a trade happen though, but for now, Cleveland is in that spot.

SB Nation even had Griffin going to the Browns in their 2012 NFL Mock Draft on Monday:

4. Cleveland Browns, Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

At this point, I would more shocked if Cleveland kept Colt McCoy than if they traded up in the draft to secure RG3. Washington and Miami (and maybe others), will be circling RG3, so trading up is the only sure way they can nab him. They need some talent to pair with him, but this is a big upgrade for Cleveland.

Cleveland Browns NFL Draft Prospect Profile: Baylor Quarterback Robert Griffin III

Robert Griffin III came into his junior season with virtually no expectations, and he really blew everyone away with his performance. As a redshirt junior, Griffin displayed all the tools you look for in a franchise quarterback. He is poised, intelligent, insanely accurate, clutch, and he has a heck of an arm. For a majority of the season, Griffin III has been a Heisman candidate, and he actually came away with the first annual NFL Draft Expert Heisman Award, which was voted on by some of the most well-known and best NFL Draft experts on the web.

One of the things that I love the most about Griffin is his versatility. Like I mentioned before, he had a historic season in 2011 in terms of accuracy, but not only that, he has track star speed. He is an elite dual-threat quarterback and if he were Cam Newton’s size, there wouldn’t be any question in my mind he would be the top overall prospect in this entire draft. He makes good decisions, he has a strong arm, and he can make every NFL throw. Unlike other quarterbacks with his rare speed, Griffin likes to win games out of the pocket, and he’s extremely comfortable as a pocket passer. He’s still not experienced in a “pro-style” offense, but the kid is already in graduate school and has aspirations of going to Law school someday.

PROS: Smart, instinctive, clutch, strong arm, accurate, makes good decisions, athletic ability, track-star speed, size isn’t great, but good enough to be a dominant NFL player.

CONS: Hasn’t had experience in a pro-style offense, a little quick through his progressions, but with his plus Football IQ that’ll improve, forces a few too many throws especially on the move (but other wise makes great decisions), he could actually probably run more or throw it away

Player Comparison: Steve Young

Projected Round: 1st

BOTTOM LINE: Griffin has the potential to be a very rare prospect and could turn out to be the best and most entertaining player in this entire draft. If he continues to improve, I think the sky is the limit for this guy, and he could turn out to be a perennial Pro Bowler.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: SB Nation Has Browns Taking Robert Griffin III And A Wide Receiver

The Cleveland Browns are a team with a lot of good, solid players to round out their defense and offense, but have a decided lack of playmakers on both sides of the ball. Fortunately, they're in a great position to get a couple of big-time difference makers in the 2012 NFL Draft. With their disappointing season, the Browns have excellent positioning in the draft, picking at No. 4. Their needs are many, but it all starts with quarterback. Colt McCoy may have taken his last snap as the franchise quarterback of the Browns.

SB Nation agrees with those sentiments in their latest 2012 NFL Mock Draft:

4. Cleveland Browns, Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

At this point, I would more shocked if Cleveland kept Colt McCoy than if they traded up in the draft to secure RG3. Washington and Miami (and maybe others), will be circling RG3, so trading up is the only sure way they can nab him. They need some talent to pair with him, but this is a big upgrade for Cleveland.

It's a pick that most believe Cleveland would make if RGIII is actually still around. There might be teams trading up for him, including Cleveland, as they have another first-round pick to bargain with. Last season, the Browns took possession of Atlanta's first-rounder so the Falcons could draft Julio Jones (though in hindsight, he might have been the weapon that McCoy needs), and now they can cash in.

If they don't end up trading the pick, that same mock has them taking, somewhat surprisingly, a wide receiver:

22. Cleveland Browns (from the Atlanta Falcons), Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

What better way to ease RG3 into the NFL than pair him up with his main weapon from college? Wright has the speed that might get him picked higher. He'll be Cleveland's answer to Mike Wallace and a great complement to Greg Little.

It does certainly seem like an odd pick, but then again, maybe the Browns were targeting running back Trent Richardson, who just went to AFC North division rivals, the Cincinnati Bengals.

2012 NFL Draft Order: Browns Have No. 22 Selection In Addition To No. 4

With the Atlanta Falcons bowing out of the NFL playoffs on Sunday the Cleveland Browns now know where their second selection in round one will be. Cleveland gained Atlanta's first round pick in an earlier trade, and as a result the Browns will now pick at No. 22 in addition to their No. 4 overall pick.

there are a number of ways the Browns could go, but if they select Robert Griffin II as expected at No. 4, the Browns could go for offensive help to help him such as Ohio State offensive tackle Mike Adams, who is currently sitting at No. 23 in SB Nation's mock draft:

23. Detroit Lions, Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

Now that the Lions have an elite offense, they need to start thinking about getting a more permanent solution to their offensive line. Adams gives them an anchor player for outside, either side, of the unit. He also beefs up the running game.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, go to Dawgs by Nature. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NFL hub at SBNation.com/NFL.

2012 NFL Draft: Browns' Needs Don't Include Running Back With Fourth Pick

The Cleveland Browns appear poised to draft a player that will give their offense a boost. With the fourth pick in the 2012 NFL draft, the Browns will likely focus on quarterback Robert Griffin III if he is available.

Griffin's value could certainly increase throughout the draft process and have other teams looking to jump up to the third pick for a chance to select the dynamic QB out of Baylor. If that is the case and the Browns themselves are completely sold on Griffin, they may have to give up a valuable early round pick or two to jump up a spot to secure Griffin.

If the price is too high and the Browns pass on RG III, wide receiver Justin Blackmon should be available to add a strong weapon to the Cleveland offense. Another offensive option will be Alabama running back Trent Richardson.

But do the Browns need to spend their top pick on a running back?

Dawgs By Nature says no, when you consider the current value of running backs in the NFL and the fact that it is more important for Cleveland to bolster other positions.

So why the drop to 2 this season? Because this is a copy cat league. Best offenses in the NFL this season? Saints, Packers and Patriots. What do they all have? RB committees. Specialized guys that are used in ways that best suits their talents. By the way, look at the RB's those teams have. Only one first rounder among them (Mark Ingram in NO) and you could make a case that he was the least valuable of all the Saints RB's.

The days of riding a RB to a title are gone. With all the rule changes in today's NFL, it's easier to take advantage of a defense through the air.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, go to Dawgs by Nature. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NFL hub at SBNation.com/NFL.

2012 NFL Draft: Browns General Manager Says It's 'Tough To Screw Up' No. 4 Overall Pick

With plenty of questions that need answering, the Cleveland Browns are definitely in a good position to address some of them, at least when it comes to the 2012 NFL Draft. Cleveland possesses two picks in the first round, due to last year's trade with the Atlanta Falcons. Their first pick is right there near the top, at No. 4, while their second pick has yet to be determined with Atlanta being in the playoffs, but it's guaranteed to be in the bottom half, regardless.

At No. 4, the Browns have a ton of options to go right along with the fact that they have a lot of holes to fill. Could they get one of the big-name quarterbacks with the team being so non-committal regarding 2011 starter Colt McCoy? Maybe Peyton Hillis walks in free agency, and the Browns take a running back early?

There's a lot that can be done, and with Browns general manager Tom Heckert, liking where the team is picking, he gives the media a juicy quote with all kinds of hindsight potential:

"We have to hit on our draft picks," Heckert said. "If that's our philosophy, we better hit on them because [that is] the only way we're going to get players. We're sitting at [No. 4] right now. It's going to be tough to screw that one up."

Team president Mike Holmgren then interjected with "write that down," to the media. So naturally, we are. It's a good quote regardless, and somewhat true. That high up, you have your selection of players who could have the biggest boom potential, which might be contradictory to Heckert's statement, but you also can go with "safe" picks, that have a higher percentage of hits for teams.

Still ... a bold declaration.

2012 NFL Draft Order: Browns Earn No. 4 Overall Pick

By virtue of finishing 4-12 against a weaker schedule, the Cleveland Browns will pick fourth in the 2012 NFL Draft even though they were tied with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Browns finished with a Strength of schedule at .531 compared to .553 for Tampa. That allows Cleveland to select behind Indianapolis, St. Louis, and Minnesota in that order.

It also means that Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III will likely be available if the Browns want him. Browns representatives observed his Alamo Bowl win over Washington, and both St. Louis and Minnesota have recently invested first round picks on quarterbacks. Andrew Luck is expected to go No. 1 overall to the Colts, but it is not known what Indianapolis will do with the pick now that they have it and future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, go to Dawgs by Nature. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NFL hub at SBNation.com/NFL.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Cleveland Browns Looking Defense?

The Cleveland Browns will end their season with a whimper this weekend, but the bright side is that the team will go right into NFL Draft mode as a way to forget about this year. In an interesting turn of events, there are plenty of sites that have already started publishing their 2012 NFL mock drafts.

Thursday's mock draft update comes courtesy of Russ Lande of Sporting News. The veteran football writer decided that the Browns will apparently be in the market for a player on the defensive end, too -- at least as far as the first round is concerned.

12. Cleveland Browns. Luke Kuechly*, LB, Boston College

While they would like to get a receiver for QB Colt McCoy, Kuechly brings explosive playmaking ability to a defense that needs it.

The Browns are known to be looking at quarterback Russell Wilson III this weekend, but it certainly wouldn't hurt to add a playmaker on the other side of the ball.

For more on the NFL Draft, be sure to visit Mocking The Draft. The best Browns community on the internet is over at Dawgs By Nature.

NFL Draft 2012: Browns Could Get Third Pick If Vikings Win In Week 17

The Cleveland Browns' disappointing 2011 season is coming to an end. But the Browns have something to play for in Week 17, sort of: they could still earn the No. 3 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Mike Prada of SB Nation DC has the complete current projected 2012 NFL Draft order up, and throws in strength of schedule, used to break ties, as well. The Browns are currently slotted at the fifth pick, and their current strength of schedule (or opponents' winning percentage) is a relatively high 53 percent, meaning that they will lose tiebreakers to many teams if they end up tied with them.

But as Mocking the Draft noted back in November, the Minnesota Vikings' strength of schedule is actually very high, which could be good news for the Browns: should the Vikings win in Week 17 and finish tied with Cleveland, the Browns could well have a slightly lower strength of schedule than Minnesota.

That scenario, in which the Browns would claim the No. 3 pick, would require the Jacksonville Jaguars to win, too, so there wouldn't be another 4-12 team with a lower winning percentage than the Browns.

The worst-case scenario for Cleveland? With a win and losses by the Washington Redskins and Miami Dolphins, the Browns would likely get the No. 6 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.

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NFL Draft 2012: Todd McShay's First Draft Has Trent Richardson To Browns

Heisman Finalist Trent Richardson has been a force with the Alabama Crimson Tide and their run to the BCS Championship game this season. According to ESPN's Todd McShay, his next stop after the title game could be in Cleveland. McShay released his first mock draft on Wednesday, and with the fourth overall pick he had the Browns drafting Richardson:

Richardson is a more complete back than former Crimson Tide teammate Mark Ingram, the No. 28 pick to New Orleans in 2011. Richardson has a rare combination of size, speed, power, agility, burst and versatility, and is the rare exception to the don't-take-an-RB-in-the-top-10 rule.

Richardson would be a solid addition to a Cleveland offense that has lacked punch all season, especially after the injury to Peyton Hillis. Richardson would also serve as a safety valve that would allow for the further development of quarterback Colt McCoy. Should the Browns go for a quarterback, McShay believes Matt Barkley of USC would be available at the No. 4 spot.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Running Backs Popular Choices For Browns

The Cleveland Browns have arguably the toughest end to the season of any team in the NFL. With four of their last five games of the season coming against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens, the team's draft position is up in the air.