Cleveland Browns Can Improve in 2007 Through the Draft and Free Agency

It's playoff time again in the National Football League, which means that fans all around the country will gather around their television sets as they cheer on their favorite team. For the faithful followers of the Cleveland Browns, January of 2007 means, well, what just about every January means. All over Cleveland talk radio, on TV shows and in newspapers, Browns fans can only talk about one thing:

The upcoming NFL Draft.

With the Browns suffering yet another losing season, it is clear that there are plenty of holes for the organization to fill. However, all it not lost in Berea. Even with another abysmal season coming to a close, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. First, nobody can deny that the Browns were burdened by an excess of injuries throughout the 2006 season, thus crippling any team chemistry as well as the talent of the starting roster. Second, even the most cynical of Browns fan had to be uplifted by the play of both Kamerion Wimbley and Kellen Winslow Jr. In his rookie season, Wimbley showed that he was indeed worth a first-round draft pick, racking up 11 sacks. Meanwhile, Winslow showed just what can happen when he plays an entire season. Winslow led the league in receptions for tight ends with 89, and proved that he has the skills and potentials to be an All-Pro player, probably next season.

Regardless of these facts, the Browns' roster is still one that has plenty of holes within it. The organization will have to use both the draft and free agency to begin filling these holes. While at the moment the future seems dim I have an optimistic view of what the off-season could look like for the Browns. That is, if the organization makes the right decision. Here are a few ideas that I have come up with in order to improve one of the most pathetic teams in the NFL.

1. Trade down in the first round. Right now Cleveland will hold either the third or fourth pick in the draft, depending on the outcome of a coin toss with Tampa Bay. This puts the Browns in a great position to acquire some extra draft picks, something this team desperately needs. The truth is Cleveland is not just one player away from becoming a winning team. Wasting the draft pick on one single player would be senseless.

2. Do NOT draft Troy Smith. Yes I understand that Smith is the sexy pick. I am aware that he is from THE Ohio State University, something that makes every Browns fan salivate. I know he is an outstanding athlete and a Heisman Trophy Winner. However, before the streets of downtown Cleveland become flooded from the drool of hopeful Browns fans, please consider these things:

Is it right for the franchise to all but give up on two young quarterbacks? Both Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson have exhibited at times that ability to lead this team. While neither of them lit up the league with precise passing, it is imperative that everyone remember just how poor the offensive line played this season. Even the mobility of a Troy Smith would not have been able to avoid all of the hits that both Cleveland quarterbacks suffered in 2006.

Second, does this organization really want to start over again with an untested quarterback? Troy Smith has set the college football world on fire with his play at Ohio State, but the Cleveland faithful will be the first to attest to just how different the game is at the pro level. Tim Couch was phenomenal while playing at Kentucky but struggled greatly in the NFL and is regarded as one of the biggest flops in draft history. Charlie Frye played well at Akron but has so far been unimpressive to most.

If people in Cleveland truly want to see a new quarterback their eyes should shift towards free agency and away from the draft. If anybody deserves a shot to turn this offense around it is Matt Schaub. Schaub has been the backup to Michael Vick in Atlanta for years and is ready to prove he can be a leader. For years he has been forced to ride the bench while watching Vick be one of the most inconsistent quarterbacks in football. When Schaub has been giving an opportunity to perform he has shown great potential.

3. Think outside the box...and the state. It is an unwritten rule that a Cleveland Browns fan must also love THE Ohio State University. Whenever there is a stand-out on the Buckeye roster the entire city of Cleveland dreams of the day the young man will wear brown and orange. However, the 2007 draft holds two players from Pennsylvania that I would love to see in Berea come August.

While most would disagree with me, I believe that is important to strengthen the linebacker position of this defense. Wimbley was outstanding in 2006, but he could use a counterpart to aid in pass rush and defending both the run and the pass. The perfect player for this comes from THE Pennsylvania State University in the person of Paul Posluszny. Poz may very well be the greatest linebacker to ever play at Happy Valley, which is quite an achievement considering all the great players to graduate from Linebacker U. While playing for PSU he collected more tackles than any player in Nittany Lion history. He is the perfect combination of speed, agility, and tackling ability. Quite frankly, the thought of having both him and Wimbley in a 3-4 defensive scheme makes me weak in the knees.

If the Browns trade down in draft picks and put themselves in a position to pick up Posluszny, not only do they get (in my opinion) the best defensive player in the 2007 draft they also pick up some desperately needed draft picks. Since they are trading away a top-five pick Cleveland will almost definitely receive a first and second round pick. The Browns can use these extra picks to strengthen a very weak offensive line.

Another Penn State graduate the Browns should consider drafting is running back Tony Hunt. After a lackluster 2006 season, most Browns backers believe Reuben Droughns is not who Cleveland needs at starting running back. Tony Hunt has all the attributes necessary to be a running back in the NFL. He has the speed and acceleration necessary, not to mention the size needed to play pro football. Anybody who had any doubts about Tony Hunt should have been swayed by his great performance in the Outback Bowl against Tennessee. Perhaps the most intriguing fact about Hunt is that he has flown under the radar throughout his career, which means that he will most likely be available in the third round.

Obviously these points are not the ultimate answer to fixing the Cleveland Browns. Think of them more as a starting point towards turning the team in the right direction. Just imagine these three ideas are implemented. Then remember that Cleveland gets an All-Pro lineman with the return of LeCharles Bentley who missed the entire 2006 season after suffering a year-ending injury on the first day of training camp. Finally, if Wimbley and K2 have a repeat of the success they saw in 2006 and the wide receiving core (*cough* Braylon Edwards *cough*) can play to their full potential, there is a real chance that the Dawg Poung will have a real reason to get excited in 2007.