from http://www.gbnreport.com/
Great Blue North Draft Report
Third pick for sale New Cleveland G.M. Phil Savage left no doubt at the Browns pre-draft news conference yesterday that the team would very much like to move down from the 3rd spot in next weekends draft. Savage indicated that over the next couple of days he will be actively calling other teams around the league looking for a trading partner. In fact, according to Savage, the Browns will be willing to move fairly deep into the opening round if the right offer came along. Savage also indicated that the Browns might also be interested in moving their #2, the 34th overall, to a team looking to move up to grab a first-round quality player who slipped out of the opening round. And while they didnt quite come out and say it publicly, the Browns are downplaying the likelihood that they would take a QB with the #3 pick overall if they werent able to swing a deal to move down. Savage also downplayed the fact that the Browns cancelled a pre-draft visit from Michigan WR Braylon Edwards, likely the top-rated player to be available were the team to stay at #3 citing a scheduling conflict. According to Savage, the Browns already know all they need to about Edwards. The Browns, though, will be meeting with Wisconsin DE Erasmus James this week, along with Arkansas QB-turned-WR Matt Jones and Akron QB Charlie Frye. The Browns, who also helped run Fryes on-campus workout late last month, have shown a lot of interest in Frye who could very well still be on the board when they make their second round selection. Meanwhile, Savage appeared to downplay the likelihood that the Browns would select a QB like Alex Smith of Utah if they stayed at the 3rd pick. Savage hedged, saying that for every Peyton Manning, theres a Ryan Leaf. Savage also noted that new head coach Romeo Crennell was part of an organization which won three of the last four Super Bowls with a 6th round pick at the helm.
QB carousel spinning in Motor City One of the more curious stories of this pre-draft year was whether Detroit actually had Utah QB Alex Smith in for a visit in the past couple of weeks. There were some rumblings originally that Smith had visited, but the Lions countered saying it was actually the Stanford TE of the same name who was in town. In fact, the Cardinals Smith may very well have visited the Lions who have a need for a pass-catching TE, however, they also did have Utahs Smith in for a visit. Thats curious, of course, because the Lions already appear set at QB with incumbent starter Joey Harrington and newly-signed veteran Jeff Garcia. There had been rumblings as recently as January, though, that the Lions and especially head coach Steve Mariucci werent pleased with Harringtons progress through his first three years in the league. The rather immobile Harrington also isnt necessarily a very good fit for Mariuccis west coast style offense. What makes more sense for the Lions, who have the 10th pick overall this year, would be to look at selecting a top defensive prospect such as Texas LB Derrick Johnson or Maryland DE Shawne Merriman at that spot and, in fact, Detroit had both in for final pre-draft visits earlier this week.
Coupled with this from ESPNInsider:
Apr. 13 - Browns general manager Phil Savage may have to consider a possible trade down with the Bucs (to No. 5) if Aaron Rodgers falls to them. The Browns are believed to like Alex Smith more than Rodgers. If Smith is there at No. 3, they'd take him. If only Rodgers is there, they might have to take wide receiver Braylon Edwards. However, if Edwards is gone, the Browns aren't taking a running back, and might trade down with the Bucs and take a defensive player
Apr. 11 - Jon Gruden and Bruce Allen recently visited Utah quarterback Alex Smith and Cal quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and it appears the 49ers, Dolphins and Browns have a possible trading partner if they are willing to make a sweetheart deal to move out of their top-three spots. The Bucs consider Smith and Rodgers top-level quarterbacks.
Although no trade talks have begun, the Bucs' late push to visit the QBs creates some options for the top three teams. Going off the trade charts used by most teams, the normal cost of moving from No. 5 to No. 1 would be top-10, first-round pick. To move from No. 5 to No. 2 would be a top-12 pick. To move from No. 5 to No. 3 would be a second-round pick, something the Bucs could easily do.
Most of these rumors came out today - If Cleveland deals down to 5, no big deal.
Cleveland dealing down to 10 would shake things up a little.
Great Blue North Draft Report
Third pick for sale New Cleveland G.M. Phil Savage left no doubt at the Browns pre-draft news conference yesterday that the team would very much like to move down from the 3rd spot in next weekends draft. Savage indicated that over the next couple of days he will be actively calling other teams around the league looking for a trading partner. In fact, according to Savage, the Browns will be willing to move fairly deep into the opening round if the right offer came along. Savage also indicated that the Browns might also be interested in moving their #2, the 34th overall, to a team looking to move up to grab a first-round quality player who slipped out of the opening round. And while they didnt quite come out and say it publicly, the Browns are downplaying the likelihood that they would take a QB with the #3 pick overall if they werent able to swing a deal to move down. Savage also downplayed the fact that the Browns cancelled a pre-draft visit from Michigan WR Braylon Edwards, likely the top-rated player to be available were the team to stay at #3 citing a scheduling conflict. According to Savage, the Browns already know all they need to about Edwards. The Browns, though, will be meeting with Wisconsin DE Erasmus James this week, along with Arkansas QB-turned-WR Matt Jones and Akron QB Charlie Frye. The Browns, who also helped run Fryes on-campus workout late last month, have shown a lot of interest in Frye who could very well still be on the board when they make their second round selection. Meanwhile, Savage appeared to downplay the likelihood that the Browns would select a QB like Alex Smith of Utah if they stayed at the 3rd pick. Savage hedged, saying that for every Peyton Manning, theres a Ryan Leaf. Savage also noted that new head coach Romeo Crennell was part of an organization which won three of the last four Super Bowls with a 6th round pick at the helm.
QB carousel spinning in Motor City One of the more curious stories of this pre-draft year was whether Detroit actually had Utah QB Alex Smith in for a visit in the past couple of weeks. There were some rumblings originally that Smith had visited, but the Lions countered saying it was actually the Stanford TE of the same name who was in town. In fact, the Cardinals Smith may very well have visited the Lions who have a need for a pass-catching TE, however, they also did have Utahs Smith in for a visit. Thats curious, of course, because the Lions already appear set at QB with incumbent starter Joey Harrington and newly-signed veteran Jeff Garcia. There had been rumblings as recently as January, though, that the Lions and especially head coach Steve Mariucci werent pleased with Harringtons progress through his first three years in the league. The rather immobile Harrington also isnt necessarily a very good fit for Mariuccis west coast style offense. What makes more sense for the Lions, who have the 10th pick overall this year, would be to look at selecting a top defensive prospect such as Texas LB Derrick Johnson or Maryland DE Shawne Merriman at that spot and, in fact, Detroit had both in for final pre-draft visits earlier this week.
Coupled with this from ESPNInsider:
Apr. 13 - Browns general manager Phil Savage may have to consider a possible trade down with the Bucs (to No. 5) if Aaron Rodgers falls to them. The Browns are believed to like Alex Smith more than Rodgers. If Smith is there at No. 3, they'd take him. If only Rodgers is there, they might have to take wide receiver Braylon Edwards. However, if Edwards is gone, the Browns aren't taking a running back, and might trade down with the Bucs and take a defensive player
Apr. 11 - Jon Gruden and Bruce Allen recently visited Utah quarterback Alex Smith and Cal quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and it appears the 49ers, Dolphins and Browns have a possible trading partner if they are willing to make a sweetheart deal to move out of their top-three spots. The Bucs consider Smith and Rodgers top-level quarterbacks.
Although no trade talks have begun, the Bucs' late push to visit the QBs creates some options for the top three teams. Going off the trade charts used by most teams, the normal cost of moving from No. 5 to No. 1 would be top-10, first-round pick. To move from No. 5 to No. 2 would be a top-12 pick. To move from No. 5 to No. 3 would be a second-round pick, something the Bucs could easily do.
Most of these rumors came out today - If Cleveland deals down to 5, no big deal.
Cleveland dealing down to 10 would shake things up a little.
...If they can't get him, they may look to trade down for Mark Clayton...I guess they don't think Charles Rogers will play much this season...This stems from a John Clayton report, BTW...