*************2013 NFL DRAFT GRADES************

1.6 Barkevious Mingo, DE/LB, LSU

I knew that Mingo would go earlier than the experts thought, and that is why I had the Cardinals taking him in my final mock. Mingo is the defensive pass rusher in the draft that you know what you are getting because of his experience. 

B+

3.68 Leon McFadden, CB, SD State

I like the move, but I'm not sure that I love the player. There were a few other good guys out there that should have gone before McFadden.

B-

6.175 Jamoris Slaughter, S, Notre Dame

7.217 Armonty Bryant, DE, East Central

7.227 Garrett Gilkey, G, Chadron State

OVERALL GRADE: C

This is not a D+ grade because they were able to land a 3rd and a 4th rounder in the 2014 draft. But this draft stunk. I was ok with the Mingo pick, but they went on experience over potential and value. The spent their 2nd round pick last year on a very poor supplemental draft choice, and their 3rd round pick might splash across from Haden. Either way, you do not like your team which is picking 6th overall to have two (at best) starters from a draft.

  

 
*************2012 NFL DRAFT GRADES************ 

1.3 Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

The Browns got played and had to give three picks to guarantee Richardson, but if that's what it takes to guarantee that they get their guy then it was well worth it. 

B

1.22 Brandon Weeden, QB, OK State

I understand the move, but I hate it here. Realistically there are very few teams that need a guy like Weeden, and they could have gotten him in the 2nd round. At worst they could have picked up a pick to move back with the Pats. WIth that said, the team got a guy that will push Colt McCoy for the starting gig. If they both fail then they will draft a QB early in 2013.

C

2.37 Mitchell Schwartz, OT, Cal

This is a little bit of a reach, and there were definitely better guys out there, but the team got a solid RT to play around with. Overall I think they should have found away to trade back, or they should have drafted better value.

C

3.87 John Hughes, DT, Cincinnati

The team got a 4th rounder to fall back, but what the hell is the team doing reaching for a 6th round pick just because he is named after the Breakfast Club guy.

C+ 

4.100 Travis Benjamin, WR, Miami

I like that they went for a receiver, but he wasn't really even the best Miami receiver on the board.

C

4.120 James-Michael Johnson, MLB, Nevada

I'm ok with this pick. Johnson has a lot of potential to actually get some plays in for this Browns team.

B

5.160 Ryan Miller, OG, Colorado

The team needed some help at OT and OG in the draft and they may have gotten two eventual starters.

B+
 
6.204 Emmanuel Acho, MLB, Texas

Acho should have gone much sooner. I actually like him more than James-Michael Johnson.

A

6.205 Billy Winn, DT, Boise State

Wow. Winn should have gone nearly 100+ picks sooner, but he fell for some reason. 

A+

7.245 Trevin Wade, CB, Arizona

7.247 Brad Smelley, TE, Alabama

 
OVERALL GRADE: C/A

This is a draft that I love and hate at the same time. The team ended up with 11 draft picks, and I could actually see them use each and every guy to their fullest next year. Day one they might actually have 3-5 starters as well which is fantastic. They ended up with maybe the best positional player in the draft, and a guy that will start at QB.

But at the same time this team has the feeling as if they think Weeden is the guy that is going to make them compete next year. They got a running back which is great, but the team still has an old unproven QB, and no receivers. The team has defensive talent, but very few stars. What the Browns may have done is actually set them back two years because their 1st round QB pick almost ensures that they won't draft one for two years. So in two years when the team is where they are now we will wonder if this draft was the right one.

 
 

*************2011 NFL DRAFT GRADES************ 
 
Picks

1:21 Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor

Phil Taylor is a massive NT that can fit in the 4-3 despite what some say. I actually really like this pick.

B+

2.37 Jabaal Sheard, DE, Pittsburgh

I'm not a huge Sheard fan, but his potential is massive

B

2.59 Greg Little, WR, UNC

Decent value, high upside, and probably starting on day one. Great.

A-

4.102 Jordan Cameron, TE, USC

Some people disliked this pick, but I don't quite know why. The team is building a field of weapons for Colt McCoy, and they got one of the biggest sleepers in the draft.

B

4.124 Owen Marecic, FB, Stanford

Some people think that Marecic is a great offensive weapon, but he is more of a blocking guy than a stats guy. The team got a quality blocker that can possibly fill in at LB, and on special teams. At worst the team got a talented blocker.

B-
 
5.137 Buster Skrine, CB, Tennessee-Chat

Skrine is an intrguing corner with great speed, but average tape. A good value though.

B+
 
5.150 Jason Pinkston, OT, Pittsburgh

Another good pick. Pinkston might actually end up a starter on the right side next year, and his price was minimal.

B+

7.248 Eric Hagg, S, Nebraska

With a very late 7th round pick the Browns got a 6th round quality safety. Pretty hard to not like closing a draft that way.

B+

Draft Grade A

If the team had taken Julio Jones and Jabaal Sheard they would have gotten an ok grade. But the team got Sheard, an instant starter at defensive tackle, a WR1 in Greg Little, and a 1st round next year. I see four to six starters from this class which is a great thing, but the 1st round pick next year might give the team a final pick to compete in 2012.

NEW GRADE: A

Wow. Leaps and bounds over Eric Mangini even though the draft had some subtle hints of Mangini in it. There isn't a single pick that I didn't like, and they touched on almost every aspect of the team when drafting. What I really like too is that I can see every single pick getting time in 2011.