Rick Gosselin
Dallas Morning News
“A+
The Browns found quality in every round. They took Pac-10 rushing champion Harrison in the fifth and the draft’s best fullback in the sixth. Wimbley and Jackson give Romeo Crennel starting linebackers in his 3-4 defense.”
Charles Robinson
Yahoo! Sports
“High marks – From a bulk standpoint, the Browns added a lot of depth, with the linebacker corps getting a tremendous shot in the arm. Kamerion Wimbley is the hybrid outside linebacker that Phil Savage and Romeo Crennel have been searching for since the Senior Bowl, and D’Qwell Jackson was widely considered the draft’s best inside linebacker. Even Leon Williams brings a good amount of athleticism for his size. Travis Wilson adds some depth at wide receiver, and he could be a find after being downgraded with injury issues.
Low marks – The Browns failed to find an impact defensive end, and nose tackle Babatunde Oshinowo is going to struggle with being undersized at that position in the NFL.
Final grade: B-plus”
Dan Pompei
Sporting News
“B+
This was a need-driven draft, and the Browns filled their holes. They got decent value throughout the draft.”
Tony Moss
Sports Network
“That the Browns would take Wimbley to aide a struggling pass rush was about the worst-kept secret in the draft, and fills Cleveland’s most pressing need. Jackson has a chance to play a lot as well, but will need to show more playmaking ability in the 3-4 than Andra Davis. Wilson is a good talent who gives the team some pass-catching insurance in light of the injury situations of Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow. Harrison was a productive college player who could push Reuben Droughns for some carries, and Vickers was the top-rated fullback on many draft boards. Bottom Line: An extremely productive offseason continues, signaling that the Browns are about to take a step up the AFC North ladder. Grade: A-“
Mike O’Hara
Detroit News
“They had extra picks and started with pass-rush star Kamerion Wimbley of Florida State, ILB D’Qwell Jackson of Maryland and WR Travis Wilson of Oklahoma. Sixth-rounder Lawrence Vickers of Colorado can be a 10-year fullback. Grade: B”
Jarrett Bell
USA Today
“***THREE STARS*** [out of four]
Romeo Crennel needs linebackers to build a formidable 3-4 and can now build the crew around athletic outside man Kamerion Wimbley and the draft’s best inside prospect in D’Qwell Jackson.”
Pete Prisco
CBS SportsLine.com
“Best pick: Second-round pick D’Qwell Jackson was a tackling machine at Maryland, and he might have been a first-rounder if he was a little taller.
Worst pick: Wide receiver Travis Wilson has talent, but he is raw. He has good size, but not great speed. The third round might have been a little high for him.
Overall grade: B+. General manager Phil Savage knows how to pick football players. The Browns are moving in the right direction.”
John Czarnecki
FOXSports.com
“4. [out of 32 teams] Cleveland: Browns GM Phil Savage probably got the most value pick-by-pick than any team in the NFL. They needed a young pass rusher and selected Kamerion Wimbley from Florida State while moving to grab Maryland linebacker D’Qwell Jackson, who was the defensive player of the year in the ACC last season. Receiver Travis Wilson had a strong Senior Bowl. Miami linebacker Leon Williams definitely fits Romeo Crennel’s 3-4 scheme while Washington State running back Jerome Harrison led the Pac-10 in rushing last season while scoring 16 touchdowns. Savage may have taken the best fullback in the draft with Lawrence Vickers. Grade: A”
Paul Needell
Newark Star-Ledger
“Grade — B
Comment: Coach Romeo Crennel is building himself a 3-4 defense. DE-LB Kamerion Wimbley is tailor-made for an pass-rushing ‘tweener role, like Willie McGinest enjoyed with the Patriots. Second-round LB D’Qwell Jackson in Round 2 should be a good fit, too. DT Babatunde Oshinowo (pronounced “Babatunde Oshinowo”) was a good pick in Round 6.”
Cam Inman
Contra Costa Times
“They’re putting the “D” back in “Dog pound.” Top pick Kamerion Wimbley can soak up pass-rushing tips from Willie McGinest, and second-round linebacker D’Qwell Jackson has them thinking he’ll be their version of Ray Lewis. Grade: A-“
Vic Ketchman
jaguars.com
“Kamerion Wimbley was drafted to be the star player in the Browns’ 3-4 defense. Wimbley is a sensational talent. D’Qwell Jackson is a perfect 3-4 linebacker. The Browns had seven picks on day two. Somebody out of that bunch should make it. Grade: B”
Adam Schein
FOXSports.com
“HUGE WINNERS…
Phil Savage and Romeo Crennel dazzled on draft day. You knew they were dying to go defense, and they did in impressive fashion.
Kamerion Wimbley is a very bright, hard-working ‘tweener’ who makes plays. He is an ideal fit to play outside linebacker in the 3-4. And Wimbley was dying to be a Brown, play for Crenell and learn from Willie McGinest. He is an early candidate for defensive rookie of the year. In the second round, Savage nabbed play-making D’Qwell Jackson. The Maryland linebacker was the defensive player of the year in the ACC, the same conference that the top overall pick in the draft played in. And Leon Williams from Miami is a great athlete who needs to be coached up. I smiled broadly when I saw he was going to the Browns. Crennel will turn him into a very good pro.
And as we blogged during the week, classic clogger (that’s got to be a first getting ‘blogged’ and ‘clogger’ in the same sentence) Babatunde Oshinowo was begging to be a Brown and play nose tackle and learn from Ted Washington. Baba can be an eventual starter in this league, and Savage got him in round 6. The computer engineering major at Stanford was hoping Romeo Crennel called his name.”
Mel Kiper Jr.
ESPN.com
“B
Kamerion Wimbley will be a perfect OLB in the 3-4 defense, and D’Qwell Jackson reminds me of Jonathan Vilma. Wide receiver Travis Wilson has a chance to be a third or fourth option in the passing game. I like RB Jerome Harrison in the fifth round, and the Browns also got really good value in the sixth round with FB Lawrence Vickers and DT Babatunde Oshinowo of Stanford.”
Paul Zimmerman
Sports Illustrated
“B-
This is going to be interesting. Saturation bombing at the linebacker level. Their top draft pick was edge pass rusher Kamerion Wimbley; second-round choice D’Qwell Jackson, was rated the top guy inside; Leon Williams, still another ILB, in the fourth round. Bill Parcells used to say that you could never have enough linebackers. And guess whom Romeo Crennel coached under when he was learning the professional game?
