Writer: Tom Moore
Round 1: Minkah Fitzpatrick, defensive back, Alabama
The Browns surprise everyone by making Fitzpatrick the No. 1 overall selection in the draft and pair him with Jabrill Peppers to give the club one of the best young safety tandems in the NFL.
Round 1: Baker Mayfield, quarterback, Oklahoma
General manager John Dorsey’s gamble pays off as the quarterback he wants is there with the No. 4 overall selection. Mayfield has the talent and the attitude that will win over Browns fans and finally solve the 25-year quarterback quest.
Round 2: Christian Kirk, wide receiver, Texas A&M
The Browns add a player who had 4,667 all-purpose yards and scored 33 touchdowns in his three years with the Aggies. Kirk slides into the slot position and joins Josh Gordon, Corey Coleman and David Njoku for a promising passing attack.
Round 2: Sony Michel, running back, Georgia
The perfect back for the AFC North Division, Michel brings a ruggedness to a Browns rushing attack that has been lacking in that regard. He rushed for 1,227 yards and scored 16 rushing touchdowns as a senior and will pair with Duke Johnson to create a reinvigorated rushing attack.
Round 2: Chukwuma Okorafor, offensive tackle, Western Michigan
Okorafor has the size (6-foot-6 and 330 pounds) needed to play offensive tackle in the NFL, and learning for a year behind Joe Thomas will quickly close the gaps in his game.
Round 3: Leighton Vander Esch, linebacker, Boise State
The Browns bolster the linebacker position with the 6-foot-4 and 240-pound Vander Esch, who had 141 tackles, two interceptions and four sacks for the Broncos in 2017. He was only a one-year starter at Boise State so he will need some seasoning, something the Browns can provide with Christian Kirksey and Jamie Collins in the fold.
Round 4: Anthony Averett, cornerback, Alabama
The Browns continue to rebuild the secondary by selecting Fitzpatrick’s Crimson Tide teammate, cornerback Anthony Averett. A two-year starter at Alabama who often made big plays when it mattered, Averett has the moxie to hold up in the AFC North after playing in the SEC.
Round 4: Breeland Speaks, defensive tackle, Mississippi
The Browns add more depth on the interior of the defensive line with a player built to play the three technique.
Round 5: Marcell Ateman, wide receiver, Oklahoma State
Ateman has the size (6-foot-4 and 220 pounds) that can give defensive backs a problem. He missed the 2016 season with an injury, but bookended that year with a two-season total of 104 receptions for 1,922 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Roudn 5: Marquis Haynes, linebacker, Mississippi
Haynes was a productive pass rusher for the Rebels, never posting less than seven sacks in a season in his four years. He is an ideal candidate to be a pass-rushing specialist.
Round 6: Holton Hill, cornerback, Texas
Hill has the talent to be an NFL cornerback, but maturity issues continue to dog him, making the sixth round a perfect spot for the Browns to take a chance on him.
Round 7: Chris Herndon, tight end, Miami
The Browns reunite Herndon with his former Hurricane teammate, David Njoku. Herndon has the size (6-foot-4 and 245 pounds) and the willingness to block that coaches love, and with Njoku and Seth DeValve already on the roster, the Browns can afford to bring Herndon along slowly.