Cleveland Browns: 10 step method to fixing the team

7. Use the Houston Texans first-round pick to select Alabama safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and move Jabrill Peppers to strong safety

Thanks to the trade in this year’s draft, the Browns own the Texans first-round pick next year. With Houston average t the moment with a 2-2 record, the Browns could be looking at another top-10 pick. If that is the case, the Browns need to once again address the secondary but this time, the safety position.

Jabrill Peppers is currently playing free safety – a position he is not best suited to play. However, the Browns do not have a true free safety on the roster. They can fix that by selecting Alabama’s Minkah Fitzpatrick to play the center field role for Williams. The 6’1″, 203 pound junior has caught the eye of Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller already this year.

In addition to good size, Fitzpatrick is extremely versatile, like Peppers. The Alabama defensive back has played cornerback, safety and nickel for the Crimson Tide. The nice thing about his versatility is that it differs from Peppers’, in that they do different things.

Fitzpatrick has much better ball skills and is a nice fit for Williams in the back-end of the defense. His selection also means Williams can move Peppers around, which he is much more suited for. Also, coming from a championship pedigree at Alabama will help Fitzpatrick bring leadership and confidence to the defense.

8. Use a second round pick, other assets to trade back into first to take SMU wide receiver Courtland Sutton

If the Browns follow Step 1, they should have Coleman and Landry as their two primary receivers entering Step 8. However, Kizer still needs more weapons to throw the ball to and Sutton would be a great compliment to the two top options.

Both Landry and Coleman are listed at 5’11”, while Sutton is listed at 6’4″, 216 pounds. With Coleman’s speed and Landry’s ability to corral short and intermediate routes, the Browns need a big receiver, and Sutton certainly fits the mold.

Earlier this season, he had eight catches for 163 yards and four touchdowns in one game against North Texas. The junior, according to Miller, was considered a top-15 player in last year’s draft class before ultimately coming back to school. Two quotes from scouts within the story referenced really stand out.

"“[He’s] a big, physical kid with good fluidity, body control and hands,” one area scout responsible for Texas told B/R. “His top-end speed is the question, but he has a chance to be a No. 1 wide receiver. – Quote from above story by Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller on June 1, 2017"

"“He’s better than your boy Alshon [Jeffrey] was in college,” another said. “Cleaner as a prospect, too.” – Quote from above story by Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller on June 1, 2017"

If the Browns could get an Alshon Jeffrey-type player to add to a core of Kizer, Barkley, Coleman, Landry, DeValve and Njoku, watch out. That offense could be scary good.

However, the issue with drafting Sutton is his draft stock. If he once again is a consensus top-15 player, he will not be there in the second round. In this case, the Browns should trade their own second-round pick and whatever other assets needed to get a potential deal done.

The team would still have the Texans second-round pick from the Osweiler trade, and this would be a great time to use it to move up.