The Browns really need help rushing the passer and they hope that David Veikune will be able to help them.  He is 6′2″, 255 pounds and he runs a 4.8 40.  The Browns will probably try to convert him to outside linebacker where he would compete for a starting job.  He played in 41 games (15 starts) at Hawaii making 109 tackles, 25 tackles for a loss, had 16 sacks, batted three balls and he forced 4 fumbles.  The Browns need him to help them get pressure on opposing QBs in 2009.

The Cleveland Browns were pleased to see Mohamed Massaquoi drop to them in the 2nd round as many experts had him going late in the first round.  He has nice size at 6′1″, 210 and he has speed to burn (4.45 40).  His only weakness appears to be his hands and that’s a bad thing.  Still, he works hard especially taking on defenders in the running game.  Massaquoi played in 51 games (36 starts) in three seasons with the Georgia Bulldogs in which he made 158 grabs for 2,282 yards (14.4 avg) with 16 TD grabs.  This was another good pick by the Cleveland Browns as they rebuild the receiving corps.

The Cleveland Browns needed help at WR even if they do wind up keeping Braylon Edwards.  With that in mind the Browns selected former Ohio State Buckeye Brian Robiskie in the 2nd round of the NFL Draft.  Robiskie has great hands but he’ll likely be a possession receiver as he doesn’t have the speed to stretch the field.  Robiskie has nice size at 6′2″, 207 pounds and he runs a 4.5 40.  Robiskie played 4 seasons for the Ohio State Buckeyes and he appeared in 51 games (28 starts) in which he caught 127 passes for 1,866 yards (14.7 avg) with 24 TD grabs.  Look for Robiskie to excel in the NFL due to him playing with better QBs than the guys throwing him the ball at Ohio State.  It was a nice bone to throw to Browns’ fans in picking Robiskie.

The Cleveland Browns finally decided to make a selection in the first round when they made Alex Mack the #21 pick of the first round of the NFL Draft.  Mack will likely push veteran Hank Fraley right off the roster.  Mack is a big guy at 6′4″, 312 pounds and he will bring power to the middle of the field for the Browns.  Mack played in 46 games (39 starts) in his 4-year career with the California Bears.  This will make the offensive line for the Browns one of the best in the NFL in 2009 and beyond.

The Cleveland Browns’ day started off with a trade with the Jets.  The Browns traded the #5 pick in the first round of the draft and got back the #17 pick in the first round, the #52 overall pick (2nd round), DE Kenyon Coleman, safety Abram Elam and QB Brett Ratliff.  30-year old Kenyon Coleman will be in the mix at defensive end for the Browns.  The 6′5″, 295 pound Coleman played in all 16 games for the Jets last season and he made 53 tackles, defensed 1 pass and had 1/2 a sack.  Coleman has now played in 89 games in his NFL career and he has made 205 tackles, defensed 3 passes, has 8.5 sacks and he has forced 1 fumble.  27-year old strong safety Abram Elam will replace the departed Sean Jones in the starting lineup.  The 6′0″, 207 pound Elam played in all 16 games for the Jets last season and he made 69 tackles, defensed 3 passes, had 2 sacks, forced 3 fumbles and he intercepted a pass that he returned 92 yards for a TD.  Elam has now played in 44 games in his NFL career and he has made 135 tackles, defensed 5 passes, has 2 sacks, forced 4 fumbles and he has 1 interception.  23-year old QB Brett Ratliff is a favorite of head coach Eric Mangini.  The 6′4″, 235 pound Ratliff has never played in a regular season game in his NFL career.  He was a standout last pre-season for the Jets.  He completed 32 of 47 passes (68.1%) for 499 yards with 4 TD passes and 1 interception (122.6 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 3 times for 9 yards (3.0 ypc).  It will be interesting to see if Ratliff’s arrival pushes Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson out of town.

The Browns then traded down from #17 to #19 in the first round with the Bucs so that they could draft QB Josh Freeman.  The Browns also picked up the #191 pick overall (6th round) from the Bucs.  The Browns then traded the #19 pick of the first round to the Eagles who selected WR/KR Jeremy Maclin.  The Browns received the #21 pick of the first round which turned out to be center Alex Mack and they also got the Eagles’ 6th round pick (#195 overall).  These were good moves for the Browns who needed to add a few players for 2009.