The Cleveland Browns, for the first time in a long time, look to have limited weaknesses come next year’s NFL Draft. It’s way too early, but also never too early, to start looking at possibilities for the 2019 NFL Draft.
Cleveland Browns fans aren’t used to the Browns being good, or even respectable as a franchise. However, it’s very hard not to like what the Browns have done over the past couple of years, and therefore the past couple of drafts.
In short, Cleveland has built a very raw, very athletic team. With the new additions in this past weekend’s 2018 NFL Draft, they also added toughness, nastiness, and a confident edge that the Browns have lacked for years.
Should 2019 go well, and therefore Hue Jackson remain the head coach, the Browns will finally have some stability. Jackson will move on into an unprecedented fourth year, something the Browns have not awarded to any head coach since 1999.
In that case, it’s time to start really building and fleshing out this team. The Browns have a young, athletic core which can hopefully lead them to more than a few wins in 2018. In 2019, it’ll be about the supporting cast.
Come with me on this journey, won’t you? Let’s suppose for a moment that Baker Mayfield and Denzel Ward work as advertised, the Hyde/Johnson/Chubb trio works out at running back, and the Browns work out an offensive line scheme that works for both Austin Corbett and Joel Bitonio.
In that case, this draft will be about two things. First and foremost, surrounding Baker Mayfield with weapons and bolstering up his defense. Secondly, depth, depth, and more depth. Let’s take a look at three of the Browns top prospects for 2019.
Disclaimer: we are assuming that the Browns will have the No. 2 overall pick, based on the NFL’s latest power rankings.
Dexter Lawrence, DT, Clemson
This Clemson defensive line, on paper, is stacked. Not only will all of them be drafted in 2019, but they will all be first-round picks, and all could go in the top ten picks. The quartet of Christian Wilkins, Dexter Lawrence, Clelin Ferrell, and Austin Bryant will likely terrorize the NCAA in fall 2018.
For now, though, let’s focus on Dexter Lawrence. The cream of the crop of this defensive line, Lawrence is a solid defensive tackle who would be a dream next to Larry Ogunjobi. Should Ogunjobi continue on the path he started in 2017, he should be great for Cleveland this season.
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Adding Lawrence next to Ogunjobi, along with Myles Garrett and Emmanuel Ogbah, would be insane. Not only would these players likely mesh together very quickly, as they are all incredibly intelligent, but they could form one of the league’s top defensive lines.
Lawrence is every bit of 6-foot-4 and 340 pounds, and a straight-up bully on the defensive line. He already fit in with Gregg Williams’s uber-athletic defensive scheme. He is a mauler on the inside of the line who can open things up for Garrett, Ogbah, and Ogunjobi.
Should the Browns fall to the No. 2 overall pick, Lawrence seems to be the likely choice for now. He is most certainly worth the second overall pick in the draft, even as a defensive tackle and not a defensive end.
In the grand scheme of things, Lawrence fills the hole that Danny Shelton left. In fact, he fills it perfectly, as someone who is already better. The crazy thing is, he may not be the top defensive tackle in this class.
Ed Oliver, DT, Houston
If you are involved with the NFL Draft community, you have almost certainly heard the name Ed Oliver before. If you know the name, you know that Oliver, Houston’s star defensive tackle, has a very good chance to go No. 1 overall in the 2019 NFL Draft.
But, let’s suppose for a second that the board falls very favorably for the Browns. Should Cleveland have the No. 2 overall selection, and perhaps Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson goes No. 1, Oliver is right there for the Browns.
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Either Oliver or Dexter Lawrence could complete the Browns’ studly defensive line, but they are two totally different animals. In contrast to the brutish Lawrence, Oliver is simply an athletic freak of nature running rampant through college football.
At 6-foot-3 and 291 pounds of pure muscle, Oliver is a physical specimen of the defensive tackle position. Previously, Daniel Jeremiah compared Oliver to the Rams’ Aaron Donald, a resounding endorsement for the young defensive tackle.
Oliver’s finesse game is unmatched, as he has incredible technique to go along with his freakish size and athleticism. It’s safe to say that besides Donald, they really don’t make defensive tackles in the way that they made Oliver.
Oliver creates a speed and power rush combination unlike any other defender in the class. As an early favorite to go No. 1, it seems like he will be gone by the time Cleveland picks. But, a team can dream. Oliver to the Browns at No. 2 would certainly be one of those dreams.
Josh Allen, LB, Kentucky
Now, I know what you might be thinking. Didn’t Cleveland just pass on a Josh Allen in the 2018 NFL Draft? And while the answer is yes, 2019’s Josh Allen is a totally different animal. For one thing, he plays a mean inside linebacker spot for the Kentucky Wildcats.
Many analysts have mentioned Allen as an early favorite to be the top linebacker in 2019’s class. It seems likely that he will at the least be a first-round selection, if not going in the top ten picks. In addition to being a great linebacker, Allen was a solid edge rusher during 2017.
WalterFootball makes note of Allen’s edge rushing prowess in their linebacker rankings (with Allen grabbing the No. 1 spot).
"“One national scout compared Allen to Leonard Floyd coming out of Georgia with Allen’s ability to rush off the edge.” “…That director said Allen was an interesting player because he also can play inside linebacker, whereas Floyd was just an outside edge defender.”"
Clearly, Allen has already made his name as one of the most versatile defenders in this class. Perhaps a Minkah Fitzpatrick of the front seven, Allen can be a Swiss army knife for this Browns defense.
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Currently, Allen is not projected to go as early as No. 2 overall. But, let’s be honest with ourselves for a second. Is anyone really expecting the Browns to have a top-two pick for the fourth year in a row? For this team’s sake, and for the fans’ sake, let’s hope not.