Browns news, features and notes
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- Browns inside linebacker Craig Robertson discusses his opportunity to win starting job
- Browns special-teams ace Johnson Bademosi embracing switch from cornerback to free safety
- Video: Quarterbacks Brandon Weeden, Jason Campbell react to Browns adding Brian Hoyer to mix
- Brandon Weeden taking steps to prove he’s ‘the guy’ as Browns add Brian Hoyer to quarterback mix
- Browns owner Jimmy Haslam tells trucking industry leaders he knew nothing about fuel-rebate fraud at his Pilot Flying J company
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Browns trade down
With their first selection in the 2009 Draft, the new Browns regime of Eric Mangini and George Kokinis traded the fifth overall pick to Mangini's former team so that the New York Jets could move up from No. 17 and snatch USC quarterback Mark Sanchez.
In return, the Browns move down to the No. 17th pick, get the Jets second-round pick - 52nd overall - along with players Kenyon Coleman (DE), Brett Ratliff (QB) and DB Abram Elam. Elam is a former standout at Kent State.
The move gives the Browns four picks in the top 52. They also pick 36th and 50th in the second round.
Elam, a three-year veteran, was pursued by the Browns as a restricted free agent, but the Jets matched Cleveland's offer. He will be a candidate to start at strong safety after Sean Jones signed with Philadelphia.
Ratliff, a Utah product going into his second season, will likely be the Browns No. 3 quarterback behind Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson. He did not play in 2008, but looked good in a preseason game against the Browns. Coleman, a seven-year veteran out of UCLA, has recorded 204 career tackles (151 solo). He started 15 of 16 games last year and totalled 53 tackles (43 solos) and half a sack.
