Heckert: Browns in a Good Position

[Brown Warrior]

Originally Posted by Alo

I'd love to trade down to #9, then select Cameron Jordan. But like w/ the Watt idea, we'd need to bring in another credible outside rusher for when those big DEs kick inside on passing downs.

I like Jordan a lot... but that's why I don't see the Browns picking him. I think we have more big guys who could "bump inside" than svelte edge rushers.

[TheBestPlayersPlay]

Cleveland Browns-Minnesota Vikings Are Discussing a Potential First Round Trade

Tuesday, April 26, 2011


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By Bob Evans
Writer

Get ready NFL fans, the lockout has been lifted for less than 24 hours and trade rumors are already starting to swirl.

A league source close to the situation confirmed to National Football Authority that the Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings have had ongoing discussions regarding Minnesota’s No. 12 pick in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft.

According to this source, the Browns have expressed high interest in obtaining two certain players in the first round of this year’s NFL Draft. If the Browns can draft the first player they are interested in with the No. 6 pick and the other player is still available at the No. 12 pick, the two teams plan to make the deal.

While the complete terms of the deal were not discussed; the current talks are centered around the Vikings sending their No. 12 pick in the first round to Cleveland for the Browns' 2012 first round pick and their No. 37 overall pick in the second round of the 2011 Draft.

Targeted prospect names have not been revealed and only draft picks have been discussed thus far.

These discussions could potentially mean the Browns are targeting cornerback Patrick Peterson from LSU with the No. 6 pick and could be angling to acquire the No. 12 pick to draft wide receiver Julio Jones from Alabama, if he is still available.

If these are the targeted players, it would allow the Browns to insert two opening day starters at areas of need from the first round.

This potential deal also could mean that Minnesota is not sold on a quarterback or defensive lineman with the No. 12 pick, and could be looking to draft those positions (and save money in the process) at the top of the second round.

Perhaps the Vikings are looking at picking up Jake Locker at the top of the second, since he has been trending to fall out of the first round altogether, but that could change if there is a run on quarterbacks at the bottom of the first round too.

A risky play by the Vikings, but they could be thinking they would get a Top 10 pick for the Browns in the first round of the 2012 Draft too. On the flip side, the Browns might think having two first round picks this year can make a huge impact for the team in 2011.

Either way you look at it, both teams are in talks and these talks are real right now.

[YtownBacker]

I thnk a problem as big as no edge rushers is the fact that we don't hve naybody to kick inside or anybody inside that can penetrate. Note; Rubin is a space eater, a 1 technique DT, and not the guy that can get upfield and flush the QB out of the pocket or prevent him from stepping up in the pocket to bye time.

We have warm bodies on our roster and only two guys with potential to be above average. Rubin and Bernard. I always remember Jauron saying that his 4-3 defense starts with a good 3 technique DT.

[Alo]

What Ytown said is true as well. It's both a + and -. We need a good interior rusher as well, and Jordan could help. So could Watt, but Jordan looks more explosive when lining up inside.

[Brown Warrior]

If we don't take Fairley, I think we'll look at more traditional 3-techs later.

Regarding the trade rumor: Adkins says his sources say it's total fabrication based on nothing. That said... it's kinda fun. I'd prefer that it landed us Quinn and Jones or Green and Smith. Something like that. I think we can get a corner in round three or four to go with what we have.

[TheBestPlayersPlay]

I think those of you discounting Bowers are nuts.

Clemson DE Da'Quan Bowers hopes teams including Cleveland Browns don't buy into false rumors about his knee

Published: Tuesday, April 26, 2011, 5:43 PM Updated: Tuesday, April 26, 2011, 5:52 PM


Mark Crammer / AP photoClemson's Da'Quan Bowers plans to make the teams that pass on him regret it.
Clemson defensive end Da'Quan Bowers, who led the nation with 15.5 sacks last season, is hoping teams will disregard all the false rumors about his knee on draft day.
Bowers (6-3 3/8, 280 pounds) is one of the players the Browns brought in for a visit two weeks ago and have on their radar. He might not be among their top six, but he's undoubtedly a player they'd consider taking a few spots later if they trade down.
"There was a lot of speculation out there that wasn't true,'' Bowers told the Plain Dealer in a phone interview. "The small procedure I had on my (left)knee (a meniscus repair) was nothing that coaches or teams should expect to have a long-term effect on my playing. Teams have all the medical information and there should be no reason not to have me on their draft boards.''
One report, by Nolan Nawrocki of Pro Football Weekly, said some teams were concerned Bowers might need microfracture surgery, a procedure that involves drilling small holes in the knee to produce cartilage-like scar tissue. Other reports said Bowers -- who at one time was projected by some as the top overall pick in the draft -- was susceptible to arthritis in the knee.
"The whole thing about microfracture, I have no idea where that came from,'' said Bowers. "None of that stuff is true. But people are going to say whatever they want regardless if it's true or not.''
Browns general manager Tom Heckert stressed last week at his pre-draft press conference that Bowers' knee is fine.
"Yes, our doctors have looked at him 100 times,'' said Heckert. "He went to the re-check so we’ve done our due diligence. I don’t want to get into all the medical stuff but we think his knee is going to be alright.''
Bowers said he has no idea where he'll go in the draft.
"I met with all the teams in the top 15, but I have no clue,'' he said. "If I'm drafted first or dead-last, I'll be grateful to be drafted. I don't pay attention to all the websites that are dropping me.''
Bowers said folks had the misconception that he tore the meniscus after the season.
"What a lot of people don't realize is that I played seven games with that injury,'' said Bowers. "Out of those 16 sacks I had, seven of them happened after the injury. And out of those 25 tackles for loss, 15 of them happened after the injury.''
Bowers said teams that buy into the rumors will be sorry.
"Whoever drafts me, I'll do my very best to give them what they want,'' said Bowers. "For the teams that don't draft me, they'll have to wonder why when I play against them.''
Bowers said his visit to Cleveland was one of his favorites and that he got along great with the new coaches.
"I feel like I can really make an impact there as a rookie,'' he said. "I think I'd fit well in that defense and be able to help them out. I feel like there's something special going on in with the Browns and I'd like to be a part of it.''

[OconRecon]

Originally Posted by TheBestPlayersPlay

Cleveland Browns-Minnesota Vikings Are Discussing a Potential First Round Trade

These discussions could potentially mean the Browns are targeting cornerback Patrick Peterson from LSU with the No. 6 pick and could be angling to acquire the No. 12 pick to draft wide receiver Julio Jones from Alabama, if he is still available.

Too good to be true, IMO. I'd love Peterson and Jones, but I can't see it happening.

[Sez.EJ]

Originally Posted by Brown Warrior

I think the odds of Watt getting drafted as a 4-3 DE by Heckert are about zero.

But I think there's a chance I'll be way sadder than you, Riff. I'm getting vaguely terrified that Heckert really will pick Patrick Peterson if he's there. I think he'd take Green over Peterson but that's about it... and Green might be gone.

I don't feel like he'll take Quinn or Jones over Peterson, which would make me cry like a schoolgirl.

NOT DE... He's a DT imo. and a going to be a good one.. Although I do think he could be on the end too. I think he is better suited inside. Then we can go DE with other picks and free agents..I can envision Watt and Ruben just destroying the pocket and QB's not being able to step up and DE's killing from the outside.. OOOF!!! Down goes Frazier!!!

[OconRecon]

So much for the WR plan with the Vikings. Silly season is here, but it's fun!

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Falcons want to trade up for A.J. Green or Julio Jones

Posted by Michael David Smith on April 27, 2011, 7:20 AM EDT

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The Falcons want to add a playmaker to their passing game, and they’re hoping to trade up into the top 10 of the NFL draft to make it happen.

Peter King of Sports Illustrated reports that Atlanta is trying to trade way up to get one of the top two receivers in the draft, Georgia’s A.J. Green or Alabama’s Julio Jones.
Moving up high enough to get Green would seem to be a real long shot for the Falcons, as it would probably require them to get into the Top 5. The Falcons, picking 27th, would have to give up a boatload of picks to move up that high. Jones may be a more realistic target, as he could slip out of the Top 10.
The Falcons trading up high enough to get one of the top receivers seems unlikely to happen, but it would make Matt Ryan a happy man.