Browns Draft: Cleveland fans reveal they want a pass rusher in the draft

The Cleveland Browns still have holes to figure out on their team. Maybe not as many as last year, but still some. Another corner would be great, a three-down linebacker with great coverage and adequate pass-rushing skills would be stellar (hey-hey Zaven Collins), and most wouldn’t be opposed to a burner-receiver in the third or fourth round to help push competition. Yet, Cleveland.com polled their readers and the city of Cleveland has spoken; they want a pass-rushing end.

Apparently, Takk McKinley wasn’t cutting it as an upgrade.

This isn’t actually too surprising, outside of Myles Garrett and Porter Gustin, the Browns really don’t have much around them. Gustin isn’t even a passing end, he’s a run stopper. So the clear need for a defensive end who can get separation, space, and penetration to get sacks is pretty obvious.

Collins could work there, while they talk about an end (aka EDGE), anyone who can pass rush will really work. We’ve talked before about Jaelan Phillips and what a get he’d be but it’s possible that both Phillips and Collins are gone by the number 26 draft pick.

So the Browns need to get someone who can get penetration on the quarterback. The worst part about all this is that the Browns need help still inside at defensive tackle, at linebacker, and outside at corner, so if one of the top guys isn’t available, then there really isn’t anything the Browns can do but draft the best player at the selection.

Not being able to upgrade the end position in the first round would hurt the Browns, as McKinley isn’t the answer and the Browns severely downgraded from Oliver Vernon by acquiring him. Vernon wasn’t a world-beater like his stats would indicate he only had three games of any real production, that’s most of his nine sacks came from.

That said, Vernon was still a better player than McKinley. The Browns need to make sure they get one of their guys, they can’t afford to blow the position this bad in the offseason. If McKinley is the biggest upgrade you make at the position all year, then you’re going to be in trouble come the start of training camp.

According to Cleveland.com’s poll, here are the ten biggest needs according to the fans.

"1. Edge rusher2. Cornerback3. Defensive tackle4. Linebacker5. Offensive line6. Safety7. Wide receiver8. Running back9. Quarterback10. Tight end"

It’s a bit odd to see the offensive line so high but it’s understandable. If you have a great offensive line, everything else falls into place pretty easily. So keeping a fresh offensive line is important. It’s also indicative of the performance last year by some players like Nick Harris and Jedrick Wills, both struggled at points. Especially Harris.

Ultimately, the team needs to attack the pass better, so if it’s a safety, an end, a tackle, a linebacker, or a corner, that’s all that matters. The team has to defend the pass better. That’s it. That’s who they need to draft; the man who can help achieve that.

Regardless of where he plays.