Cleveland Brown 2010 NFL Draft Grade
CLEVELAND
1.7 Joe Haden, CB, Florida
Haden is a great corner, and instantly makes this secondary better. Yes, they got Sheldon Brown in a trade, but he’s 30 years old, and this secondary needed more help than one aging Eagle with some great game left in the tank. Haden’s 40 time fallout was stupid, and he ends up being drafted right in his range. The Browns suddenly have a good group of corners. GRADE: A
2.38 TJ Ward, S, Oregon
Ward is very underrated and was going to come off the board early a la Patrick Chung. He’s getting some boos in the post-draft write-ups, but he’s a hard hitting guy with good range and athleticism. He needs some refinement to his ball skills, but he’s a better pick than anyone will admit. He wasn’t going to last long. GRADE: B
2.59 Montario Hardesty, RB, Tennessee
Hardesty and Harrison could be a strong backfield. There were a lot of teams loading up on running backs on draft day, and the Browns needed a partner for Jerome. Some say this is a condemnation of James Davis, but I think he could still be the third down back with Harrison and Hardesty carrying the load. GRADE: B
3.85 Colt McCoy, QB, Texas
Getting McCoy after trying to pass on him seven or eight times has to be fate. I’m starting to come around on Colt anyway. He’s dying to prove people wrong, and can sit for a little bit. He’s a great fit for this offense and won’t be rushed into anything as Mike Holmgren has said. This was where he needed to land, this scheme. GRADE: A-
3.92 Shawn Lauvao, OG, Arizona State
Lauvao is underrated as well, but was still a reach, unless he can start at right tackle. I don’t see that happening, and he’s likely just a project for the interior, but his versatility makes him a valuable commodity for a team that is starting to build a solid group up front. GRADE: B-
3ROUND GRADE: B+
5.160 Larry Asante, S, Nebraska
There are some that say this is just a duplicate pick after taking Ward in the second, but Asante will be the strong safety while Ward will get his shot at free. This was a good pick of a football player type, who exceeds his measurables on the field. GRADE: B
6.177 Carlton Mitchell, WR, USF
This speaks a lot to the work that Mitchell has in front of him. He’s a body-catcher with miles of work in the route running department. His size/speed quotient is incredibly high, so he’s worth the risk here, but he dropped for a reason. GRADE: B-
6.186 Clifton Geathers, DE, South Carolina
This is another great upside pick late in the draft, and may turn out to be better than the Mitchell selection. Geathers is a beast at 6-07 300, and he moves like a snake. His hands and technique need loads of attention though. GRADE: B
Best Pick: Colt McCoy
Worst Pick: Carlton Mitchell
Sleeper Pick: TJ Ward
FINAL ANALYSIS
The Browns impressed a lot of people with this haul, and that prediction could come to fruition, but it’s not a lock. Holmgren followed a major trend in this draft — upside. So while the ceiling is incredibly high for players like Mitchell, Ward, and Geathers, there’s also an equal risk that they never see the field. Colt McCoy has some upside of his own, but his is due to intangibles and work ethic, making him a safer pick in my mind, especially now that we know he’ll sit for a year.
Montario Hardesty gives this team a solid array of options at the running back spot, and will provide a nice change of pace to Jerome Harrison. Lauvao has the ability to provide solid depth at a multitude of positions, and I think he may end up finding a home at guard in the future. Asante is a good safety that plays tough and fits the attitude in this division. Mitchell is a pick I’m kind of souring on, and even though getting his upside late makes sense, I just don’t see him making the turn.
It’s easy to look at this Browns draft and be very impressed, and getting Colt McCoy where they got him along with the value Haden presents saves this grade due to the volatile nature of their other prospects. It could go either way, but it’s tough to doubt Holmgren totally.
FINAL GRADE: B
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