Cleveland Browns: Staff predictions for the first round

Consensus pick: Myles Garrett

Tom Moore:

This is not the time for the Cleveland Browns to get cute – at least not with the first overall selection in the 2017 NFL Draft.

The pick should be, must be and will be Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett.

The Browns have not had a disruptive force on defense since Clay Matthews was terrorizing quarterbacks, and he last wore a Browns uniform in 1993. (But still holds the franchise record for sacks, which tells you all you need to know about the Browns defense since then).

Garrett is the type of disruptive force that opposing offenses must pay attention to, and a player that will make everyone else’s job on the defense that much easier.

Unless Executive Vice President of Football Operations Sashi Brown suffers a head injury before 8 p.m., Garrett will be the first player called in the draft.

Damon Kecman:

Don’t let the rumors from Adam Schefter or Mary Kay Cabot fool you with their wishful thinking that the Browns might screw this up and draft Mitch Trubisky from Mentor first overall. Myles Garrett is the pick and had been the pick since the end of last year.

Scouts and evaluators have unanimously said that Garrett is the “most sure-thing” player in this year’s NFL Draft. What you’re getting with Garrett is an elite pass rusher with more tools and less concerns than former number one pick, Jadeveon Clowney.

Myles Garrett has no red flags, which make him the easy choice for me. When you have the chance to get an elite “once in a generational” type talent, you can’t pass on it. The Cleveland Browns will still need a quarterback, but taking one of these guys over Myles Garrett would be adding to a long list of terrible mistakes by previous regimes.

Kirk Binder:

No brainer for me that it needs to be the best prospect in the draft. Myles Garrett has the physical attributes to be one of the dominant edge rushers in the NFL. Cleveland’s pass rush was almost non-existent last year and major upgrades need to be brought in to help Gregg Williams and the transition to Williams’ 4-3.

Garrett will not only help with this transition, he will make it a success. The questions about Garrett’s motor and hustle are just analysts and experts doing what they do each and every draft, poking holes into a top prospect’s game to create draft intrigue. Almost everyone still agree that Garrett is the best prospect they have seen in years. If you want to watch tape on him in games where he supposedly didn’t try hard enough go watch some of the Alabama games. They consistently ran away from Garrett’s side of the field and used an offensive game plan so he could not be a factor.

This worked in college as A&M didn’t have any other top flight players on the d-line. In the NFL teams will do the same, but in Williams’ defense it should not be an issue as he brings pressure from every direction.

Matt Stevenson:

This should be a no-brainer pick for the Cleveland Browns as they are desperate for talent across the roster. However, this is also the Browns we are talking about so the likely becomes the unlikely quickly.

Mitch Trubisky has been rumored to have caught owner Jimmy Haslam’s eye and this could be telling. Of course, Haslam was also the one who wanted to trade up for Johnny Manziel in 2014 and we all know how that ended up. Hopefully, the coaching staff and front office stick to their gut and select the best prospect in the 2017 NFL Draft in Myles Garrett, and I think they will.

Joel Cade:

Myles Garrett is the first overall selection. He is best player in the draft. Once he develops, his presence will allow defensive coordinator Gregg Williams to open the playbook and get after the quarterback. Talk of his “laziness” is over played. He is the best pick. Browns should have turned in the card already.

Joshua Dentler:

Not much to say about this one. Garrett has been the clear number one throughout the draft process and he has done nothing to change that. Other than some ridiculous comments from a certain controversial former player, most would agree that he deserves the top spot.

Any defensive lineman that can run sub 4.7 while still carrying over 270 pounds is a force to be reckoned with. Combine that with his brute strength and explosive lower half and you’ve got yourself a ballplayer.

In college, Garrett showed an ability to dominate off the edge with his athleticism. It may take some time adjusting to become a complete lineman at the next level but when he does, watch out. It is time to usher in a new era in Cleveland. Pick a star and watch him blossom. No need to overthink it. Myles Garrett all day.

Shane Carter:

People have known he was/is a future number 1 overall pick. He’s got everything you want in defensive end:  size, speed, strength, power, and numbers to back it up. In 3 years he got to the quarterback more than another famous Aggie pass rusher, Von Miller, did but in one less year. Despite H.O.F. Warren Sapp’s disapproval, this is a move that even Cleveland couldn’t screw up.

Andrew Seibt:

I think the physical traits and sheer athleticism of Garrett are well-documented. He has been the best prospect in this class since his final game at Texas A&M, and while I have concerns of his 2016 season at times, I think Gregg Williams is a perfect match to push Garrett to become one of the best. Williams won’t stand for Garrett taking plays off, so there’s a lot to like about his upside for the next 10 years.

There are rumors of Mitchell Trubisky being in play at No. 1, and I am all about the Browns taking their franchise guy at No. 1 if they believe he’s it. In this instance, I think Garrett is too good and there hasn’t been a QB to put himself in the No. 1 overall conversation to this point. If the Browns are really calling teams about trading up, it is undoubtedly for a quarterback, leaving Garrett as the obvious choice at No. 1.

Steven Kubitza:

Myles Garrett is the obvious choice. In fact, fans should really only have any concern about what the Browns do at No. 12.

The media loves to offer up speculation about what teams will do, but it never appeared as if Garrett wouldn’t be the top overall pick. He has the size and athleticism to be a dominant force right away, and he has been ranked the top overall prospect by nearly everyone since the season ended.

No need for the Browns to get fancy. Garrett is going to have his name called with the first pick and the focus will shift to pick No. 12.