NFL draft: Kiper believes Browns could catch Green

The 2011 NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis begins in less than a month.

The draft, in which the Browns will try to reshape themselves again, is three flips of the calendar away.

In uncertain times with the CBA between owners and players expiring on March 3, the combine and draft are about the only certain things remaining in the NFL after the Super Bowl.

With that as a backdrop, ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. conducted a national conference call Wednesday. He speculated the Browns will draft wide receiver A.J. Green from Georgia or defensive end Robert Quinn from North Carolina.

Kiper has the Browns picking Green, 6-foot-4, 207 pounds, in his mock draft.

"He's an angular kid, beats you vertically, a good route runner," Kiper said. "He took hits in traffic and didn't give up the football. I don't see any holes in his game. I think Green pretty much translates into any offense with the skill level he has."

Green caught 57 passes for 848 yards and nine touchdowns in 2010 despite being suspended the first four games for selling his 2009 Independence Bowl jersey to an agent.

The decision for Browns general manager Tom Heckert could be deciding which position is deeper in the draft — receiver or defensive ends who fit the 4-3 defense the Browns will use under defensive coordinator Dick Jauron.

Ends in the 4-3 are smaller and quicker than the ends in the 3-4 defense the Browns played the last six years. Quinn, 6-foot-5, 268 pounds, fits that mold.

As badly as the Browns need receivers, at least they already have some. They do not have 4-3-type defensive ends to rush the quarterback.

Another reason Quinn is a strong possibility is the Bengals also need wide receivers. They pick two spots before the Browns and could easily snatch Green. The Browns could still select Julio Jones, a wide receiver from Alabama, but most draft reports rate Jones a notch below Green.

Kiper ranks Jones as the 10th best overall player in the draft. He ranks Green No. 3 overall, but believes the five teams picking ahead of the Browns — Carolina, Denver, Buffalo, Cincinnati and San Francisco — will fill other needs, leaving Green for the Browns. Kiper has the Bengals drafting defensive end Da'Quan Bowers from Clemson.

Quinn would be an excellent second choice at end for the Browns, from what Kiper said.

"If you feel you have to get that pass rusher, Quinn could be a tremendous pass rusher in the NFL," Kiper said Wednesday. "The kid was unbelievable two years ago. He's going to be a freakish workout guy. He would've been a first, second or third pick if he played this year. You can make an argument for Quinn, no question."

Quinn was kicked off the Tar Heels in 2010 and deemed "permanently ineligible" for accepting two diamond watches and a trip to Miami from sports agents. The worth of the gifts totaled $5,000.

Before the ban, Quinn was compared to Julius Peppers, a former Tar Heel who went on to a fabulous career with the Carolina Panthers. Peppers signed with Chicago last offseason and had eight sacks with the Bears in 2010.

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