2nd Day Draft Recap

With the Cleveland Browns first selection of the second day they used their fifth round selection on another corner in picking Brandon McDonald from Memphis. This is a nice value pick in stockpiling defensive backs in a need area. He has also returned punts in his college career so he has a chance to see major time in that area if he impresses the coaching staff in minicamp and training camp.

The Browns then traded their sixth round selection to Dallas and received their sixth round pick and the Cowboys 7th round selection. With the sixth round pick they received they selected a defensive end in Melila Purcell. Purcell is 6'5 and 280 pounds. So he would fit the bill as a defensive end in the 3-4 defense. I like picking a Samoan defensive end because when you get a Samoan player your getting someone who is tough and this team needed bodies on the defensive line.

With the Browns first selection in the seventh round they beefed up the defensive line with the selection of Chase Pittman a defensive end who was a highly productive defensive end at two elite programs in Texas and LSU. He left Texas after a death in the family and wanted to get closer to home and transferred to LSU. Of the second day picks I watched more of Pittman than any of the other picks. He dropped down because he doesn't have ideal speed for the defensive end position. But I see him in the mold of a Simon Fraser where he is going to contribute on special teams and in the defensive line rotation. The kid has a high motor and I think he will be a defensive player that the coaching staff and the fans fall in love with.

Then with the final selection in 2007 NFL Draft the Browns took a flyer on an exciting wide receiver in Syndric Steptoe. He is 5'9 170 pound wide receiver. I do think the receiving core needed to add some speed to it and he definitely does that. The only bad thing I know about Steptoe he comes from Arizona the same place we got Dennis Northcutt from. But, Steptoe did return punts and I see this as a way that he can make this team out of camp, if not I see him as a player who will be stored away on the practice squad.

That concludes what might be one of the most exciting draft classes since the rebirth of this team in 1999. I think we added three starters for the next 10 years as well as adding much needed depth to the defensive lines and backfield. To me the only disappointing part of this draft was not adding a running back for depth but I'm guessing either that they are happy with what they have or see that next year is a much more deep running back class. When discussing this point I remember Phil Savage saying a few weeks ago that it was almost impossible to address all the needs but I think the line of scrimmage, defensive backfield, and getting the face of the franchise for the next ten years were the most pressing of needs. I give this draft class a solid A. If the results aren't met on the field I think it is clear that Phil Savage has done his job now it is up to Romeo to produce some wins.

Comments welcomed.

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