RamView Accu-Draft 2013: Pick #6: Cleveland

Columbia (Mo.) Daily Herald

Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri

Mike Lombardi, now the Browns GM, said once on NFL Network's Path to the Draft that "Only YOU can prevent bust picks at defensive line." So I'm going to put him to the test here and mention what he said about drafting defensive linemen right after that. Don't reach for potential. Look for work habits, desire, commitment and character before athleticism. Look for players who can rush the passer all three downs, and pass rush is more important than run defense.

Lombardi's rules, if he and I follow them the same way, get us to Sheldon Richardson as the #6 pick. Cleveland's converting, again, from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 run by maniac-in-a-good-way DC Ray Horton. They look OK in the middle with D'Qwell Jackson at MLB and gigantor Phil Taylor likely at NT. They look OK on the edges with free agent signing Paul Kruger and Jabaal Sheard. Where I wasn't convinced with Cleveland's depth chart was defensive end.

Jarvis Jones would have been a sweet fit at OLB for what the Browns are going to want to do on defense, but he's carrying a full load of character issues. Star Lotulelei, at one time considered a potential #1 pick overall, could certainly anchor a 3-4 line, and he's been medically cleared of the heart issue that came up at the Combine. But he's not much of a pass rusher. Shariff Floyd's got questions on his scouting reports about his passion for the game.

You'll find none of these problems for Sheldon Richardson. Classic motor, elite athlete who takes over games, a strong player with quickness to penetrate and disrupt the backfield and the skill set to be a 3-4 5-technique end. He makes plays all over the field, racks up a ton of tackles for his position, and as PFW puts it, "makes plays very few big men are capable of."

The main rule I'm breaking here is one of my own - don't draft 4-3 guys to convert them to 3-4 schemes, and vice versa - but I think Richardson is the right pick for Lombardi and the Browns any way. One sure thing: Lombardi didn't want to draft Ryan Tannehill high as a mock drafter last year; he's not taking Geno Smith here with real skin in the game, people. Whichever way they go, I really like the moves the Browns have made on and off the field this offseason; they're one of my sleeper teams for 2013.

The Big Dead are on the clock! This'll be a simple one.

-$-