May 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; A general view of a helmet, NFL shield, stage, and podium before the start of the 2014 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
The Cleveland Browns will open the 2015 NFL Draft on Thursday night facing the biggest draft since, well, last year.
General manager Ray Farmer went a long way toward rebuilding the roster last season, even with the struggles of first-round selections Justin Gilbert and Johnny Manziel. Holding 10 picks – including four in the top 77 – of this year’s draft, Farmer has an opportunity to really push the Browns forward.
So what will happen over the course of three days and seven rounds? Will Farmer give head coach Mike Pettine and defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil more weapons for the defense? Or will it be time to give offensive coordinator John DeFilippo something to work with on offense?
Or maybe, just maybe, will Farmer take another crack at fixing the ongoing quarterback conundrum?
In an attempt to figure things out, the staff here at Dawg Pound Daily got together to answer the five biggest questions facing the Browns during the upcoming draft.
Next: A Successful Draft
Nov 29, 2014; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals wide receiver DeVante Parker (9) runs the ball against the Kentucky Wildcats during the second half at Papa John
Question: Who is the one player that would make this draft a success for the Browns?
Janik: I will have to go with Louisville wide receiver DeVante Parker. The Browns may need a quarterback, but trading up for Marcus Mariota could end badly. Parker seems like a safe bet for one of the Browns’ biggest needs. If Johnny Manziel bounces back from a horrible rookie season that ended in rehab, he will need someone to throw the ball to and Parker will be that guy.
Jesse: The Browns’ draft will be a success if they are able to land any of the so-called Big 3 wide receivers. However, once the 12th pick rolls around, it’s likely that only Louisville wide receiver DeVante Parker will be available. Therefore, I would say the selection of Parker would makes the draft a success.
Paul: Defensive tackle Danny Shelton – He possesses a powerful bull-rush that allowed him to push the center and collapse the pocket. Shelton has surprisingly good mobility for his size and plays with great effort in pursuit. He has the innate ability to locate the football quickly and has great short burst to close on the ball carrier. Where Shelton could fall on draft day comes down to scheme and need, despite how his production would indicate he is not a consistent pass-rushing threat. Shelton is more of a traditional two-gap run-stopper with the strength to bull-rush opponents.
Shelton would be an ideal fit for a team that needs a run stopper or a traditional nose tackle. He is a big and strong interior defensive lineman who finished off his senior year with AP All-American honors, recording 93 tackles, including 16.5 tackles for loss and 9 sacks. Shelton has a wide frame that allows him to anchor and hold, even against double teams that were thrown his way often. Shelton would fit the need the Browns are looking for in a high-motor player who has the ability to hold the line and take on double teams while allowing an edge defender to go free toward the quarterback.
But his skills as a two-gap run stopper are what should really draw the Browns’ attention. His quick burst and ability to shed lineman and tackle the ball carrier nearby is exactly what the Browns defense needs.
Tom: My heart says Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota, who could be the type of dynamic talent that could solve the ongoing quarterback nightmare and capture the town’s imagination. Mariota is a bigger, better and more stable player than Johnny Manziel.
As exciting as Manziel was at Texas A&M, we would watch his games and, while entertaining, we were not comfortable envisioning watching him for 16 games a season in the NFL. We’ve never had that feeling about Mariota.
My head says defense first and foremost. If the Browns can add two impact players to an improving defense it may not matter who the quarterback is; if the other team can’t score it’s hard to lose. If he is available, that player is Washington defensive tackle Danny Shelton.
Next: Looking Past the First Round
Dec 27, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; USC Trojans wide receiver Nelson Agholor (15) catches a pass before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the 2014 Holiday Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Question: Who is the player (or players) you most want the Browns to select on Day 2 or 3 of the draft?
Janik: I would like to see the Browns take a chance on Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty. Although first-round quarterbacks seem to be the only ones that ever become starters (except for Russell Wilson), Petty seems to have the potential — if he can learn how to read defenses. The Browns have quite a few quarterbacks in the system already, but I think Manziel and Petty will be good for the future.
For the later rounds, another wide receiver prospect would be great, with Washington State’s Vince Mayle worthy of a pick.
Jesse: The player I would like to see the Browns draft on Day 2 would have to be Garrett Grayson from Colorado State. After watching his tape, I feel that he would be a perfect quarterback to sit on and develop for a year or two. Displaying solid accuracy and touch, Grayson fits in offensive coordinator John DeFilippo’s scheme quite nicely. To me, Grayson’s greatest asset is his consistency when throwing the deep ball, as he is very good in placing the ball in spots where only his receiver can get to it.
Paul: Wide receiver Nelson Agholor – Agholor has a lean, athletic frame, with good lateral agility and great acceleration. Agholor is an athletic pass catcher with sharp route running and the body control to make fluid adjustments on the ball. Agholor generally catches the ball cleanly with his hands and secures it quickly. At 6-foot-even, Agholor is another wide receiver prospect that could step in and stretch the field for the Browns’ offense.
The Browns’ offense desperately missed the deep ball last season and had to rely heavily on the slot receivers to stretch the defense. Agholor has decent size, strength, and great quickness to get separation and make contested catches. Agholor is also a return specialist who could step in immediately and make an impact on punt returns that the Browns missed most of in the 2014 season.
Tom: Sticking with our defense first mantra, we’ll be excited if the Browns select a pair of defenders in the first round, leaving the wide receiver position for later on. If they can pick up Miami wide receiver Philip Dorsett or Ohio State’s Devin Smith on Day 2, that would not be a bad day.
Next: About Those Two No. 1 Picks
Aug 15, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Trent Richardson (33) is tackled by Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (90) in the first quarter of a preseason game at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Question: Since 1978, the Browns have had two picks in the first round five times: 1978 (Clay Matthews and Ozzie Newsome), 1994 (Antonio Langham and Derrick Alexander), 2007 (Joe Thomas and Brady Quinn), 2012 (Trent Richardson and Brandon Weeden), and 2014 (Justin Gilbert and Johnny Manziel). Which of those drafts will this year’s first round most resemble?
Janik: Most importantly, it should not resemble 2012. If it resembles any of the previous first rounds, I hope it is 1978. Drafting two players that can make an impact as rookies and spend a big chunk of their careers with the Browns, carrying them to more successful times, would obviously be the best case scenario. Knowing the history of the post-1999 Browns, I am just keeping my fingers crossed for a better draft than 2012.
Jesse: This year’s first round will most likely resemble the 1978 draft for the Browns. The reason for this is that the Browns drafted help on the front seven in Clay Matthews, and they also drafted a reliable pass catcher in Ozzie Newsome. This year, I think the Browns will take a similar approach, although the positions will be swapped a little bit. I believe Cleveland will add a defensive lineman and a wide receiver in the first round.
More from Dawg Pound Daily
- 3 Cleveland Browns players who don’t deserve another season in 2023
- How the Browns could maximize Nick Chubb in 2023
- Can Deshaun Watson get to Patrick Mahomes level for Cleveland Browns?
- 3 Cleveland Browns who should see an expanded role in 2023 and 1 who should not
- Is Marcus Davenport on the Browns radar in 2023?
Paul: Fingers crossed it resembles the 1978 draft class of Clay Matthews and Ozzie Newsome. Those others were just plain average, besides Joe Thomas in 2007. The 1994 pairing almost shouldn’t even count because they were in Cleveland for just long enough for Art Modell to announce the move. Matthews and Newsome will always be fan favorites of the Browns faithful, and if the Browns could go out in this draft class and get players that live up to the caliber of those two, I would be ecstatic.
Tom: While we’re not as down on general manager Ray Farmer’s first round from last year’s draft as some are — we still believe Justin Gilbert will prove worthy of his selection — there’s no denying that things haven’t worked out as planned.
While it is unlikely that Farmer can pull off a first round that will produce a Hall of Fame player and a player who deserves to be in the Hall of Fame, he needs to head back to his Chicago hotel room on Thursday night with two players (or one if a trade is made) that can be ready to go when the season opens against the Jets.
Next: The Quarterback Conundrum
Jan 1, 2015; Pasadena, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) runs off the field following the first half of the 2015 Rose Bowl college football game at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
Question: Seven times in franchise history the Browns have selected a quarterback in the first round and each time they have missed. (Although the jury is still out on Johnny Manziel). Should general manager Ray Farmer try to break that streak this year?
Janik: No. I believe in Johnny Manziel to bounce back and become the Browns’ starting quarterback for years to come. A little earlier this year, I thought it would be great to have both Manziel and Marcus Mariota, and have a chance to end up with “two Russell Wilsons.” However, there is a lot of risk involved and the Browns are much better off making picks that are less risky.
Jesse: No. Ray Farmer should stay far away from this streak. It’s got to be a sign, right? The Browns would likely have to trade up into the top 10 if they wanted to get the quarterback they’ve been linked to the most, Marcus Mariota. This would mean packaging both first round picks. Instead, the Browns should opt for building the team up by adding dynamic starters with both picks. We still don’t know what the Browns have in Johnny Manziel. Give the kid a full off-season to prepare and grow within the system and, if he’s not the answer, Josh McCown can hold down the fort for one season.
Paul: It honestly depends on the price at this point. Usually where there is smoke, there is fire. I think the same holds true in this incidence. Farmer and the Browns have been linked to Marcus Mariota since last year’s draft, and it was rumored that Farmer was disappointed when Mariota chose to go back to school for another year.
The price will be expensive to move up to the No. 2 overall pick in this draft. It’s rumored that the Titans are asking for two No. 1s, and a No. 2. The Browns have that kind of ammunition, but there are too many holes on the roster that they could fill with quality players in this draft early.
If Mariota were to slide to the Browns or even close to the Browns where they could get him with the 12th overall and still keep the 19th, then that would be ideal.
Tom: For Jameis Winston? No. For Marcus Mariota? Maybe.
If Farmer has a set price in mind for what he’s willing to pay to move up for Mariota and sticks to the plan, then making a trade could be the way to go. The concern, as always, is that in the heat of the moment the Browns will through out all the hard work and make an emotional decision.
There are a lot of holes to fill on this roster, so Farmer has to make sure he maximizes his assets this time around.
Next: With the First Pick
Sep 13, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns defensive tackle Malcom Brown (90) sacks UCLA Bruins quarterback Brett Hundley (17)during the first quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Question: Enough nonsense. Who are the Browns taking in the first round?
Janik: Wide receiver DeVante Parker and defensive tackle Malcolm Brown.
Jesse: My best case scenario for the Browns in the first round would be wide receiver DeVante Parker at 12 and defensive tackle Malcolm Brown at 19. Parker gives the Browns a legitimate No. 1 receiver that defenses will have to plan for. Not to mention he would take a lot of pressure off of Dwayne Bowe, Brian Hartline and Andrew Hawkins. Adding a top-flight receiver makes the entire receiving core better.
Brown gives Cleveland a big body to anchor the defensive line. Last season, the Browns finished last in the NFL in rushing yards allowed. Brown shows solid instincts in tracking the ball carrier the entire play, and he should open up pass-rushing lanes for the likes of Paul Kruger and Barkevious Mingo.
Paul: In the 2015 NFL Draft the Cleveland Browns will select wide receiver DeVante Parker from Louisville, and defensive Malcom Brown of the University of Texas. Both are quality players that could step onto the field from day one and make an immediate impact.
Tom: The Browns continue building a defense to terrorize the AFC North Division by selecting defensive tackle Danny Shelton and edge rusher Shane Ray.
How would answer the 5 Questions? Have your say in the comments section.