Word on the Street: Browns Will Draft Either Sanchez or Crabtree

The Browns won four games last season. It cost Phil Savage and Romeo Crennel their jobs, and has led to an offseason full of speculation about whom the team will draft with the fifth-overall pick next Saturday.

Cleveland's collapse was mildly surprising; it won 10 games in 2007 and just missed the playoffs. With the quarterback position seemingly decided -- Derek Anderson went to the Pro Bowl in '07 -- only the defense needed fixing. Trading for Shaun Rogers and Corey Williams accomplished that (in theory, anyway) and all that remained was winning the Super Bowl.

Clearly, that didn't happen, and in the weeks leading up to the NFL Draft, the speculation has primarily concerned two players on the roster: quarterback Brady Quinn and wide receiver Brayon Edwards. To some scouts, Quinn, despite only attempting 97 career passes, isn't considered accurate enough to be a starter. Edwards wants out of Cleveland, and he may get his wish as soon as this week, and no later than this summer.

Which is why the latest rumor, via WOIO's 19 Action News (!), sounds eminently plausible:

Sources have told 19 Action News the Browns will either take USC quarteraback [sic] Mark Sanchez or Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree. The Browns have the fifth pick in next week's NFL Draft.

It's worth pointing out that the National Football Post's Mike Lombardi has been beating this drum for a month now. Whatever, it's potentially more evidence that new general manager George Kokonis and new head coach Eric Mangini don't think either Quinn or Edwards can help the Browns back to respectability -- even though Edwards had 80 receptions for almost 1,300 yards and 16 touchdowns during the '07 season.

That said, Braylon dropped nearly as many passes a year ago, and Anderson is proof that expectations can change drastically over the course of one season.

And while Sanchez or Crabtree would make the Browns offense better, the defense would still have gaping holes at linebacker and in the secondary. One mitigating factor: there doesn't appear to be a defensive player worth a top-5 selection. Instead of reaching to fill a need, the Browns could take Sanchez or Crabtree, both immediate starters and potential impact players.

You know, just like Edwards and Quinn when they were drafted.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

4-18-2009 @ 1:36PM

gvenables said...

so aaron curry isn't a top-5 defensive player? a lb who's been described as the best to enter the league in the last decade. i guess its not surprising the browns don't see this...

4-18-2009 @ 2:15PM

nochickenhawk said...

Mark Sanchez is an immediate starter? Where at Cleveland State? Give me a freakin break, Wilson!

4-18-2009 @ 2:48PM

ryan said...

gvenables,

Good point. I wasn't clear in the post, but I should've said "there isn't a top-5 defensive player in the draft assuming Curry's gone by the first three picks." For some reason I didn't think that important.

nochickenhawk,

Mayock actually mentioned last week that the Broncos should get Sanchez and said he'd "step in Day 1."

http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/04/08/mike-mayock-broncos-need-mark-sanchez/

4-18-2009 @ 4:29PM

Mr.G said...

Yes indeed,Mayock has hyped Sanchez big time,and for good reason.Sanchez has everything you would look for in a potential franchise QB, except for a lot of starting experience in college.Mayock thinks he's so bright and talented though,he could step right in 1st year,and learn enough on the fly to be successful at the next level.Given Cleveland's new front office regime,I would not be surprised if Sanchez is the guy they want for the future.The Browns already have a 1st round offer on the table for Quinn,and if Sanchez is still there at #5,look for them to take him and then trade Quinn,hope for Moreno with that pick and then draft defense with their 2 2nd round picks.

4-18-2009 @ 6:10PM

Rock said...

Brady Quinn Inaccurate????? It would be a mistake to not give Quinn a chance. What are these people smoking? Anderson is inaccurate, he has no command of the huddle, he cannot make good decisions. What more do you need to see?? Derek Anderson will never succeed in this town. He will be booed right out of here. The only reason he is still here is you cannot get anything for him. Lots of people seem interested or want Quinn. Bad arm? Go to You Tube and Punch in Brady Quinn ... You will see that he can throw the ball.

4-25-2009 @ 10:37AM

Shawn said...

Rock - I agree with you Brady Quinn hasn't gotten a fair shot in Cleveland. Let him start and see what he's got or LET HIM GO! Kansas City wants him. It's stupid for him to ride the bench.

4-18-2009 @ 7:12PM

Rock: I'd say they would like to trade Anderson as well.They're just holding out hope that somebody will pony up a 2nd round pick for him,that's all.-Many experts have doubts about Quinn's arm strength AND being accurate on a consistent basis.Quinn obviously has some talent,but is Mangini confident enough that he will become the franchise QB they want for their offense?It's not looking that way right now.If not,then he's going after Sanchez to be that guy,not Anderson.

4-18-2009 @ 10:47PM

Eric Koncsol said...

Forget sanchez! trade braylon for anoter first round. then go defense, defense, then rb and wr in the second.if cleveland picks either crabtree or sanchez with their fifth over all they're on crack. this is coming from a very loyal fan. as far as anderson we should have never resigned him. we should have let him test the market when he was a restricted freeagent. lets give quinn a better chance to prove himself this year, if it doesn't work out lets go for tebow or McCoy 2010 draft.

4-18-2009 @ 11:07PM

mdkin01 said...

It doesnt really matter who the Browns draft, they will still find a way to the bottom of their division and the league.

4-19-2009 @ 2:20AM

Eric: Trading Edwards would leave the Browns with ZERO starting receivers,and there are really NO #1 type receivers available in the 2nd round.Basically,if they trade Edwards,it forces them to pick Crabtree at #5 and every other team would know it.Quinn had a chance his 1st year,but decided he would rather hold out for more money instead of reporting on time.All he had to do was show up to beat out Charlie Frye and an unproven DA,but he decided to take the money instead of earning it first.Sanchez IS a better talent than Quinn anyway.

4-19-2009 @ 4:58PM

ziggy said...

Keep Quinn. Trade Edwards to giants use #5 for crabtree then go D the rest of the draft

4-19-2009 @ 7:04PM

combatsoldier67 said...

We need to trade Edwards, because he has one year left on his contract. And he will not sign with Cleveland because he doesn't want to be here. So trade him and get something in return for him.

4-19-2009 @ 7:36PM

BIGTEN said...

Trade Quinn and Edwards. Get the high picks. Go for a RB and WR in first round (Wells or Moreno and Crabtree) then defense in second round (Mathews for sure). If you are going to give up QB in Quinn and a WR that can get 900-1000; then you better do whatever is needed to get some production. Lewis is done after this year and no WR leaves nno running room and a long season ahead. At least by running the ball; some pressure is off Anderson and the WR's. NO way should they consider Sanchez; he's another gamble with as little games as he had played.

4-20-2009 @ 9:19AM

rjw6683 said...

I can understand trading Edwards to get a pick instead of borrowing for a year and then getting nothing in return, but it's crazy not to give Quinn a shot after we moved up to get him. Crabtree isn't a dead lock on what we need either when there are a few veteran free agents that could be signed and a few quality WR's that will be available in rounds 2 and 3. Without adding a few studs on defense we will continue to be talking about the next year come week 10.

4-20-2009 @ 9:28AM

DVAUGHN said...

What a mess. Im hoping Pitts key players all buy motorcycles, I think this would help the Browns signifigantly! Go CAVS

4-20-2009 @ 10:09AM

Mike said...

You have to get something for Edwards, and now. Keep Anderson, believe me, there will be an injury somewhere on a team and then you can get something, worthwhile, for Anderson. But, I'm sorry, if this team doesn't realize they need a presence on DEFENSE, they should get out of the business. Curry brings an attitude the Browns have not had since coming back. Get HIM, trade up if you have to, get him. And, why would you manuver and get Quinn and at the very least not give the man a shot for at least two years. This team has nothing to lose doing that. He is young, he is smart, and he can be a leader. Mark my words, they get rid of Quinn it will come back and bite the Browns in their azz, which is commen there. Then, keep an eye out on the waiver wire, there will be decent wide outs there. Get a pick for Edwards and get another defensive player, at worse a 2nd rounder, why not Matthews then. This team needs linebackers terribly.

4-20-2009 @ 10:35AM

How crazy is it in a draft filled with quality linebackers that the Browns talk is still about drafting a skilled position on offense. Recievers and quarterbacks can be found through trades or free agency any given year without wondering if they can play in the NFL. Rarely does a team let a stud linebacker go. Browns would be smart to take one at #5 and grab another with whatever they get for Edwards. There is a few descent secondary players that will be around at the end of the first or beginning of the second round also. After late October it all comes down to stopping the run in Cleveland anyways.

4-20-2009 @ 10:47AM

daveenlakwood said...

*50 am radio starts off this morning with Aaron goldhammer ripping ch19 and the Sanchez pick.... this is the same dude from denver that ripped the cavs after the Orlando loss and said theyd beat the Cavs....this dudes 24 years old and he switches positions more than a politican.... he advocates the Browns taking defense at 5.... but any Browns fan knows every Defense dude we took in the top of the draft since 1999 has been a bust.... Aaron says his pick is Brian Orakpo.... ya select another guy that you wanta switch def positions for the 3/4..... if Aaron did any homework that Sanchez is a stud.... look at his gamne film.... look how dangerous he is on the move....can you say Big Ben...look for Sanchez to be the pick.... not a wr when he has a screw in his foot and the draft is full of wrs.... and for those advocating reaching for a linebacker, you can pay 30 million to a 15 to 22 pick player. Aaron Goldhammmer is Mary Cabbage Cabots type reporter.... no stats .... no logic... just talk or write anything that sounds like the pick of the week..... Aaron claims Quinn is an unknown talent..... yo dude from denver u ever hear taped practices? You ever wonder why Brady couldn't unseat a struggling Anderson..... perhaps he's not the guy..... and perhaps its also partly a bad contract that calls for Brady getting 11 million if he starts 70 percent of the games, that would kill our cap....Hammer tell us your draft picks.... tell us which teams gonna beeat the cavs..... or oops i forgot you only have 1 move like Wimpley.... if someone disagrees with you you simply hangup on them like a little kid.....

4-21-2009 @ 10:33AM

blackshere said...

With Jurevicius gone I hope the Browns are looking for a possession receiver, somebody they can count on to catch clutch passes. My choice would be the kid from Penn State,Jordan Norwood. Saw him on a receiver's competition on ABC earlier this year and I've never seen anybody with such great hands. Son of a coach, exemplary character, probably can be had in round two or three. Small,but at least he won't drop passes. Goodbye, Braylon.

4-23-2009 @ 2:57AM

DEZI said...

keep braylon. its his final year of contract. hes gonna play like a beast 2 get a better contract next year. he had 1 bad year. so what. every great player does. keep brady! he grew up a browns fan and wants 2 proove hime self. lets improve our defense. lets improve our backfield. GO BROWNIES!