Ozzie Newsome released his draft grades for the rest of the AFC NORTH division today…and by all accounts, the Cleveland Browns cleaned up big-time!
Baltimore GM Ozzie Newsome was complimentary of his divisional foes… and ESPN’s Mel Kiper gave the division some of his highest grades.
“The Pittsburgh Steelers added to their defensive and offensive fronts early on. The Cincinnati Bengals added a player widely regarded as the top offensive prospect and perhaps a new starting quarterback. The Cleveland Browns were part of the biggest draft trade, moving back 15 spots in the first round, and still added to their new 4-3 defensive front…”
That was Ozzie’s basic take on the 2011 Draft in his Division…
A breakdown of each team’s draft, accompanied by Kiper’s grade and Newsome’s analysis:
Pittsburgh Steelers, B+
Round 1 (31) – DE Cameron Heyward, Ohio State
Round 2 (63) – OT Marcus Gilbert, Florida
Round 3 (95) – CB Curtis Brown, Texas
Round 4 (128) – CB Cortez Allen, Citadel
Round 5 (162) – DE/OLB Chris Carter, Fresno State
Round 6 (196) – OG Keith Williams, Nebraska
Round 7 (232) – RB Baron Batch, Texas Tech
Newsome: “When you look at what Pittsburgh does, there is always a reason. They got two corners and they got another guy in the front seven that will learn how to play in a 3-4 defense. They always have a good plan [for] how they want to continue to build their team. Their defensive ends are getting [older], and they get someone like Cameron Heyward to come in and be ready to go in two or three years. [General Manager] Kevin [Colbert] and those people up there, they do a really good job.”
Cincinnati Bengals, A- (tied for highest grade)
Round 1 (4) – WR A.J. Green, Georgia
Round 2 (35) – QB Andy Dalton, TCU
Round 3 (66) – LB Dontay Moch, Nevada
Round 4 (101) – G/T Clint Boling, Georgia
Round 5 (134) – S Robert Sands, West Virginia
Round 6 (167) – WR Ryan Whalen, Stanford
Round 7 (207) – CB Korey Lindsey, Southern Illinois
Round 7 (246) – RB Jay Finley, Baylor
Newsome: “A.J. Green is a phenomenal player, a phenomenal player. But we’re fortunate enough to have a corner that we think is a phenomenal player too.
“I think Cincinnati continues to get better. The question with them is: Is Carson [Palmer] coming back, and when is [Andy] Dalton going to become a player? I thought Cincinnati did a good job.”
Cleveland Browns, B+
Round 1 (21) – DT Phil Taylor, Baylor
Round 2 (37) – DE Jabaal Sheard, Pittsburgh
Round 2 (59) – WR Greg Little, North Carolina
Round 4 (102) – TE Jordan Cameron, USC
Round 4 (124) – FB Owen Marecic, Stanford
Round 5 (137) – CB Buster Skrine, Chattanooga
Round 5 (150) – OT Jason Pinkston, Pittsburgh
Round 7 (248) – S Eric Hagg, Nebraska
Newsome: “They got the trade. They got a trade similar to the trade that we got the year we got [Joe] Flacco. They basically did the same thing – they came back up to get the big nose tackle [Phil Taylor]. In our division, you’ve got to stop the run. So they probably saw themselves doing that.”
“I think Cleveland is building their franchise. They’re rebuilding it. You can see they’re taking good, solid people with every pick that they’re taking to rebuild that whole roster.”
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
