Todd McShay's NFL Mock Draft 3.0

There are a few people who are just known for things. Einstein and his brillance. Ford and his motor vehicle. Todd McShay and his NFL Mock Drafts. McShay has come alongside long time ESPN Draft Expert Mel Kiper Jr. to give the network a little variety, and sparring partner for Kiper, on NFL Draft coverage. Much like some of those teenage movies, people tend to be either Team Mel or Team Todd.

We enjoy both and today give you a look at Todd McShay’s NFL Mock Draft 3.0 and how he has the Cleveland Browns improving:

"12 DeVante Parker Cleveland Browns (7-9) COLLEGE: Louisville Class: Sr HT: 6-2 WT: 207 POS: WRAnalysis: The Browns’ quarterback situation is a mess, with Brian Hoyer a free agent and 2014 first-rounder Johnny Manziel currently in rehab after a rookie season in which he struggled. But the only way they’re going to find an answer in this year’s draft is if they package the No. 12 and No. 19 picks to move up into the top five to draft Mariota, and I don’t think they will (or should) do that. So their next-biggest needs are probably right tackle, wide receiver and nose tackle, and in Parker they’re getting a big, productive wide receiver who quietly put up some impressive workout numbers at the combine — 4.45 40-yard dash, 36.5-inch vertical jump, 10 foot, 5 inch broad jump — that matched the explosiveness he displays on tape."

Here McShay has the Browns addressing one of their biggest issues with one of the best players in this year’s draft. While the draft is deep at receiver, most believe that there are 3 top guys at the receiver position. McShay has Kevin White going #4 to the Raiders and Amari Cooper going #10 to the Rams.

Marcus Mariota (#6) and Danny Shelton (#7) are two guys that some Browns fans want to see fall to #12 but McShay has them taken in the Top 10. No real surprises in the Top 10 but at #11 he has the Vikings taking Trae Waynes, cornerback out of Michigan State. Parker’s college QB, Teddy Bridgewater, makes him a natural fit at eleven, which could hurt the Browns receiver hunt.

Between 12 and 19 McShay has Vic Beasley, Arik Armstead, Andrus Peat and Malcom Brown all going off the board as players the Browns would likely have interest in. Brown especially hurts as the nose tackle position is such a big need for the Browns. That leaves the Browns to select:

"19 Ereck Flowers Cleveland Browns (7-9) COLLEGE: Miami (FL) Class: Jr HT: 6-6 WT: 329 POS: OTAnalysis: I had the Browns take Louisville receiver DeVante Parker at No. 12, so with this pick they’ll address their need at right tackle. Flowers has a really good combination of size, strength, agility and toughness. He can get better with his hand placement and he needs to work at keeping his pads down more consistently, but the weaknesses he shows on tape are correctable. Additionally, he possesses great football character and takes well to coaching."

Here is where McShay goes away from what we would have the Browns focus on. The offensive line, with Alex Mack healthy, is pretty good. Mitchell Schwartz is at least an average right tackle in the league while Michael Bowie is a mystery but one the team has high hopes for and John Greco graded very highly by PFF.

None of that is to diminish Flowers as he could be an excellent offensive lineman. He has the abiilty to play inside but is far better suited to play outside. He has the physical skills to really dominate in both the run and pass game. For the Browns some of it is a discussion of where to use resources. If the Browns draft offensive line in the 1st round, and move Schwartz over to guard, they then have five 1st and 2nd round picks manning the line. That is a lot of resources to one area.

Flowers would make for a fun line that opens big holes and protects the passer, whoever that is, very well. Other players that may be better choices for the Browns, that McShay has going after 19 are: Bud Dupree, Eli Harold, Eddie Goldman, Jordan Phillips and Carl Davis (nose tackle need is large).

Instead with McShay at the helm the Browns have upgraded their offense at two positions. The big question is this: No matter what they do, will it matter if they don’t have a decent QB behind center?

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Here is McShay’s list of Top 10 Prospects still available going into the 2nd Round:

"1. Devin Funchess, WR, Michigan2. Devin Smith, WR, Ohio State3. Denzel Perryman, ILB, Miami (FL)4. Byron Jones, CB, Connecticut5. Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State6. Ameer Abdullah, RB, Nebraska7. Eric Kendricks, ILB, UCLA8. Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota9. Owamagbe Odighizuwa, DE, UCLA10. Phillip Dorsett, WR, Miami (FL)"

Funchess, Perryman, Abdullah, Kendricks and Williams all could interest the Browns.

What do you think of Todd McShay’s NFL Mock Draft 3.0 for our Cleveland Browns?

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