Cleveland Browns: 3 First round draft options after free agency
The Cleveland Browns filled some major holes during the first wave of free agency last week. Here are three options the Browns have in the first round.
The Cleveland Browns did a great job last week of addressing some major issues on the roster. Shoring up the right tackle and tight end position while adding some nice defensive depth has helped ease the burden of relying on draft picks for next season.
However, with one major position of need to fill at left tackle, the Browns have many different options in front of them on how to obtain someone. Here are three options for the Cleveland Browns in the first round of the draft.
No. 1: Draft best player available
The Browns need to set themselves up to take this option if presented to them. For one thing, what if the Browns top offensive tackles are all selected before the Browns pick at No. 10? And secondly, what if a player like Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons falls to them?
Aside from Chase Young, Simmons might just be the best defensive player in this draft class and linebacker just so happens to be another position of need for Cleveland. So how do the Browns prepare for this scenario? They need to sign a veteran free agent left tackle who is capable of starting if needed.
This addresses two things. One is that they are not pressured or locked into taking a left tackle at No. 10 overall if they feel the best tackles on their board have already been selected. And two, if or more likely when the Browns select a left tackle in this draft, that rookie is not pressured to start right off the bat.
Our very own Randy Gurzi suggested that the Browns sign Chris Clark who has started 73 games during his NFL career and could hold down the left tackle position until the rookie is ready to step in.
Another player could be Dakota Dozier who started four games for the Minnesota Vikings last season under new Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski. The former fourth-round pick of the New York Jets, Dozier has played both guard and tackle during his five-year NFL career.