"The Browns wheeled and dealed with two teams and ultimately selected Baylor defensive tackle Phil Taylor 21st overall. Yes, the 2011 NFL Draft got off to a wild start Thursday night. Instead of sticking with the sixth overall selection, Browns General Manager Tom Heckert traded it to the Atlanta Falcons. In exchange, Falcons General Manager Thomas Dimitroff, a Barberton native, sent the following five picks to the Browns: No. 27 (first round), No. 59 (second round) and No. 124 (fourth round) this year, plus the Falcons' first- and fourth-round selections in 2012. The deal was two weeks in the making, Heckert said. Because of the NFL's turbulent labor situation, the league has warned teams that trades involving picks beyond 2011 will occur at their own risk. The Browns later traded the 27th pick and their original third-round selection (No. 70) to the Kansas City Chiefs, so they could move up and take Taylor. The 6-foot-3, 337-pound Taylor has often been projected as a 3-4 nose tackle, but the Browns think he'll fit well alongside Ahtyba Rubin in their 4-3 scheme. ''He's a big man,'' Heckert said. ''He can push the pocket as a pass rusher. If your guards or center are a little undersized, he's gonna run right over top of you. That's intriguing for us.'' Taylor, who had 62 tackles, including seven for loss, and two sacks last season for Baylor, comes to the Browns with some baggage. He started his collegiate career at Penn State, but transferred after he was dismissed from the team following his involvement in off-the-field incidents, including an on-campus fight. ''I don't think it was a concern,'' Taylor said via phone from New York. ''I was young. I made a mistake, but I moved on from it. I went down to Baylor, and I just made the best of a second chance. I'm happy to be in this situation right now.''" Read more: http://www.ohio.com/sports/browns/120944404.html
