Playing to Browns'

weaknesses

Everyone agrees the Browns have to upgrade their pass rush. In their scheme, it has to come from the outside linebacker spot. Coach Eric Mangini tried to grab one for the Jets last year by taking Ohio State's Vernon Gholston with the No. 6 pick. Gholston didn't do much as a rookie.

Mike Mayock of NFL Network says this draft contains "the deepest group of 3-4 outside linebackers I've seen in the last five or six years."

The best prospects in the rush linebacker role are Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo, Florida State defensive end Everette Brown, USC linebacker Brian Cushing, Northern Illinois linebacker Larry English, Penn State linebacker Aaron Maybin and Virginia linebacker Clint Sintim.

None, however, currently is rated among the top five overall players in the draft.

Then what?

Wake Forest outside linebacker Aaron Curry might not be the prototypical 3-4 pass rusher, but he is considered one of the five best players.

Mayock calls him "the safest pick in the draft."

"He's smart, tough, aggressive. He's a guy who's played at a high level in the ACC and won't cause you any problems. Worst-case scenario, he'd be a very, very solid player," Mayock said.

Counters ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.: "He's got great character, is versatile. Maybe not a boon, but certainly not a bust."

Other than Curry, the player most frequently mentioned as the best in the draft is Texas Tech receiver Michael Crabtree, who is benefiting from comparisons to Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals. Crabtree's 40 times are secondary to his physical toughness and superlative hands.

Down and dirty on the offensive line

The selection of Joe Thomas at No. 3 in 2007 proved a bull's-eye by the previous Browns regime. Could GM George Kokinis find a bookend on the right side at No. 5?

Jason Smith of Baylor, Eugene Monroe of Virginia and Andre Smith of Alabama are considered worthy of taking in the top 10.

The eternal trade-down question

Previous trades by former GM Phil Savage left the Browns with only four picks, in Rounds 1, 2, 4 and 6.

While the need to improve the pass rush is great, so too is one at inside linebacker to upgrade the run defense. Most consider USC's Rey Maualuga the top inside linebacker, but most projections have him ranked 15th or lower.

Could the Browns orchestrate a trade down with Maualuga in mind and collect extra picks? Finding a dance partner is always a problem.

"There's no preliminary thoughts on strategy yet," Kokinis said. "Sure, picks are valuable. And we'd like to create more competition by adding more players. But right now we have four, and we're going to try to pick the best four."

The early mock drafts

Kiper has the Browns taking Curry. Other mock drafts give the Browns FSU's Brown or Ohio State cornerback Malcolm Jenkins.

About those Buckeyes

Kiper, for one, says the Buckeyes are falling on draft boards.

"Malcolm Jenkins has to run a big-time 40 or else he's not going to go as high as he thought he would," Kiper said. "[Linebacker James] Laurinaitis' stock has dropped. [Linebacker] Marcus Freeman has dropped. [Offensive lineman Alex] Boone, the same thing. All those kids that went back [for another college season], their stock has dropped, so they need to have good workouts."

Kiper said Jenkins' 40 clocking will determine whether NFL teams view him as the draft's No. 1 cornerback or as a free safety.

"I think this combine is as important for Malcolm Jenkins as it is for anybody in the draft," Kiper said.

Mayock opines that "in the right scheme, I think he can be a Pro Bowl corner."

What about Beanie?

OSU's Chris "Beanie" Wells is competing against Georgia's Knowshon Moreno to be the first running back taken in the draft.

Times in the 40-yard dash will be important to both. But on this stage, Wells won't be able to disprove the No. 1 knock against him - durability.

"When you start missing multiple games in multiple years . . . for a top 10 pick, it's a fair question to ask," Mayock said.

Beware the underclassmen

The presence of 46 underclassmen has significantly upgraded the overall talent level of the draft.

In Mayock's rankings, underclassmen make up his top four quarterbacks, top five running backs, top five receivers and two of his top five offensive tackles.

But at certain positions, particularly quarterbacks, there is the risk of having to project an undeveloped player into the pro scheme. Taking an underclassman usually means no or little contribution in the first pro season.

"It's more secure when you have a history on and off the field," Mayock said. "[Seniors are] more physically mature, more emotionally mature. [2008 quarterback prospects] Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco, they were pretty easy to evaluate because they were fifth-year seniors."

The top two quarterbacks in this draft, Georgia's Matthew Stafford and USC's Mark Sanchez, are juniors with much less game experience.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: tgrossi@plaind.com, 216-999-4670