2011 NFL Mock Draft: Cleveland Browns Select Bruce Carter

by Sean Yuille on Apr 14, 2011 4:00 PM EDT in Detroit Lions History

CHAPEL HILL NC - NOVEMBER 13: Tyrod Taylor #5 of the Virginia Tech Hokies is tackled by Bruce Carter #54 and teammate Jared McAdoo #97 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game at Kenan Stadium on November 13 2010 in Chapel Hill North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

With the 37th pick of Pride of Detroit's 2011 NFL Mock Draft, the Cleveland Browns select North Carolina linebacker Bruce Carter. Latif is serving as the Browns' general manager, and his reasoning for the pick is below.

When I picked A.J. Green in round one, I expected that there would be solid to great defensive end value to be there waiting for me in round two with so many talented pass rushers available in this draft. Well, it turns out that eight defensive ends were taken in the first 36 picks and I would be left choosing between the ninth best defensive end in the draft or one of the best (if not the best) linebackers. I chose to take value over need at this pick. Think of it sort of like the Louis Delmas pick instead of a middle linebacker.

At first glance, outside linebacker doesn't look to be the biggest need when it comes to the Browns, but its becomes pretty clear that the Browns are in need of a talented linebacker, maybe even more so than a defensive end. Think of it this way: their best linebackers last year were 275-pound Matt Roth and 263-pound Chris Gocong. Both of those guys could probably slide down to the defensive line or at least play the strong side linebacker position, while injured star D'Qwell Jackson mans the middle, but that still leaves the weakside spot open.

To me, the weakside linebacker spot is critical in a 4-3 defense. Whoever mans that position needs to be able to fly and tackle very well, and Bruce Carter fits that bill very well. Like we have heard a thousand times already, Carter would have been a first rounder this year had he not been injured and definitely has the potential to be the best linebacker in this draft. After seeing that there was no pass rushing talent available, Carter remained the only viable option here.

PS: I just made Drew's job 10x times harder.

Check out the 2011 Pride of Detroit Community Mock Draft tracker for a look at all of the picks.

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Comments

Uh... thanks a lot, Latif.....

by DrewsLions on Apr 14, 2011 4:03 PM EDT reply actions

lol

you’re very welcome

House of Spears | My Lions/NFL Blog | De-facto Editor of Blue & Silver Pride

by Latif Masud on Apr 14, 2011 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Need a WLB

Take the best WLB in the draft. Makes sense, and offers great value.

Good luck Drew.

by Mavyrk on Apr 14, 2011 4:10 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Great pick for Cle.

Drew better get to work on those corners LOL

"Show me someone with an offseason and I'll show you someone in last place"- Ndamukong Suh ( All Pro, Pro Bowl, Pepsi Rookie of the year, AP defensive rookie of the year, Sporting news rookie of the year)

PCP 4 LIFE

by The Profiler on Apr 14, 2011 4:22 PM EDT reply actions

OFF TOPIC

NFL Network shitcanned Mi**en! I an enjoy THursday Night Football again! WOO HOO!!!!
Btw, great pick!

"The right (draft) move sometimes might be to strengthen a strength. Filling holes in the 1st round leads to grabs and busts." - Steve_Chiefs.

by JazzyBBP on Apr 14, 2011 5:37 PM EDT reply actions

I heard that too!

Awesome.

by MICHIGAN MAN on Apr 14, 2011 9:35 PM EDT up reply actions

With Drew drafting a DE in round one

Which is kind of a luxury pick because its not a huge need for this team, you almost have to draft a CB or LB in round 2. In all honesty though you didn’t have much of a choice in terms of quality players at 13. It was either a OT or DE (I would’ve went with OT) but either spot might not even start next year. I think OT has a better chance at starting st RT though cuz of Gos knee and maybe even him moving to guard (bye bye Peterman). In round 2 though you almost have to have a guy that could/should start esp with the lack of picks we have. Say hello to Mason Foster or Ras I Dowling lol.

Im am the host of the Pride of Detroit Podcast. Please leave feedback on the podcast site, here at Pride of Detroit, via Twitter, facebook, and email us at PrideofDetroitPodcast@yahoo.com.

by Jerry Mallory on Apr 14, 2011 6:15 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

I'm under the impression the Lions big board reflects corners they might like

for their team in every round. They’ll probably stick to BPA. Look at the Aquisition of Aaron Berry, they liked him, but not enough to select him in the draft. Small sample size, yeah, but I wouldn’t expect the Lions to reach for a corner if Cannon and Carimi were available for the 2nd pick.

by BtotheLT on Apr 14, 2011 6:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Makes sense BtotheLT

I imagine they have their top players they want in each round, rankings by positions, and an overall player ranking board. It would be interesting to find out how an nfl team puts together a draft board and prepares for draft day. I have my faux board but what do I know? Don’t answer that.

by Home in Cleveland, Heart in Detroit on Apr 14, 2011 7:02 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

That's not how it works Jerry.

Mayhew will go with the top player on their board in the second round. It could be a WR, RB, Guard, OT, Center, or whatever. Look at what happened when the Lions [under Millen] targeted positions (ie. LB) to get filled in the second round; Lehman, Dizon, and Bailey. Busts all.

There are plenty of free agent LBs that will be available when the CBA is signed. Not so many CB FAs, but again reaching in the draft for a player will just compound the problem.

"I read one article, I said, 'This guy doesn't know what he's talking about,' " Mayhew said. "Then I read another one, and I thought, 'Wait a minute, they're all saying the same thing.' -Martin Mayhew 2011 regarding Draft Gurus.

by NorthLeft12 on Apr 14, 2011 7:11 PM EDT up reply actions

good points

I even mentioned that on a previous podcast. They seem to do a combo of BPA on their board (unless its ridiculous like a QB or TE), overall BPA and BP overall at that position. Which is why I think they will nab an OT or maybe even Ingram cuz either would be BPA at their respective position. But this year may be slightly different only because of having so few draft picks and trades and free agency being on hold. I also think the first two drafts the team was so depleted they had to get simply the best players regardless. Schwartz mentioned that. The better a team gets, the more they try to fill specific needs. They may feel they are a healthy Stafford and a solid secondary/LB core from the wildcard. I wouldn’t argue with that.

Im am the host of the Pride of Detroit Podcast. Please leave feedback on the podcast site, here at Pride of Detroit, via Twitter, facebook, and email us at PrideofDetroitPodcast@yahoo.com.

by Jerry Mallory on Apr 14, 2011 10:06 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

OK, I had to say no...

not because Carter is a bad pick for the Browns, but because you took them away from the Lions!

You suck!

j/k

by TuffLynx on Apr 14, 2011 6:31 PM EDT reply actions

uh I dont know about that

Yeah he’s a good talent but with them switching from a 3-4 to a 4-3 they need help on the Dline. since you didn’t do that in the 1st, this would be a logical spot to address that. I’m not even sure Carter is bpa available at this point. I’m not sure I like this pick to be honest.

by Home in Cleveland, Heart in Detroit on Apr 14, 2011 6:56 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Oooh, that is true.

I forgot about the scheme switch to 4-3.

by TuffLynx on Apr 14, 2011 7:11 PM EDT up reply actions

They actually have a half decent dline

Like I said. I was choosing between the 9th best DE, 4th or 5th best DT or the best OLB in the draft. Pretty clear choice to me. Plus, a guy like Matt roth can go back to playing DE and they have this 330 LB d tackle named athuyaba rubin that got 80+ tackles as a NT in a 34. Pretty impressive if you ask me. It just made more sense all things considered to take Carter

House of Spears | My Lions/NFL Blog | De-facto Editor of Blue & Silver Pride

by Latif Masud on Apr 14, 2011 8:06 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Best OLB?

I thought Von Miller went in the first?

Carter is arguably the 4th best behind Miller, Ayers, Houston (and that is being generous by leaving all the OLB/DE guys as DEs). If you want to go with the guy highest rated at their position, you should go RB and get the second best. You wouldn’t because best in their position is not how BPA works. If the 9th best DE is a better player than the 2nd best RB, then you go with the 9th best DE.

I like Carter, but I wonder if you are drafting as a Lions fan rather than a Brown’s guy and letting our infatuation with a second round guy cloud your vision. I mean, picking athletic LBs with knee problems too early is a Lions thing (bailey, Lehman, etc.), not a Browns thing.

by ATL Lion on Apr 14, 2011 9:04 PM EDT up reply actions