NFL Draft: Round 4 Analysis

Now that we’re into the old Day 2 and the picks continue to fly off the board, it’s time to pick our spots for some fourth-round analysis:
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↵Raiders get their guy at the century mark. Oakland wanted its pick of whoever was left after Round 3, and it should be happy with its deal with Dallas after landing underrated UConn cornerback Tyvon Branch. He can be a big help both in nickel/dime packages and on special teams.
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↵Browns finally get on the board. Hello, Cleveland. Welcome to the 2008 NFL draft. The Browns went into uber win-now mode with GM Phil Savage leading the way through an aggressive offseason of veteran acquisitions, but they still manage to get a first-round talent early in Round 4. Beau Bell from UNLV was much higher-rated by War Room scouts. Injury issues caused the solid-tackling inside linebacker to slip.
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↵Another building block for Broncos. When it comes to constructing offensive lines, few teams do it better than Denver. After getting tackle Ryan Clady in Round 1, the Broncos go guard for a good big body in Bowling Green’s Kory Lichtensteiger. To get back into playoff contention, it starts with shoring up their line.
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↵Browns get back on the board. Cleveland decides that drafting is fun and wants in, trading with, of all teams, Dallas. The Cowboys are still grinning after getting that extra first-rounder from the Browns. The pick at 111 is a bit of head-scratcher. There’s nothing wrong with Missouri tight end Martin Rucker and his potential to be a fine receiving tight end, but the team already has Kellen Winslow. Cleveland should have gone defense or running back, something that would have helped it more immediately.
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↵A corner named Corner goes. The Bills grab a cornerback named Reggie Corner out of Akron at No. 114. Seriously. I think they’re targeting George Safety and Tom Tackle in the next two rounds. If you’re keeping score, that’s two corners to Buffalo; they also got Leodis McKelvin in Round 1.
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↵Eagles starting to soar. Philly chose to trade out of the first round, but it has aced everything since. In Round 4, after getting Pitt offensive tackle Mike McGlynn, the underrated teammate of first-rounder Jeff Otah, they get a safety who compete for a starting job in UTEP’s Quintin Demps. You get the feeling the Eagles always have a great draft plan and stick to it.
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↵Seahawks see Red for their defensive line. Seattle has an aggressive defense that has helped it roost atop the NFC West standings, but there always has been the issue of being undersized and vulnerable up the middle. Red Bryant has the girth to occupy blockers and open up things for the Seahawks’ talented linebackers.
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↵Titans, Colts catch smart picks. Tennessee gets a good wide receiver value in Cal’s other top talent, Lavelle Hawkins with the pick it got in exchange for relieving its Pacman Jones headache. Indy again proves why it stays an elite team by getting Kentucky tight Jacob Tamme. Tamme can step in and replace the departed Ben Utecht right away.
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↵Best of the comp picks. Being a Big Ten guy, I like what the Eagles did (again) and whom the Titans got (again). Wisconsin cornerback Jack Ikegwuonu has some durability and injury issues, but is a good value for Philly here if it still decides to move Lito Sheppard. Meanwhile, Tennessee takes the second Purdue linebacker of the day in Stanford Keglar, who has the potential to be a speedy and quick NFL playmaker.↵