February 22, 2006

Savage Priorities

Browns G.M. Phil Savage has been pretty open about what the Browns are looking for in the draft, and which players they'd like to bring back in 2006. Here's what he has said to the press in recent days.

Savage said the Browns are working on new deals for free-agents-to-be L.J. Shelton and Orpheus Roye, as well as an extension for Reuben Droughns, whose current contract runs through the 2006 season.

Other potential Browns' free agents, including Antonio Bryant, Kyle Richardson, Ben Taylor and Aaron Shea, will be allowed to test the market. But Savage said the Browns "aren't shutting the door" on any of them potentially re-signing here.

"You never really know until it's done," he said.

Savage said the Browns will look to upgrade their pass rush both in free agency and in the draft, and they'll look to use free agency to add a veteran wide receiver. In either the draft or free agency - maybe both - they'll also look for a linebacker to play inside next to Andra Davis, a punter, a "change-of-pace" running back, and depth on the interior of the offensive line.

Read John Clayton for most everything you need to know about the labor deal, free agents, and salary caps in the NFL. And Len Pasquarelli has the goods on who may end up as franchise players this year.

I'd like to see the Browns use the 12th pick on either a defensive end (Penn State's Tamba Hali or Boston College's Mathias Kiwanuka) or a nose guard - DT (Oregon's Haloti Ngata or FSU's Brodrick Bunkley). Failing that, I'm hoping they go offensive tackle with that pick. USC tackle Winston Justice or Jonathan Scott from Texas might be the pick if they go that direction. I'm not a Chad Greenway fan. He's the Iowa linebacker who lots of mock drafts show going to the Browns at #12. He was about the fifth best linebacker in the Big Ten. No way is he the 12th best player in the draft.

Looks like at least four Buckeyes could go in the first round. A.J. Hawk most likely will not make it past the Raiders at #6, though I'm hoping the Packers might take him at #5, (I don't want to see A.J. in Silver and Black). WR Santonio Holmes and OLB Bobby Carpenter are almost sure-fire first rounders, and a lot of people think CB Ashton Youboty might be as well.

I think safety Donte Whitner and C Nick Mangold will probably go in the second round, and I will be surprised if DE Mike Kudla lasts through the third. Nate Salley, Rob Sims and possibly kicker Josh Huston are middle to late round picks, and DT Marcus Green and LB Anthony Schlegel will be drafted late, if at all. Based on Browns needs, it's hard to project any of these Buckeyes into orange helmets, though I could see us taking a late round shot on Sims, or possibly Kudla if he's still there in the fourth round.

Posted by dan at February 22, 2006 9:44 PM