Cleveland Browns potential ‘surprise prospect’ to watch in 2020 NFL Draft

The Cleveland Browns are expected to take an offensive tackle in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, but Brent Sobleski says to keep an eye on the D-line

Heading into the 2018 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns needed to replace former All-Pro offensive tackle Joe Thomas. They didn’t do that. Then heading into the 2019 NFL Draft, they really needed to replace former All-Pro offensive tackle Joe Thomas. Again, they didn’t do that.

Now as we head into the 2020 NFL Draft, it sure seems like the team will finally land a top-tier offensive tackle. At least, that’s the general consensus after the Browns struggled mightily to protect Baker Mayfield in 2019.

However, they have some other needs as well —‚ with safety being the primary spot that comes to mind. Even so, Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report says there’s another way the team could go. In a recent piece, Sobleski says that Auburn’s Derrick Brown is a prospect to watch and could be a surprise pick in Round 1 for the Browns.

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"“Cleveland should legitimately consider bypassing both offensive tackle and safety if Auburn’s Derrick Brown is on the board at No. 10. Brown can be inserted at 1-technique alongside Sheldon Richardson, Myles Garrett and Olivier Vernon to complete a defensive front that was supposed to be the team’s strength last season.” — Sobleski, Bleacher Report"

There’s no denying that the Browns defensive line was a problem for them in 2019. While Sheldon Richardson, Myles Garrett, and Olivier Vernon all played well, they weren’t together for 16 full games. Garrett was only on the field for 10 games as he was suspended for the final six games of the year.

Vernon also managed to play just 10 games as he missed a lot of time with a knee injury. Richardson was the only starter to play all 16 games as even Larry Ogunjobi missed one contest as he was suspended for being in the same brawl that ended Garrett’s season.

Not only that, but none of those players are a prototypical one-technique defensive tackle, a role the 6-foot-5, 318-pound Brown could fill for them.

The real question is whether or not he will fall to Cleveland. Brown, who returned to Auburn for his senior season despite looking like a first-round pick last season, could go before the 10th overall pick.

Should he end up lasting until then, the Browns will have a tough choice to make. He fills a massive need, but they would again but off adding a premier offensive tackle.