NFL Mock Draft: 7 Rounder from Miller Intrigues for Browns

The Cleveland Browns currently have 10 picks in the upcoming NFL Draft. That makes NFL Mock Drafts very interesting for fans. While most fans, and even writers, don’t know the majority of the players available in the upcoming draft, there are literally hundreds of them, those that specialize in the draft do. Matt “Mr. NFL Draft Scout” Miller (we do that so our linking tool doesn’t connect his name to the Boise St. Tight End) spend over 12 hours yesterday putting together a full 7 Round NFL Mock Draft.

To be the best professional he could be, he waited until the NFL announced their Compensatory Picks, the Browns got none, and then completed his Mock. That is impressive. For this writer a full 1st Round NFL Mock Draft takes around 2 hours, you will likely never see a full 7 Rounder.

Much like last year, expect GM Ray Farmer to select some players that you may not have heard of. Joel Bitonio, Christian Kirksey, Terrance West and Pierre Desir were hardly whispers to the common fan. Yet Farmer saw something in all of them to draft them and they all look like foundation pieces for the future. That doesn’t even mention undrafted players like Taylor Gabriel, K’Waun Williams and Isaiah Crowell who were far off the radar.

There is talent everywhere and Farmer showed last year he knows how to find it. We will make notes on each of Miller’s pick for the Browns but give attention to details about players we think most are unfamiliar with.

"12 – The Pick: Nose Tackle Danny Shelton, WashingtonThe most exciting part of the Phil Taylor era was Peyton Hillis announcing the pick as the Madden cover boy. Taylor hasn’t lived up to his first-round status, and it’s time to replace him. Danny Shelton is a big, bad, pure stud at nose tackle."

If you have been reading DPD for long, you know we are big fans of Shelton. Outside of finding our future QB, the Browns biggest need is stopping the run with a “big, bad, pure stud at nose tackle.” Fans may be surprised to find Shelton falling some but he is scheme specific to some extent, as a 3-4 nose, and isn’t a big impact on getting to the passer. For the Browns, Shelton could be the final piece to a Top 5 defense.

"19 – The Pick: Tight End Maxx Williams, MinnesotaMaxx Williams, a redshirt sophomore when he left Minnesota, is raw, but he has Travis Kelce or Greg Olsen-like upside and can be the dual-threat tight end the Browns build their intermediate passing game around. And whether it’s Josh McCown or Johnny Manziel at quarterback, Williams gives them a big, physical threat in the red zone."

Williams seems like a player Farmer would be willing to spend a 1st round pick on. The young tight end can impact the game blocking and receiving. He will need some time to develop and some might wonder if he wouldn’t fall to the 2nd round. With the dearth of high end talent at the position, Williams is likely to be pushed up the board quite a bit. With Dwayne Bowe, Brian Hartline, Andrew Hawkins and Gabriel, Williams would join a solid receiving group.

"43. Cleveland—WR Devin Funchess, Michigan"

Starting in the 2nd round Miller doesn’t describe his reasoning at all. Funchess is an interesting prospect that would actually pair well with Williams. Gabriel is an outside receiver, even though his size is more in line with a slot guy, so Williams and Funchess give some size both inside and out. This writer would have preferred Breshad Perriman, taken with the next pick in Miller’s Mock, but Funchess’ size/speed/upside combination is intriguing.

"77. Cleveland—SS Jaquiski Tartt, Samford"

The first player most fans have not heard of is Tartt. Finding a long term replacement for Donte Whitner is important in the Draft but the 3rd round seems a bit early. Mike Pettine likes to have 3 safeties on the field so Tartt could find early playing time. He stands 6’1″ with long arms and good speed. He likes to hit but didn’t show great in deep coverage. For the Browns he wouldn’t be asked to fill that role as much with Tashaun Gipson roaming the backfield.

"111. Cleveland—EDGE Lorenzo Mauldin, Louisville"

In their pursuit of Trent Cole and Jerry Hughes, the Browns have shown that they want more edge rushers. Mauldin shows the upside to be that kind of player. Long arms and a long frame give him the ability to turn the corner. 6’4″ and 260 pounds, Mauldin fits as a 3-4 OLB but will have to learn to play in coverage some. Situational pass rusher his rookie year but could provide more. Not bad in the 4th round.

"115. Cleveland—LB Ben Heeney, Kansas"

Much like Tartt, Heeney would be a planning for the future pick. Karlos Dansby will need replaced long term and Heeney looks like he could fill the role. He is a down hill kind of player, not great in space but is constantly making plays on defense. At 6′ he won’t overwhelm anyone with his measurables but is just a pure football player that could impact special teams early and replace Dansby in a year or two.

"147. Cleveland—T Rob Crisp, North Carolina State"

With Mitchell Schwartz and Alex Mack able to be free agents at the end of the season, the Browns are bound to go after offensive line help at some point and time. Crisp is a high end project type, perfect for the 5th round. Huge and long, 6’7″ 300 pounds, Crisp needs to develop more strength but his foot speed could make him perfect for the Zone Blocking Scheme.

"188. Cleveland—WR Davaris Daniels, Notre Dame"

Miller doubles up here for the Browns with another receiver. Farmer is unlikely to do so given the sheer numbers on the current depth chart. Daniels was suspended for all of 2014 from Notre Dame. At 6’1″ and 200 pounds he could be a possession type receiver. His slow 40 time, 4.62 at the Combine, will push him down the boards a bit. An unlikely Farmer pick.

"201. Cleveland—TE MyCole Pruitt, Southern Illinois"

Another double up at the tight end position but one where we could see Farmer going. With only Jim Dray and Gary Barnidge likely to return at the position, adding two young guys makes sense. Pruitt, 6’2″ and 250 pounds, isn’t the big time athlete Williams is at the position. His hands are great and he can make catches in traffic. He uses his body well both in blocking and in the pass game. Williams and Pruitt would be a great long term combo for the Browns offense.

"229. Cleveland—RB Tyler Varga, Yale"

Why not add another young back to the system? The Browns love to run the ball and can never have too many backs. With West and Crowell the team still will want to ensure they have a plan in case either or both flame out or get hurt. In this case, Miller actually has the Browns drafting a player some think is a fullback based on his size. 5’11” and 222 pounds, Varga’s muscular frame is intriguing. He may not be big enough at fullback or fast enough at running back but he can catch the ball and has a strong body.

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Besides QB, Miller has the Browns addressing all of the needs we would identify. While we may have changed a few of his picks, all and all Miller does a solid job of building the Browns the way Farmer might. Miller, like most analysts, is not big on any of the QBs after Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota. He also has the Big 3 wide receivers all off the board before pick 12. He makes the most of the Browns 10 picks.

What do you think of Miller’s 7 Round NFL Mock Draft for the Cleveland Browns?

Next: Our Browns 4 Round NFL Mock Draft

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