Some of the best options in this year’s draft will be meeting with the Cleveland Browns in the coming hours.
Interviews, tests, and meetings are all part of the NFL Combine experience. With restrictions in terms of both the length of time and the number of prospects allowed to meet with teams, NFL organizations, including the Cleveland Browns must be creative.
Interviews and meetings have already started. Those activities will also continue after the combine. In some cases, certain draft prospects may have multiple meetings with teams when it is all said and done before the draft.
With a number of prospects on the defensive side of the ball expected to be drafted early, Cleveland will have their chance at meeting with some of the best as they review their options.
According to Daryl Ruiter of 92.3 The Fan, Cleveland will be meeting with Stanford defensive lineman Solomon Thomas, Alabama defense lineman Jonathan Allen, and Texas A&M EDGE Myles Garrett tonight!
#Browns scheduled to meet with Stanford DL Solomon Thomas tonight. We'll go ahead & Put Jonathan Allen & Myles Garrett on the docket too
— Daryl Ruiter (@RuiterWrongFAN) March 4, 2017
All three of those players should be top 10-12 selections. It is hard to imagine Cleveland passing on Garrett at one.
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That said, meeting with Thomas and Allen is still a no-brainer though. They are doing their due diligence. Besides, both would be good options to trade up for or possibly wait on at 12 if they fell.
There are injury concerns with Allen that may force him to fall a bit. Meanwhile, Thomas should go anywhere from four to 12. There has been some hype surrounding him, but that is quite a big gap in projections.
Why exactly is that? It is because of three reasons.
The first is the defensive depth in the first half of the first round. There will be a number of players expected in the top 10 but will instead be drafted later. If it were another year, that is likely not case. The quarterbacks and key players at other positions are reasons.
Cases can be made for no quarterback to be drafted in the top three. However, one could also make the same pitch but instead switching that number from zero to as many as two.
In addition, LSU running back Leonard Fournette, LSU safety Jamal Adams, Clemson wide receiver Mike Williams, Western Michigan wide receiver Corey Davis, and Ohio State defensive backs Malik Hooker and Marshon Lattimore could all be preferred over defensive linemen early on.
As the process continues, the potential of what could be remains very exciting. Although it is highly doubtful that Thomas could be paired with Allen or Garrett at one, it is entertaining to think about!