Draft Grades

[OconRecon]

Here's some Browns analysis stuff. Favorable for sure.

B from FOX

2011 NFL draft grades for each team - NFL News | FOX Sports on MSN

Analysis: The first three draftees should challenge for a starting job this season, so the Browns got nice value. Hagg is well-respected by the scouting community and could start down the road.


B+ from Kiper

Cleveland Browns 2011 Draft: Mel Kiper Puts Browns Near The Head Of The Class - Dawgs By Nature

“The Browns have been getting praise nationally for their shrewd deal with Atlanta to trade the No. 6 overall pick for five draft choices — and rightfully so. With Cleveland’s roster very thin at many positions, this was a good time to stockpile draft picks and build for the future. Similar to Pittsburgh, the Browns didn’t get any flashy, home-run picks in this draft. But Cleveland added solid talent...” B+


A from CBS

Final draft grades: Browns among five with highest honors - NFL - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com

With the bevy of picks acquired in their trade with the Atlanta Falcons' move up for Julio Jones, as well as savvy drafting, the Browns enjoyed as strong a 2011 draft as any team in the NFL. Baylor's Phil Taylor was typecast as strictly a 3-4 nose guard by some, but his success in the Big 12 came as a 4-3 defensive tackle and he'll star in a similar capacity for the Browns. In the second round the Browns added underrated pass rusher Jabaal Sheard and one of the more athletically-gifted receivers in the draft in Greg Little. Little could prove a better value at No. 59 than Jones will prove at No. 6, especially considering what the Falcons gave up for Jones. With four picks in the fourth and fifth rounds, the Browns continued their re-tooling into a more traditional West Coast Offense, adding an athletic tight end in Jordan Cameron, a do-everything fullback in Owen Marecic and a solid interior line prospect in Jason Pinkston.


A from Yahoo Sports

http://fearthehat.wordpress.com/2011...de/“With the bevy of picks acquired in their trade with the Atlanta Falcons’ move up for Julio Jones, as well as savvy drafting, the Browns enjoyed as strong a 2011 draft as any team in the NFL. Baylor’s Phil Taylor was typecast as strictly a 3-4 nose guard by some, but his success in the Big 12 came as a 4-3 defensive tackle and he’ll star in a similar capacity for the Browns…”


A- from NBC Sports

Browns: “This team needed depth, and they know better than anyone that a top-10 pick doesn’t automatically result in a star. That’s why their move out of the No. 6 slot for two firsts and five picks overall could ultimately set up the Mike Holmgren/Pat Shurmur era for years. Phil Taylor was the draft’s best nose tackle, Jabaal Sheard was a good pass rushing value in the second round, and UNC wideout Greg Little could be a star. They still need more defensive help, but this draft should continue to build the team’s foundation after a strong ’10 draft.”

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Plenty more out there. Feel free to add.

[YtownBacker]

Beside what they did this year, you almost have to give them a half grade bump for setting themselves up for next years draft.

[Sez.EJ]

I agree that we still need a lot of defensive help. having 2 #1's next year will really help. Curious to see how free agency works out. I still believe a free agent WR is a huge priority. We need some experience at that spot... Good draft and extra picks next year too. Very nice work by Heckert.

I don't worry about grades. I want guys who are going to be here for a while and produce.

[Brown Warrior]

Who knows what we'll need next year... but late one is always a nice spot for a right tackle. I could definitely see a linebacker since we really only have one draftee there... and his health is suspect.

[OconRecon]

YouTube - Draft Grade: Browns

[OconRecon]

James Walker calls the trade the "best move" of the AFCN

The biggest draft trade this week was made by the Browns, who gained five draft picks from the Atlanta Falcons for the No. 6 overall pick. The trade eliminated the chance the Browns would make a huge splash in the first round but sets the team up well to add talent gradually to a thin roster.

Atlanta took Alabama receiver Julio Jones with the sixth pick, while the Browns added Baylor defensive tackle Phil Taylor in the first round after a trade back up to No. 21 with the Kansas City Chiefs. Cleveland also drafted North Carolina receiver Greg Little with Atlanta's second-round pick and Stanford fullback Owen Marecic with the Falcons' fourth-round pick.

Next year Cleveland will have two additional picks from the Falcons -- including their first-rounder -- and nine draft picks total. That should help the Browns continue to build a solid foundation.

"Because of how the draft fell, we did absolutely the right thing," Browns president Mike Holmgren said of the trade.

Ironically, the Falcons made a similar offer to the Bengals, who passed because they didn't believe equal value was there at No. 4. So the Bengals took Georgia receiver A.J. Green, and Cleveland was more than happy to trade with Atlanta at No. 6.


B+ from Sporting News

Landed a boatload of picks in a trade with the Falcons, plus two defensive linemen (Phil Taylor, Jabaal Sheard) and an intriguing wide receiver (Greg Little).


Top 5 winner from USA Today

Cleveland Browns: In a move that seemed to acknowledge they're not ready to compete with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North, the Browns traded out of the No. 6 slot, getting five picks in return from the Atlanta Falcons -- who took Alabama WR Julio Jones -- including their 2010 first- and second-round selections and their 2011 first-rounder. The Browns also hauled in several promising players themselves (including DL Phil Taylor and Jabaal Sheard and WR Greg Little) over the course of this draft.

[OconRecon]

A - from Pro Football Weekly

Browns and Pats ranked at the top of the AFC

Cleveland Browns
By dealing down with the Falcons after their top two selections came off the board, President Mike Holmgren and GM Tom Heckert received terrific trade value, dropping down to the 27th spot and landing a bevy of picks that helped bolster a roster lined with holes, adding a second- and fourth-round pick this year and a first- and fourth-rounder in 2012. They filled three key needs with their top three picks, sacrificing their third-round pick to move up six spots and beat Kansas City to the punch for the draft's top nose tackle, Phil Taylor, manipulating the board to land a key target capable of replacing Shaun Rogers. DE Jabaal Sheard had injury concerns, and Greg Little has maturity issues, but both have legitimate starter potential and could bring immediate returns. TE Jordan Cameron could turn out to be a steal in the fourth round if he hits. FB Owen Marecic is a throwback who can pave lanes for Peyton Hillis, who was acquired in exchange for Brady Quinn, a sixth-round pick this year that was dealt to Minnesota (to move up for OT Jason Pinkston in the fifth round) and a conditional 2012 pick, which clearly swung in the Browns' favor. Fifth-round CB Buster Skrine could compete for time in the slot. The Browns gave up their seventh-round pick to acquire QB Seneca Wallace, and added backup safety depth with the selection of S Eric Hagg in the seventh. The addition of two solid veterans, Hillis and Wallace, along with all the ammunition they acquired on the trade front this year and next could allow the Browns to come away with an additional starter (Little) this year and potentially another next year. Across the board, on need, value and trade fronts, the Browns stood out in every category, and Heckert's first draft fully at the controls in Cleveland significantly upgraded the roster, although he did take character and medical risks with all three of his top picks.
Grade: A

ProFootballWeekly.com - Patriots, Browns land AFC's highest draft grades

[Alo]

With that 3rd round pick, our draft easily could have gotten an A...but without it, I'll have to drop the grade to an F-.

[Riffer X]

Originally Posted by Alo

With that 3rd round pick, our draft easily could have gotten an A...but without it, I'll have to drop the grade to an F-.

I think it is fair though that without the third rounder it is only a B+. I don't wuite give it an A either, but if we would have scored someone nice in the third it was a lock as an A.

B to B+ is more than fair if one was looking in from the outside and grading it. It will be an A if Taylor is another Ngata, Hampton or Teddy Fatgame in his prime for us.

[Jax Dawg]

Originally Posted by Alo

With that 3rd round pick, our draft easily could have gotten an A...but without it, I'll have to drop the grade to an F-.

+1! Just think if Heckert hadn't given up 5 picks (huh?) he could of found at least three more starters in addition to the 3-4 he already found. What a loser!

[Brown Warrior]

Alo has been bringin' da sarcasm, bringin' da noise!! And dry, too! No exclamation points, like me!!!

Anyhoo... the Pats had a good draft? Seemed really bizarre to me. Great DE draft, they need pass rushers but pass on all of them? Do we just ASSUME the Pats had a great draft or something?

I personally think that team is setting up some problems. When was their last Super Bowl?

[OconRecon]

I think Alo is being sarcastic.

I've read the Saints were targeting Taylor, and with all of the accumulated picks, Heckert decided not to risk it. Must have really liked him.

I still think there's a shot for Little to be better than Jones. If it happens, then Heckert deserves an A++++ even before the players from the other picks reveal themselves.