The Cleveland Plain Dealer notes that Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree is a viable option for the Browns at No. 5 in next month’s NFL draft.
Hey, Tony: What are the Browns going to do about the WR position now? Do you see us taking Michael Crabtree in the first and then using our multiple second-round picks on LBs? — Jeff Smith, Naples, Fla.
Hey, Jeff: Crabtree is a viable option now at No. 5 for the Browns. I’m usually not an advocate of taking a receiver so high, however.
Hey, Tony: Well, we have to ask the question, what do we do in Stallworth’s absence? Free agency? Draft? — Todd Hollis, Massillon
Hey, Todd: The Browns signed David Patten, who will be 35 by the season opener. I’m sure they’ll add more receivers, pending Stallworth’s legal process.
Before he had foot surgery to repair a small stress fracture, some felt as though Crabtree was the best prospect in the draft. With all due respect to Aaron Curry, Matthew Stafford and Jason Smith, Crabtree might still be the best prospect, especially considering his foot injury isn’t expected to be a reoccurring problem.
Speculation has it that the Browns have been or are willing to trade Braylon Edwards, whose contract expires at the end of the season. If Cleveland could swing a deal with a team like the Giants and wind up trading Edwards, then there will be an obvious need for a receiver, especially considering Donte Stallworth’s pending situation. The Browns would love to add an outside linebacker (they seemingly solved their inside linebacker quandary with free agent Eric Barton) and they have needs at safety as well. At No. 5, there isn’t an outside 3-4 linebacker worthy of taking that high. So unless they can trade down, Crabtree makes sense and is definitely top 5 material. He would also allow the Browns some flexibility with Edwards, who Cleveland wouldn’t necessarily have to trade right away or worry about doling out a new contract to a player that quite frankly hasn’t been worth it.
