Cleveland Browns: Double up on tackle, safety in 7-round mock draft
By Clay Goodwin
Round 3, Pick 90: Troy Dye, Linebacker, Oregon
With the third-round pick they got from Houston in the Duke Johnson deal, the Cleveland Browns land Troy Dye from Oregon — a very athletic linebacker. Oregon is known for speed on their team and Dye is no exception. He can make plays from sideline to sideline and is excellent in space. He has great pursuit of running backs and never gives up on the play.
He is listed at 6-foot-4 and 227 pounds. He’s a very tall linebacker and is very good in pass coverage. His length and size disrupt passing lanes and he has solid ball skills for a linebacker. As with Davis, Dye will help to defend tight ends.
He could stand to add some weight and fill out his frame before the season to help fill gaps and blow up lead blocks. That being said, Dye is still not afraid to make a big hit. He has several big collisions on film.
With Joe Schobert not yet signed, the linebacker corps has a void. If Schobert doesn’t sign back, Dye can be one of the outside backers with Mack Wilson and have Sione Takitaki fill the middle backer position.
The Browns were awful against the run, ranking 30th in the league. They need linebackers who can scrape and make the play on the ball carrier before they create space. Dye is a guy who can prevent big plays from happening. Cleveland gets another young and electric linebacker to add to their unit. He and Mack Wilson will be making plays all over the field.