Cleveland Browns: Compensatory picks add to 2017 draft haul

The Cleveland Browns are set up for another big draft in 2017 with the addition of four compensatory draft picks.

The Cleveland Browns set the NFL on fire during the 2016 NFL Draft by selecting 14 players during the course of the draft’s three days.

While that haul of players was impressive and may have helped the Browns lay the foundation for their latest rebuilding efforts, the 2017 NFL Draft is where the Browns may have the opportunity to truly transform the franchise.

The Browns currently are in possession of five picks in the first three rounds — two in the first round, a pair in the second round and one in the third round.

Augmenting those selections will be the team’s compensatory picks as, according to Over the Cap, the Browns should receiver four additional picks after losing Alex Mack, Mitchell Schwartz, Tashaun Gipson and Travis Benjamin in free agency.

For those not familiar with compensatory picks, every March the NFL awards 32 additional draft picks, primarily to teams, like the Browns, that lost more free agents than they signed from the previous offseason.

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Add it all up and the Browns will have 12 picks to use as they see fit. If they are better this fall than expected and don’t land the No. 1 overall pick, Cleveland has the draft capital to move around to grab their franchise quarterback (unless you’re sold on Robert Griffin III), a big-time running back (unless you’re sold on Isaiah Crowell), or add another piece to a defense that still needs playmakers.

This year, the Browns had three compensatory picks and used them to select tight end Seth Devalve, wide receiver Rashard Higgins and cornerback Trey Caldwell.

Higgins has a real chance to make an impact and Devalve could make the roster this fall as well, so there can be value in those compensatory picks.

Here is a breakdown of the picks the Browns currently hold in the 2017 NFL Draft, according to Pro Sports Transactions:

First round (2): Their own pick and the first-round pick from the Philadelphia Eagles
Second round (2): Their own pick and the second-round pick from the Tennessee Titans
Third round (1): Their own pick
Fourth round (3): All three selections are compensatory picks for losing Alex Mack, Mitchell Schwartz and Tashaun Gipson in free agency.
Fifth round (2): Their own pick and a compensatory pick for losing Travis Benjamin in free agency.
Sixth round (1): Their own pick
Seventh round (1): The seventh-round pick from the Indianapolis Colts

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