The Cleveland Browns have a great chance to improve the team with 11 picks in the 2017 NFL Draft. We go through all 11 here in this mock draft.
In a previous article, I made the argument that the Cleveland Browns should not draft a quarterback. Instead, the team should stick to other positions of need in the draft this year such as pass rush, secondary, linebacker, etc.
Not only do I stand by this, but the following mock draft gives the Browns another route to go to help build success.
This draft appears to be very deep in many positions such as cornerback, wide receiver, safety and tight end, and it would behoove the Browns to stock up on as much talent as possible with all of their 11 picks. And there is quite a bit of talent they could use this year and next.
However, quarterback is a position that could be compared unfavorably to the 2013 class, despite this one being a tad stronger (but not that much).
Sure there are names like Deshaun Watson, Mitch Trubisky and Patrick Mahomes, but there is no Andrew Luck, no Matt Ryan or no Jameis Winston. In other words, there isn’t any sure-fire star quarterback that people believe will be the next “guy” for an NFL franchise.
Despite the need and history Cleveland has in the draft with quarterbacks, they need to stay away this year.
With all that in mind, Cleveland should stock up on what they can. Once you’ve seen who I think they’ll draft, you too might find yourself in my way of thinking. The selections are looking at the next four years and many of whom could turn into steals and names Browns fans chant for years to come.
Round 1, Pick #1: Myles Garrett, DE/OLB, Texas A&M
Is there any explanation needed? People have been talking about Myles Garrett being a potential No. 1 overall pick since his freshman year.
His career numbers speak for themselves: 31 sacks, 7 forced fumbles, and 47 tackles for loss in three years. Include that with an impressive NFL combine where he ran a 4.64 40 yard dash, had 33 bench reps and a 41.0 inch vertical jump, Garrett is the obvious choice.
Related: Myles Garrett set as clear No. 1 overall pick
A pass rushing attack featuring Myles Garrett, Danny Shelton and last year’s second-round draft pick, Emmanuel Ogbah, will give Browns fans something to cheer about, while giving opposing offensive coordinators fits.
If Garrett is not the consensus No. 1 overall prospect in the draft, I’m not too sure who is. What is certain is that the real draft begins with San Francisco at No. 2 overall. This one is a slam dunk.
Round 1, Pick #12: O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama
O.J. Howard is a physical freak standing at 6-foot-6, and weighing 251 pounds. He did not have the receiving pedigree that many top tight ends would have (114 career catches, seven career touchdowns), but he is a fantastic blocker with blazing speed, proven by his 4.51 40-yard dash in the combine.
His first real display of what kind of receiver he could be was in the first National Championship against Clemson, where he caught five passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns.
He may not be available at No. 12, but if the teams in picks 2-11 only go after the elite defensive players or quarterbacks and he falls to Cleveland, this team could end up with arguably the top two players in the entire draft. A monster like this doesn’t come around very often and Cleveland would be foolish to pass him by.
Round 2, Pick #33: Tre’Davious White, CB, LSU
The injuries to players like Sidney Jones and Takkarist McKinley should work in favor of other defensive players in the draft such as White. However, what hurts him is the incredible depth at the cornerback position in this year’s draft.
Tre’Davious White is getting draft grades that range from the mid-first round to the early-second, but I believe he will fall to this range. He is a tough, physical corner who plays good, solid coverage, as evident by his six career interceptions.
His biggest knock is his tackling. He’s much more of a cover corner who makes plays on the ball, so don’t expect him to be the first one to go after the tight end and make the tackle. As far as his coverage skills are concerned, White could help improve the Browns secondary almost immediately and could quickly help reduce the number of big plays the defense has surrendered.
Round 2, pick 52: Raekwon McMillan, LB, Ohio State
The state of Ohio is Buckeye country and grabbing a stud linebacker from the same college that many Browns fans also support would give a huge fan boost as well as help bolster a sexy, new linebacker corps featuring Jamie Collins and Christian Kirksey.
In his three years as a Buckeye, Raekwon McMillan had 275 total tackles, 18 tackles for loss, six sacks and two forced fumbles. He is an open-field tackler who seems to always be around the ball.
His coverage skills need some work, but he knows how to make a play on a pass, given his 10 career pass break-ups despite only one career interception. He’s an excellent player who will help stop the run and bring pressure to the quarterback when involved in blitz packages.
The Browns need a linebacker, Browns fans typically cheer for Ohio State and Raekwon McMillan is the best one Ohio State has. This should be a no-brainer.
Round 3, Pick #65: Tanoh Kpassagnon, DL, Villanova
You may not be able to pronounce his name, but he is making a new name for himself for the upcoming draft. At a daunting 6-foot-7, 290 pounds, Kpassagnon is only projected around a late-second to third-round pick due to his small school success, although he had 21.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks his senior season.
Pairing him with Danny Shelton in the middle would give the team fantastic depth at defensive tackle and, if asked, give the team a defensive end rotation as well.
If his weight scares you, don’t worry. He plays much bigger than his weight would suggest. If asked to, gaining 10-20 pounds by the beginning of the season could be very do-able.
Besides, the beauty of this pick is that he doesn’t have the pressure of having to start immediately. He will get to work behind Danny Shelton and develop into a dream pair of defensive tackles that almost no one will be able to run past.
Round 4, Pick #108: Derek Rivers, DE, Youngstown State
Many of you reading this probably wonder, “another edge rusher?” Yes! The more the merrier.
The Browns stay in-state once again with this talented defensive end from Youngstown State. Just like Kpassagnon, his success comes from a small school, but his production and skill had him playing beyond the skills of other FCS players.
Rivers has been rising up boards since his great outing at the Senior Bowl, and he has gone from an unknown, late-round pick into a potential mid-round steal. He is projected to be picked somewhere in the mid-third to mid-fourth rounds, and falling in the Browns laps at this pick would be a dream.
What? Still not convinced? Think about this: Imagine the potential defensive line rotations with Emmanuel Ogbah and Carl Nassib on one side, Danny Shelton and Tanoh Kpassagnon in the middle, and Myles Garrett and Derek Rivers on the other outside. That kind of pass rush depth would make any dehydrated GM salivate. Don’t second guess this. If Rivers is there, the Browns would be crazy not to pounce.
Round 5, Pick #145: T.J. Logan, RB, North Carolina
Before the combine, this would be seen as a bit of a reach, but after T.J. Logan ran the fastest 40-yard dash at 4.37, he improved his stock based on speed alone like Kenyan Drake from last year.
Speed is the name of the game and Logan’s game has made many give him a second look. The other North Carolina running back, Elijah Hood, will be seen as a more complete back but Logan doesn’t have to be.
He won’t be an every-down back, but his speed gives the Browns a viable option as a returner and third-down back. Mixing him in with the lead dog (Isaiah Crowell) and the receiving back (Duke Johnson Jr.) would give the team options at the position that would help improve the offense and special teams immediately. In the end, it’s very clear: The Browns have the need. The need for speed.
Round 5, Pick #175: Damontae Kazee, CB, San Diego State
With the team already drafting Tre’Davious White, this pick is for value in addition to talent. Some draft boards have Kazee going in the fourth round, and others in the sixth, but I think the fifth could be more realistic and falling to Cleveland would be great for both sides.
Kazee may not have the pedigree that other defensive backs have in this draft, but scouts love his coverage skills, having 15 interceptions in the last 2 seasons.
However, it’s understandable that some are put off by his 5-foot-10, 180 pound frame, but he has had success despite being smaller than others. If he can come in and mesh well with Joe Haden, Jamar Taylor and (as I projected) Tre’Davious White, this secondary could become one of the best in the entire league.
Round 5, Pick #181: J.J. Dielman, OT, Utah
Sorry Browns fans. This isn’t THAT Utah offensive tackle. The contract extension of Joel Bitonio, the free agency additions of J.C. Tretter and Kevin Zeitler, and of course the return of Joe Thomas have all seemed to shore up the offensive line except for right tackle, but that looks like it will be a battle between Cameron Erving and Shon Coleman.
Adding Dielman gives them a better second option behind the offensive tackle position than they may already have.
So yes, this will be a pick for depth purposes, primarily to give better tackle options that the team could use. He is a good run blocker and that should help him play at the next level but he will need to improve on his pass blocking, which is the main factor that scouts and coaches use to evaluate offensive tackles.
Over time, he could develop into a potential starter, but for now it will be all for insurance.
Round 6, Pick #185: Jerome Lane, WR, Akron
Jerome Lane is of my favorite under-the-radar players of the draft, and once again I’m picking another Ohio college player. This big body receiver is not a burner, but he may not need to be, due to his good catching ability, his tendencies to go up for the ball and his large size and strength making him a nightmare for cornerbacks.
Lane is not the type of player to run past a corner on a post route, but if he runs a curl, slant or even said post route, not only will he catch the pass nine times out of 10, but the coverage man will have a very hard taking down a man who plays like a tight end with his physicality.
He stands at 6-foot-2, weighing 230 pounds and ran a 4.60 40-yard dash at the combine. His strength and size kind of reminds me of an Anquan Boldin-type, and in the sixth round he could be a steal.
Obviously if speed is a concern, then Jerome Lane is not the player for you. But if you want a beast of a man outside that will take more than one man to bring down after he makes the catch, then bring him in immediately.
Round 6, Pick #188: Jadar Johnson, S, Clemson
A Clemson player? In the sixth round? How?
Jadar Johnson shined in his final season with 60 tackles, five interceptions and seven pass breakups on his way to helping Clemson win the National Championship. However, what has hurt him is what is affecting other players in the draft, like Mitch Trubisky, and that’s lack of starting time.
Don’t be too hard on Johnson though, he was having to split time with two Clemson safeties drafted last year in T.J. Green (Indianapolis) and Jayron Kearse (Minneapolis), and that would be hard for anyone to get playing time.
However, his one year as a full-time starter and the success he had have made him a safety worth looking at. Despite this year being a deep safety draft, it’s understandable why he might not be up there with a Malik Hooker or a Jamal Adams, but the value of him being there in sixth round could be too good to pass up.
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If the Browns, want to take a chance on Johnson, it could be a low risk, high reward that could pay dividends in the future.