This week, I'm going to preview the position needs for the Browns in the upcoming NFL Draft. The following is the fourth part of a very special ho-hum five-part series. Each position will be given a draft likelihood — strong, average and low.

Likelihood: Strong

What's there: After trading for end Corey Williams, the team is set amongst its starters. The problem is the backups. Starter Robaire Smith is currently backed up by either Melila Purcell, Chase Pittman or Andrew Hoffman. Running a 3-4 defense requires good backups along the defensive line to give the starters a break. Relying on Purcell, Pittman or Hoffman could be problematic.

Position strength in draft: Because few teams in college run a 3-4, finding defensive ends to fit can be difficult. That means the pickings are slim.

Who to target: Kendall Langford (Hampton), Frank Okam (Texas), Andre Fluellen (Florida State), Keillan Dykes (West Virginia), Chris Norwell (Illinois), George Chukwu (Rice), Barry Booker (Virginia Tech)

Final thoughts: Oddly, the team has not shown a lot of interest in this position during the offseason. I still think this is likely the make-or-break position of the Browns draft this year, though. With luck, either Langford, Okam, Fluellen or Dykes are there in the fourth round. If they're not, they could grab Norwell, Chukwu or Booker as developmental players in the sixth or seventh rounds. Because they may really need a backup end, that may be where the team goes in the fourth round.

The pick: Because the strength of the cornerback position in this year's draft, this is where I expect the Browns to go in the fourth round. That way they can take the best available 3-4 end in the fourth and best available cornerback in the fifth.

At this point, it seems a little unlikely Langford or Okam will be there. Fluellen has been inconsistent, so he may not be a player head coach Romeo Crennel would like. That leaves Dykes who at times played exceptionally as a senior. Dykes also played some 3-4 at West Virginia, which is a bonus. So he'd be a solid pick.

The developmental kind of players that will be there in the sixth and seventh rounds are what the Browns don't need right now.

This week, I'm going to preview the position needs for the Browns in the upcoming NFL Draft. The following is the third part of a very special late-running five-part series. Each position will be given a draft likelihood — strong, average and low.

Likelihood: Strong

What's there: Except for Kamerion Wimbley, the position is a little dicey. Willie McGinest and Antwan Peek are still there, and Shantee Orr was brought in via free agency. None of those three will strike fear in opposing offenses and are probably best-served as backups.

Position strength in draft: For a 3-4 team, the strength at linebacker is only average. There is quality at the top of the position, but it likely won't be there when the Browns draft. That means general manager Phil Savage will take a risk on a player who can develop.

Who to target: Shawn Crable (Michigan), Stanford Keglar (Purdue), Curtis Johnson (Clark-Atlanta), Bryan Kehl (Brigham Young), Bruce Davis (UCLA), Darrell Robertson (Georgia Tech)

Final thoughts: The Browns have worked out each of those players outside of Davis and Robertson. Even if they take an outside guy in the fourth round, it's unlikely Crable will be there. If he is, they snag him. Keglar is solid player, but incredibly similar in style to Orr and Peek. They're just not playmakers. I've honestly never seen Johnson, but he has the measurables (6'3, 242, 4.63 40-yard dash). Kehl I like a lot, but he might not be a 3-4 guy.

In college, Davis and Robertson were both undersized defensive ends. How they transition to outside linebacker is unknown. Some (re: Luke), think Davis can't bulk up and play outside. I kind of disagree. For the scoop on Robertson, check out his scouting report. Basically, it says he's perfect for a 3-4, but is likely a third-round player.

The pick: Because Robertson may be one, I'm going with Davis, as long as it's the fifth round. McGinest can still hold up against the run, so Davis could be broken in purely as a pass rusher.

This week, I'm going to preview the position needs for the Browns in the upcoming NFL Draft. The following is the second part of a very special bland five-part series. Each position will be given a draft likelihood — strong, average and low.

Likelihood: Low

What's there: Everyone knows how many miles are on the tires of starter Jamal Lewis. He hasn't bought a new car in a year! Ha! Take that sports cliche! Sorry. Anyway, it's been hinted that Lewis could retire after his current contract runs out. If he does, that leaves the Browns with Jerome Harrison and Jason Wright. Neither is clearly a starter.

Position strength in draft: With a bevy of early entrants in the draft this year, a lot of good running backs will be pushed into the second day of the draft. This year would be as good of a year as any to take a quality developmental player.

Who to target: Cory Boyd (South Carolina), Steve Slaton (West Virginia), Chauncey Washington (USC), BenJarvus Green-Ellis (Ole Miss), Ryan Torain (Arizona State)

Final thoughts: The Browns have brought Boyd and Slaton in for workouts, but not the other three. As it has been mentioned on this blog previously, the team already has a Slaton-like player in Harrison. With the assumption that Cleveland would look for a running back in the fifth or sixth round, that likely means Slaton won't be there regardless. Boyd may not, either.

Boyd, Washington, Green-Ellis and Torain all possess good strength when they run the ball, which is necessary to make it in the AFC North. Although he looked good as a senior, Washington has a huge list of injuries, which may scare the Browns off.

Both Green-Ellis and Torain are both unspectacular, but have solid quickness and can move between the tackles.

The pick: Most draftniks, seem to think the Browns are going to draft a running back this year. I don't know if that will be the case. If they do, hopefully it will be either Green-Ellis or Torain in the sixth round.

For the sake of being official about it, I'll say the Browns go with Green-Ellis.

This week, I'm going to preview the position needs for the Browns in the upcoming NFL Draft. The following is the first part of a very special ordinary five-part series. Each position will be given a likelihood — strong, average and low.

Likelihood: Strong

What's there: After trading Leigh Bodden to Detroit, the Browns will choose from Daven Holly, Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald for the two starting spots. Outside of Wright, who played well last season, this could be a shaky unit. Players like Kenny Wright and A.J. Davis are only backups and Gary Baxter is too big of an unknown to rely on.

Position strength in draft: Even though it's possible about 15 cornerbacks will be off the board by the time the Browns pick at No. 122, there are still some quality players left.

Who to target: Zackary Bowman (Nebraska), Charles Godfrey (Iowa), Antwaun Molden (Eastern Kentucky), Tyvon Branch (Connecticut) Patrick Lee (Auburn).

Final thoughts:To my knowledge, the Browns have worked out all of those players with the exception of Lee.

Bowman has had an up-and-down career filled with injuries, so I don't think he'd be a sound choice because the team really needs to hit on a cornerback.

Godfrey is a big, physical cornerback who can be a little reckless because he likes to hit.

Molden is an unknown. Read his scouting report here. Some have considered Molden a possible second-round pick, so he'll probably be gone. Phil Savage supposedly likes him a lot, so if he's there in the early part of round four, the Browns could pounce.

Branch is big and fast (5'11, 204 pounds, 4.31 40-yard dash). However, his athleticism is somewhat lacking and he doesn't get many interceptions.

Lee was a one-year wonder for Auburn. He played really well as a senior and is really physical (which is needed given Eric Wright's lack of pop against the run). He's not as fast as the others listed, though.

The pick: Godfrey. He's everything the Browns could need in a corner and could start as a rookie. Read more about Godfrey after the jump.

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As the NFL Draft approaches, the biggest question is about which players the Browns are showing an interest in. After the jump, there is a list I've been putting together of players the Browns have brought in for private workouts or brought into Cleveland.

NFL teams are allotted 30 private workouts. That means I don't have everyone the team has looked at. Also, players who either played college or high school football in the Browns' region don't count toward the 30 and are in italics. There is no limit, to my knowledge, on the visitations.

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The Sporting News bravely attempted a full seven-round mock draft. Generally, SN is a little radical in its thinking about the draft. (For instance, they have Michigan's Jake Long as the third-best offensive tackle behind Ryan Clady of Boise State and Chris Williams of Vanderbilt)

Here is who they expect the Browns to select:

4th Round: Frank Okam, DT, Texas
My thought: Good pick. Okam would likely slide over to end for the Browns and provide depth with Corey Williams, Robaire Smith and Shaun Smith.

5th Round: Orlando Scandrick, CB, Boise State
My thought: Good pick. The Browns need cornerback depth and have shown interest in Scandrick. He's a little undersized and raw, but is a decent developmental player due to his speed and athleticism.

6th Round: Shawn Crable, OLB, Michigan
My thought: Very good pick. If Crable, an Ohio native, is there in the sixth round, it will be a surprise. He'd be an excellent player in the 3-4 where he can concentrate on blitzing. Heck, if he's available in the fourth round I'd be surprised.

7th Round: Mike Humpal, ILB, Iowa
My thought: Good pick. Much like Purdue, Iowa has some good linebackers in this year's draft. Humpal is a solid run stopper and could start at some point in his career.

If this is how the draft ended up, I'd somehow figure out a way to do cartwheels, back flips or some other athletic endeavor. This is about as ideal as things could be, given the picks Cleveland owns. Sure, a running back or defensive back would be nice, but there should be some decent rookie free agents.

What say you? Let me know who you think of this draft and who the Browns should (realistically) select in the draft.

The fine folks over at Draft Tek always have an unusual way of trying to figure out who teams will draft. More than most draft sites, they use something of a scientific method. Their home page can explain it better than I can.

What matters is who they think the Browns will select. Here's how they see it:

4th Round: Steve Slaton, RB, West Virginia
My thought: Average pick. The Browns already have a Slaton-like running back with Jerome Harrison, who rarely sees the field.

- 5th Round: DJ Hall, WR, Alabama
My thought: Poor pick. He's terrible. One of the most overrated players in the draft. The Browns don't really need another small wide receiver, anyway.

6th Round: Stanford Keglar, ILB, Purdue
My thought: Solid pick. Purdue has several quality linebackers in this year's draft and Keglar is a solid inside linebacker. The Browns have shown interest in Keglar as well.

7th Round: Jonathan Zenon, CB, LSU
My thought: Good pick. Zenon would be a value here. He's a much better cornerback than his bad workout numbers indicate.

Overall, this would be a below-average draft for the Browns. Only Keglar would probably see playing time and that would likely be on special teams. Doing a seven-round mock draft is extremely difficult, though. That's why I plan on doing one in about a week or so!

Beacon Journal columnist Patrick McManamon covered that question in his Sunday column. The problem begins with the question. What the team has arrived at seems to be a point of contention. Have they merely arrived as a solid football team or have they arrived as a true playoff threat?

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin seems to think so. He says the Browns will win the division (do you see Bill Cowher ever saying that?). New Ravens coach John Harbaugh also raved about the Browns.

They did so with good reason. The Browns addressed their biggest needs this offseason — the defensive line and depth along the offensive line. The addition of wide receiver Donte Stallworth was also important considering neither Travis Wilson or Joshua Cribbs have had trouble at receiver.

So what level of arrival does all that put Cleveland? It's a little tough to say. The team has to figure out if cornerbacks Daven Holly or Brandon McDonald can emerge as a solid starter. Free safety Brodney Pool also needs to show he deserves to be a starter. Another solid running back could be helpful and linebacker always seems to be an issue for teams that run the 3-4 defense.

All this points toward the NFL Draft at the end of the month. Although the Browns have no first day picks and only four overall this year, it's not out of the question all these questions could be easily answered on draft day.

Be sure to check in here at the Browns Bulletin the next several days for a discussion on exactly what positions and players the Browns may be targeting in the draft.

A solid draft could mean the Browns arrive as a true playoff threat and not just a one-season wonder.