Draft Day #1 Grades and Thoughts

April 27, 2012   ·   1 Comments

Tom Heckert has not made a big splash on offense in the reasonable amount of time that he has been working in Cleveland.  Until this year.  As Tony Grossi wrote last night,

“This was the best pick – and the best trade – Heckert has made in his three drafts as GM of the Browns. It was a great start to what may be the most critical draft in the franchise’s expansion history.”

Browns fans should be happy, because finally we are making big changes on offense.  Why have we waited this long?  Simply said our defense was ranked #30 in the league after 2009.  We are getting further down the road in the Holmgren and Heckert dynasty, and now is when big playmakers come into the mix.

Heading into the night, there were rumors of multiple teams wanting to trade up.  The Buccaneers were seriously considering it, as once were the Jets and supposively Rams.  So the Browns traded up to the #3 pick to ensure they would get there man, and gave up a 4th, 6th, 7th rounder in the progress.  Now for anyone that even remotely thinks this was stupid, please tell me why.  You just ensured your franchise face and offensive leader, while giving up the late round picks which will HIGHLY likely be backups.  Heckert is a good drafter, but I haven’t seen much come from the late rounds at all.

With the #3 Pick, the Cleveland Browns selected Trent Richardson.   The Browns sent in there pick, and seemed quite thrilled about it.  But Richardson was thrilled too!

“I can’t explain it to you. It’s bigger than winning my national championship,” said Richardson. “There is no more hard work for my mom. The feeling I got right now is incredible, I’m on cloud nine.  I’m high on life right now.”

Many Browns fans across the nation were seen celebrating as Richardson took the stage, posing with the beautiful brown and orange.  But now it is time to anaylze, was this a good pick?  Not to knock on Tony Grossi who I sometimes call the pessimist, but when he said that this is the best pick Heckert has made in Cleveland, that is interesting.  The Browns have added many good players since 2009. 

Richardson brings a physical identity to a previously weak AFC North team.  Cold November nights when the ball just isnt flying through the air, Richardson is the “put the team on my back” player.  He is the perfect pick in this situation, and has instantly changed the face of the Browns offense.

GRADE= A+

Now as the Browns fans were high on life, like Richardson.  Waiting for the #22 pick to come, Browns fans nessled back into there comfortable draft day couches.  As we saw many players be taken, none of them changed the Browns draft as much as Kendall Wright falling in the hands of the Titans at #20.  The Browns were rumored to want to pick Kendall with their second first rounder, but now it was time for plan B.  Or so we think, that is. 

Now sitting at #22, this is where you would see if Holmgren would take his QB or opt for another player.  When it comes to QB’s, Heckert acknowledges Holmgren’s track record of Favre and Hasselback.  Before this happened, Weeden said he feels confident Cleveland likes him and he would possibly take him!  Well sitting in his home with his family, he found out.

“I can’t say I was surprised, you know I was hoping,” said Weeden. “I can’t really say it was expected or didn’t expect it. I’ll tell you what, whenever I got that phone call it was special, it was one of the best moments of my life and obviously a dream come true. I’m excited to be a Cleveland Brown.”

This pick has come under certain controversy, similar to past drafts.  But why is he a good pick guys?  First off he is 6″4 and weighs 218 pounds.  Brandon Weeden is a big boy, and he has a big arm.  Weeden was previously a baseball player in the New York Yankees farm system.  He also has marginable running speed as he runs a 4.9 40 time. Certain players just win, too.  Weeden faced Tannehill, RGIII and Luck last year.  He beat all of them!  It isnt like RGIII or Luck didn’t have weapons to throw to either (Wright-Baylor, Fleener-Stanford).  This trade has caused many who though the trade with the Falcons last year to reconsider, mainly because the Browns have now found there franchise QB.  Players like Kurt Warner didnt start until they were 28 years old too.  If any Browns QB could give us 5-7 years, that would be fantastic.  So those who are mad about how old he is, you should reconsider thinking that the Browns were going to end up with a 10-13 year QB in the first place. 

GRADE= C+
Weeden is a great fit for Cleveland, but you could of picked him at #37.  Luckily for the Browns it will not matter, because it looks like two or three target WR’s will be available at the second round pick.  The joke going around is this: Weeden @ 22 > Tannehill @ 8.

Thanks for reading the first days draft article, be on here later today for instant analysis!

By Jeremy Crookston