Cleveland Browns Mock Draft – Factory of Sadness version 1.5 (Best Player Available)

The Cleveland Browns get another NFL Mock Draft.

What would an NFL Mock Draft look like for the Cleveland Browns if the team focused on the best player available? Well, thanks to Pro Football Focuses’ Mock Draft simulator, we have a rough idea of what that could look like. In our first mock draft, we specifically focused on players we thought would be good fits for the team, regardless of anything else.

In this mock, we prioritized need over anything else. This means we ranked positions of need, and then using PFF’s evaluation of the talent, took the best one available with each pick. Since we focused on specific positions, it’d be best to understand why each pick went toward what it did.

Personally, the Browns need help on defense. They need a second starting defensive tackle, another pass-rusher, another linebacker, and another safety. All of whom should be capable of starting. So the first chunk of the draft was focused on that.

Then we went for depth. Specifically at the offensive line and receiver position, and a little extra on defense. So how did it turn out?

Does the Cleveland Browns mock draft version 1.5 hold up?

Doing NFL Mock Drafts are not easy. You’re mostly guessing because even the most rigid and predictable of GMs will often go array during the draft. So specifically, the focus was on getting guys who could improve the team’s limitations.

Nick Herbig was a great first pick, as he’s both a linebacker and a defensive end, depending on how you want to use him. He’s pound-for-pound, inch-for-inch, stat-for-stat just like Sione Takitaki. They’re the same height, same weight, same 40-time. But Herbig is also strong enough to play defensive end if needed. He’s the perfect duel-position player for the Browns and one that captures the versatility that Andrew Berry likes.

Kobie Turner is another versatile player. Quick enough to play end in a pinch, but built more for a defensive tackle. He’d be a great fit alongside Dalvin Tomlinson.

After that, we go and snag Anthony Johnson, who I’m not familiar with all that but he was the best safety on the board, so here we are.

It was unexpected that Nick Saldiveri would fall to this spot in the fourth-round and with the Browns in need of line-depth, he was a no-brainer.

As was Ivan Pace Jr., who is more of standard linebacker, but considering the three starters the Browns have has many injury-riddled seasons as they do, you can’t ignore depth.

Marte Mapu wasn’t a pick I loved, but he was the only player at a position I needed, who was within 30 picks. I don’t trust Grant Delpit and Juan Thornhill may turn out to be just like John Johnson III, so it wasn’t the worst idea to double up at safety.

Lastly, Grant DuBose was a fine pick. He’s not an elite speedster but he’s got similar speed to Donovan Peoples-Jones and is about the same size. Who knows ? Maybe DuBose and Peoples-Jones could make for a great pairing.