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TOP DAWG
by Bud Genovese

June, 2000

DRAFT GURU MEL KIPERS REVIEW OF BROWNS PICKS

Nationally recognized NFL draft expert Mel Kiper rated the Browns picks overall a C+. He thinks Courtney Brown will be a terrific pass rusher, but he feels Arrington would be a bigger impact player with his leadership skills and talent. Mel liked the next two picks, WR Dennis Northcutt and RB Travis Prentice. He thinks WR JuJuan Dawson could be a good fourth receiver but that the third round was way too high for him. I read that the Colts were high on Dawson and so the Browns wanted to prevent missing this sure handed, tough, can go over the middle receiver. He was the Tampa's hot new QB Shawn King's favorite receiver at Tulane.

The second day made Mel scratch his head more except for CB Lewis Sanders. Sanders is highly ranked and could be a sure starter in third down passing situations. He is great cover man with speed to match. Mel liked OG Brade Bedell because of his intensity and power. All the other second day picks Mel, well, sort of laughed at, including potential starting TE Aaron Shea of Michigan, the Browns probable 3rd QB Spergon Wynn, OG Manuia Savea, DE Eric Chandler, DB Rashidi Barnes, CB's Lamar Chapman and Anthony Malbrough

So how did Mel rank other teams?

Baltimore (with RB Jamal Lewis):	A
Pittsburgh (WR Plaxico Burris):	B
Cincinnati (WR Peter Warrick):	B
Tennessee (LB Keith Bullock):	C+
Jacksonville (WR Jay Soward):	C

Mel gave the Browns an overall C+ because he felt they could have harvested a much more talented group with all of the high picks. I feel he is a slight hypocrite based on his own pre-draft ratings:

Player	Position	Mel's Ranking by position	Power Rating

Courtney Brown	DE	1	9.7
Dennis Northcutt	WR	4	9.1
Travis Prentice	RB	5	9.0
JuJuan Dawson	WR	37	6.8
Lewis Sanders	CB	4	8.6
Aaron Shea	FB/TE	2	7.9
Anthony Malbrough	CB	52	5.0
Lamar Chapman	CB	30	6.8
Spergon Wynn	QB	15	6.8
Brade Bedell	OG	9	7.9
Manuia Savea	OG	22	5.5
Eric Chandler	DE	36	5.0
Rashidi Barnes	S	15	5.5

The Browns have some of the best ranked draft picks (Top 5 at their position or better) and the power ratings show that some of these players were almost ranked as high as the top ranked for the position. For example, Dennis Northcutt gets a 9.1 rating and top WR Peter Warrick got a 9.6. RB Travis Prentice earned a 9.0 from Mel, tied with Heisman winner Ron Dayne (9.0). So why the C+ for Cleveland Mel ? And an A to Baltimore?

My ranking of B+ remains pat, what do you think? Let me know, e mail or post it on the Forum! Go Browns!

Bud Genovese
budg@earthlink.net

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