2011 Community Mock Draft: The Cleveland Browns Select...

With the sixth pick of the 2011 CSC Community Mock Draft, the Cleveland Browns (represented by theprogrammerman) select...

Cameron Jordan, DE, California

No doubt more than a few people are going "huh?"

So much has been made of the Browns' need for a top end wide receiver that everyone is accepting it as a foregone conclusion that A.J. Green will be the pick, especially with Mike Holmgren having his fingers in the pie. But a closer look at the Cleveland Brain Trust reveals some interesting facts.

First, they will run a West Coast offense and the emphasis in that offense is usually a smaller receiver that can get lost inside and make huge yards after the catch.

Second, Tom Heckert in his years running the draft for Philadelphia (yet another West Coast team) went with smaller receivers (Jeremy Maclin, DeSean Jackson, Jason Avant). I believe Heckert's philosophy on building a team goes towards smaller receivers with lots of speed and as amazing a talent as Green could be in the NFL, if he doesn't fit the system they want to run he just wouldn't be the best pick.

Third, it's the AFC North. You win by running and stopping the run, and frankly, Cleveland has sucked at this for a number of years. They may have finally found a back they can hammer in Peyton Hillis but over the last several years a wet paper sack could do a better job stopping the run than the Cleveland defense.

Enter Cameron Jordan.

At 6'4" and 285 lbs., he projects as more of a tweener in a 4-3 but I suspect he will wind up on the end before it is all said and done. With Tyson Alualu moving on last year (a surprise pick by the Jaguars at number 10), more attention was focused on Jordan at California this year. His production did not falter, a good sign. He played 3-4 end at Cal, but is more likely to end up at the LDE position in the new 4-3 that is being installed in Cleveland.

While not a huge pass rusher (he had 5.5 sacks his senior year at Cal and 6 his junior year), that could change some with a responsibility change in a 4-3, as DE's in 3-4's are generally not the primary pass rushers. What he does excel at is run defense. Strong and with a good late burst to get to the ball carrier, he has the strength and bulk to both bull rush and "gunk up the works" on the left side of the line. He had 62 tackles his senior season, 12.5 of which were behind the line of scrimmage (20%), so he spent a surprising amount of time behind the line when he had the ball carrier in his arms.

While he is not the dominant pass rushing DE that people expect in a 4-3 at first glance, I believe with coaching and experience, he can become very good in this area. Add his ability to find ball carriers, fight off blocks and a good quick closing burst and he will be a large net positive for the Cleveland defense from day one.