Mike Mayock Mock Draft: Browns Select Danny Shelton, Melvin Gordon
By Jesse Runner
Mike Mayock has posted his one and only NFL mock draft on NFL.com, and he currently has the Browns addressing the poor run defense and bolstering the run game.
As it stands, the Browns have two selections in the first round at picks 12 and 19. The NFL Draft kicks off April 30th, at 8 p.m. in Chicago. With the Browns’ first pick in the draft, Mayock has Cleveland selecting DT Danny Shelton.
With Cooper, White, and Parker already off the board, the Browns opt to go defense with the selection of Shelton. Coming in at 350-pounds, Shelton will immediately bolster the Browns run defense. Our own Paul Noel breaks down Shelton’s game in his draft profile:
"“Danny Shelton is another defensive interior player who is among the top 5 in this draft class. 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.”"
With the 19th pick in the NFL Draft, Mayock has Cleveland selecting Wisconsin RB Melvin Gordon. Rather than selecting a wide receiver to help the quarterback, Mayock opted to improve the Browns run game.
"“What I like, and what I think they need to believe in, is the Seattle model. Run the football, play great defense and special teams. Get the game into the fourth quarter and win it. This kid has the best patience and balance of any back in the draft.”"
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He then went on to say:
"“I hate to use the term game changer loosely, but he changes your offense. Regardless of who’s playing quarterback, if its third and 2, you have a much better chance then if its third and 10.”"
The selection of Gordon comes as a bit of a surprise, as the Browns already have two solid, young running backs on the roster by the names of Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West. For more insight on the Wisconsin product’s game, we turn to Draftbreakdown.com.:
"“Athletically, Gordon is loaded with juice and possesses movement skills similar to the likes of Jamal Charles. He has the kind of rare, effortless speed that makes everyone around him seem like they’re moving in slow motion. His feet are quick enough, and he has loose hips and (+) overall wiggle. While he’s not the kind of COD runner who can stop on a dime, he doesn’t require many steps when cutting against the grain. He’s the most dangerous outside runner in this class; He has elite next-level speed and will be able to take it to the house from anywhere on the field. His ability to patiently wait for the blocks to develop in front of him, combined with his elite, rare explosive first step when the running lane develops, suggests a lot of big plays next fall.”"
Gordon was one of the best play-makers in the country last season, as Thomas Moore wrote in his draft profile, Gordon:
- Rushed for the second-most yards ever in FBS history — behind only Barry Sanders
- Won the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s best running back
- Was first team All-American and first team Big 10
He also:
- Rushed for 408 yards against Nebraska
- Had 12 100-yard rushing games, a school record
- Had six 200-yard rushing games, a school record
- Led the nation with 29 rushing touchdown
Gordon would give Cleveland a dynamic RB that could consistently make plays out of the backfield. With quickness, speed, athleticism, and vision, Gordon is the home-run threat in the backfield the Browns’ offense has lacked for years.
However, a word of caution for Ray Farmer. The last RB the Browns selected in the first round, someone by the name of Trent Richardson, didn’t pan out to well. Not to mention that West and Crowell combined for 1280 yards and 12 touchdowns last year. Is a first round RB really worth the risk?
The NFL Draft moves from New York to Chicago for 2015, with Thursday’s first round scheduled for an 8 p.m. ET start. The draft will resume for rounds two and three on Friday beginning at 7 p.m., and the draft will conclude on Saturday with rounds four through seven beginning at noon ET.
Do you agree with Mike Mayock’s picks for the Browns?