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Home , Buster Skrine, Devon Still, Dontari Poe, Dre Kirkpatrick, George Iloka, Jerel Worthy

NFL Draft 2012 On defense team DEfensive stats per game and league rank Total Points: 19.2 (5) | Total Yards: 332.4 (10) | Rushing Yards: 147.4 (30) | Passing Yards: 184.9 (2) DE DE DT DT LB LB LB CB CB FS SS Jabaal Frostee Phil Ahtyba Scott Chris D’Qwell Joe Sheldon Usama T.J. Sheard Rucker Taylor Rubin Fujita Gocong Jackson Haden Brown Young Ward Pittsburgh USC Baylor Iowa St. California Cal Poly-SLO Maryland Florida S. Carolina Kent St. Oregon 6-2 | 255 6-3 | 280 6-3 | 335 6-2 | 330 6-5 | 250 6-2 | 263 6-0 | 240 5-11 | 190 5-10 | 200 6-0 | 200 5-10 | 200

Rookie had Ex-Bengal Last year’s top Was mentioned Injuries and Moved seam- After missing Injuries A wily veteran, Didn’t crack Looking to impressive signed as free pick had solid as a possible sus- lessly from two seasons to sapped some but he’s 33 the starting bounce back season after agent to re- season. candidate in pension make weak side to injury, was one of his big-play and his cover- lineup until after missing moving to left place Jayme second year as him a question strong for in- of the league’s skills last sea- age skills are Ward was in- much of sec- side. Mitchell. a starter. mark. jured Fujita. top tacklers. son. waning. jured. ond season.

BACKUPS BACKUPS BACKUPS BACKUPS BACKUPS

Juqua Parker, Oklahoma State, Scott Paxson, Penn State, Kaluka Maiava, Southern Cal, Brian Smith, , Tuskegee, , Nebraska, 6-2, 250 6-4, 290 6-0, 229 Notre Dame, 5-10, 200 6-1, 205 Auston English, Oklahoma Brian Sanford, Temple, Quinton Spears, Prarie View A&M, 6-3, 240 Buster Skrine, Ray Ventrone, Villanova, 6-3, 250 6-2, 280 6-4, 234 Craig -Chattanooga, 5-10, 200 Brian Schaefering, Lindenwood Kiante Tripp, Georgia, Ben Jacobs, Fresno State Robertson, 5-9, 185 David Sims, Iowa State, 6-4, 295 6-6, 276 6-4, 243 North Texas James Dockery, Oregon State, 5-9, 204 6-1, 229 Marcus Benard, Jackson State 6-1, 185 6-2, 256 Emmanuel Stephens, Mississippi 6-3, 255

BROWNS’ LEVEL OF NEED: 2/10 BROWNS’ LEVEL OF NEED: 6/10 BROWNS’ LEVEL OF NEED: 8/10

One of the deepest positions in draft also happens to be deepest position Depends on Fujita’s skill set and availability. How Browns could use an upgrade at corner opposite Haden. Incumbent on Browns other than kicker/punter. Browns added free agent Rucker to much more does Fujita, who turns 33 on Saturday, Brown is a wily veteran, but he’s 33 and his coverage skills are waning. fill spot vacated by Jayme Mitchell. Browns also signed veteran Parker to have left in the tank? And how long, if at all, will he Free safety is essentially up for grabs now that Mike Adams (16 GS, 64 bolster a line that features young starters in Sheard, Taylor and Rubin. If be suspended for his role in the bounty scandal while TKL last year) signed with Denver. The acquisition of a corner presum- Browns choose to draft high for a defensive lineman this year, something with New Orleans? If Fujita is out of the starting mix, ably would push Brown to FS alongside Ward, who returns from injury to must be wrong with their recent talent assessments. Odds are that, by the Browns need to determine whether Gocong is reclaim SS. The Browns, if they stay at No. 4, likely will have Claiborne to the time they do take a D-lineman, he won’t be one of the bigger names. best suited for the weak side or strong side. Gocong consider. But Claiborne, as good as he is, might be a luxury given Browns’ Keep on eye on Michigan DT Mike Martin as a possible value pick. slid to strong to replace the injured Fujita at the end much more pressing needs offensively. The Browns will need to wrestle of last season, with Maiava taking over the weak. with this draft reality: Beyond Claiborne, with exceptional Browns need more impact plays from their lineback- cover skills are few. Many have the physical tools but remain raw in the BEST OF THE BEST ers. Sacks get the most publicity but, because the technical aspects of the position. Opting for Trumaine Johnson early in Browns play a 4-3, most of that responsibility falls the second round constitutes a reach, but he’s intriguing enough to be , , on the line. Linebackers in this scheme must stuff worthy of consideration early in the third. A midround potential value DE, North Carolina, DT, Mississippi State the run, tackle and cover. Because the Browns have pick is Virginia’s Chase Minnifield, son of former Browns standout Frank. 6-5¾, 284, 4.78 6-4, 298, 4.79 so many needs offensively, and a need at corner, they probably won’t think of drafting a linebacker in the Top-20 talent. Has steadily moved Top-15 talent. As physically gifted first or second round. BEST OF THE BEST as any 2012 prospect, any posi- up boards in off-season. of Memphis received more tion. Tremendous footwork and , CB, LSU, 5-11, 188, 4.50 hands. Excelled at Senior Bowl publicity for his Herculean com- BEST OF THE BEST Top-10 talent. Most complete defensive back in draft — by plenty. 2011 and in certain combine drills. Has bine, but Cox also put on a show. Jim Thorpe Award (nation’s top DB). Terrific hands, 33¼-inch arms. the look of a dominant player. The He looked especially good in agil- , OLB, South Carolina, 6-1½, 264, 4.79 Athletic, light on feet, always in balance. Adjusts seamlessly to ball in question is, will he buy in men- ity drills. Quickness and length air. Clocked hand-timed 4.39 in 40 at pro day after the 4.50 at combine. tally on every snap? By his own (34½-inch arms) make him dif- Top-15 talent. First Team All-American. Big skills, big Product of the perennially powerful Tigers. Excellent hands. Recent wrist admission, he did not play as well ficult to handle at the point of at- personality, small arms (31½ inches). The gator arms, surgery should not be a problem. NFL teams do not seem to be con- in senior year as in junior year. tack. Cox also can play end, which combined with lack of height, likely will force move cerned about Claiborne’s single-digit Wonderlic score. Scouts also wonder if he wants it increases his value. Scouts say his from defensive end to 3-4 linebacker in NFL. Dazzled badly enough. At least one team frame can add more pounds with- at combine and at Senior Bowl, proving he can put out sacrificing agility. Intelligence hand on ground or drop into coverage. Team that in first half of first round will be BEST OF THE REST sure it can maximize his vast po- and instincts enable him to play picks him needs to maximize his versatility, because if tential. different schemes and techniques. he stays in one place, he loses value. Nonstop motor. Intense. Exceptional body control for a 264-pounder. , CB, South , SS/FS, Alabama, BEST OF THE REST 2011: 48 tackles, 10 sacks, 2INTs. Career: 21.5 sacks. Carolina, 6-0½, 190, 4.40 6-1, 213, 4.56 , ILB, Boston College, 6-3¼, 242, 4.58 First-round talent. Superb perfor- First-round talent. Terrific player in mances at combine and pro day suspect crop of safeties. Big, strong, Nick Perry, DE, Southern Califor- , DT, LSU, 6-5, Top-15 talent. Won 2011 Butkus and Nagurski awards nia, 6-2¾, 271, 4.64 322, 5.36 helped stock. Made 40 straight quick. Good tackler. Nose for the as nation’s best linebacker and defensive player. Two- starts at South Carolina. Quick football. Takes charge of defense. One of best pass rushers in draft. Brockers, one of the youngest time All-American. High production, high character, in his draft class, is athletic and feet with good closing speed. Many mock drafts have him going Relies on physicality, quick hands off-the-charts football IQ. Anticipates as well as any Smooth. Good tackling makes in middle of first round. and multiple moves to beat his long (35-inch arms). Played well defensive player in draft. Great at zone drops. Rela- against quality competition in his him effective in run support. Can man. Great work ethic. Had 38½- tively clean health sheet. At ESPN’s Sport Science lab, play press or off. All business on Harrison Smith, SS, Notre Dame, inch vertical jump and 35 reps one year as a starter. Strong, with Kuechly clocked 20.4 mph in 10 yards, a speed on quick hands. Still considered raw. the field. Still developing as cover 6-1, 213, 4.57 at 225 pounds at combine. Got par with Browns CB in college. In another man. better as 2011 season progressed, Sport Science test, Kuechly hit a dummy with 3,280 Long, athletic and smart. Can finishing with 9.5 sacks. , DT, Michigan pounds of force — better than Colts DE Dwight Free- match physicality of tight ends. State, 6-2, 308, 5.08 , CB, Alabama, Will need to prove he can play ney. 2011: 191 tackles. 6-1, 186, 4.51 , DE, Alabama, Large man who can move. Quick the third level and cover receiver 6-1, 272, 4.76 off the ball — clocked 1.64 in 10- First-round talent. Excelled in when zones convert into man. yard split at combine - then relies BEST OF THE REST elite college program that features Somewhat of a ’tweener: Will he coaches who know how NFL , FS, Boise State, be 3-4 rush linebacker, which he on brute strength. Can push the pocket. Played superbly in Big Ten works. Physical, with length. Tack- 6-3, 225, 4.66 played at Alabama, or 4-3 end, Dont’a Hightower, ILB, Alabama, 6-2, 265, 4.68 les well. Excellent in press cover- which he did in sub packages? championship game against Wis- Measurables at combine included Can rush passer or drop into coverage, although he age, good in zone. Quicker than The more scouts look at tape, the consin; did as he pleased against 10-4 broad jump and 4.03 in 20-yard is better coming forward than moving back. Physical fast. Size and strength project to more they see him as a right end Badgers’ vaunted line. Evaluators shuttle. Light on his feet, with great at point of attack, with nose for football. Scheme- future at safety. in NFL, in part because of his want to see something close to leaping ability. Not as productive diverse. Can help on special teams. Played in elite questionable cover skills. the Wisconsin game more consis- on field as skill set would indicate. tently. program under NFL-experienced coaches. Has drawn Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Ala- Looks like a linebacker playing comparisons to Brandon Spikes. bama, 5-10, 193, 4.46 defensive back; could eventually be- Comment: First-round skill set come weak side linebacker because OTHERS TO WATCH Andre Branch, OLB, Clemson, 6-4¼, 259, 4.70 comes with large caution flags frame can take on 20-25 pounds. First Team All-Atlantic Coast Conference. Played because of multiple off-field issues Long legs and arms (34½ inches). defensive end in college but projects as 3-4 rush in college. Began career at Florida , DE, Syracuse, , DT, Penn State, 6-4, but was booted. Great feet, hands, , FS, Oklahoma St., 6-5, 266, 4.87 303, 5.08 linebacker in NFL. Natural pass-rush skills helped by quick feet and 34-inch arms. Key question Branch ball skills. Especially good at 6-1, 207, 4.47 Natural edge-rush ability. Tall, Often mentioned in same conversa- must answer going forward: Can he drop and cover? change of direction and initial 10- Lives for the big hit. Smooth with long arms (35½ inches). tion as Worthy, in that both are Big 2011: 10.5 sacks, 17 TFL. yard burst. movements. Recovery quickness Can drop into coverage. Leg in- Ten products with immense physi- enables him to mitigate his mis- jury limited 2011 season to seven cal gifts who can impact games but , OLB, Illinois, 6-3, 261, 4.68 Josh Robinson, CB, Central Flori- takes. Coming off injury; did not games and hampered his impact. struggle with consistency. Showed da, 5-10, 199, 4.33 First Team Associated Press All-American. Won 2011 Ted work out at pro day. Has room to fill out the frame. His good bursts off line at combine. Pe- Clocked fastest 40 of any player defensive coordinator at Syracuse riodically relies too much on arms. Hendricks Award as nation’s top defensive end — in his first year as a starter. Profiles similar to Branch in many at combine, part of terrific overall Brandon Taylor, SS, LSU, was former Northeast Ohio foot- Still and Worthy could argue that workout. Pushed his stock from 5-11¼, 209, 4.58 ball standout Scott Shafer. their game tapes, even with the areas; projects as 3-4 rush linebacker. Relentless. Needs to get stronger at point of attack and play the run bet- third- to second-round level. Had Hard hitter. Played well against glitches, are better than most. 10 picks in three years. Drives on Vinny Curry, DE, Marshall, ter. Northeast Ohio product. 2011: 16 sacks, nine forced quality competition. Had line- . football. Will contribute on spe- backer look to him. Needs to be- 6-3, 266, 4.98 Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis, cial teams. 6-3½, 346, 4.98 come a better tackler. Underrated. Amassed 40 tackles Mychal Kendricks, ILB, California, 5-11, 239, 4.47 for loss past two years. Speed and Projected first-round pick. Freak- What Kendricks lacks in height, he makes up for Phillip Thomas, FS, Syracuse, size are not prototypical, but he is ish athleticism for a giant. Daz- 5-11, 198, 4.74 reasonably quick, especially with zling performance at combine in almost everything else. Monster performance at the inside move. Knows how to featured 44 reps of 225 pounds. combine included 39½-inch vertical and 10-7 broad Good closing speed. Knows how get to QB. Uses hands well to con- Strength and agility for his posi- jump. His 40 at combine was faster than Morris Clai- to read ’s eyes. Spe- trol blockers. tion have drawn comparisons to borne’s. Versatile and smart. NFL’s emphasis on speed cial teams contributor. Not overly Baltimore’s . increases his value. strong. Character questions.