With the 21st pick in the NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns select Phil Taylor!

[TheBestPlayersPlay]

I like it.

Video courtesy of Alo.

You Tube

Discuss.

[Greythan]

Don't know him. All I noticed was how clueless the ESPN crew sounded while trying to reconcile this pick. They had him pegged as a 3-4 NT and kept saying that Jauron would likely switch to a 3-4. Really? That's all they've got?

[TheBestPlayersPlay]

NFL network loved him. He's a beast. Super strong. Will free up linebackers and rushers on the edge. Run stuffer. Can't wait to see more of this guy.

[heckofajobbrownie]

Gilbert Brown, Part II for Fritz.

[dogpaddle]

Originally Posted by TheBestPlayersPlay

Run stuffer.

I thought those things only existed in fairy tales. 27th against the run last year...

[Jax Dawg]

I was really suprised we, er Heckert, moved up from #27 to pick Taylor at #21. With a lot of good players still there I think if Taylor was his man he was probably still going to be there at #27. My first thoughts were I wasn't too enamored with this pick - I think we could of picked up a very good DE at #27 - but Heckert has a good history of drafting so I gotta believe until proved otherwise he made the right move.

DE has to be one if not both of the 2nd round picks tomorrow - maybe Heyward slides even though he is a lot bigger than the 4-3 DE Heckert is probably looking for. Does Bowers keep sliding? We'll see...

[Neo]

With the 21st pick in the 2011 NFL draft, the Cleveland Browns select WTF? We traded all the way from 6 to 27 and then back up to 21 to take a defensive tackle I never heard of? And the Stoolers get Heyward as another kick in the balls. WTF did we give up to move up to 21? Why not just take him at 27? Or take Heyword if he isn't there. VERY questionable pick by Heckert and Co

[Neo]

There is a reason why the Stoolers are always in contention and the Browns pick in the top 10 every year.

[OconRecon]

I had to look him up.

Would have rather gone with offense. I really don't want another year of bad WR's.

We'll see though. It really depends on round two tomorrow and, gulp, how these extra picks benefit us in April 2012.

[Neo]

Phil Taylor, Baylor, NFL Draft - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com

04/17/2011 - Every year there are players who slip on draft day and leave all of us befuddled. Later, we typically find out that the player had medical concerns pop up, leading to the unfortunate drop. Injury concerns have led to unstable stock for Clemson defensive end Da'Quan Bowers and Alabama running back Mark Ingram this year. They aren't the only first round talents being downgraded due to medical red-flags, I'm being told. Baylor defensive tackle Phil Taylor, himself a veteran of 43 games played, is also under scrutiny. Apparently during his Combine check, there were various injuries that caused teams some concern, the most serious of which involves both feet. Taylor, according to MRIs taken at the Combine, has bones growing together in his feet. The condition, which according to the source is not correctable through surgery, is a pain tolerance issue. Considering that Taylor played much of his senior season at 330-340 pounds - and has allowed his weight to get into the 380s in the past - teams are concerned that his weight will only make the injury tougher to handle. "If he was a 190 pound player, it might be different. Or, if he was an older player and you were only signing him for a few years, it might be different," a source said. "But, it is pretty hard to invest a first round pick in a player who you know coming in is being red-flagged by the doctors." "This isn't just our team, by the way. Every team gets the MRIs. Every other team is seeing this too." I tested that theory, as it is important to remember that this is the time of year for NFL sources insinuating the truth (and, in the cases of some, flat-out lying) in an effort to push players down the board. Therefore, I contacted other sources within the league and did confirm with another source that Taylor's injuries were being red-flagged by his team's doctors, as well. - Rob Rang, NFLDraftScout.com
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We passed on Julio Jones to take THIS? WHAT THE FUCK!? We take a 340 pound 3-4 nose tackle with two bad feet?

[YtownBacker]

Cleveland made a haul. Two second rounders this year to go. Then two first rounders next year. this year is about building the base for the 4-3. Next year is about skilled players.

I'd say the Browns wanted Taylor and got wind of someone ahead of them taking him, so they traded back up. Some say there were other good players, but this must of been the guy Heckert wanted and everyone else signed off on it. The guy was a beast at the senior bowl. He was eating those linemen up in practice that got drafted right along with him.

We got Shaun Rogers back (in Phil Taylor) but hopefully a guy who wants to play football more then Shaun did.

I posted numerous times that Jauron and Rhodes both said their 4-3 defense starts with a 3 technique DT. I think this guy is more a 1 technique but obviously they see him as a 3 technique.

[Alo]

Unfortunately, DraftBreakdown is down temporarily, but here's the google cache version of my February blogpost on Taylor:

Tale of the Tape: Phil Taylor vs Oklahoma