Browns: Tony Grossi mock draft 2.0 passes on big-name defenders

Browns writer Tony Grossi published his second mock draft.

Browns scribe Tony Grossi predicted the Browns will take defensive end Jaelen Phillips with the 26th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

This edition was Grossi’s second crack at a mock (subscription), and offers a change from his initial prognostication, which had Cleveland selecting Georgia corner Tyson Campbell. Campbell didn’t crack the first round in Grossi’s latest try.

Switching from corner to defensive end and vice versa has been a common theme in mock drafts up to this point. Both are positions of needs, but with the Browns picking so low, it’s just impossible to predict who will be available when Cleveland is on the clock.

Phillips is a lot like the other edge rushers who’ve been tied to Cleveland at this spot, in that he has great physical traits, but needs to smooth out some rough edges. Additionally, he carries an injury red flag from his time at UCLA. He transferred to Miami and was outstanding in 2020, though.

Phillips’ teammate, Gregory Rousseau, who has also been mocked to the Browns depending on where you look, went to the Vikings at 14 in Grossi’s mock. Michigan’s Kwity Paye, who just went to the Browns at No. 26 in a mock from The Athletic, went to the Raiders at 17.

Pass? There were two notable players Grossi passed on for the Browns. The first is Alabama defensive tackle Christian Barmore, who went 29th to the Packers. Cleveland doesn’t need a defensive tackle as much as they need a DE, but Barmore would be someone I’d be running to the podium to pick. He did all the things a DT should do while playing at the highest level in college. To top it all off, he can get to the quarterback from the inside, a commodity that’s never been more valuable.

The Browns will likely lose Larry Ogunjobi in free agency, but have Andrew Billings returning. Jordan Elliott, will enter his second year, has a chance to win the starting job, the way things stand right now.

The other pass: Grossi also passed on Tusla linebacker Zaven Collins, a supposed do everything linebacker. I agree with Grossi, though, I don’t see the Browns using their first-round pick on the linebacker position.

Arms race: Five quarterbacks go in the first round. Grossi stood pat with his first two picks, with Trevor Lawrence going to Jacksonville and Zach Wilson to the Jets.

However, Ohio State product Justin Fields dropped from No. 4 (Atlanta) to 8 (Carolina). He had the Falcons take Florida tight end Kyle Pitts. As for Atlanta–I tossed around the idea they could be a trade partner on the Browns on draft day.

He still has the Patriots as the landing spot for Mac Jones at No. 15, while Lance was mocked 19th  to Washington.