Browns Draft 1.0

In Hoyer We Trust

The Browns coaching staff have thus far skipped the pro days of Teddy Bridgewater and Blake Bortles. GM Ray Farmer has attended but is this more of a formality or are the Browns committed to smoke screening their intent to select a QB with the 4th overall pick in the draft? I believe the Browns are just doing due diligence and there are two factors preventing their early selection of a QB in the draft:

1) There are no QBs in the draft that warrant selection with the fourth pick, or possibly even anywhere in the first round at all this year.

Cleveland Son

2) Brian Hoyer showed last year that the Browns are ready to win with anything resembling good QB play. Assuming his health is solid, the Browns have no reason to believe that he can't resume and improve on last year's performance.

These factors allow the Browns to have the rare luxury of picking a developmental QB as insurance, and potentially signing a veteran like Rex Grossman to mentor Hoyer and the developmental QB they choose.

That being said, here is my first Mock Draft with some brief analysis:

First Round - Fourth Pick Overall


Sammy Watkins - WR Clemson

Vicious Stiff-Arm

Sammy Watkins is 6'1 and has blazing speed. Paired opposite of Josh Gordon and with the threat of Jordan Cameron and the newly added slot receiver Andrew Hawkins, Watkins will create an overwhelming offensive threat perfectly designed for a quick-release smart decision maker under center, which is exactly what Hoyer gives you. This is the home-run pick the Browns could use to push their offense into the upper levels of the NFL

Backup Picks

The Beast in Action

If Watkins is off the board, I believe the Browns will select a guard at this position, and I believe the best guard in this draft class is actually a tackle - none other than Jake Matthews. I disagree with the rankings that place him as the second-best tackle in this draft. I have been able to watch 3 of his games, to only one of Robinson's, but this guy has the prototypical size and mobility to play on a Kyle S line and reminds me a lot of a young Joe Thomas. Even though Browns' fans probably don't want to hear it, it is not too early to start looking for the future LT - better to have him on the team 2 years before you need him than after you have a gap. Thomas' play dipped a bit last year and it may just be coincidence or it may be due to aging. The only other realistic option I see at this position would be to draft Khalil Mack (yes I see the Browns converting him from OLB to ILB). Mack provides size, playmaking ability and instinct at this position so if Watkins and Matthews are off the board Mack is the only other pick worth taking. If all three are off the board I see the Browns trading down out of this spot.

First Round - 26th Pick Overall

Solid

Ryan Shazier - LB THE Ohio State University

As everyone knows, I am very partial to Clevelanders or Ohio State players in general, but Shazier's insane 40-yard dash time of 4.3 seconds and his ball-hawking ability combined with his dominant run-stuffing play at the line makes him a very legit, though slightly undersized ILB. He would step in and deliver a huge upgrade immediately, though he will have to improve in his pass coverage ability to truly have a big impact.

Backup Picks

Cook turning on the burners

If they ended up selecting Mack with the 4th overall pick, I would expect the Browns to address the offensive line or WR needs with this pick. To that end, I would have them select Brandin Cooks. He also ran a 4.3 40-yard dash and would add a tremendous playmaker for the Browns.

However, if they did land Watkins and Shazier is already taken, there is only one acceptable pick here; Gabe Jackson - assuming Xavier Su’a-Filo is off the board, which I expect him to be in the top-20 picks of the draft. He is a mauler in run blocking and has the athleticism to play in the Shanahan zone-blocking scheme. This will finish shoring up the Browns' line coupled with either Greco or the potential signing of a guard in FA. Pinkston can then provide depth for the Browns.

Second Round - 35th Pick Overall

Bradley Roby - CB THE Ohio State University

Swag

The Browns have now successfully added Watkins and Shazier to their team so with the 35th pick they're going to take a QB right? Not quite yet, and that will become apparent with the next pick. For now I believe the Browns will take a CB - Bradley Roby. There is a good chance that he is already gone by this point in the draft, in which case the Browns will take, in my opinion, the next best corner, Pierre Desir who is hurt mostly by the school he played at - Lindenwood. He has legit size and athleticism here and deserves to be an early second round choice.

Third Round - Brownie points for creativity

The Browns will address the QB position in this round, I believe with the first pick of the round. I think they would be wise to choose a project QB and the one with the most upside in this draft, due to his solid mechanics and decision making is AJ McCarron. McCarron has an adequate arm, good accuracy and excellent vision and decision making.

With the rest of the choices in this draft I see the Browns picking players for depth, in the following order: OG, CB, Safety and RB. Specific to the third round, however, I see the browns picking Jeremy Hill. He has some character issues but he also has huge potential to be a featured back in this league. Bringing him in will not only provide insurance for the oft-injured FA add Ben Tate, but will help create a dominant two-headed rushing attack which is a staple feature in the Shanahan systems.

Nowhere to Hyde?

Yes I left Carlos Hyde out of the picks here and it wasn't accidental. I absolutely love what Hyde can do but don't believe the Browns will see value picking him in the first round now that they've signed Ben Tate and he absolutely will not last past the first round. He will be a stud in this league of the highest order but I don't see the Browns picking him unfortunately.

That is my first mock draft and I don't really care about rounds 4-7, though, as I said, the Browns will select players for depth in these rounds. How good will the Browns be? 10-11 wins with a healthy Brian Hoyer. Yes I'm serious. This is the most excited I have been entering a Browns' season since 1999. Super Bowl.

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GO BROWNS!