Cleveland Browns draft profile: Notre Dame’s Mike McGlinchey

The Cleveland Browns celebrated the magnificent career of left tackle Joe Thomas. Now it is time to draft his replacement in Notre Dame’s Mike McGlinchey.

The Cleveland Browns have invested a great deal of money into their offensive line over the past two seasons. And just when it seemed the group was coming together, left tackle Joe Thomas’ body told him it was time to retire.

Browns fans will miss Thomas greatly. They will miss him most on Sunday’s at 1 p.m. when they see their newly drafted quarterback getting blind-sided repeatedly.

The in-house options for the Browns include third-year tackle Shon Coleman, who started at right tackle last season. At his best, Coleman is a dominant run blocker and an average pass blocker. He had the luxury of facing the best pass rusher of every team last season as a trial by fire. He will get the first opportunity to prove his worth at left tackle this summer in training camp.

But should the Browns decide to look to the 2018 NFL Draft to fill the role of left tackle, one player to consider would be Notre Dame’s Mike McGlinchey.

McGlinchey started at left tackle for the Fighting Irish alongside other top offensive line prospect in guard Quenton Nelson. Together they made up a dynamic duo on the left side of the Irish offensive line.

McGlinchey is considered the top left tackle prospect in the draft, per NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah. Jeremiah has McGlinchey ranked as the 31st overall prospect and the second best tackle in the draft. If teams follow suit with Jeremiah, McGlinchey could be available to the Browns at the top of the second round.

The question is whether or not they will be interested in him.