Browns add Wimbley, Jackson to the defense

Cleveland took the Florida State standout with the 13th selection.
BEREA (AP) -- Kamerion Wimbley played five different positions in high school. The Cleveland Browns just need him to be good at one.
The latest in a long line of speedy Florida State defensive ends, Wimbley was selected with the No. 13 overall pick in Saturday's NFL draft by the Browns, whose outside pass rush last season was nearly nonexistent.
Wimbley will switch to outside linebacker in Cleveland's 3-4 scheme, playing on the right side with free agent Willie McGinest on the left. The Browns had a league-low 23 sacks last season.
Great Combine workout
Wimbley, whose stock began to soar after an eye-popping workout at the NFL Combine, isn't intimidated about the prospect of moving to a new spot.
"It will be a fun challenge," he said from Wichita, Kansas, where he celebrated draft day with 200 people. "I don't have too much experience dropping back, but we did it some in college."
The Browns plan to turn him loose on the outside, using Wimbley's speed (4.6 40-yard dash) and quickness to bring pressure on quarterbacks. Last season, Cleveland's defense didn't do nearly enough to stop teams from marching up and down the field.
"As great as our defense did in the red zone last year, We bled to death between the 20s," Browns general manager Phil Savage said.
Trade up for second pick
The Browns traded up to No. 34 in the second round -- sending their No. 43 pick and center Jeff Faine to New Orleans -- and then picking Maryland linebacker D'Qwell Jackson. He'll play on the right side next to Andra Davis, perhaps Cleveland's steadiest defensive player last season.
"He'll bring us a presence," Savage said. "He's a guy who will go toe to toe in Pittsburgh."
In the third round, the Browns selected Travis Wilson, a wide receiver from Oklahoma.
Savage feels Wimbley can have an immediate impact by chasing after and running down quarterbacks -- identified as the club's biggest need by Cleveland's coaches this winter.
"He's a slippery-when-wet rusher," Savage said of Wimbley, who had 7.5 sacks as a senior for the Seminoles. "He's a rubber-band man, Gumby-like. He can stay low to the ground and get around the corner."
Savage had Wimbley at the top of his draft board along with Oregon nose tackle Haloti Ngata, a huge run stuffer. But Savage said Wimbley recently became the team's No. 1 target, and they couldn't pass him up.
"We liked him [Ngata] a lot," Savage said. "We liked Wimbley better."
Swapped with Ravens
Entering the two-day draft with nine selections, Savage was able to acquire an additional sixth-round pick (No. 181 overall) before taking Wimbley. Savage swapped first-rounders with Baltimore -- which took Ngata at No. 12 -- and got the extra pick as a bonus with Wimbley.
Savage was pleased with the way things unfolded for the Browns, who went 6-10 last season under first-year coach Romeo Crennel but made a big splash in free agency with the signings of McGinest, center LeCharles Bentley, nose tackle Ted Washington, wide receiver Joe Jurevicius and others.
"This one went right down the middle of the plate for us," Savage said.
Versatile performer
The Browns focused on the 6-foot-3, 245-pound Wimbley immediately after failing to sign defensive end Kalimba Edwards, who negotiated with Cleveland but decided to stay with Detroit. Savage said that Wimbley, who played defensive end, linebacker, quarterback, wide receiver and punter in high school, reminds him of former FSU defensive end Peter Boulware -- drafted by Savage for Baltimore in the fourth round in 1997.
Savage said he had no reservations about doing business with the Ravens, one of the Browns' chief AFC North rivals.
"I went into it looking at what's best for the Cleveland Browns," Savage said.
Wimbley didn't start until his senior season at Florida State, but he made the most of that season.
He had two sacks in the Seminoles' win over Miami and was tied with top overall draft pick Mario Williams of North Carolina State for the ACC's lead in sacks before injuring his knee and missing three games.
Strong moral character
Beyond his skills, the Browns were drawn to Wimbley because of his attitude and strong moral character. On a visit to Florida State, coach Bobby Bowden gave Savage a strong endorsement on Wimbley.
"Coach Bowden said, 'That's a really unique kid right there,"' Savage said.
Wimbley's upbringing was difficult. His parents divorced when he was young, and he moved from Alaska to Kansas with his mom. She was later jailed on drug charges, and Wimbley and his siblings were raised for a period by their grandmother.
Wimbley credits the adversity with making him a stronger person and player.
"It helped me be adaptable, and helped me when I'm in stressful situations," he said.
After all he's been through, moving to linebacker shouldn't be a problem.