Today is the day. All the homework has been done. All the player grading, and “big boards” are complete. The war rooms are stocked and ready, and draft prospects have all descended to New York’s Radio City Music Hall like locusts. Armed with 13 draft picks the Cleveland Browns will spend the next few days selecting players to make our team competitive for years to come.

 Much has been written and speculated about the Browns 4th overall pick. It will set the tempo of the entire draft. And unlike many of the teams selecting in the top 10, who the Browns are truly targeting is a complete mystery. Like the Kennedy assassination there is no shortage of theories. Will the Browns take Richardson, Claiborne, Tannehill, Kalil, Blackmon, trade down, or even pick none of the above. It is truly amazing how there are so many different opinions. I myself am guilty of it. Over the past two months I believe I have written articles arguing the benefits of all of those choices.

 In addition to the 4th overall pick, we also get another pick in the first round at 22nd overall. This is a rare opportunity. One can argue that the decision to trade back in 2011 with the Falcons is part of the reason our offense struggled last year. And when you look at it from that perspective it means that the 22nd pick is almost as important of a pick as the 4th overall.

 In addition to the 1st round, the Browns will still have 11 picks remaining picks in the 2nd-7th rounds. Who will the Browns select late? Will one of those selections be a “big payoff”? Will one of those late round picks end up being a player like Tom Brady (6th round pick). Or will they be just more nameless, faceless players that don’t get past the bench?

Regardless of what happens we must acknowledge our true position that we have very little impact on what happens. We can only sit back and watch as the draft unfold before us. All we can do is put our faith in Holmgren, Heckert, and Shurmur hoping they do what is best for the team, the city, and Browns nation. Let us believe in any and all superstitious notions and do all we can to avoid the “draft bust”.

 So if you have a “lucky” pair of underwear or some other piece of lucky clothing then put it on and enjoy the NFL draft. And when we look back on this draft in ten years or more, will we look on it as the turning point of the Cleveland Browns Franchise, or will we look upon this year’s draft as just another lost opportunity?