2016 NFL Mock Draft: Cleveland Browns select Laremy Tunsil

Oct 24, 2015; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil (78) during the game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mississippi Rebels beat Texas A&M Aggies 23-3. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

In FanSided’s most recent 2016 NFL Mock Draft, the Cleveland Browns have the top overall pick and selected Laremy Tunsil, offensive tackle out of Ole Miss.

With the Cleveland Browns currently at the bottom of the NFL, the time for 2016 NFL Draft talk is upon us.

This week’s edition on FanSided sees the Browns taking Laremy Tunsil out of Ole Miss. Tunsil is a 6’5 left tackle for the Rebels.

The author of the post writes:

"Tunsil was part of a banner recruiting class at Ole Miss and helped revive a dormant program. Facelifts are nothing new to him. On his watch Bo Wallace became a serviceable quarterback, and Chad Kelly actually straightened out his erratic game. In Cleveland he can help become a snow plow for the running back duo of Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson, who’ve been rather lackluster all year. Also, he can shore up a line that has given up the most sacks in the NFL. Yes, the Browns have Joe Thomas, but there were rumors earlier this season that he was on the table as trade bait. This feels like a spot where the Browns could conceivably dangle Thomas for a high-round pick, or flip Tunsil for a collection of picks."

While drafting Tunsil would be beneficial to the offensive line, he is not what the Browns need right now. Joe Thomas leaving town does not seem like it will happen, even though he was nearly traded to the Denver Broncos this season.

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He is under contract through the 2018 season, and trading him would set the team back even further.

Thomas is one of the greatest to ever play his position, and not even he can help the quarterbacks and running backs behind him on this Browns offense. I could not see Tunsil making anything different.

Drafting Tunsil would be over-thinking on the part of Ray Farmer, who will be lucky to be around for the Draft itself.

I agree with the idea that the Browns could use this top overall pick, assuming they keep this spot, as a possible trade opportunity. However, it would need to be an all-time offer for the Browns to benefit greatly from any trade. There isn’t, at least on paper, a franchise-changing talent in this class of prospects, so making a trade should be a decision that is difficult to make. If a trade is made and the received talent does not pan out, fans may burn down FirstEnergy Stadium, if they even decide to show up at all.

After so many bad drafts, the Browns need to keep it simple and take a for-sure talent that will help this anemic offense. Tunsil is an undeniably strong option, but the Browns need an offensive playmaker that will make a difference right away. That means doing real research and vetting each player instead of drafting someone with clear problems like Johnny Manziel or Justin Gilbert.

Paxton Lynch seems like a safe option now, but the Browns may be hesitant to bring a young quarterback to this team, when no quarterback has been able to succeed with the rest of the players around him.

Also, Josh McCown, Austin Davis, and Manziel are all under contract next season, although Manziel may be gone early into 2016.

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