While most fans and draft experts are poised for the Browns to select a flashy skill player with the No. 3 pick overall, Browns General Manager Phil Savage talked up the possibility of taking Wisconsin tackle Joe Thomas.
Speaking at a Browns Backers event on Wednesday night, Savage recalled the Baltimore Ravens drafting Jonathan Ogden with the fourth overall pick in 1996 draft.
"I was part of an organization that took a left tackle early in the draft," said Savage said of Ogden. "Our coach at the time was Ted Marchibroda. Ted wanted a running back and he just hung his head and he wasn't very excited about it at all.
"I can remember us looking at Ted and saying it's not really a very sexy pick or very exciting, but this guy might play for 10 or 12 years. Ultimately, Jonathan became a Pro Bowl, Hall of Fame type of player. Picking Joe Thomas may not be the most exciting pick, but it could be the wisest thing for us to do at this point. We'll see how it all plays out."
Browns assistant director of player personnel T.J. McCreight also said that the offensive line "will be up to where it should be" after the draft.
The Browns haven't said too much about Thomas up to this point, because they felt he wouldn't be available at No. 3. But now it's anyone's guess what Oakland will do at No. 1 and Detroit at No. 2.
This is good.
Wisconsin left tackle Joe Thomas will visit the Browns on Monday, according to a league source. The Browns previously met with LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell, Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn and Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson.
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