Time to look at draft for Browns

When Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford completed the game-winning touchdown pass to Brandon Pettigrew last Sunday, the Cleveland Browns officially went on the clock.

Maybe it's a bit premature to say that the Browns will have the first pick in the NFL draft next April. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and St. Louis Rams join the Browns with league-worst 1-9 records, creating what should be a neck-and-neck race to finish first in a race no organization wants to win.

Let's just say it looks like the Browns will have a top-three pick, which has happened five times since their return to the NFL in 1999. They've had the first overall pick twice (Tim Couch in 1999 and Courtney Brown in 2000) and the third overall pick three times (Gerard Warren in 2001, Braylon Edwards in 2005 and Joe Thomas in 2007).

It's not too early to start thinking about how owner Randy Lerner might throw away more of his money on a wasted pick. From what I can derive in looking at the five aforementioned players, Thomas is the only one worth the choice.

Lerner can only hope that the person he hires to run the football operations will finally strike big time with the pick, assuming he doesn't pull an Eric Mangini and trade down three times to acquire more choices. That's not always a bad idea, assuming one of the acquired choices isn't used on a linebacker from the University of Hawaii.

There are so many areas the Browns could go with a high draft choice. Unless Brady Quinn strings together more performances like he had against the Lions, quarterback could be high on the list. The lack of speed on offense creates a crying need for a running back or receiver with game-changing skills.

You'd think the Browns might not consider a defensive player with the first pick, but has anyone seen the pass rush this season? With so much emphasis placed on getting run support from the secondary, an aggressive, hard-hitting strong safety would be a good pick.

University of Texas quarterback Colt McCoy seems to be the consensus top quarterback, mainly because Oklahoma University quarterback Sam Bradford has a bad shoulder. Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen might bolt South Bend after Charlie Weis is fired.

I don't see anything close to John Elway there. Unless you're convinced one of those quarterbacks is a franchise-saver, it's best to proceed to another option.

There are no receivers or running backs at this time who come close to being a high draft pick, which could create a problem for the offensively-challenged Browns. Apparently it's either trade down or go for defense.

One offensive option could be a lineman. Oklahoma State offensive tackle Russell Okung is highly rated and would look good on the right side, where John St. Clair has been awful this season.

The top-rated defensive player might be USC safety Taylor Mays, who has the body of the late Eric Turner. The Browns used the second overall pick in the 1991 draft on UCLA's Turner, who never lived up to the high expectations placed on him.

Turner was Bill Belichick's first draft selection with the Browns. Belichick went against popular wisdom that says you don't use a high choice on a safety, but he has always gone against the trend.

That logic seems to hold true today, despite the increased role played by safeties. Pittsburgh's Troy Polamalu, arguably the best strong safety in the NFL, wasn't picked until the 16th spot of the first round in 2003.

It's way too early to start projecting draft picks, but this is what Browns fans do. It's what keeps them energized through the long, cold winter months as they wonder when a Lombardi Trophy might find a spot in the team's trophy case.

Halley's Comet might make its next appearance, scheduled for mid-2061, before that happens.

mmclain@tribtoday.com