This pre-free agency mock draft sees the Cleveland Browns shore up their offensive line, while also adding some much needed help on the EDGe.
The Cleveland Browns are marching toward the NFL’s new year with the combine out of the way, and now that those workout numbers and the like have been posted, we’ve seen some risers and fallers as the draft draws near.
Free agency is the last domino to fall in helping teams determine which way they’ll go when going on the clock during April’s NFL Draft.
The Browns are expected to be active when the organization can begin “legal tampering” March 16. With a slew of needs, including offensive line, defensive line, EDGE, linebacker, tight end and safety, Cleveland figures to make one or two splashes in free agency, before filling other needs, with at least two starters from the 2020 draft class.
Cleveland has roughly $65 million to spend in free agency, and that amount may go up depending on what the organization does with high priced players such as Olivier Vernon.
Come draft day, the Browns will have seven picks, which is a small number of selections when compared to recent years. With the Browns views to be as a team to win now, former GM John Dorsey wasn’t shy about riding away picks to acquire players.
The only round in which the Browns don’t have a pick is the fifth, however, Dorsey got a third rounder for Duke Johnson during the in-season trade that sent the back to the Texans.
This first-round mock offers a quick glimpse of what the Browns may do in rounds 2-7…So without further ado…with the first pick.
Picks 1-5
With the smoke of “Will Burrow want to play in Cincy” subsided, for now, the Bengals get an Ohio kid, who played at Ohio State before setting records and winning a national title for LSU. If the smoke rises again, it will be interesting to see what Cincinnati does with the pick.
Speaking of smoke, one of the discussions at the combine was if the Redskins were entertaining the idea of taking a quarterback at No. 2 and moving on from Dwayne Haskins after just one season. The discussion is likely about the front office doing its due diligence to gage what type package they could get from, say the Dolphins, to move down three spots. At the end of the day, I say the ‘Skins stay put and take Young to make a Nick Bosa-like impact for their defense.
Speaking of smoke and trades, here is the first in the mock draft. The Dolphins give up picks Nos. 5, 26, and a 2021 2nd rounder to move up two spots. Medicals still are a concern until we see him move around. Here’s hoping he is well and the Dolphins make the move to grab him.
For the Giants, and Dave Gettleman, it’s what flavor he prefers for the offensive line. Becton like another option, Tristan Wirfs, had a spectacular combine. Will Gettleman prefer either of those, or will he maybe take Isaiah Simmons and add a swiss army knife to his defense in NYC?
For the Lions, this is a dream, the opportunity to move back and still get a top player at a premium position. Either Okudah, Simmons, or even a tackle such as Wirfs with additional capital in tow would be ideal for the Lions.
Picks 6-10
If Justin Herbert is here, the Chargers run the card up, Herbert is on the rise after the senior bowl and the combine. If Tua doesn’t check the boxes physically, it’ll be interesting to see the market for the Chargers and Dolphins to go up and select Herbert at No. 6.
With rumors of Carolina cleaning house on the roster, and new coach Matt Rhule on a seven-year deal, the signs are there for a Panthers trade down. I think Simmons falling here may be too enticing for the Panthers to move away from.
Tristan Wirfs was one of the stars of the combine, and fills a big need for the Cardinals. They just brought DJ Humphries back, and Wirfs can come in and play right tackle, or kick inside to guard as a worst case scenario. He showed enough skill at Iowa and was off the charts in Indy. I would play him at tackle and reap the rewards.
Kinlaw has a had a great offseason after a great 2019 at South Carolina. The Jags do need a tackle, but can get a good one at 20 if they stat patient. Kinlaw or Derrick Brown will not be there then, so the Jags stack it and take the more analytically friendly Kinlaw.
Really other than Becton or Wirfs being here for the Browns, this is an ideal scenario. Cleveland will go on the clock with two tackles still on the board (Thomas/Wills and Jordan Love too). If someone wanted to make them an offer they couldn’t refuse. I think the Browns, in this scenario, would make the trade down. Things could still change, as we don’t have the benefit of free agency yet, and as of now the Browns don’t have a tackle. Let’s revisit this one in a few weeks.
Picks 11-15
Speaking of dream scenarios…one of the four top tackles fall to the Jets here at 11. There is talk that the four top guys don’t make it to 10 come April. The Jets also have the benefit of both top receivers on the board with CeeDee Lamb and Jerry Jeudy still available. For now the Jets snag a tackle with the caveat that free agency could change things..
First pick for the Las Vegas Raiders, and the good fortune of a choice between Jeudy and Lamb, or Derrick Brown, the game wrecking defensive tackle from Auburn. As I said earlier, wide receiver is deep and the Raiders pick again shortly. Brown didn’t test well in Indy and that enables a fall here.
Again we’ll see where the dominoes fall for the quarterbacks, but even if the Colts bring in Phillip Rivers or keep Jacoby Brissett, Love as a quarterback in waiting makes the most sense. If we are talking after last season. Love would go in the top 6, this season didn’t go so well, but Love lands in a great spot here.
Henderson had a great week in Indy, and could possibly go in the top 10 of the draft, Tampa has needs really all over the defense, Brown if he fell makes a ton of sense, K’Lavon Chaisson the edge at LSU does too, but the value of Henderson makes a ton of sense here.
Henry Ruggs, the burner from Alabama, seems to be the fit for Denver, as it’s no secret that the Broncos need speed at wide receiver. This makes Ruggs a natural choice, however Lamb, while not a long burner, can take any pass from anywhere and go to the house.
Picks 16-20
Philly trades pick 85 and a fifth rounder to make the move with Atlanta. Eagles have a major need at receiver and Ruggs will make the Eagles think of DeSean Jackson, or a Mike Wallace type. Ruggs isn’t just deep speed, he also is a good route runner.
The run at wide receiver continues with Jeudy, again, free agency will tell the tale of the draft, and it’s unsure if Amari Cooper is back in Dallas, if not, this is an automatic pick for Dallas. If he is…then still the value of Jeudy here at 17 would be incredibly hard to pass on.
Here comes the next run for the 2nd tier of tackles. Jones is massive, can move well, and had a good week in Indy. Miami has a big need at tackle, and can’t afford to wait until pick 26 to draft one. Three picks in the 1st round, one of these has to be on the offensive line.
For the Raiders as we said before receiver is a big need, and they just missed on the short run of them there, but it’s also deep, line backer is not as deep, and the top one on the board is still there. Queen fills a big need for them, and the Raiders in the middle of the defense just got a lot better in round one.
It’s been speculated that the Browns are interested in Cleveland should Andrew Berry trade down. If Cleveland goes this route, I bet the Browns will try and stay ahead of the Jaguars. Like the Browns, Jacksonville also employs an analytical front office and my guess is they would also be in on Cleveland as well. He had a fantastic week in Indy, and barring a surprise will be drafted in the first round.
Picks 21-25
With Vic Beasley out of the equation, edge is a gigantic need for the Falcons. I had AJ Epenesa here in previous mocks, but can’t justify him as a first rounder after the combine. Chaisson can play with his hand on the ground and standing up. He may not be a natural scheme fit, but he is versatile, and the hope is his potential is unlocked in Atlanta.
Mims has been a consistent riser this offseason, he had a great senior bowl week, and a fantastic combine. Mims was also very productive at Baylor, he had almost 3,000 yards in his career, including over 1,000 in 2019 with 12 TDs.
Speaking of free agency changing everything, there is no greater example obviously than in New England. If Brady is gone, do we see the Pats make a big move up? If he’s back, it’s obvious that play makers for the Patriots are a giant need. Jefferson fits the bill for New England.
New Orleans is also a team to watch possibly in a trade up for a QB. Drew Brees we know is back, but we know it won’t be long. In the short term, and in the long term, getting another receiver across from Michael Thomas is important, and Aiyuk is good value here.
Maybe a little bit of a surprise but the Vikings have a big need on the offensive line, and after this tier of tackles, it’s a big of a drop off. Jackson is only 20 years old, and provides a great deal of upside for Minnesota.
Picks 26-32
This is a result of the trade earlier with the Dolphins. The Lions have a big need at edge, and a good problem to have with Kenneth Murray still here. Gross-Matos provides an edge who is still raw but has tremendous skill and a versatile piece across from Trey Flowers.
A lot of this will depend on Jadaveon Clowney and whether he returns in 2020. Gallimore can move for a defensive tackle and if Clowney is back can provide an interior disrupter for the Seahawks, if he’s not, edge becomes a big priority for Seattle.
Baltimore is a best player available team, and Murray is the best player available here at 28…The Ravens, who happen to have a need here at line backer, luck into Murray, a prospect who provides sideline-to-sideline playmaker for the Ravens.
Baun was very productive at Wisconsin, fits off ball in the NFL and can rush the passer. We’ll see if Derrick Henry re-signs in Tennessee, if he doesn’t, there are a lot of running backs available here, but if he is back Baun is a nice chess piece for Mike Vrabel.
Murray or Baun here would have bee ideal for Green Bay, but both are gone, and the Packers also have a giant hole at tight end, with word that Jimmy Graham will not be back. Kmet is the best tight end in the draft, and would be a big target over the middle for Aaron Rodgers.
Tampa trades picks Nos. 45 and 76 to go up for a quarterback that has been rumored to be bound to Tampa and Bruce Arians. Eason is raw still, but has a cannon and fits like a glove in Arians’ offense. San Francisco doesn’t have a pick for three rounds after 31, so they are going down and picking up some more capital here.
Speaking of picks that fit like a glove, KC also needs corner help and there are a few good ones here, but the possibility of adding the draft’s best back, for the league’s best offense, is too good to be true for Andy Reid. Swift isn’t the biggest guy, but is a home run hitter who can catch the ball out of the back field.
Browns picks, Rounds 2-7
Here the Browns have some options, of course Antoine Winfield Jr. would be nice to see in Cleveland, but also keep an eye on UMass safety Jeremy Chinn, as well. I anticipate a few picks on the defensive line, and a tight end could be in play here as well. Here are a few options that the might look at…
Round 2-Kyle Dugger-S-Lenoir Rhyne-Dugger I have a feeling will be high on the Browns’ board. The 6-foot-1, 217-pound safety is a riser on boards, he was one of the stars in Indy running the 40 at 4.49 and having a 42-inch vertical. He’ll fit the Browns analytical approach, and fills a need.
Round 3a-Curtis Weaver-Edge-Boise St.-Edge is also a big need for the Browns. Weaver while not filling out all the boxes, does in productivity. Remember this when thinking of past Browns drafts. Cleveland took Nate Orchard and Carl Nassib, both didn’t check everything but were very productive college players. Edge rusher in the Browns hierarchy of positions is also very high.
Round 3b-Jonathan Greenard-Edge-Florida-See I told you, edge is going to rank high. Greenard also had a very good combine, and was productive at Florida. Will the Browns take two ends this quickly? Perhaps not, but my guess is you’ll see a few drafted pretty high come draft weekend.
Round 4-Stephen Sullivan-TE-LSU-The Tigers have a few tight ends in this class with Thaddeus Moss in the mix as well. Sullivan is super athletic, and a little raw, but would check a lot of boxes for the Browns in a developmental type that could be worth more than this pick.
Round 6-Netane Muti-G-Fresno St.-Muti, talent wise should go much higher, but he has missed the better part of two seasons with injuries including a torn achilles. If he lasts this far, he would be a steal for any team, and if healthy could win the right guard job.
Round 7-Isaiah Coulter-WR-Rhode Island-Coulter is one of Gil Brandt’s sleepers, and at this point I think the Browns will take a bet on production and upside. Coulter was uber productive at Rhode Island and may fly under the radar enough to make here to round 7.