NFL Mock Draft: 7 Round Browns Edition

Nov 2, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns head coach Mike Pettine, owner Jimmy Haslam and general manager Ray Farmer before a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports

The Cleveland Browns are sitting at home, just like their fans, watching the NFL Playoffs. Since we don’t have our team to root for we can start our NFL Mock Draft process. While the Draft takes place after free agency it is much more difficult to predict free agency.

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Obviously free agency could impact who the Browns draft. We expect the Browns to try to address their needs via free agency and to draft the best player available based on their schemes. While many want the team to fill perceived needs with every pick but GM Ray Farmer has always professed Best Player Available drafting.

That doesn’t mean he will just pick the highest rated player on the board, as appropriate team building always has to play a role. Cornerback, for an example, is unlikely to be a high draft pick, unless the grade is that much higher than the draft position. The Browns signed Joe Haden to a big contract, drafted Justin Gilbert and Pierre Desir and found K’Waun Williams as an undrafted free agent. Buster Skrine is a free agency and could be re-signed, further limiting the corner need.

While we have no idea who the Browns might sign in free agency, the team’s own free agents tell us positions that could need to be filled. Skrine is joined by Jordan Cameron, Jabaal Sheard and Ahtyba Rubin as starters who could leave in free agency. Former starter Brian Hoyer is also a free agent while Pro Bowl Safety Tashaun Gipson is a restricted free agent that the team will do everything they can to re-sign.

Losing Cameron or Sheard will lead to new starters at those positions. Rubin will likely be replaced in the starting lineup, even if he is re-signed. Hoyer is unlikely to return but the team is likely to look for a veteran QB to challenge Johnny Manziel. Losing Gipson would be very difficult.

Now that we have addressed some of the Browns own free agents it is time to look at our NFL Mock Draft. A few things that are important to know in advance:

• No trades will be predicted.
• We will be selecting players in the range we think they may be selected based on Draft experts including but not limited to Matt Miller, Dane Brugler, Luke Easterling, Eric Galko and others.
• Our picks will be a combination of what I would do and what we believe Ray Farmer will do.
• We haven’t even made it through the National Title Game, Shrine Game, Senior Bowl or the Combine so we expect many changes between now and the NFL Draft.
• If either Marcus Mariota or Jameis Winston, much less with the latter, we could see the Browns trading up for a QB. We know Farmer loves Mariota. We don’t believe Winston will be high on their board but his talent is undeniable.
• He likely won’t be selected today but we know Farmer liked Brett Hundley a lot last year and we could see him drafting him in the 2nd or trading back into the late 1st like Teddy Bridgewater last year.
• On to our 2015 NFL Mock Draft. All 7 Round for the Cleveland Browns.

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