Previous Pick: Seattle Seahawks
5. Cleveland Browns
-Brian Orakpo (DE/Texas)
- NFL.com
One of my relatives who has season tickets to the Browns told me how fans were laughing at the pitiful pass rush displayed by Cleveland this season. Basically, the team was averaging 1 sorry sack a game (16 for the season). Kamerion Wimbley, the team’s primary pass rusher had 4 sacks, and Willie McGinest, age 37 (God bless him), had only 1.
Brian Orakpo offers a glimpse of hope to the Browns’ defense. He could push McGinest for some playing time, while learning under the tutelage of one of the game’s all-time pass rushing linebackers. This pick may be a little difficult to see to Cleveland fans because rush linebackers who convert from the defensive end spot take a year at least to learn the position.
Since Eric Mangini had bad luck with Vernon Gholston, who happens to be very similar to Orakpo, he may veto this choice.
-Everette Brown (DE/Florida St)
- NFL.com
Everette Brown could be chosen for the same reason as picking Orakpo: improving the pass rush. I think grabbing Brown at this spot is overvaluing him a bit. But necessity may force Cleveland’s hand. Everette Brown was a pass rush extraordinaire at FSU. He had a handful of multiple sack games, helping him get to the quarterback 13.5 times last season.
In all honesty, taking a defensive end to convert into a linebacker is risky and time-consuming. For that reason, I can’t be sure the Browns will go after one of these guys quite so early. Usually these rush linebackers go somewhere after pick #10 unless they are graded through the roof.
-Trade down*
A cornerback or offensive linemen could be other possibilities but maybe not at the #5 spot. Malcolm Jenkins suffered a big hit at the combine with his average numbers. And Andre Smith, a probable right tackle saw his own stock fall off the map after showing up to the combine out of shape. If the Browns could swing a trade to get out of the top 10, then I could see either of these spots being addressed.
Next on the clock: Cincinnati Bengals
Make sure to vote so we can compare the fan picks with my own! At the end of my completed mock draft I will show all the results.
[poll id="6"]
If Orakpo is available at this point, the Browns should definitely scoop him up. Living in Austin, I got to see a lot of him this year and he is the real deal. I’m not sure what’s happened to Kamerion Wimbley. Didn’t he have like 11 sacks his rookie year? Maybe teams are giving him extra attention now? I don’t see many Cleveland games so I couldn’t tell you.
Hey Ghostwriter,
good to hear from you again.
I recently graduated from UT and I had a class with Orakpo when he was an underclassman. He really is the real deal. He can most definitely rush the passer, and he is freakishly athletic. The only reason I can see him dropping is based on his injury history
Kamerion Wimbley did have a great season about 2 years ago. Either he is getting the double teams or isn’t doing well. But the Browns still need a guy to step in for McGinest.
Thanks again for commenting. Everyone go read Ghostwriter’s blog, its very good.
IF you want to see how quarterbacks have been turning out over the last decade, check his series on just that: http://theghostwriter.today.com/