Cleveland Browns: Which cornerbacks make the most sense in 2019 NFL Draft?

The Cleveland Browns could use a starting cornerback opposite Denzel Ward and Benjamin Solak of The Draft Network identifies the best rookie options.

After filling may of their holes in free agency, the Cleveland Browns will be in great shape to target the best player available each time they’re on the clock in the 2019 NFL Draft. That doesn’t mean they have no needs, just that they won’t be hamstrung by any dire need.

As it stands now, the biggest areas of concern that need to be dealt with include offensive tackle, safety, and cornerback. Should they target corner, there is someone they could find in every day of the draft with the potential to be the running mate to Denzel Ward.

With that premise, Benjamin Solak of The Draft Network wrote a piece looking at one player from each day that the Browns could target. Here we look at those three players and discuss their potential fit with the Browns.

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Trayvon Mullen, Clemson

Solak identifies Trayvon Mullen as an option for the team with their 49th overall pick. He does say that Mullen doesn’t seem as good as maybe DeAndre Baker or Julian Love, but his size is something that new defensive coordinator Steve Wilks will love.

Mullen, 6-foot-1 and 199 pounds, does possess great length and put up a 4.46 in the 40-yard dash which helped fight concerns about his recovery speed. In three seasons with the Tigers, Mullen recorded 93 tackles and had four interceptions.

Mullen isn’t my favorite pick for the Browns. Many people are high on him, but it feels like playing at Clemson has artificially inflated his stock — just as it did for Mackensie Alexander who was over-drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in 2016.

Isaiah Johnson, Houston

If the Browns wait until the third round, Solak has them looking at Houston’s Isaiah Johnson.  A converted wide receiver, Johnson has intriguing speed and size at the position. As for Solak, he says Johnson ‚— who is known as a press corner — doesn’t get the love he deserves in zone coverage.

"“Johnson’s a physical specimen at CB, given his WR background, and I love his route recognition ability and aggressiveness at the catch point. I think he’s a better zone coverage corner than a lot of analysts seem to think, as he’s comfortable in a half-turn to read quarterback set points and close downhill.” — Solak"

Personally, Johnson is my favorite on this list. His hands are excellent and he will start to get even more turnovers the more comfortable he gets at the position. In addition to that, his 6-foot-2 and 208-pound frame is something that can’t be taught.

Michael Jackson, Miami

The final player Solak looks at is Michael Jackson out of Miami. A day three prospect, Solak projects Jackson to be available at Pick 119. More of a zone corner, Jackson has problems with getting grabby at times when he gets beat.

His best season came in 2017 when Jackson had 43 tackles and four interceptions. His selection seems like the least ideal of the three considering the amount of time it would take to get him up to speed and capable of being a starter.