Tick Tock...

We're now less than a week from the NFL's lame duck draft and the Browns' intentions are pretty clear.

First off, understand that Marcel Dareus (DE, Alabama) will be gone.  Von Miller (LB, Texas A&M) will be gone.  Each of them has at least two teams in the top five targeting him.  Neither will be available to the Brownies.  That leaves the Browns with three possibilities with the number six pick, assuming that they don't trade down like a pack of blood belching vagines.

Here are the scenarios --

(1) If AJ Green (WR, Georgia) is on the board when the Browns turn comes (and he will be if the Bengals understand that they have no one to throw to him, but hey they're the Bengals), they will draft him.  Period.  Regardless of any argument that can be made for taking the best available player, Green is the best prospect at the team's biggest position of need.  Read that as -- they have no true #2 receiver, let alone a #1.  Green is also as close as it comes to a sure thing (think Calvin Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald or Andre Johnson).  He has great size, great hands and great speed.  What more could a team ask for?  In fact, earlier today, Mel Kiper stated that, if he were in charge making the Panthers' #1 overall selection, he would take Green.  Done and done.

Should the Bengals indeed choose AJ Green with #4 pick, the situation becomes somewhat murkier


(2) Let's assume that AJ Green and Patrick Peterson (CB, LSU) are both gone, which is entirely possible.  In this circumstance, the Brown take Julio Jones (WR, Alabama).  Look back on a comparison between Green and Jones, here.  Wideout is still the Brownies most glaring hole and Jones is a solid top 10 pick with unreal metrics.  He just needs to become more consistent in, y'know, catching the ball.

(3) If Green is gone and Peterson is not, I honestly don't know what the Browns will do.  The case for Jones is strong, but Peterson is described by some as a once in a lifetime talent.

I would take Jones because I don't buy the best available argument.  Even if you have two shutdown corners, you're not going to win if you cannot keep the defense honest and away from utterly destroying Peyton Hillis.  Also, many cite Petersons' return skills as a significant factor in his draft stock.  Has everyone forgotten that the NFL moved kickoffs up?  Additionally, we already have an A+ return man.  Despite the fact that Josh Cribbs makes a much deeper impact on kick returns, we're sound in all facets of the return game.

Jones is also my best guess as to what the Browns would do if put into this position.  Mike Holmgren and Pat Shurmur are both offensive minds and they will not be able to pass on a weapon like Julio.

The Browns will not select Robert Quinn (DE, North Carolina).  I recognize the need for a pass rush, but the absence of any real wide receiver trumps it like a whole pack of spades (the suit, dummies).  Quinn simply has too many character questions and is too damn raw.

Just my 2 cents.  The draft commences at 8p, Thursday, 04.28.

Cheers.