Browns Bolster Roster, Still Need QB

Who moved to the head of the NFL class during the draft? Find out with FanHouse's team-by-team 2009 Draft Grades.

One year removed from a 10-win season, and on the heels of a four-win effort, owner Randy Lerner decided change was in order. He fired head coach Romeo Crennel and general manager Phil Savage and brought in Eric Mangini and George Kokonis.

If the first draft under the new leadership is any indication, the Browns will use the last weekend in April to restock the roster, and eschew high-priced, quick-fix free agents. The previous regime had a healthy mix of the two: Gary Baxter, Eric Steinbach, LeCharles Bentley and Donte' Stallworth were signed as free agents; Kamerion Wimbley, Joe Thomas and Brady Quinn were all high-round draft picks.

But as the Akron Beacon Journal's Marla Ridenour wrote earlier this week, the team's strategy of trading down -- three times in the first round, it turned out -- could be something fans and media are talking about a few years from now.

As the dust settles on the 2009 NFL Draft, the list of players passed over by the Browns in their first-round trading slide from No. 5 to No. 17 to No. 19 to No. 21 reads like a who's who of college football. Rey Maualuga, Clay Matthews III, Chris Wells, Jeremy Maclin, Michael Crabtree, B.J. Raji, Mark Sanchez, Brian Orakpo, Malcolm Jenkins and James Laurinaitis all could have been Browns on the team's stops down the board in the first round.

Or it could be the case that we look back on the 2009 draft as the moment the Browns' rebuilding process began in earnest. Yes, Kokonis and Mangini took a pass on some big-name players, but the guys they landed will immediately contribute.

After thrice trading down, Cleveland came away with the best center in the draft with the 21st pick. Alex Mack will start in Week 1 and he gives the Browns something incumbent Hank Fraley couldn't: an interior line presence who will hold his own against Haloti Ngata and Casey Hampton. Fraley was more tactician than bruiser; that worked well when he was in the Eagles' West Coast offense, less so in the AFC North. Mack is both.

Even though Michael Oher was still on the board when Mack was selected, Mangini indicated before last weekend that he wanted to get bigger and stronger at center. And that's exactly what he did.

Fifteen picks later, the Browns got grabbed Brian Robiskie, the most NFL-ready wideout in the draft. Assuming Braylon Edwards isn't traded, Robiskie will be the No. 2 receiver. He's not as explosive as Stalloworth, but he is a precise route runner with good size, great hands, and a deep understanding of the game. Whoever ends up under center in Cleveland will benefit from Robiskie being on the field.

The Browns used their second second-round pick to take Mohamed Massaquoi, another wide receiver. With Stallworth's future in doubt, and Joe Jurevicius no longer with the club, the former Georgia standout could be pressed into action. At 6-2, 210, Massoquoi is an imposing figure, but he occasionally struggles with dropped passes. That's probably the last thing Browns fans want to hear after Edwards' 2008 season.

The team's final second rounder, David Veikune, will replace free agent Willie McGinest at outside linebacker. He'll take some pressure off Wimbley, who had 11 sacks as a rookie but saw his production slip the last two seasons because of constant double-teams.

Fans remain skeptical that Mangini can do for the Browns what Crennel couldn't. Partly because he failed in New York with a better Jets team, but also because Browns fans, by habit, are a cynical bunch. Despite the draft-weekend additions, the biggest facing issue this team is who will play quarterback. A few years from now we could be talking about how Cleveland should have taken Mark Sanchez when they had the chance.

Draft picks

1 (21) Alex Mack, C, California
2 (36) Brian Robiskie, WR, Ohio St.
2 (50) Mohamed Massaquoi, WR, Georgia
2 (52) David Veikune, DE, Hawaii
4 (104) Kaluka Maiava, ILB, USC
6 (177) Don Carey, CB, Norfolk St.
6 (191) Coye Francies, CB, San Jose St.
6 (195) James Davis, RB, Clemson

GRADE: B. The Browns passed over good players to move down the board, but they also addressed most of their pressing needs. They're just hoping that Mark Sanchez doesn't come back to haunt them.