Dawg Pound Daily 2017 NFL Mock Draft: Final edition
Myles Garrett has the ability to immediately become the Browns’ best player on defense. Despite questions remaining at the quarterback position in Cleveland, the Texas A&M prospect is just too valuable to pass up.
The team traded for Brock Osweiler several months ago and also drafted Cody Kessler in the third round in 2016. So taking Trubisky, who only started 13 games in college, with the first pick doesn’t add up.
The Browns hired Gregg Williams as defensive coordinator and Garrett would be the perfect “welcome” gift. Similar to many of the NFL’s successful teams, the Browns are looking to build their team centralized around an iconic defense. You don’t win without a solid defense in today’s NFL and Myles Garrett gives Cleveland the attitude they craved when hiring Gregg Williams.
The team has waited a long time for a player of Garrett’s caliber to be selected high in the draft. The team whiffed on first rounders Justin Gilbert and Barkevious Mingo in previous drafts, but 2015 first-rounder Danny Shelton appears to be making significant strides.
A front including Shelton, Emmanuel Ogbah, Garrett, Christian Kirksey, Jamie Collins, Joe Schobert and Demario Davis is pretty good-looking.
Defensive leader Joe Haden voiced his opinion regarding the first pick and made it clear who he wants in a recent interview:
"“After that one, that Myles, then I really don’t care,” Haden said. “After No. 1, I’m good. They can just do whatever they gotta do.”"
Myles Garrett should and will be the No. 1 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft and the Cleveland Browns will not look back.
2-11
2) San Francisco 49ers – Jamal Adams
3) Chicago Bears – Jonathan Allen
4) Jacksonville Jaguars – Solomon Thomas
5) Tennessee Titans – Marshon Lattimore
6) New York Jets – Mitch Trubisky
7) Los Angeles Chargers – Malik Hooker
8) Carolina Panthers – Leonard Fournette
9) Cincinnati Bengals – Derek Barnett
10) Buffalo Bills – Reuben Foster
11) New Orleans Saints – Hassan Reddick
O.J. Howard is an ideal fit with a young Browns offense. Not only does this give the Browns another playmaking tight end alongside Gary Barnidge, but it also gives the passing attack another weapon while allowing Corey Coleman and Kenny Britt to remain on the outside. Coleman, the Browns first-round pick in 2016, figures to be a large focus for this team’s offense heading into 2017.
Of course, the Browns pass up on a quarterback yet again but Trubisky is off the board. It’s not the time to reach for one though, especially if you don’t consider them a blue-chip prospect. Howard will help whoever the quarterback is in 2017 and head coach Hue Jackson proved with Tyler Eifert how vital a tight end can be in his scheme.
Deshaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes have been pegged in early in most mock drafts, but I just don’t see the Browns reaching this early on either with Howard available.
Trubisky or another top defensive player would be ideal also here, but the desired players simply weren’t there. O.J. Howard is one of the last prospects in the upper-echelon of the 2017 NFL Draft class and Cleveland needs the best player available.
Myles Garrett and O.J. Howard would be a phenomenal way to upgrade the Cleveland Browns in the first round on Thursday night. The team needs talent and these two assuredly provide plenty of it to a 1-15 football team.