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.