MVN - Most Valuable Network

Browns Draft Success?

The Browns after waiting a day and 101 picks chose UNLV linebacker Beau Bell with their first pick of the 2008 draft.  Bell was highly coveted by Browns GM Phil Savage.  He projects as an inside or outside linebacker and his versatility is a reason he was highly desirable.

This guy will go down in history as the most popular fourth round draft choice by the Browns.  Being the Browns number “one” pick and all he will have to lead the draft class.   I believe this guy should challenge Andra Davis for playing time immediately and should play on special teams until he officially takes over Davis’ spot. 

Bell was a great choice and could turn out to be a real gem but I was really excited about the Browns taking TE Martin Rucker from Missouri.  They traded a third round pick in next years draft to get this guy and he projects as Kellen Winslow type TE.  He was a big part of Missouri’s success last season with 84 receptions and 834 yards. 

Browns rounded out the rest of the draft with DT Ahytba Rubin, Iowa State; WR Paul Hubbard, Wisconsin; and DE Alex Hall, St. Augustine. 

The last three probably will not have any immediate impact on the team and will be mostly developmental type players. 

For a draft in which the Browns had no day one picks I thought they did pretty well with what they had.  I think they found two guys in Bell and Rucker who could potentially compete for playing time immediately.  That says a lot about two fourth round guys.  Rucker could play side by side with Winslow or play in Winslow’s spot pending resolution of his contract dispute with the Browns. 

I have to say the Browns did well trading away their first few picks because I didn’t feel this draft had much they could have used.  All the defensive ends were pretty much gone by pick 22.  But Dallas did take a pretty good RB in Felix Jones at that spot which I believe the Brown could have used.

The Browns needed defense and they got better overall with the draft of Bell and trading for Sean Rogers and Corey Williams.  This years off season as a whole was a success on paper and the Browns needs were addressed and now we have to wait and see what 2008 holds for the Browns on the field.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 30th, 2008 at 11:37 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.