Cleveland Browns: McConnell’s final 2018 7-round mock draft
Round 2, Pick 33: Jaire Alexander, Cornerback, Louisville
There have been a few rumors swirling around current Browns cornerback Jamar Taylor as of late. That is to say, if they take a cornerback at some point in the earlier rounds, Taylor could be as good as gone.
If the #Browns take a corner early, one player expected to be available in a trade is versatile CB Jamar Taylor, sources say. Cleveland signed 3 FA CBs and may still draft one in rounds 1 or 2. That puts Taylor, a No. 2 corner the past two seasons, on the block.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 24, 2018
While Taylor did play in 31 games in the past two seasons, many fans have wanted him gone for quite a while now. He lacked any true playmaking ability, and the Browns are in need of a severe upgrade for his roster spot.
Enter Louisville’s Jaire Alexander. Alexander has all the tools, physically and mentally, to get it done in the NFL. On a Louisville team basically bereft of defensive talent, Alexander was a light in the darkness for Cardinals fans, as soon as he came back from injury.
At about 5-foot-11, Alexander is just a bit smaller than one might hope, but he certainly makes up for his flaws with his supreme athletic ability. Expect him to go very early in the second round, if not in the first.
Round 2, Pick 35: Nick Chubb, Running Back, Georgia
The other Chubb the Browns will select in this mock draft is Georgia’s Nick Chubb. Second cousin of Bradley, Chubb has a power running style that most NCAA running backs could only dream of.
As our own Joel Cade put it, Chubb “became a victim of Sony Michel’s greatness” in 2017, sliding down draft boards after having carries taken away from him.
Related Story: Browns Draft profile: Nick Chubb
However, fans should make no mistake. This is a grown man who will excel at the NFL level, alongside Carlos Hyde and Duke Johnson. He and “The Duke” should make for a great dichotomy and clash of styles to keep defenses on their toes.
If Chubb could just stay healthy, he would be a slam-dunk running back in this class. Fear not, however, as he kept his legs healthy (and just as explosive) throughout the whole of 2017. Pairing Chubb with Darnold in the backfield could be a ticking time-bomb of greatness.
Round 2, Pick 64: James Washington, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma St.
James Washington doesn’t get talked about a lot, and that’s really a crying shame. For my money, he is the best wide receiver in this draft class, and the Browns would be getting a steal here.
Washington has the best hands in the class by far, ran a solid 40-yard dash, and showcased his skills throughout his time with the Cowboys.
There’s not much to say about Washington that hasn’t been said throughout this draft process. He has all the skills, on and off the field, to work at the NFL level. Pairing him with Josh Gordon and Jarvis Landry will give Darnold an easier time finding targets.