Feb 21, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota throws a pass during the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
It is NFL Mock Draft Monday. We expect quite a few coming our way today but we wanted to give you a few fun ones to devour this morning. The Cleveland Browns have two first round picks and 10 picks overall. That makes them one of the most interesting, and influential players in the upcoming NFL Draft.
This morning we bring you 6 different NFL Mock Draft posts for you to devour. Two are only one round, three are two rounds and one is a big four round NFL Mock Draft. That is the order we will work in. Starting with just the 1st round ones and working our way all the way to the 4 rounder.
We start with Josh Norris of Rotoworld. Norris does a lot of interesting stuff and we appreciate his work. Who does he have the Browns selecting?
"3. Cleveland Browns (via Jacksonville Jaguars) – QB Marcus Mariota, Oregon – The Browns trade picks 12, 19 and a 2016 3rd round selection. After the GM and owner made the wrong quarterback choice last year (although Manziel’s career is not over), there is pressure to make the decision right. Mariota will do just that."
Well that was quick. There are a ton of rumors about the Browns interest in Marcus Mariota, so the pick itself is not surprising. Most know by now that this writer feels strongly that Mariota could be the next big thing at QB if he is given some time to develop. Mariota has the work ethic, size and delivery that translate well to the NFL.
The Browns are reportedly interested in Mariota but how much is another story. Trading 12 and 19 is the most this writer would give up for Mariota, and even that is a bit of a stretch but doable. Trading an addition starter in next year’s draft, expecting 3rd rounders to be starters is reasonable, make that a very expensive move. It is not, however, mortgaging the future like the Redskins did to get RG3. The price is not so high that it would damage the Browns but it is more than we expect they would be willing to pay.
Wonder if anyone else has the Browns trading up that high.
Next: Pro Football Talk (1 Round)
Feb 23, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Landon Collins runs in a workout drill during the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Pro Football Talk is always full of a lot of information, although sometimes biased based on some relationships connected to the site. Last night they came out with their first, and according to them possibly only, NFL Mock Draft.
One thing noted in their NFL Mock Draft post is that they don’t believe there are 32 first round talents in this draft.
"12. Browns: S Landon Collins, Alabama. 19. Browns: OL Cameron Erving, Florida State."
No explanation on either pick but both of these players are ones we would not be shocked if the Browns select. Collins is a hard hitting safety with enough range at the NFL level. He was expected to be a Top 10 pick after the college season but has slid down boards a bit. For the Browns he would fill the often used 3rd safety role and a long term replacement for Donte Whitner.
Erving also would be a long term replacement type selection, not a bad thing to do in the NFL Draft. With Alex Mack likely to opt out of his contract and Mitchell Schwartz to be a free agent at the end of the season, Erving provides some value on the offensive line. He can play all 5 positions and could compete for a starting spot from Day 1.
While both Collins and Erving could fit for the Browns, selecting two players who likely won’t start in base personnel is a bit of stretch. At 12 Florio has the Browns passing on Alvin Dupree and a couple offensive linemen. At 19 he has the Browns passing on Randy Gregory, Danny Shelton, Breshad Perriman and others.
So while the players fit the Browns to some extent, they just don’t seem to be the right fits with those picks.
Next: Rob Rang (2 Round)
Feb 21, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils wide receiver Jaelen Strong catches a pass during the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Rob Rang of CBS Sports has been a regular on our coverage of NFL Mock Draft posts. He tends to stay pretty steady, not a bad thing, which gives us a sense of when things really do change. This is his first 2 Round NFL Mock Draft:
"12. Cleveland Browns – Danny Shelton, DT, Washington: The Browns finished dead last in the NFL in run defense a year ago and have allowed over 2,000 rushing yards in 14 of the past 16 seasons – a recipe for disaster in the black and blue AFC North. The 6-2, 339 pound Shelton is certainly a load but he also offers surprisingly athleticism and passion for nose guard."
Not much more can be said about our love for Danny Shelton. He has the ability to make plays in the pass game and anchor in the run. He isn’t perfect but has the work ethic and drive that leads us to believe he will be a stud for years to come. He may not be Haloti Ngata but Vince Wilfork type will do just fine.
Passing on Vic Beasley and DeVante Parker would be tough but Shelton could be worth it.
"19. Cleveland Browns (from Buffalo) – La’el Collins, OL, LSU: The Browns feature one of the NFL’s better offensive lines but right tackle is a relative weak spot. Collins starred on the left side at LSU but his power-based game projects better inside or at right tackle."
There are some that believe that Collins can play all 5 positions on the offensive line. Much like Erving, Collins would provide the Browns with versatility. We have heard rumors that the Browns are far less likely to look at the RT spot early in the draft but having a flexible player like Collins or Erving still makes sense.
Passing on Breshad Perriman, Arik Armstead and others would be difficult.
"43. Cleveland Browns – Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State: Regardless of who is throwing the passes in Cleveland, the Browns still need help at receiver. The aptly-named Strong has the size, strength and aggression to emerge as a go-to target."
Strong is a player that some have compared to Anquan Boldin. Strong may need some time to develop but some analysts believe strongly (pun intended) in his upside. Others have worries about him as a tools player that doesn’t always put them together on the field. With Dwayne Bowe, Brian Hartline and Andrew Hawkins already on the field, Strong will be given time to develop.
Rang has the Browns passing on Nelson Agholor, Bendardrick McKinney, Shaq Thompson and Brett Hundley, all players the Browns could target in the 2nd round.
Next: Mocking the Draft (2 Round)
Feb 20, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Texas defensive lineman Malcom Brown speaks to the media at the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Dan Kadar, a local guy who covers the NFL Draft for SB Nation, is a great follow on Twitter and provides great insight. Mocking the Draft is his Twitter name but doesn’t describe how he covers the draft. He does excellent at it.
Here is his first 2 round NFL Mock Draft:
"12. Cleveland Browns: DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville Up until the drat, look for the Browns to be associated with a trade up for Mariota. If they sit back and keep picks 12 and 19, their needs are obvious: wide receiver, defensive line and pass rusher. With Parker still available, he is the best and safest choice."
Many Browns fans will get excited about this pick. Some have Parker as their top WR, over Amari Cooper and Kevin White. Even if that is not true, almost everyone agrees that he can be special. He will have some time to develop but could be an instant jolt of offense for the Browns. If the Browns want to run a bunch of deep routes, Bowe and Parker could alternate keeping each other fresh.
Kadar has the Browns passing on Randy Gregory, someone we think would be a tough decision for the Browns, as well as Eddie Goldman, La’El Collins and Andrus Peat before their next pick at #19.
"19. Cleveland Browns (via Buffalo Bills): Malcom Brown, DT, Texas The Browns need to fix their run defense, and will have some options in the first round. Brown is someone who has the power to line up over the nose but the athleticism to play end. Fixing the run defense should be a higher priority than adding another first-round pass rusher."
A very interesting pick for the Browns. While most agree the Browns need a true nose tackle (0 or 1 technique), Brown is seen as more of a 3 technique, defensive end in the 3-4. Kadar believes he is strong enough to play the nose. With Shelton off the board early and Goldman gone at 15, Brown or Jordan Phillips fill the biggest need with a ton of upside. Filling receiver and nose in the 1st round provides a lot of flexibility in the 2nd.
"43. Cleveland Browns: Eli Harold, OLB, Virginia Finding a pass rusher like Harold in the second round makes this a good haul for the Browns. Harold is an athlete who needs to add strength. If he does, watch out."
With the Eli Harold selection, Kadar fills 3 of the Browns 4 biggest needs (QB or TE are the others depending on who you ask). Harold could be taken late in the 1st and could be a steal here for the Browns. The Browns targeted Trent Cole in free agency only to lose out to the all in Colts. Harold gives them a young rotational guy with Barkevious Mingo and Paul Kruger. He can get to the QB quickly but needs to add some strength. He will start out as a pass rush specialist.
Next: Dane Brugler (2 Round)
Feb 19, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Southern California Trojans wide receiver Nelson Agholor speaks to the media during the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Dane Brugler is Rang’s partner in crime at CBS Sports. He also came out with his 2 Round NFL Mock Draft today. Often Brugler and Rang disagree on players but tend to agree on positions. Wonder if that is true again this time:
"12. Cleveland Browns — Washington NT Danny Shelton: Cleveland needs to revamp the front seven in order to stop the run and a good place to start is at nose tackle. Shelton won’t have the same type of production in the NFL as he did at Washington, but he should be a long-term anchor for a three-man front."
Welp, same player and position this time. Nothing more to really add from the Rang post.
"19. Cleveland Browns (from Buffalo) — LSU OT La’el Collins: The Browns need to add depth on the offensive line and Collins would give the team a long-term option at right tackle to replace Mitchell Schwartz, who is likely playing his final season in Cleveland this year."
And here again they have the same position and player. It shows what is happening a bit for most Draft experts. Boards are together, they have heard a lot of information and now have focused on certain guys at certain positions. We separated out Rang and Brugler’s Mocks to highlight that. Plus Dane has to go in a different direction at 43 right?
"43. Cleveland Browns — Nelson Agholor, WR, USC: Cleveland added Dwayne Bowe and Brian Hartline this off-season, but need to bring in a young receiver and Agholor can play inside or outside."
A player that we are starting to fall in love with. Nelson Agholor compares to Randall Cobb and Antonio Brown. Not the biggest physical player but one who makes plays with the ball in his hands. Receivers like Agholor are the reason we think the value at the position is best in the 2nd round. Agholor, Devin Smith and others all could be studs and be available here.
Next: Last: Luke Easterling (4 Rounds)
Feb 21, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Baylor Bears quarterback Bryce Petty throws a pass during the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Luke Easterling is a friend of the program and provides great NFL Draft analysis for a variety of places including DraftBreakdown, where we get our film from. Luke took the massive undertaking of putting out a 4 Round NFL Mock Draft. That is a lot of work when just drafting for the Browns, doing it for the full league is exhausting.
So let’s take a look at what Big Luke has for us in his NFL Mock Draft:
"12. Cleveland Browns – DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville – If Mariota falls anywhere near them, I expect the Browns to make a move up to get him. But since I’m not projecting trades, the Browns stay here and luck out by having Parker fall to them, filling their desperate need for a No. 1 receiver in the absence of Josh Gordon."
We have already hit on Parker but Luke has Mariota falling to #10. We could see the Browns making a move with any of the teams from 6 on down to move up, a 2nd rounder or next year’s 1 might do it, to get the QB. Parker does fill the young role that most think the Browns need at receiver. Imagine if Josh Gordon turns his life around AND the Browns draft a top flight receiver. Wow!
"19. Cleveland Browns (from BUF) – Danny Shelton, NT, Washington – After grabbing Parker earlier in the round, the Browns luck out again by seeing Shelton fall to them here. A massive force in the middle, Shelton would give the Browns the imposing nose tackle they covet in this draft."
Luke knows my love of Shelton but we both think he could fall here, unless the 49ers or Chargers take him a few picks earlier. Parker and Shelton would be an amazing 1st round for the Browns.
"43. Cleveland Browns – Nate Orchard, EDGE, Utah"
With Shaq Thompson on the board we are a bit surprised by this pick but Orchard is seen as more of a pure outside linebacker, pass rusher than Shaq. Orchard is in the long, lanky mold of a pass rusher. He, like Harold, would be a pass rush specialist to start. With Shelton on board, the Browns could actually see more 3rd down attempts than in years past.
"77. Cleveland Browns – Bryce Petty, QB, Baylor"
A pick that will turn heads, Bryce Petty is seen as having some upside with the Browns pick in the 3rd round. Petty has the size and work ethic but his accuracy in a spread system is concerning. The Browns will likely hedge their Johnny Manziel bet at some point in time. With Brett Hundley off the board in the 2nd round, Petty could be the right place to do it.
"111. Cleveland Browns – Jeff Heuermann, TE, Ohio State"
One of our favorites from watching him in Columbus, Heuermann had some injury struggles last year and the system he was in didn’t help his numbers. Yet his blocking is superb and he has the athletic ability to really stretch the field. If he can stay healthy, Heuermann gives the Browns a ton of options at tight end moving forward with Rob Housler, Jim Dray and Gary Barnidge.
"115. Cleveland Browns (from BUF) – Arie Kouandjio, G, Alabama"
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Kouandjio is a player that has seen his name all over the place on people’s boards and on NFL Mock Drafts. Some think he could sneak into Round 5 while still others have him as a mid round pick or worse. He seems to be a system player but has the ability to play well in tight spaces. Whether he can transition into the Browns hybrid Zone Blocking Scheme is a big question.
There you have all 6 NFL Mock Drafts here on Mock Draft Monday. We can’t wait for your thoughts.