Tony Grossi’s “Stunning” 2014 NFL Mock Draft

Dec 7, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Auburn Tigers wide receiver Trovon Reed (1) and Auburn Tigers offensive linesman Greg Robinson (73) celebrate after the 2013 SEC Championship game against the Missouri Tigers at Georgia Dome. The Auburn Tigers defeated the Missouri Tigers 59-42. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Liles-USA TODAY Sports

As you wait with baited breath for FoS’ Weekly Friday 2014 NFL Mock Draft we bring you a “stunning” (their word) one. Tony Grossi is a polarizing media figure in Cleveland who now writes for ESPN Cleveland. Grossi seemed to have a personal issue with the previous regime even before Mike Lombardi was hired and worse after. Following that many Cleveland Browns fans have either come to love or hate him. What we know for sure is he tends to get people stirred up and he may have pulled it off once again with his newly published Mock Draft:

"The Browns’ new football operations chiefs GM Ray Farmer and coach Ray Pettine have been unorthodox, to say the least, in the way they have scouted quarterbacks.They didn’t interview any of the top prospects at the Combine.They shunned the pro days of Teddy Bridgewater and Blake Bortles (Johnny Manziel’s pro day is March 27).And they refused to say why.Are they being overly coy? Are they being derelict? Or have they simply moved beyond taking a quarterback in the first round of the draft?"

Besides the forgivable misnaming of Coach Mike Pettine as Ray Pettine Grossi brings up a valid point regarding the team’s recent behavior towards the QBs available in this draft class. Is not interviewing them at the Combine and shunning the Pro Days a reason for concern related to their skills? A sign they won’t take a QB or that they just believe more in tape and their own private workouts? Lets see what Grossi thinks:

"4. Cleveland: OT-OG Greg Robinson, AuburnFuture franchise tackle, present franchise guard?"

Grossi has both Blake Bortles and Johnny Manziel off the board by the time the Browns pick. Robinson is considered one of the 4 can’t miss prospects in this year’s draft along with Jadeveon Clowney, Khalil Mack and Sammy Watkins. It would come as no huge surprise if the Browns selected this mammoth tackle in May. If they do they are not going to slide him in at guard, instead they move Mitchell Schwartz inside and let Robinson maul people at right tackle.

"26. Cleveland: LB Ryan Shazier, Ohio StateFor the second week in a row, the Buckeye is the choice."

As regular readers of FoS know this is a pick this writer loves. However in Grossi’s Mock Draft Teddy Bridgewater is still available at #26, with Derek Carr going #8 to the Vikings. If Bridgewater is on the board its doubtful they will pass on him. Instead if he starts to fall its easy to see the team looking to move up in the draft to take him. Adding Robinson with Bridgewater gives the team a solid foundation for the future on offense to go with Josh Gordon and Jordan Cameron. Unfortunately Grossi stops his Mock Draft there so we don’t know if he thinks Teddy would fall out of the first but if he did bidding at the top of the second would skyrocket. Last year at this time we didn’t think Geno Smith would fall as far as he did so anything could happen.

What do you think of Grossi’s “stunning” Mock Draft? Are you more stunned by the OT at #4 instead of Watkins, Mack or a QB or by the fact he has them skipping Bridgewater twice?