5 Prospects For The Cleveland Browns To Watch At The NFL Combine

Oct 11, 2014; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines wide receiver Devin Funchess (1) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

For the Cleveland Browns, the NFL Draft is more than a chance to get new players. Since the franchise was reborn in 1999, it’s been marked as the day that maybe, just maybe, the Browns finally right the ship and become winners.

With the city and team looking to “win” another draft, it all starts at the NFL combine. Positional interviews start today…so here are five prospects the Browns might be watching when the workouts start Thursday…

1) Danny Shelton, DT, Washington: He doesn’t play quarterback, so he probably won’t add that many wins to the Browns’ win total, but he does fulfill a need on the defensive line with free agency currently losing for defensive tackle Ahtyba Rubin. At 6-foot-3, 332 pounds, Shelton looks the part, but will he be around at No. 12? Some major mock drafts think so, but he’s drawing comparisons to Vince Wolfork and there’s nobody else in the draft like him. He could easily be gone.

2) Devin Funchess, WR/TE, Michigan: The Browns didn’t have the best luck when they drafted a Michigan wide receiver (Braylon Edwards), but Funchess’ athletic ability may be hard to pass up–that is if general manger Ray Farmer decides it’s actually OK to take a wideout in the first round.

At 6-foot-4, 235 pounds, Funchess played receiver and tight end at Michigan, but he also played some receiver. He had to endure an awful quarterback situation with the Wolverines, but was still able to stand out. ESPN’s Todd McShay had Funchess going to the Browns at No. 19 in his latest mock and called him a potential “difference maker.”

Sep 6, 2014; Tulsa, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners defensive tackle Jordan Phillips (80) causes and recovers a fumble in front of Tulsa Golden Hurricane quarterback Dane Evans (9) during the first half at Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

3) Jordan Phillips, DT, Oklahoma: Phillips is a massive dude, checking in at 6-foot-6,  334 pounds. He’s rumored to have done backflips in his pads, so he’s Athlete with a capital “A.” Plus, Phillips is interesting for the same reasons the Browns might find Danny Shelton intriguing: need.

NFL.com’s Lance Zerlein predicted Farmer would take him No. 19, which would be a more favorable spot to grab the lineman.

4) Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford: It’s hard to imagine the Browns taking Joe Thomas‘ replacement when the franchise wants to win now. An offensive lineman will be hard sell to a fan base that just had a 30 percent ticket increase cast their way.

Still, with two-first round picks, maybe Farmer will do the prudent thing and plan for the future by taking the 6-foot-7, 313-pound Peat at No. 12.

Before he takes over for Thomas, he has enough versatility to play right tackle, which make him an intriguing first-round prospect.

5) Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon: The fact the Browns need to draft another quarterback feels asisine, but those are the card the franchise’s has been dealt, and if Jimmy Haslam, Farmer and Mike Pettine feel like Mariota can be “the guy,” they need to acquire him by any means necessary.

He had re-donkulous numbers with the Ducks, but like Johnny Manziel, he made the most of the system he was playing in. That doesn’t mean Mariota will fall too, but he does need to be developed, which is something the Browns don’t do well with quarterbacks–no matter who is in charge.

Mariota has said he will throw Saturday, and the Browns should spend as much time with the Heisman winner as humanly possible. You just never know.

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