MiddletownJournal.com

BEREA — Cleveland Browns General Manager Phil Savage knows how to work a room.

"I have a trade," Savage announced at around 9 p.m. Saturday, April 26, quickly adding that he was "just kidding."

The first day of the NFL draft was that kind of day for the pickless Browns, the usual beehive of activity at team headquarters replaced by stifling nothingness, unless you count a meeting with coaches and scouts that wrapped up around noon.

Savage said he watched the first 10 picks on TV but wasn't even in the building eight selections later when the AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens made University of Delaware quarterback Joe Flacco their first choice.

"It feels a little odd to watch the draft and never see any Browns news, I guess," Savage said. "I think we've handled it well. At this point, we've got Brady Quinn and Corey Williams, and we feel good about that."

The Browns' first-round pick went to Dallas during last year's draft for the rights to Quinn, who may or may not be the quarterback of the future. Their second-rounder went to Green Bay for Williams, a defensive lineman. The Browns also are without a third-round pick, dealing it to the Detroit Lions for defensive tackle Shaun Rogers.

Savage said he has "absolutely zero regrets" about making the Williams trade based on what was available at that position in the second round.

Unless they pull off a trade, the Browns have another round to sit idle this morning. Savage said a "handful" of players remain from a group of 42 deemed to be the cream of the crop, regardless of position. Whether any make it to the fourth round is a question, as is whether the Browns feel like waiting that long.

Based on the value chart the NFL uses, a move into the third round would require relinquishing next year's No. 3 and one of this year's late-round choices. That is, if a partner could be found.

"We're going to talk about it and reconvene," Savage said. "A number of teams have multiple picks in the third round. We might do some exploratory calls. Or, we'll just wait it out."

Wants to be a Brown

Kent State cornerback Jack Williams, who ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. projects the Browns to select with their first pick today (fourth round, No. 122 overall), played with Cleveland receiver/kick returner Joshua Cribbs in college. Williams told The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer he would like to be reunited with Cribbs, but it's not certain Williams will last past the third round.

Tight end maybe?

Don't be surprised if a tight end finds his way onto the roster today. Steve Heiden, Kellen Winslow Jr.'s primary backup, recently underwent what's been described as "minor" back surgery and will miss a chunk of the offseason program.

The Browns have the following picks today:

Round 4: Pick 23, No. 122 overall

Round 5: Pick 20, No. 155 overall

Round 6: Pick 24, No. 190 overall

Round 7: Pick 24, No. 231 overall

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