Cleveland Browns: Grading Bucky Brooks’ Latest 2017 NFL Mock Draft
Grading Bucky Brooks’ first 2017 Mock Draft from a Cleveland Browns perspective. Long story shot: Not good!
Bucky Brooks‘ latest 2017 NFL Mock Draft is out, and it’s not great from a Cleveland Browns perspective.
Get ready season ticket holders, how would you feel about a first round that nets the Browns Texas A&M pass rusher Myles Garrett and Wisconsin OT Ryan Ramczyk?
If this scenario plays out, I’d give Browns a D+.
Garrett is the consensus No. 1 pick because of his physical abilities on the edge. If the Brown take him, they’ll be applauded for doing the smart thing and taking the best talent in the draft.
Garrett does come with concerns though, as teams are questioning his motor much like they did with Jadeveon Clowney three draft’s ago. Even after all the hemming and hawing, Clowney ended up going No. 1. Injuries ravaged his first two years, but patience paid of for the Texans pass rusher, who earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2016.
Garrett has great potential and his measurable are awesome. No doubt about it.
So why the low grade?
With the No. 2 pick, Brooks had the 49ers selecting Mentor native Mitch Trubisky out of UNC.
In the pre-combine analysis, the NFL media is telling us all there’s no quarterback deserving of being a top 10 pick, yet this isn’t the first time a mock has awarded Trubisky to the 49ers at No. 2.
Forget where Trubisky is likely to be draft and focus solely on his prospect standing.
CBS Sports’ Rob Rang listed the early-entry as the 12th best prospect in the draft. Our own Ryan Rosko has him at No. 17. Scouts Inc. has him 28th.
On some big boards, Trubisky is not even considered a first-round quarterback. Todd McShay doesn’t list him among his Top 32 prospects. Walter Football has him at No. 33. SI’s Chris Burke believes he’ll go early in the second round.
Long story short, Trubisky, on the high end, is a mid-first-round pick, and on the low end, a prospect who won’t get past the 30s.
Now forget all the big boards. Here’s the issue with Brooks’ mock. If Trubisky is good enough to go to the 49ers at No. 2, he’s good enough to go to the Browns at No. 1.
Right now, the Browns STILL need a quarterback. How long has the fan base been waiting? The latest count is 18 years since the Browns returned. It’s been 24 years since Bill Belichik cut Bernie Kosar.
As fans, how can we stomach seeing Trubisky, a kid who played some of his high school games at FirstEngergy Stadium, go elsewhere and succeed when the Browns have the chance to select him?
Finding the quarterback of the future is all this front office needs to concern themselves with. Take the kid, and begin the process. It’s not astro physics. Garrett may be great, he may not be. Edge rushing prospects have come through town before, and failed spectacularly. Ask Kam Wimbley or Barkevious Mingo.
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The risk/reward in taking Trubisky is much greater. If the Browns are going to lose, lose big for crying out loud. Put your football in Mitch’s hand and let’s try to win some football games.
OK…Brooks’ second pick…an offensive lineman. Who thinks this is a good idea? Please let me know in the comment section. Make me a believer.
This isn’t meant to devalue the importance of an offensive line. The Browns need guys who can block, especially if a young quarterback will be taking snaps. But why does Cleveland have to be the team that takes a lineman when it seems so many other teams are capable of developing lineman they take later in the draft?
“The Browns must find a way to better protect the quarterback in the pocket. Ramczyk is a sound technician with an improving game,” Brooks wrote.
Taking a lineman would be very difficult for me in this position if playmaking receiver Mike Williams or Alabama tight end O.J. Howard–a guy who can block and catch–are still on the board.
Next: 2017 NFL Draft Pre Combine Big Board