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The Editorially Independent Voice of The University of Akron

The Buchtelite

The Editorially Independent Voice of The University of Akron

The Buchtelite

Browns score big in draft

“It is no secret that the Cleveland Browns haven’t been the best in the past at drafting players into the NFL. This year, newly appointed Mike Holmgren took a stab alongside Eric Mangini to change the face of the Browns franchise. Coming into the draft the Browns had one major need: a quarterback.”

It is no secret that the Cleveland Browns haven’t been the best in the past at drafting players into the NFL.

This year, newly appointed Mike Holmgren took a stab alongside Eric Mangini to change the face of the Browns franchise.

Coming into the draft the Browns had one major need: a quarterback.

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Many felt they would choose a quarterback in the first round.

It came as a shock to many Clevelanders when Joe Haden’s name was announced as the seventh overall pick.

Personally, at the time, I was shocked as well. I felt that we would be forced to sign an inferior quarterback because all of the premier quarterbacks would be gobbled up.

When Jimmy Clausen and Colt McCoy’s names were still on the board in the second round I was pleased with the fact that we could grab them.

Once again I was shocked when T.J. Ward, and soon to follow, Montario Hardesty’s names were called in the second round.

As a pure Browns fan, I figured this was just another draft to go home disappointed.

The third round of the NFL draft would prove me wrong.

When Mack Brown walked out in the third round to announce the Browns pick, I instantly knew who the name would be.

The Browns took a reach and picked up Colt McCoy after leaving Browns fans on the edge of their seats for the first two rounds.

This shows a few things.

First off, maybe Holmgren knows exactly how to run this team. I call him a genius for being able to get McCoy at such a late round.

McCoy was the winningest quarterback in FBS history, so needless to say, the boy knows how to win.

The rest of the draft was also successful for the Browns.

They addressed major needs in the first two rounds with cornerback Joe Haden and safety T.J. Ward.

Haden’s name was on the lips of many Browns followers as a potential pick up.

Haden hails from Florida where he established himself as a tough corner, compiling 197 tackles during his tenure.

Ward is also a physical player at safety. He comes to Cleveland from Oregon where he helped them become a force in the PAC-10 for the past few years.

The Browns third pick, Montario Hardesty, comes from Tennessee. I think the pick shows us that Holmgren may not be satisfied with only Jerome Harrison in the backfield.

Hardesty is coming off of a breakout senior season where he compiled over 1,300 yards and 13 touchdowns.

The last name from the Browns draft that I will bring up is Carlton Mitchell, a wide-receiver out of South Florida.

Some are comparing him to the next Brandon Marshall. I don’t know about the rest of you, but personally that excites me.

He set a single season record at South Florida with 706 yards and was also the all time leader in receiving there with 1,648 yards.

He accomplished this without even competing his senior season.

With the draft now over it all looks good on paper. I am more worried about how these players will look in the fall when the Brownies take to the field.

That will be the true gauge for if the draft was a successful one.

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