Cleveland Browns: Way too early 7-round mock draft
By Randy Gurzi
With the selection of Austin Corbett in the second round, ideas about where the team saw him play started to be thrown around. Despite being a tackle at Nevada, it was assumed he would be inside. The question then was whether that meant guard or center as he could play both.
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If the Browns see him as a center, it could be bad news for J.C. Tretter who could be gone as early as 2019 in a cost-saving move as they turn things over to the youngster. If so, the Browns need some depth to replace Corbett who will be a backup in 2018.
That’s where Stanford’s Jesse Burkett comes in. A high-IQ blocker, Burkett has good size at 6-foot-4 and 304-pounds. He could fill in for Cleveland in a pinch as a potential reserve for all three interior spots.
In the fifth-round of the 2017 NFL Draft, the Browns took Memphis linebacker Genard Avery, who could prove to be a steal for them. He’s a savvy tackling machine who was overlooked because of the school he played for.
Another player who may not get enough love because of his school is Khalil Hodge, who played for Buffalo. In two seasons, Hodge has 276 tackles and two picks. He could start his career as a special teams ace for the Browns with a ton of upside.