Mel Kiper's First Mock Draft: Browns Take RG III and Wright

by Chris Pokorny on Jan 18, 2012 7:46 PM EST

If Robert Griffin III really is "the guy" for the Browns, how in the world are Tom Heckert and company going to be able to project whether they should stay at No. 4 and wait for him, or trade up (possibly unnecessarily) a couple of picks? That is the question we'll be seeing in a lot of mock drafts, including Mel Kiper's first edition. Kiper has the Browns taking RG III with the No. 4 pick, and then WR Kendall Wright with the No. 22 pick. The insider article is here, but the excerpts about the Browns' two picks are listed after the jump.

No. 4 - Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

If a team moves ahead of the Browns for Griffin, they also could be in play for Blackmon, or even the guy I have at No. 5, Trent Richardson. However, the questions on Colt McCoy's ceiling as a starting NFL quarterback are getting louder, and if the Browns don't go after a solution such as Matt Flynn, a quarterback certainly could be in play here. Griffin made big strides this past season, particularly with his deep accuracy. He is a big-time athlete at the quarterback position but has developed a very good pocket presence and the ability to read the game, and his big arm comes with a nice touch on intermediate throws. He is a leader and has intangibles that should really impress evaluators during the draft process.

No. 22 - Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Quietly, Wright had a season that almost matched Blackmon's in the Big 12. The Browns might not end up with Griffin with the No. 4 pick, but his teammate would make a lot of sense here. Greg Little is a developing big target and had a pretty good rookie season given the overall performance of the Cleveland offense. Wright is smaller at about 5-10, 190 pounds, but could add a speed threat this offense really needs. He can beat teams over the top with straight-line speed but also works underneath and will do a lot of damage after the catch. The Browns need weapons, and Wright, who also has great hands, fits the profile.

That would be pretty unique to get both players from Baylor. You wouldn't have to worry much about who Griffin's favorite target would be.

Hat tip to johnf34 for posting about this as a FanShot.

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Comments

H&H philosophy – only Baylor players in Round 1.

I would be extremely happy with this outcome.

Resident Tim Couch Apologist.

by Dawg Nuts on Jan 18, 2012 7:53 PM EST reply actions

That would be 3 #1s from Baylor in 2 years. I don’t think they ever had a first round pick before.

by HenryDawg on Jan 18, 2012 7:53 PM EST reply actions

Hat tip to their coach, he is getting it done out there.

"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein

by rufio on Jan 18, 2012 8:25 PM EST up reply actions

Brilliant offensive mind. If you are a good defense he hangs 40 on you if you are a bad defense he hangs 70 on you.

Change isn't good or bad it just "is". Don Draper of Madmen

by realmccoy on Jan 19, 2012 8:21 AM EST up reply actions

Quick search says no #1s since 1957

by JamesPowell on Jan 18, 2012 10:22 PM EST up reply actions

Till last year, that is, when they had two

by JamesPowell on Jan 18, 2012 10:22 PM EST up reply actions

I don’t know about Kendall Wright (literally, I did not have the opportunity to watch him play this year), but his physical size makes me nervous. I envisioned picking a big, tall WR, a player who could actually win jump balls. I think small, fast WRs are easier to pick up in later rounds, plus we have Norwood I don’t think he has hit his ceiling yet. I am looking for someone who can out muscle and out jump the defense.

by BiggieBrown on Jan 18, 2012 7:59 PM EST reply actions

So you’re looking for Alshon Jeffrey? Me too.

by RyanBr on Jan 18, 2012 8:30 PM EST up reply actions

Carlton Mitchell is breaking out this year. Just you wait.

by shep615 on Jan 18, 2012 10:10 PM EST up reply actions

I will never be able to separate Carlton Mitchell from Tony Rizzo’s rant

by JamesPowell on Jan 18, 2012 10:23 PM EST up reply actions

I can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic, but if you aren’t, I seriously think this could happen.

by HenryDawg on Jan 18, 2012 10:28 PM EST up reply actions

and by break out, I mean 20-30 catches

by HenryDawg on Jan 18, 2012 10:28 PM EST up reply actions

He has to break out on to the field first.

by Brownie's Year on Jan 18, 2012 11:10 PM EST up reply actions

by break out I mean 2-3 catches

by HenryDawg on Jan 19, 2012 12:59 PM EST up reply actions

He never looked that small to me, maybe because he is such a blur I didnt get a good look. Texas had 3 CBs drafted last year, 2 in the early rounds. Kendall Wright had no problem running by them, and Blackmon made them look foolish.

Change isn't good or bad it just "is". Don Draper of Madmen

by realmccoy on Jan 19, 2012 8:23 AM EST up reply actions

While we do have a somewhat proven smallish WR in Norwood, this team needs speed and guys that can get yards after the catch. Size doesnt scare me, especially when paired with speed (i.e. Desean Jackson or Victor Cruz) and/or quickness (i.e. Welker). In terms of RG3, would it be the worst thing ever if he comes in and pushes Colt to break through and start leading this team to wins?

by Les Fleurs Du Mal on Jan 19, 2012 10:43 AM EST up reply actions

I don’t care about size, I just want speed. And lots of it.

by Bernie19Kosar on Jan 19, 2012 5:51 PM EST up reply actions

That’s what LaMichael James said*

by HenryDawg on Jan 19, 2012 10:52 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs

Beautiful.

"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools" -Hemingway

by notthatnoise on Jan 20, 2012 10:19 AM EST up reply actions

WalterFootball.com has us taking these same two guys for awhile, currently with the trade up to #2 for RG3.

I would really love for these two guys to land with us and turn our offense around. Shurmur still worries me.

"The tragedy of life is not that man loses, but that he almost wins."

by Simmsinns on Jan 18, 2012 8:01 PM EST reply actions

I hate that WalterFootball has us trading up measly two picks for him. Maybe that’s to counter a different team trading up but I think another team would have a better offer than us to trade up. I don’t want to trade around.

by macdowellm03 on Jan 18, 2012 8:03 PM EST up reply actions

I don’t like the trade up either. I think we can get him at 4, and even if we don’t (because another team offers more), the other options are great too.

"The tragedy of life is not that man loses, but that he almost wins."

by Simmsinns on Jan 18, 2012 8:07 PM EST up reply actions

Walter Football is great.

With or Without the H

by johnf34 on Jan 18, 2012 11:10 PM EST up reply actions

About as great as Clausen

"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein

by rufio on Jan 19, 2012 2:09 AM EST up reply actions

his analysis is hit or miss (sometimes, I admit I do think its ok) but his mocks are usually pretty solid.

I teach good life choices. That's why I almost didn't graduate high school.
Follow @BRoss2013

by bross09 on Jan 19, 2012 4:12 AM EST up reply actions

I know, I am just making fun of that whole debacle.

"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein

by rufio on Jan 19, 2012 5:05 AM EST up reply actions

It’s worth making fun of. But his misses are probably on par with Kiper and McShay. It’s a decent website to get your feet wet with draft talk and whatnot.

"The tragedy of life is not that man loses, but that he almost wins."

by Simmsinns on Jan 19, 2012 8:16 AM EST up reply actions

Yeah, just that article he wrote…it was a little over the top. No one is going to be 100% with these things.

"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein

by rufio on Jan 19, 2012 11:56 AM EST up reply actions

exactly. I generally use it to kinda get a good idea of where guys might go and get a good idea of guys to watch more tape on.

I teach good life choices. That's why I almost didn't graduate high school.
Follow @BRoss2013

by bross09 on Jan 19, 2012 1:15 PM EST up reply actions

I like Walter and thinks he is a half way decent mock guy, didn’t Mel Kiper also have a huge man crush on Jimmy Clausen?

by PaduaDSP on Jan 19, 2012 8:26 AM EST up reply actions

He sure did.

“It’s not Jimmy Clausen related.” – Kiper on why teams are passing on Clausen.

"The tragedy of life is not that man loses, but that he almost wins."

by Simmsinns on Jan 19, 2012 8:43 AM EST up reply actions

I enjoy the database. But seriously, why does everyone get worked up about everyone missing things in their mock drafts? WE all would miss just as much or more. Jeez.

With or Without the H

by johnf34 on Jan 19, 2012 10:32 AM EST up reply actions

That’s true, but it’s not our profession.

"The tragedy of life is not that man loses, but that he almost wins."

by Simmsinns on Jan 19, 2012 11:34 AM EST up reply actions

Although we surely act like it is at times.

Resident Tim Couch Apologist.

by Dawg Nuts on Jan 19, 2012 11:45 AM EST up reply actions

Also true.

"The tragedy of life is not that man loses, but that he almost wins."

by Simmsinns on Jan 19, 2012 11:54 AM EST up reply actions

I don’t know. Mock drafts are what they are: guesses that can’t possibly take into account the multitude of scenarios and contingencies that may or may not occur prior to April. Its not science and if it was it wouldn’t be much fun.

But when a guy goes so far out of his way to defend a player he likes on a personal level and then that guy bombs, he’s open for a little ribbing.

"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein

by rufio on Jan 19, 2012 11:58 AM EST up reply actions

definitely.

I teach good life choices. That's why I almost didn't graduate high school.
Follow @BRoss2013

by bross09 on Jan 19, 2012 1:16 PM EST up reply actions

or not

by MF on Jan 21, 2012 12:01 AM EST up reply actions

if the FO feels the need to draft RGIII, it only makes sense to take someone who’s familiar to being on the receiving end of him. t’would be just fine w/me. but if not, we should take blackmon and select either a RT or RG at 22, if one’s available. i’m still not ready to give up on McCoy, i’d like to see him have a couple of weapons to throw to first and a line to protect his right side. but if we can get RGIII, that’s something to think about, and i wouldn’t be against it.

If I hear "wait til next year!" one more time... "&*&^$%#@()*%*&()%#$^*()%$"

by elee62652 on Jan 19, 2012 2:33 PM EST up reply actions

I would think that if the Rams did decide to trade their pick to say, the Redskins, they would still talk to the Browns. Just to see if H&H would be willing to beat any other offers. So an unnecessary offer shoudn’t be a problem.

Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war

by Kaner on Jan 19, 2012 1:20 AM EST reply actions

This is a good point, and for that to happen the Browns must make it look as if they would be open to a trade.

by HenryDawg on Jan 19, 2012 1:02 PM EST up reply actions

I would much rather have Wright at 22 than Blackmon at 4.

by ahowie on Jan 19, 2012 3:06 AM EST reply actions

Kiper is a tool. Does he know Tom Heckert at all? If Heckert thinks RGIII is the man – he will not hesitate to trade up to number 2 to get him. Does Kiper think he will twiddle his thumbs and sit at number 4 and hope the Redskins et al dont jump him? He has more ammo than anybody and if his assessment on RGIII is we need him – I would look for him to go number 2. Remember Heckert overpaid slightly with a 3rd rounder last year to ensure Phil Taylor did not go elsewhere. He does not take chances on missing his guy.

Change isn't good or bad it just "is". Don Draper of Madmen

by realmccoy on Jan 19, 2012 8:19 AM EST reply actions