Mel Kiper Revisits the 2006 Draft; why are the Browns Taking Devin Hester?

by Chris Pokorny on Jan 27, 2012 11:00 PM EST

Why would the Browns need Devin Hester in a redraft?

ESPN's Mel Kiper revisited the 2006 NFL Draft and made the picks for every team in the first round based on what we know now (insider article). If you recall, that is the year that Cleveland drafted linebacker Kamerion Wimbley with the 13th overall pick in the draft. Kiper doesn't have the Browns taking Wimbley in his redraft; instead, he has them taking...Devin Hester?

Don't get me wrong -- Hester has proven to be an outstanding commodity as a punt returner, and it is really no surprise to see him get pushed up into the first round (he was originally a second round pick, but was taken as a cornerback that year). My issue is this: with all of the problems the Browns have, why pick a position where they already have Joshua Cribbs, who is arguably pretty darn close on a comparison scale. Here is what Kiper said about Hester:

It's hard to say where Hester will be viewed as a wideout, but he may be the greatest returner we've ever seen, played a huge role in a Super Bowl run and did all this after being drafted as a corner. He's made himself valuable, a great credit to him.

I still don't get it, and ESPN's AFC North blogger Jamison Hensley agrees, suggesting the team would have been better off getting a linebacker (besides Wimbley) in hindsight:

Bad [re-pick] for Browns. Wimbley never lived up to expectations, and Hester is one of the greatest returners in NFL history. But the Browns already had Josh Cribbs at this time, and they couldn't stop anyone from running the ball. Selecting a linebacker like A.J. Hawk or DeMeco Ryans would have helped out more in the re-draft.

Kiper had the Browns' original pick at No. 13 overall, Wimbley, still going in the first round. This time, Wimbley was re-picked to go No. 23 overall to the Buccaneers.

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Comments

Cliffs: Kiper is just as stupid as he usually is.

XBL - TheRabbit087. Get at me.

by SpecialBrownie on Jan 27, 2012 11:03 PM EST reply actions

Kiper is a butthole.

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

by notthatnoise on Jan 27, 2012 11:22 PM EST reply actions

I have nothing else to add to this post.

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

by notthatnoise on Jan 27, 2012 11:22 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs

Is there any logic to these “Kiper Re-Drafts” whatsoever?

by Jon @ DBN on Jan 27, 2012 11:41 PM EST reply actions

Is there any logic to Kiper period?

Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war

by Kaner on Jan 27, 2012 11:55 PM EST reply actions

There’s a brain somewhere in all that forehead right?

XBL - TheRabbit087. Get at me.

by SpecialBrownie on Jan 27, 2012 11:59 PM EST reply actions

I think it fled long ago in fear of his hair.

Dawgs by Nature -- where Montario Hardesty, apparently, 'did some good things'.

by North Coast Flea on Jan 28, 2012 2:12 AM EST up reply actions

There is no way I would take a kick returner over Jonathan Joesph, Marques Colston or Dumervil.

But this “re-draft” reinforces something for me. As much as a lot of these guys looked great in college, so few of them become the guys we think they will in the league.

Makes the idea of giving up picks to move up for an “elite” guy, mush easier to swallow.

by Bernie19Kosar on Jan 28, 2012 12:03 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

I wanted Ngata. I wouldn’t have traded with the raisins.

A bargain is something you don't need at a price you can't resist....
If I agreed with you we'd both be wrong!
My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-bitch!
Once you start agreeing with TDSH, you know that you're wrong.

by J. W. on Feb 10, 2012 5:55 PM EST up reply actions