by Todd Pheifer

Created on: December 05, 2009

The Cleveland Browns have not had a tremendous season in 2009. In the off-season, there was a renewed sense of optimism with the arrival of Eric Mangini and the hope that Brady Quinn would emerge as the quarterback of the future. Unfortunately, the Browns have flip-flopped quarterbacks, traded Braylon Edwards, and given up a lot of points on defense. This has resulted in a disastrous season for Cleveland as some reports suggest that there is not a good relationship between the coach and the players. When a team does this badly, they do have the opportunity to draft very high in the NFL draft. This can make picks very important, as they may impact the team for years to come. Here are a few thoughts on why the 2010 draft is going to be important for the Cleveland Browns.

Quarterback

In theory, the Browns have their quarterback of the future in Brady Quinn. However, the quarterback position is always under great scrutiny and plenty of young quarterbacks have not turned out to be stars. Perhaps Quinn will excel behind a solid offensive line, but for now the Browns may have to at least have a conversation about the quarterback position.

Running game

The Browns have Jamal Lewis and he is still serviceable. However, he is starting to age, and running backs can have a very short life in the National Football League. A tough running back may be a draft pick that the Browns consider, which may take some pressure off the quarterback.

Wide receiver

Braylon Edwards is gone, and with him goes a deep threat for Cleveland. Many believe Mohamad Massaquoi can develop into a star, but much depends on the team's ability to put other weapons on the field. Therefore, the Browns may need to consider a complimentary receiver that can help Massaquoi develop.

Offensive line

The dominant teams in the league are those teams that can protect the quarterback. Just about any quarterback will excel if they are given enough time to read the field and throw the ball. Therefore, it may behoove the Browns to draft a lineman or two in order to see if Brady Quinn is really the quarterback of the future.

Defense

Overall, the Cleveland defense has not been particularly good. Some of that stems from the time that they have spent on the field, due to the inability of the offense to put together sustained drives. However, there are a lot of holes that could be filled on the defense side of the ball in 2010.

Overall, one draft will not necessarily make or break a team. However, each draft is important because it can set a tone and direction for a team that has struggled in the past. If the Browns can draft a few impact players, it can start to create a culture of winning that Cleveland has not enjoyed for a while.

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