The NFLDraftguys staff is going simulate playing the GM of each of the 31 teams picking in the first round and justify their picks. You can look forward to a new pick every other day leading up to April 28, when the staff will be in Radio City Music Hall to see if they took our advice.
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Sean Baca
With the 3rd pick in the 2007 NFL draft the Cleveland Browns SHOULD take Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma.
Adrian Peterson is a natural running back in the purest form. His balance and explosions thru the line, leading to game -breaking plays, is what separates him from the pack of talented backs in the draft. He can take it to the house from any distance as well as grind it out between the tackles. Injury concerns definitely abound with Peterson, and his upright running style lends itself to injury... However, he has proven he can carry the ball 25 to 35 times, and he gets stronger as the carries pile up. He put up five multiple touchdown games in the seven he played last year, and impressed at the combine putting up awesome numbers there too.
The Browns have needs at Quarterback and Defensive Line as well, but a great ground game cures a lot of ills and would allow for more vertical plays from the passing game. Peterson will demand attention from d-coordinators and allow for a more balanced attack. If you are drafting this high, you probably have more than one area of focus, so you should draft the player that alleviates the most pressure and in my eyes that player is Adrian Peterson.
<Marc Faletti
With the 3rd pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns SHOULD select Alan Branch, DT, Michigan.
Well, actually, they should trade down to take a CB like Chris Houston or Darrelle Revis while piling up a few more picks, but assuming they stay in the 3-hole, they ought to be thrilled to take Branch. This mauler obliterated the inside running game of almost every opponent last year, and even when he was contained (usually by double teams), Branch was nearly impossible to move out of the way once he planted and pushed. He may not be the most disciplined lineman yet, but his size, burst, and motor make him a terror. Branch runs about the same size as Pro Bowl NT Casey Hampton of the Steelers, but he has the quicks of Hampton's old teammate at UT, Shaun Rogers. Because of this, Branch would significantly improve the undermanned DE position in Cleveland's 3-4, or he could also step into the NT role should Ted Washington ever actually realize he's almost 40. Branch opens up a number of options in a team's defensive playbook, and that flexibility is rare enough to draft #3.
<Cecil Lammey
With the 3rd pick in the 2007 NFL Draft the Cleveland Browns SHOULD take Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma.
"All Day" Adrian Peterson is the man, plain and simple. His size/speed/running style hasn't been seen since the days of Eric Dickerson. He has power to run up the gut and convert short yardage and goal line opportunities. He has the speed to take it the distance. He has the moves to shake and bake defenders on the second level. He is quite simply the best back in this draft and there is no way the Browns will not take him. Cleveland shouldn't even entertain any offers to trade down, that's how good Peterson is. The Browns are trying to address their problems on the offensive line, but this pick will not be a lineman. Adrian has a great collection of big time performances The Browns need offense and Peterson brings is "All Day".
<Sigmund Bloom
With the 3rd pick in the 2007 NFL Draft the Cleveland Browns SHOULD take Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma.
This is the rare instance where a glaring need intersects with a player worthy of a top of the first round pick. I would probably recommend Peterson here unless the Browns had a top 10 RB, but the fact that they have currently have Reuben Droughns, Jason Wright, and Jerome Harrison to tote the rock in a division known for grind it out football makes this pick a slam dunk.
Has Peterson's record shown that he's prone to get banged up? Sure, although this doesn't put him in an exclusive club, RBs take as much punishment as any position on the field. The more important question that Peterson has put to rest is whether he can play the role a true workhorse feature back. Defenders have to work hard to bring "All Day" down, and he can still take any run to the house. He also gets stronger as the game goes on. He will take a ton of pressure off of Charlie Frye, Derek Anderson, Brian Sipe, Bernie Kosar, or whomever else the Browns can find to quarterback their team this year - while QB is a huge need, neither Quinn nor Russell provide the sure long term fix that Peterson does, and cashing in these picks on impact players is the key here, not filling your largest need.
