With the Browns picking 5th and the Bengals picking 6th in the NFL Draft we here at OST figured it would be a good time to run a live blog for the first hour or so of today’s draft… and with the Browns involved in so many potential trade rumors we might need to come back and throw in some additional updates later in the day.
6:28 - Alright, it’s been a fun two-and-a-half hours, mostly thanks to the Browns many trades. That’s it for the Live Blog, hopefully it was enjoyable.
6:24 - Pick - The Cleveland Browns (finally) at #21 take C Alex Mack from Cal. I’m glad that it’s not Beanie, but I was hoping for defense. That said Mack is supposed to be a very good Center, which is a position that the Browns had a lot of trouble with last year. Build the line. Gotta like it.
6:24 - We’re back from commercial and Cleveland is still on the clock… So far so good!
6:22 - Browns are on the clock for the 4th time today, and they’re yet to pick a player. I’m still rooting for Clay Matthews III. If it’s Beanie Wells I will not be happy.
6:19 - Pick - The Detroit Lions take TE Brandon Pettigrew at #20. Pettigrew is a complete TE and an option for Stafford for sure. Now here come the Browns again. Will they pick this time!?! A friend just texted me and joked that they just want every single pick in the 6th round.
6:17 - Man, this has been nuts. I’m really glad I decided to live blog this.
6:15 - The Browns only had to move down two spots. So really they can still take a USC LB. Same theory perhaps? Here’s wondering if it’s another 6 rounder in return.
6:13 - Pick - The Browns trade the pick to the Eagles who select Jeremy Maclin WR from Missouri. Still waiting on trade details. Now I’m getting antsy, though at least they hung onto Quinn and Edwards I guess (so far).
6:12 - Pick - It’s a trade!!!!!!?????
6:10 - And the crowd makes a TON of noise as ESPN throws it to commercial. Tell me there wasn’t another trade…
6:09 - And ESPN spends another 5 minutes bashing the Broncos organization in the head with a shovel about the Cutler saga.
6:06 - Pick - The Broncos take DE Robert Ayers. The Browns had no interest in Ayers, so this should work out. You’d think Cleveland will actually make a selection here at #19.
6:01 - Pick - And Tampa Bay takes Josh Freeman from KSU at #17. The Bucs were apparently spooked by the possibility of the Broncos taking the QB, and the Browns were able to pick up a 6th Rounder to drop down two spots, not bad value at this point, while guaranteeing that Maualuga or Matthews will still be on the board.
5:58 - The Browns have traded down two slots and picked up a 6 rounder from the Tampa Bay for their trouble. The thinking has to be get Matthews or Maualuga, and you might as well trade down and see who’s still there in two picks since the Bucs want a QB.
5:58 - Pick - It’s a trade!!!!
5:53 - I think the pick is between Maualuga and Matthews III here, and I’m expecting (and would be happy to see) Matthews III. It wouldn’t be the biggest shocker ever to see the Browns trade down again however.
5:51 - Pick - The Chargers take Larry English from NIU at #16. I think this is a huge reach. Boomer of course loves it. Kiper calls it interesting, but doesn’t really vomit all over the pick like he’s apt to do when he disagrees with a pick. Kiper actually says he can’t argue with it. I’m hoping they go to McShay for his take, but the Browns are on the clock, so I’ll let it slide.
5:49 - I almost hope the Browns don’t take Clay Matthews III just because I don’t want to listen to Berman make a bunch of idiotic comparisons to one of the Browns greatest, Clay Matthews II.
5:45 - Pick - The Texans at #15 take USC LB Brian Cushing. Not fantastic news for the Browns who really could have used “This Cush” (name that movie). The Chargers are all that’s standing between the Browns and a linebacker here. They could go in pretty much any direction here.
5:44 - It’s going to be Cushing, which will be a blow to the Browns.
5:39 - Pick - And the Saints take Jenkins at #14. So, nevermind on that hypothetical. Well, 2 more picks before the Browns are up again. At this point that means one of the USC linebackers will certainly be on the board here, if ManKok is thinking the same thing as Browns fans.
5:37 - Getting a DB, Elam in the #5 pick trade probably rules out the need for Jenkins at #17 (if he’s on the board still) for the Browns. It depends if ManKok sees Jenkins as a safety, then no chance. Or a CB, which means he could challenge McDonald and Wright and at least be a nickelback. NFL minds are split on Jenkins as a Safety vs a Corner.
5:35 - The Saints can’t be happy that Moreno is gone, but they could also use all kinds of defensive help. Maybe a USC linebacker, maybe Malcolm Jenkins… maybe Beanie Wells.
5:33 - Pick - The Redskins waste no time at #13 getting DE Brian Orakpo. And the Browns lose a possibility at #17, but to be honest he’s a lot like Kamerion Wimbley, so maybe it doesn’t matter. Fingers are crossed that Cushing makes it to #17, and that Beanie Wells does not.
5:31 - Pick - The Broncos take Knowshon Moreno. And everyone on the ESPN panel spends 5 minutes performing the equivalent of bashing the Broncos organization in the head with a shovel (about the Cutler saga, not the pick necessarily.) Kiper has concerns on Moreno’s size and speed.
5:27 - Pick - And the Bills take DE Aaron Maybin. Maybin’s a solid choice though a lot of teams were a little scared of him as he was a bit of a one-year wonder at Penn State, not to mention everyone is becoming a bit dubious of Penn State defensive players (like standouts in basketball at Duke). Browns fans are getting nervous that Beanie Wells could be the guy at #17. They’re still praying for defense.
5:25 - Cleveland beat writers are claiming that DA could be out of Cleveland by the end of the day (seriously there could be a ticker tape parade in C-Town at this point). That could mean Cleveland adds… maybe a 3rd rounder in exchange. Browns fans are salivating. Especially as Cushing, Maualuga, Matthews, and Orakpo all still on the board.
5:21 - Pick - San Francisco takes Crabtree (finally) at #10. Hopefully slipping to #10 might learn him some humility (again I’m basing this on reports of his diva-attitude throughout the draft-workout process).
5:17 - Everyone thinks Crabtree is going to the 49ers here. I hope it’s Maclin, just because it would be funny.
5:14 - Pick - The Packers take BJ Raji. He’ll be a really good fit at DT, and was one of the players I was hoping the Browns would consider at #5 if Curry was gone and they couldn’t trade out.
5:05 - Pick - And the Jags take Eugene Monroe OT from Virginia. Great value at the 8th pick, there are some injury concerns on Monroe that could come into play later in his career. Given all of the issues that the Jags had on their line last year though, you really can’t fault this pick. Green Bay has some interesting options here with Crabtree and Raji two players who are starting to slip staring them in the face.
5:03 - Two quotes from Peter King’s Twitter feed. “The Jets pay a ransom for Sanchez.” and “(QB) Brett Ratliff is no throw-in, Mangini likes him a lot!” Very interesting!
4:58 - Word out of Cleveland earlier this week was that Crabtree was an incredible diva when he came to town and there was no way that ManKok was going to select him (of course this could have been a smoke screen). It makes you wonder if other teams were feeling the same way about the personality of Crabtree and decided that he wasn’t worth the trouble. I wouldn’t be so shocked about the Raiders pick if they hadn’t ignored Maclin to take Heyward-Bey as well. All the talking heads think Crabtree goes to the Jags next, they go to the studio though who’s talking OT Monroe, who of course is still on the board as well. Jacksonville has an interesting choice…
4:57 - Pick - The Raiders pass on Maclin and Crabtree to take Darrius Heyward-Bey. So, they take a super-duper fast receiver who’s extremely raw. Classic Al Davis pick. Mel Kiper is almost spitting he’s so shocked and incredulous right now. Al Davis… He’s just fantastic.
4:54 - The Bengals did what they need to, getting Carson Palmer some protection though, and at this point everyone has their fingers crossed that Andre Smith will be a professional. It wouldn’t be a shock to see the Bengals draft for the line again when they pick in the second round.
4:51 - I understand that Eugene Monroe has a slight injury red flag, but I think it’s funny that there were two very good OTs staring at them at the #6 slot and Mike Brown selects the one with character question marks. Should fit right in…
4:50 - Pick - The Bengals take OT Andre Smith. Smith was fantastic at Alabama this past season, but his stock plummeted through the workout process prior to the draft.
4:45 - The Browns get the #17, The Jets 2nd rounder, DE Kenyon Coleman, QB Brett Ratliff, and DB Abram Elam. I know nothing about the players, but the Jets fans did not sound thrilled (the sound was bordering between surprised and shocked I’d say).
4:44 - The Bengals are on the clock. Smart money says OT Eugene Monroe. It’ll be interesting to see what happens though with Crabtree still on the board and Bengals fans almost catatonic about taking a RB.
4:43 - We’re still waiting on details of the trade. All we know right now is that the Browns will be picking 17th in the first round. Possibilities in that range would include the three USC Linebackers, Malcolm Jenkins the OSU DB, and…. I’ll need to check, but let’s go to the Bengals until these trade details are announced.
4:42 - From TV coverage I’d say Jets fans are 80-20 excited vs sad. That’s not bad.
4:40 - Pick - The NY Jets take Mark Sanchez Browns fans have to be happy, NY fans in Radio City are crazy-happy. Details of the trade coming, and the Commish still hasn’t taken the podium to announce the Jets picks, but judging from everything we’re seeing on TV it’s Sanchez. Jets fans are going to go insane when this gets announced on stage (insane in a good way for a change).
4:39 - Pick - IT’S A TRADE!!!
4:36 - Am I the only one that noticed when they showed Sanchez in the predraft coverage he was standing in front of a framed, Cleveland signed #84 Joe Jurevicius jersey? Coincidence? Perhaps…
4:34 - There’s been word that New England is looking to move up into the top 10 to take an OT. San Francisco and Washington have shown interest in Sanchez. A trade down is the best thing Cleveland can hope for here. DT Raji is probably the second best. QB Sanchez is probably the 1,000,001th best.
4:32 - Pick - #4 Aaron Curry OLB Wake Forest. So the Seahawks take Curry and fans in Cleveland can’t be happy. It would be shocking if they didn’t take the entire 10 minutes to explore their trade options here.
4:30 - The Bengals should have a lot of options at #6 as well depending on what kind of craziness the Browns pull at #5. One of the OTs will almost certainly be on the board, Crabtree could be an interesting pick for a team who just lost Houshmandzadeh in free agency, Raji would be a good fit for them at DT…
4:26 - The analysts think Curry goes to the Seahawks next. Cleveland fans are praying that Seattle fixes their WR problems by taking Crabtree here… Or they could take an OT… Or they could take Sanchez. Lots of options here for Seattle.
4:25 - Pick - Tyson Jackson, DE LSU Browns fans breath a sigh of relief. Curry or Raji will be there at 5. It’s gotta be a trade down or a pick one of those two at this point.
4:22 - They’re interviewing Herm Edwards and asking for his opinion right now. Listen to whatever he says and do the opposite… based on his coaching success I say that’s the strategy.
4:21 - Funny, while no Browns fans (or very few) want Sanchez they’re split on if they want him to last to the 5. Some are incredibly fearful that if he’s there at the 5 the Browns will take him, others think Sanchez lasting to the 5 is the only chance of trading down (which most Browns fans would love to do). Ah, life of a Cleveland fan…
4:19 - The mock drafters all think that Tyson Jackson, the DE from LSU will go at this spot. If not, he’d be another option for the Browns at 5. At this point the Bengals will just be happy to see a non-OT come off the board.
4:16 - So we talked about what the Bengals and Browns should do. Here in Ohio a ton of losing has made both fan bases extremely jaded (you can’t blame them) so let’s talk about what fans are extremely scared of. Bengals fans are headed to Paul Brown Stadium with pitchforks if they take a running back, especially Beanie Wells at 6. Fans all want to see the line fixed so Carson Palmer, a great thrower, but someone without much mobility has time to pass.
In Cleveland fans are scared of many scenarios, but I would say tops on the scare-list are the prospects of bringing in USC QB Sanchez. Browns fans love Brady Quinn and don’t want to see him traded. Bringing in Sanchez would almost certainly mean the end of Quinn. On top of that it’d be a wasted two years of getting Quinn pro experience in addition to using a high pick on a player who (probably) won’t help this season.
4:15 - Pick - And the Rams take Jason Smith… They used all 10 minutes for that? All the serious Mock Drafters; Kiper, McShay, Peter King, have had them taking Smith for the past week.
4:12 - At this point nobody knows what the Browns are going to do. Mangini and Kokinis (ManKok) treat football like global espionage, so it’s impossible to get a read on them. My thoughts as a Browns fan say improve the defense, and if Curry is there at #5 you MUST take him. Smart money has the Bengals taking one of the 3 highly graded offensive tackles, with their line woes last season they have to be hoping one of those guys makes it to the #6.
4:11 - The Rams are on the clock and I’d be shocked if they didn’t take OT Jason Smith, though the ESPN talking heads are going on about Sanchez.
4:04 - Pick - And it’s official, the Lions take Stafford, which has technically been on the books since last night
4:03 - We’re underway and the Commish stumbles through his opening remarks… That bodes well.