The Browns' trade for Philadelphia cornerback Sheldon Brown doesn't preclude them from still drafting a cornerback high. Among the players visiting the team Tuesday was cornerback Devin McCourty of Rutgers University, a league source confirmed. McCourty is regarded as one of the top five cornerbacks in the draft. Some teams may have McCourty ranked on par with-or even slightly ahead of-Florida's Joe Haden. The Browns also had Haden in Tuesday, along with Florida quarterback Tim Tebow. Some teams have as many as 10 players visiting on the same day, due to scheduling constraints. The Browns previously worked out Haden and Tebow. They did not do that with McCourty. McCourty is expected to be taken between the 20th and 30th pick of the first round, the source said. Philadelphia and Baltimore are said to be most interested in him. The Browns may be covering their bases in case McCourty falls into the second round. Or they may be contemplating a trade down from No. 7 overall or a trade up from No. 38 in the second round. While it's been assumed Haden was the top cornerback on the Browns' radar screen throughout the draft process, Browns coach Eric Mangini indicated two weeks ago at the NFL owners meetings in Orlando, Fla., that he had not completed his evaluation of the position. "For me, I like to go through all the corners before putting them on a stack," he said. - Tony Grossi, The Cleveland Plain Dealer

With the 27th selection of the NFL draft, coach Bill Belichick selected Rutgers cornerback Devin McCourty, a physical player who could go a long way in easing their woes against pass-happy teams last season.

After trading down twice from 22nd overall while picking up a third-round pick, Belichick settled on McCourty, a player who had been slated to go late in the first or early in the second. He is a special teams star, as well.

The 5-foot-11, 186-pounder is roughly the same size as Revis. Both toiled away from publicity in the Big East, with Revis at Pittsburgh and McCourty at Rutgers.

When McCourty watches film, he can’t avoid watching Revis go.

“I would watch what we had in our system,” McCourty said at the NFL combine. “I would go to Pittsburgh’s offense, then I would go over and watch (Revis). I definitely try to do things he does because he’s one of the best corners.”

McCourty made 80 tackles - 7.5 for a loss - with just one interception in 2009. He was also active in special teams, blocking seven kicks overall.

“I’m hoping that helps me get on a team and do whatever I can just to play,” McCourty said at the combine.

In many ways, the pick was surprising. The Pats have cornerback Leigh Bodden, Darius Butler and Shawn Springs on the roster. And defensive end Jared Odrick and outside linebacker Sergio Kindle were available. Instead, Belichick sought pass-coverage help, especially with the rest of the AFC East loading up on offensive weapons.

ESPN analyst Jon Gruden lauded the pick, saying, “McCourty will give them a lot of versatility. He can cover, play zone, everything.”

Trading out of the 22nd pick twice - once with the Broncos, once with the Cowboys - the Patriots landed at 27th overall with plenty of targets available.

AFC East foe Buffalo improved their playmaking ability with Clemson running back C.J. Spiller, and the 49ers, Chargers and Eagles made trades.

Soon, the Patriots followed suit, trading down. They moved back two picks with the Broncos. While Denver selected Georgia Tech receiver Demaryius Thomas, the Pats gained Denver’s fourth rounder.

Then came the second trade, with the Cowboys, one that netted them the 90th pick, but forced them to send back the 119th.

By the point the Pats selected McCourty 27th overall, analysts and pundits must have been tearing apart their mock draft boards. Perhaps Belichick explained it before the draft.

“It looks like there are a few players that are kind of the consensus that will go in the top 10, and after that I get the feeling that there is quite a big swing of who likes who,” Belichick said in an interview on Sirius Satellite Radio. “Some teams could draft a player in the teens that other teams wouldn’t take until the 30s, and vice versa. So it will be interesting to see how all that unfolds.”




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