The more I think about, I think have to give them a solid B. I was a little irritated on draft day because we passed up on some talented guys, but I think they did so for a reason. I think they looked at the roster, and really felt like we are still a couple of years away from contending. They made the choice that picking one guy at #5 and paying him $10 million a year wasn’t best for the future of the team, not when there are so many other needs. Even though I really liked Crabtree, how much of an impact can a WR have on a team that has questions basically every else? So they traded that pick for at least 3 starters, and didn’t have to break the bank. Not a “sexy” move, but I think it was the right one.

Everything I know about Alex Mack, I like this kid. We face some tough DT’s in our division, so addressing the interior of line is a smart move. I like building a team from the inside first. Nice pick.

We will find out real soon what kind of talent evaluators we have now, because some of the other picks felt like reaches, especially the last 2 second rounders. But if they can contribute to the team, or better yet even start, it doesn’t matter where they were drafted. Robiske was a good, solid pick. Massaquoi? I question taking back to back WR, especially with RB’s that were still available. We definetly need WR’s, but couldn’t we have tried to go after Coles, a former Jet, or some other FA, rather than picking 2 in the second round?

And then Veinuke. I read the Sporting News Draft preview every year. I know, it is written before the scouting combine. It doesn’t even have Matt Cassel in Kansas City yet. But, they grade and rank over 400 prospects, and over 30 of these were defensive ends. They even have “priority free agents”, guys they don’t think will get drafted but should end up on a team. Nowhere in this guide is Veinuke. This is where we find out how well Mangini can evalute talent. Cause really, who cares what Sporting News thinks, especially if a kid can play? Apparently, Mangini thinks he can play since he spent a second-rounder on him. He must believe others think he can play also, as he obviously felt like he wasn’t going to be there later in the draft. Hopefully, this is one of “Man-genius’” picks.

Overall, I understand why they made the moves they did. They do make some sense. It seems like they knew who they wanted going into the draft, and went and got them. I like that. If the kids play, noone will remember what pick they were, or if we reached for them. The draft is always littered with picks that never amount to anything,(not just Browns’ picks, but every team). My main gripe is I wish we would have addressed RB sooner. I do feel the team is better today than before the draft. How much better? We’ll find out soon enough.

Posted by B, on April 29th, 2009, at 8:43 am. #.

good comments B, did you know that Coles signed with the Bengals? I agree 100% about the second round picks. Massaquoi and Veinuke better be the talents that Mangenius thinks they are because 2nd round picks are pretty valuable, and i think the Browns are the only team that would have drafted either one of them in the 2nd

Posted by Jay, on May 3rd, 2009, at 11:27 pm. #.