The Cleveland Browns have had only one NFL Rookie of the Year in their history: linebacker Chip Banks in 1982. Could 2011 first-round pick Phil Taylor become the second Defensive Rookie of the Year in franchise history? Taylor is 25/1 to win the award on Bodog’s NFL odds.

The Browns were one of the big movers and shakers in the first round of April’s draft. First they swapped the sixth pick in the first round to the Atlanta Falcons, who used it on Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones. Cleveland got a huge haul from Atlanta: their first-, second-, and fourth-round selections in 2001 and first- and fourth-round picks in 2012. But then with defensive linemen flying off the board, the Browns sent the Kansas City Chiefs the 27th overall pick acquired from Atlanta and the Browns’ third-round selection, No. 70 overall, for the 21st spot. And that’s where Cleveland drafted Taylor, a defensive tackle from Baylor.

Taylor registered 107 total tackles, 5.5 sacks and one interception in his collegiate career. During that time, Taylor gained experience as both a strong-side defensive tackle (nine starts) and nose guard (13 starts). While at Baylor, Taylor earned second-team All-Big 12 Conference honors as a senior. Taylor is listed at 6-foot-3, 337 pounds. At Baylor, he played in the 4-3 defense. So the new 4-3 being installed by Browns defensive coordinator Dick Jauron should be comfortable for him. Taylor will line up on either side of Ahtyba Rubin, giving the Browns’ new, four-man front a potentially formidable interior on running downs. But Taylor may come out on passing downs considering he had only 2 1/2 sacks in two seasons at Baylor (he started his college career at Penn State).

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