The Cleveland Browns should have done much better than they did in last April’s NFL Draft as they had 4 of the first 52 picks in it.  But, they only got two productive players in those picks.  First off was center Alex Mack who was picked in the first round (#21 overall) out of California.  He played in 16 games (all starts) for the Browns and after a slow start he turned into one of the big reasons that the Browns’ running game picked up on the inside because the man is a brawler.  The Browns looked like they whiffed with their first pick in the 2nd round (#36 overall) when they picked WR Brian Robiskie out of Ohio State.  He played in 11 games and he caught 7 passes for 106 yards (15.1 avg)  and he also made 3 tackles.  The sad thing about Robiskie is that he couldn’t get on the field despite the team’s troubles at WR.  Mohamed Massaquoi was the other WR the Browns took in the 2nd round (#50 overall) out of Georgia.  He was hit and miss in games but his overall production was not too bad considering who the Browns were playing at QB.  He played in 16 games for the Browns last season and he caught 34 passes for 624 yards (18.4 avg) with 3 TD grabs and he also had 5 tackles.  OLB/DE David Veikune out of Hawaii was also picked in the second round of the draft (#52 overall) and he did nothing to help the Browns.  He played in 10 games for the Browns last season and he made ZERO tackles!  Inside linebacker Kaluka Maiava was a good pick for the Browns in the 4th round (#104 overall) out of USC.  He played in all 16 games for the Browns last season and he made 45 tackles, defensed 2 passes, forced 2 fumbles and he had 2.5  sacks.  At the very least Maiava will be a decent back-up for the Browns in 2010 and beyond.  CB Coye Francies (6th round, #191 overall) out of San Jose State didn’t show much as a rookie last season.  He played in 6 games for the Browns and he made 4 tackles and defensed 1 pass.  RB James Davis (6th round, #195 overall) out of Clemson missed most of the season due to injury after having a fantasic pre-season for the Browns.  He played in 2 games for the Browns last season and he carried the ball 9 times for 15 yards (1.7 ypc) and he also caught 4 passes for 5 yards (1.3 avg).  CB Don Carey was also selected in the 6th round (#177 overall) out of Norfolk State but he missed his rookie season due to a shoulder injury and he was claimed off waivers by the Jaguars.

GRADE FOR 2009:  C-

GRADE FOR THE FUTURE:  C

Brian Robiskie will likely miss the season finale for the Cleveland Browns due to a ankle injury.  He has played in 11 games this season for the Browns and he has caught 7 passes for 106 yards (15.1 avg) and he also made 3 tackles.  I hope the Browns learned their lesson about drafting Ohio State Buckeyes to make the fans happy.

The Cleveland Browns were hoping that they would get four starting players in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft but they wound up with 2 of them.  C Alex Mack (1st round, #21 overall) has started since day #1 for the Cleveland Browns at center.  He has started all 8 games and he even has a tackle.  WR Brian Robiskie (2nd round, #36 overall) has been a complete bust to this point in the season as he has caught 1 pass for 23 yards.  You know it’s bad when a WR has as many tackles (1) as he has catches halfway through his rookie season.  Do Browns fans a favor in the future and don’t pick any Buckeyes.  WR Mohamed Massquoi (2nd round, #50 overall) has been touch and go this season for the Browns.  He has caught 19 passes for 328 yards (17.3 avg) and he has 3 tackles this season.  Massaquoi is starting right now and he is without a doubt the best WR on the Browns’ roster.  OLB/DE David Veikune (2nd round, #52 overall) has not even made it to the field during a regular season game and that just can’t happen for a player picked as high as he was.  LB Kaluka Maiava (4th round, #104 overall) is now being forced into the starting lineup for the Browns due to injuries.  He has 20 tackles, 2 forced fumbles and he has defensed 1 pass so far this season for the Browns.  CB Don Carey (6th round, #177 overall) got injured in training camp and he was claimed off waivers by the Jaguars who placed him on I.R.  CB Coye Francies (6th round, #191 overall) has 4 tackles and he has defensed 1 pass so far this year.  RB James Davis (6th round, #195 overall) has carried the ball 9 times for 15 yards (1.7 ypc) and he has caught 4 passes for 5 yards (1.3 avg).  Davis also made a tackle in his rookie season.  But, Davis was injured in practice which ended his rookie season early.  The Browns have to do a better job in April if they are ever going to build this team the right way.

With Braylon Edwards drawing double coverage from the Bengals last week rookie Mohamed Massaquoi went off catching 8 passes for 148 yards (18.5 avg).  With Edwards gone now and no legit WR on the other side Massaquoi will likely start getting double teamed himself this weekend by the Bills.  Massaquoi has the speed and hands to develop into a #1 WR in time but that might be a hard torch for him to carry so early in his career.  Unless Chansi Stuckey or fellow rookie Brian Robiskie (0 catches) can make defenses honest in covering Massaquoi he might have already had his best game of the season. 

The Cleveland Browns have lost rookie running back James Davis for the season due to a shoulder injury.  Davis has carried the ball 9 times for 15 yards (1.7 ypc) and he has also caught 4 passes for 5 yards (1.3 avg).  Davis was outstanding in the pre-season for the Browns and they were probably going to get him more involved in the offense.  The Browns have activated Chris Jennings off the practice squad and he will be Jerome Harrison’s back up tomorrow against the Bengals.