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Monday, April 28, 2008
BEREA — For the Cleveland Browns, the offseason has been about bolstering the front seven of a defense that ranked 30th in the NFL last season.
Their pick of UNLV linebacker Beau Bell in the fourth round Sunday, April 27, furthered that strategy, although his immediate future probably involves busting wedges on kickoff coverage.
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"He's going to bring a physical presence to our special teams that we needed," General Manager Phil Savage said. "When we kick off opening day (Sept. 7 against Dallas), Beau will be on the field."
The Browns had no picks Saturday because of trades for quarterback Brady Quinn and defensive linemen Corey Williams and Shaun Rogers, but they made a splash Sunday with several maneuvers, including two trades with the Dallas Cowboys.
First, Savage sent this year's fourth- and fifth-round picks to Dallas for the right to move up 18 spots in the fourth round and select Bell. Then he relinquished next year's third-rounder for Dallas' other fourth-rounder and chose Missouri tight end Martin Rucker.
"We're excited about what we were able to do," Savage said. "Both players came out of the fall with very good grades. Their status dropped to a degree (in the spring), but in our eyes, it really didn't."
Savage also dealt next year's fifth-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for an extra pick in the sixth round. Drafted here were Wisconsin receiver Paul Hubbard, a former track star, and Ahtyba Rubin, an Iowa State nose tackle described in one scouting report as a "heavy-legged plugger" with "questionable instincts and intelligence."
Bell was the Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year last season. He mainly played outside linebacker, but at 6-foot-1 and 250 pounds, the Browns see him joining D'Qwell Jackson, Leon Williams and Andra Davis inside.
"Whoever has the ball, I try to punish them," Bell said on a conference call.
Rucker (6-4, 247) is the brother of former Pro Bowl defensive tackle Mike Rucker, recently retired from the Carolina Panthers. The rap on him is that he can't block and doesn't work hard. He did, however, lead the nation's tight ends with 84 catches last season.
Cleveland Browns picks by round
4. Beau Bell, LB, 6-1, 250, Nevada-Las Vegas — A punishing tackler
4. Martin Rucker, TE, 6-4, 247, Missouri — Led all TEs in catches
6. Ahtyba Rubin, NT, 6-2, 315, Iowa State — Prototypical size
6a. Paul Hubbard, WR, 6-2, 221, Wisconsin— Averaged 17.7 yards per catch
7. Alex Hall, DE, 6-4, 238, St. Augustine's (N.C.) — Outside linebacker prospect
