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General manager says team won't trade up, but wants cornerback
By Patrick McManamon
Beacon Journal sports columnist
Published on Thursday, Apr 17, 2008
BEREA: Looking for an inkling to the Browns' draft plans?
Think late round, and think cornerback.
Those are the major hints that Browns General Manager Phil Savage gave at his annual pre-draft news conference Wednesday.
Savage maintained his stance that he does not see the Browns trading up into the first day of the draft, and he said he hopes to find a cornerback.
''Obviously, it's a position that we're going to be interested in,'' Savage said.
Savage's draft discussion had a bizarre element to it. The Browns are without a pick in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft on April 26-27 because of trades for quarterback Brady Quinn and defensive linemen Corey Williams and Shaun Rogers.
But Savage — a guy who built his resume on the way he picked players in the draft — still dissected the draft position by position, listing the top players at each position even though he concedes that the Browns won't be picking any of them.
''I can't create a circumstance in my mind that would get us in (the first two rounds),'' Savage said. ''We've kind of eliminated that from our thought process.''
He conceded a trade up on the second day — which this year includes rounds three through seven — is possible.
If it happens, it could be for a corner. The trade of Leigh Bodden leaves the Browns without a veteran presence at the position.
The Browns have one starter at corner in Eric Wright. Brandon McDonald and Daven Holly will compete to start at the other.
Savage said the corner position is relatively deep, with several good players probably going in the second or third round.
The hope is that one player the Browns like will be there in the fourth round when the team is called.
The good news is that Savage planned to draft Holly in the seventh round in 2005 and he found McDonald in the fifth round a year ago. Conclusion: He might be able to find a player who will help the team without a first-day pick.
The last time that the Browns lacked a first-round pick was 1990, when they took Leroy Hoard in the second round.
They've never gone without a pick in at least one of the first three rounds — though in 1985 and '86 they only had second-round picks (running back Greg Allen and wide receiver Webster Slaughter) and in 1981 they only had a pick in round one (cornerback Hanford Dixon).
''This will be the most celebrated fourth-round pick in the history of the Browns,'' Savage said. ''This guy is going to get a parade and be introduced at a Cavs game. We better make sure this guy can play.''
Brownies ...
Savage said wide receiver Joe Jurevicius is fine and called the staph infection that hit him following cleanup knee surgery ''a nonstory.'' . . . On the schedule, which includes five prime-time games: ''Somebody thinks we're going to be pretty good, I suppose. Or at least competitive or entertaining enough for national television.'' . . . Even though the team has no picks in the first three rounds, they will bring in the maximum number of draftable players (30) for visits. Some visits are being held because these players might be free agents in a few years, Savage said.
Patrick McManamon can be reached at pmcmanamon@thebeaconjournal.com.
BEREA: Looking for an inkling to the Browns' draft plans?
Get the full article here.
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