Last updated: 9:53 PM

Sports media will soon be ridiculously overrun with pundits analyzing every conceivable aspect of the NFL Draft. We here at the Mistake by the Lake Sporting Times are nothing if not quick to copycat, so we decided to become draft pundits ourselves. Check back on this 'blog periodically during the draft, for Corey and I will sporadically update this post with our thoughts on possible moves for the Browns, evaluations of Browns' selections, and other general nonsense you have come to expect from us. With Butch Davis gone, we are left to wonder what new and exciting ways the Browns will come up with to piss away seven draft picks.

1:10 PM

Alex says: The Browns just took Braylon Edwards with the third pick. I feel unusually ambivalent about this selection. Sure, it doesn't hurt to have more talent, but is wide receiver such a team need? But then again, it's well known that GM Phil Savage will always take the "best player available" rather than for a team need. I agree with Savage's strategy, but every time I think of Edwards all I see is David Terell. Mike Williams seems to me to be a much better wideout prospect.

Did anyone else notice Edwards's watch? It was displayed during the first minute or so of the telecast and was very easy to miss. But dear Lord, that watch blew my mind. It must weigh at least 15 pounds.

1:55 PM

Corey says: Braylon Edwards, huh? I respect Phil Savage's strategy of drafting the best player available, regardless, but it's really a strategy for the long term. We've been hearing a lot of people say "well, since the Browns have a need at every single position, they should just take the best guy available and it will automatically be filling a need". The problem is that there are just a few positions where the Browns simply have no need. Tight end, for example. Running back, thank God. Linebacker, I would argue (at least compared to all the other needs). And, frankly, wide receiver. Before today, the Browns went three deep at receiver, with three very good players (though, the argument goes, none of them are "stars" -- except that Andre Davis certainly has the potential to be a big star). They also had Kellen Winslow stepping in, with the potential to be a big time pass-catching weapon. Now they go four deep, five if you count Kellen, which is fine--I'm all for depth--but they have so many needs still to address. I know, I have to be patient. There's a lot of draft left. Frankly, I would be quite happy to see the Browns acquire another second or third round pick for, say, Antonio Bryant. That would certainly justify the pick of Braylon Edwards beyond all doubts.

5:18 PM

Corey says: Well, there are about 12 picks left now before the Browns are up again, which means it will only be another 22 hours or so... The anticipation is palpitating! I wish I could say I have been enjoying the rest of the first round, but between Chris Berman's intolerable excuse for commentary and the incessant waiting, I must confess to falling asleep on my couch for about two hours. But hey, it's the NFL Draft! Two hours in draft time is like 10 minutes in people time. Of the parts I did see, though, and the recap, I have to say the highlights were watching Aaron Rodgers generally sweating it out and looking like he was trying not to cry over in the green room, as well as New Orleans' brilliant move of swooping in via trade to snatch up their division rival's coveted prospect just one pick before Carolina's. My hopes for the Browns in round two? Address the offensive line or the defensive secondary. I don't have much of a sense of who will be available or which positions are strongest at that point in the depth chart, so to speak, so I'll give Phil Savage the benefit of the doubt no matter whom he picks, so long as it's not a receiver, a back, or a tight end.

Meanwhile, the race is on to see who lands Mike Nugent. I know it won't be the Browns, but this is the kind of thing that rivets me to my sofa. It would be cool if he went to the Packers so he could be reunited with B.J. Sander as the greatest kicking combo since Groza and Collins. Okay, maybe I'm getting a little carried away.

6:41 PM

Alex says: This just in! Mike Nugent remains undrafted.

After enjoying the cinematic genius of Coyote Ugly and Krippendorf's Tribe, I tuned back to ESPN2 and heard the Vice Commissioner announce the Browns had drafted a player from Oklahoma. I assumed it was Dan Cody, but it was not so.

Brodney Pool, according to Mel Kiper, would be a Top 10 pick next year--but came out early. Since Pool is so young, Corey suggests that the Browns are planning to throw next season in an effort to Tank for Leinart, but that doesn't seem quite right to me. Pool apparently could be a perfectly fine safety and I don't know why Corey is so confident in the Browns current safeties: with Little and Griffith out, it's down to a recovering Sean Jones, Chris Crocker, and maybe someone like Dyshod Carter who could switch from corner.

The team has now taken two players: Braylon and Brodney. Notice any similarities? It seems that the Browns should look into drafting Brock Berlin, a QB from Miami, Brady Poppinga, an OLB from BYU, or even Brian Claybourn, a P from Western Kentucky. Actually, who'd I'd love to see the Browns nab is Richie Incognito, an OL from Nebraska who actually sat out last year. Apparently he is one of the best blockers in the entire draft, but has a terrible temper. I just want him for the name.

6:53 PM

Corey says: Hey, I expressed no confidence in any Browns safeties, departed or otherwise. I only wondered which safety position Brodney would take. Personally, I'm excited for a safety corps of Sean Jones and Brodney Pool. Didn't I just say I wanted them to address the secondary?

You can't spell "Braylon Edwards" without "Browns". For that matter, you can't spell "Braylon" without "L'Bron". I'm just saying. I notice these things.

9:53

Alex says: In a demonstration of the magnitude of their stupidity, Jets fans present at the NFL Draft actually booed the team's selection of kicking/Heisman candidate Mike Nugent. I don't think anyone doubted that Jets fans were a little dim, but this should serve to cement this fact for the rest of human existence.

Phil Savage has already proven what an unpredictable character he is by the 3rd round. Just when we all thought he would take Brian Claybourne, he chooses "hometown" boy Charlie Frye. The matter of being "hometown" or not is confusing because Charlie is from scenic Willard. Cleveland technically is the closest city with an NFL team, so hopefully Charlie grew up a Browns fan. But you can never be too sure when it comes to Western Ohio, some people are liable to even be Lions fans, ick.

I'm not particularly excited by Frye, but not disappointed either. He should be a perfectly decent QB for the Browns in a couple of years. Plus, his being-from-Ohioness can only make him much more likeable to the average Browns fan. But the Browns really should let Dilfer start the entire season, and let Frye train.

How can it have only been nine hours of the NFL draft so far? It seems like its been only a few minutes or so. Don't you agree? I don't know about you, but I can't wait to spend my entire Sunday watching teams draft guys I have never heard of and will likely never hear of again.