Browns mock draft: 3 best candidates for first-round pick

2. Christian Barmore, DT

It seems like such a boring pick, but if this behemoth of a man were to be available with the 26th pick, it’d be a gift.

I’ve been working the Factory Lines for awhile now, so somewhere in the vast spaces of the interweb you’ll find me blasting the selection of Danny Shelton back in 2015. Shelton went 12th and I didn’t like the idea of taking a defensive tackle that early.

You’ve got to remember the time, though. The Browns stunk. They had ZERO, I repeat, ZERO good players. To take a defensive tackle when you needed playmakers at every other position was irresponsible.

That’s not the case in 2021, though. The roster, as it stands, can contend for the Super Bowl. Plus, the 26th pick is a lot different than picking 12th.

Barmore is someone who can slow the run game, while his college tape also highlighted his ability to put pressures on quarterbacks.

Not sure how the Jadeveon Clowney impacts the potential of taking Barmore. I won’t be surprised to see the newly-signed free agent line up on the inside at times. I don’t think it would preclude the Browns from taking Barmore, as he helps now, and answers the long-term answer at the position, as well.