NFL Mock Draft: Matt Miller Has Mariota Falling

With NFL Free Agency in full go it is time to look a little forward to the NFL Draft. With his NFL Mock Draft Matt “Mr. NFL Draft Scout” Miller has given Cleveland Browns fans a lot of think about. The Browns have needs at quarterback, nose tackle and wide receiver as their three biggest needs.

In Miller’s NFL Mock Draft he has Marcus Mariota, Danny Shelton and a couple wide receivers available that could fill the Browns needs. His Mock puts the Browns in an interesting position of selecting between a variety of talented players. Even Bud Dupree, a pass rusher like the Browns have been seeking in free agency, could intrigue the Browns.

Matt doesn’t give reasoning in his Mock, as the point of his post is more about the scouting than the Mock, so we will give a little taste of what we think Matt was thinking.

"12ClevelandNT Danny SheltonWashington"

What Matt Might Be Thinking: “The Browns invested a first round pick in Johnny Manziel last year and do not seem like they are ready to give up on him yet. While GM Ray Farmer has reportedly been enamored with Marcus Mariota but knows that his job is on the line and that the Heisman Trophy winner will need a year to develop. Shelton on the other hand can make an immediate impact on the Browns last place run defense. Shelton can anchor at the point of attack and can get some penetration in the pass game.”

What Jared Is Thinking: Irrationally – “Give me my quarterback. I want Mariota.” Rationally – “The Browns did have the worst run defense in the league and reside in a division where run offenses are stout. Shelton can anchor for the Browns and keep the team from constantly struggling on running downs. Yet the question becomes whether it matters in regards to overall Wins and Losses for the Browns. Could the Browns find a nose tackle elsewhere in the draft, if instead they address their decades long void at the quarterback position? Mariota, with time to develop behind Josh McCown, could be that answer. Can the Browns pass that up, especially if they don’t have to trade a pick to do so?”

"19ClevelandWR Jaelen StrongArizona State"

What Matt Might Be Thinking: “Whether the Browns plan to start Josh McCown or Johnny Manziel, they need to get their quarterback more weapons. They add Brian Hartline as a reliable receiver but lack a big, playmaking guy on the outside. Strong can be that guy. He isn’t the surefire stud that Cooper, White or Parker seem to be, but at 19 the Browns get a player who can be the true #1 for years to come. The Browns could decide to go defense here once again but extending John Hughes and have 8 more picks allows them to truly address a need here.”

What Jared Is Thinking: “The Browns need to address their receiver position but it is hard to tell what Farmer will do. The Browns will be a run first team and don’t have a high end quarterback to help a rookie develop. Farmer could decide to go in another direction with this pick but receiver or tight end just makes a lot of sense. Breshad Perriman and Maxx Williams lead a group of players that may be better fits for the Browns. Strong has a lot of physical upside but his hands and route running create some concern. If the Browns would have selected Mariota at 12, Eddie Goldman to fill the inside nose spot would make a ton of sense.”

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So Miller has the Browns with Danny Shelton and Jaelen Strong to fill two of the team’s three biggest holes. If Jared had it his way, the Browns would have drafted Marcus Mariota and Eddie Goldman to fill what I consider the Browns two biggest needs, especially in a draft where talented receivers will be available in the 2nd round. Mariota, Goldman and a Devin Smith type receiver in the 2nd would be a solid A+ draft for the Browns.

Make sure you read the rest of Miller’s write-up for some great scouting pieces.

What do you think of Miller’s NFL Mock Draft? Do you agree more with him or Jared?

Next: Is Manziel Out of Rehab?

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