SI’s 2015 NFL Mock Draft: Browns Season AND Draft Exciting

The Cleveland Browns are 6 – 3 and the talk of the NFL, at least until Sunday kickoff. For most Browns fans this is a new experience. At this point in most seasons fans are already thinking about the upcoming NFL Draft. Well we can be excited about the season while still be excited about the draft.

So we want to take a look at SI’s latest 2015 NFL Mock Draft for the Browns:

"15 DEVIN FUNCHESS, WR Junior, MichiganThe prospect of Gordon on one side, Funchess on the other and Andrew Hawkins slicing through the slot should excite Browns fans. Funchess’ background as a tight end-turned-receiver also would aid Cleveland’s options should Jordan Cameron‘s concussion issues linger. Funchess (6-5, 230) keeps progressing as a WR and has produced despite Michigan’s miserable QB situation."

Funchess, along with receiver Kevin White, has been a popular choice for the Browns by many. His size is intriguing and his fit across from Josh Gordon, with Andrew Hawkins and a re-signed Jordan Cameron inside, should put fear into the hearts of many Browns opponents. Funchess may not be a perfect fit based on his route running. With his size he isn’t the purest route runner and the Kyle Shanahan system relies heavily on receivers making crisp cuts so the quarterback can hit them in stride coming out of their break. That shouldn’t stop the Browns from taking the best talent but it may influence who they see as the best talent.

Farmer and Pettine will have a great shot to bolster what could be a playoff roster.

The Browns have said they would have taken Sammy Watkins with the 4th pick last year if the Buffalo Bills hadn’t offered the trade they did. That is the only indication we have that this regime values the receiver position. Hawkins was a steal from the Bengals but besides him the Browns plucked from undrafted free agents and players left over in free agency, Miles Austin has turned out to be a great addition. It is far more likely that the Browns look to secure their defensive line needs early in the draft and possible draft a receiver in the 2nd or 3rd round. Fans may not like it but Ray Farmer and Mike Pettine are big proponents of building from the inside out.

"18 ANDRUS PEAT, OT Junior, Stanford(Pick via Buffalo)�Right tackle Mitchell Schwartz remains the weak link on Cleveland’s line — at least when C Alex Mack is healthy. The 2014 selection of Joel Bitonio was an absolute gem for Cleveland. Bringing in the tantalizing talents of an athletic 6-7 tackle like Peat would help erase any lingering headaches."

How exciting for Browns fans the team is winning and next year Alex Mack returns, hopefully Josh Gordon for a full season and they get to add two 1st round picks, two 4th round picks and two 6th round picks along with one pick in every other round.

Here is where things would get very interesting for the Browns. We will start with SI’s selection of Peat. Peat was seen as a top 5 pick at the beginning of the season. He has the size and athletic ability to possibly dominate on the next level. He hasn’t shown the mean streak or consistency this season that many were expecting to see thus his drop here to 18. It is far more likely that Peat redeems his stock, at the Combine at the latest, and is drafted in the Top 10. If not the Browns likely could not pass on this type of talent falling to them. Peat would slide Schwartz inside and give the Browns a left tackle of the future to groom. Joe Thomas will have to slow down at some point right? John Greco can then become the swing player who can take over for any of the three inside spots.

However this may be a spot that Trader Ray looks to make some moves. He likely won’t want to use these two picks to move up but if he falls in love with a player could package later picks with one of their firsts. Moving back however would fit his desire to continue to add more pieces to the Browns war chest. Could he trade this pick and one of the extra 6th rounders for a team’s 2nd rounder and their first the following season? This writer would love to see something like that happen. It helps the Browns continue to build down the road while still drafting for today. Next year Joey Bosa, the next J.J. Watt, will be able to enter the draft and I for one would love to see Mike Pettine get his hands on him.

In SI’s draft a number of defensive lineman would still be available going into the second round. Both the offensive and defensive lines are positions that seem to be picked over quickly in the first so to assume the Browns could answer that problem later in the draft may not go well for the team. However the draft is far away and Farmer has made it clear that he looks long-term when drafting.

How exciting for Browns fans the team is winning and next year Alex Mack returns, hopefully Josh Gordon for a full season and they get to add two 1st round picks, two 4th round picks and two 6th round picks along with one pick in every other round. Farmer and Pettine will have a great shot to bolster what could be a playoff roster.

We get to be excited about the season and the draft. It truly is the best of both worlds.

How much are you thinking about the 2015 NFL Draft?