The Browns have many options in the upcoming NFL draft. There are still many areas of need and a relatively deep draft should help fill many of those holes. Trades are highly likely so the Browns can obtain more picks, because they do not have a second round draft pick this year (exercised in the supplemental draft to select Josh Gordon). So people did not like selecting Gordon, I think this was a great decision and should not be second guessed. Just think on draft day that the Browns second round draft is a rookie with a year of excellent experience under his belt. I will outline 2 different situations in the draft with multiple pick possibilities.Some holes could still be filled in free agency (David Nelson would probably eliminate the need for WR early).
Cleveland Browns Draft Needs:
Corner Back
Tight End
Offensive Guard
Depth at Linebacker
Wide Receiver
Full back
Quarter back?
Scenario 1
In Scenario 1 the Browns stay put at pick 6 and select 1 of 2 players available that are both a need and a high quality player at that position. The players will be listed in order of best match and value for the Browns at pick six. Two players really jump out as being perfect matches for the Browns at pick 6, there is a good chance that both of these players are gone by pick six, and if that is the case, the Browns needs to go to scenario 2.
With the 6th pick in the NFL draft the Cleveland Browns Select:
Dee Milliner, Cornerback, Alabama University
Height: 6 Feet
Weight: 201
40: 4.37
Vertical Leap: 36 inches
This makes the most sense and represent great value. Milliner is a absolutely a top 5, maybe even a top 1 or 2 player in this draft. Milliner is by far the best cornerback in the back and would pair very nicely with Joe Haden. He has speed, experience at a high level (playing in the SEC will do that) and he fills a major hole. The league is going more and more in the direction of passing the ball more. Having two legit shutdown corners changes the entire Browns defense and the team immediately with the pick of Milliner. If he slides to the Browns at pick this is a no-brainer selection. This is by far the best case scenario for the Browns and many experts think this is a possibility.
Dion Jordan, Outside Linebacker, Oregon University
Height: 6 foot 6
Weight: 248
I have been back and forth if I would rather see the Browns take Jordan or trade down in Milliner is off the board at 6, which is very likely. Jordan is an absolute beast! Many think he will go in the top 2, possibly even number 1. He would add great depth at Linebacker and provide incredible versatility in the defense, he is fast, able to drop in coverage, and is a great edge pass rusher. While I would prefer to see Milliner in the Brown and Orange, I think that Jordan would be an extremely exciting player would give the defense a nice kick. This is a great option, but at 6 may not even be a possibility.
If the Browns do stay at pick 6, these are the two players who represent both value and need, as well being the two best prospects at their respective positions.
Scenario 2
If Dee Milliner or Dion Jordan is available at 6, the Browns need to select one of them. However, it is also interesting to think about the Browns making a trade back about 3-8 spots or so. There are rumors that the Browns are in talks with the Dolphins about trading pick (according to Mike Krupka, Dawgbynature.com). The Dolphins would give the Browns the 12th overall pick and a combination of other picks (probably a second and fifth rounder, or 3rd and 4th). This is a great idea for the Browns who do need more picks in this draft. So in this scenario let's assume the Browns get a first and a second rounder and a fifth rouder from Miami.
The Trade
Miami gets: Round 1, Pick 6
Cleveland gets: Round 1 pick 12, Round 2 pick 42 (overall), and Round 5 pick 146 (overall)
This is an ideal situation because those two extra draft picks could be starters for this team. Attempting to project into the fifth round can be difficult, but that is the fun of these types of situations! With so many areas of need this is probably the wisest idea.
3 options for pick 12:
1. Jarvis Jones, LB, Georgia
This guy is an absolute beast! He was projected to go in the top 3 before concerns about a medical issue with his spinal stenosis. The health issues are very real but he would be a great selection if he would slide that far is another question. He would not represent great value at 6, but at 12 he is great value, and with the addition of two other picks in this trade, the draft would be shaping up quite nicely.
2. Chance Wormack, OG, Alabama
While guard ranks a little below CB and a few other positions of need this is a great value pick. He would probably have to slide for this happen, but could be a great addition. Big, solid, quick linemen would really improve the Browns offensive line, making it one of the best in the AFC. Similar to Jones, not great at 6, but pretty solid at 12, and with great value. Other possible offensive linemen possibility could be Jonathon Cooper, NC.
3. Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington
May be a bit of a reach but has an NFL pedigree, solid speed and agility, could team well with Haden. A far cry from what Milliner would bring to the secondary but not a bad option at all. Corner back is still quite a glaring hole even with the two signing of Owens and Barnes, a CB will be drafted at some point on draft day. He could be a starter in the NFL as a rookie. It would not be a surprise to see it in the first round. Another possible CB that would be reasonable at the 12 spot is Xavier Rhodes, FSU. Some have Rhodes ahead of Trufant.
3 Options at pick 42
Obviously what happens with pick 12 will likely dictate the course of action at 42. However, let's use the three players above and play hypothetical who would be the best pick at 42. If Matt Barkley USC, Ryan Nassib, Syracuse, EJ Manuel, FSU, or Mike Glennon, NC State, were to slide to pick 42 I think that Browns would probably view this as a free pick from the trade and snag any of those players, highly unlikely I would say though (Todd McShay has them all off the board by 42).
1. Zach Ertz, TE, Standford
So in this situation we have the Browns taking Jarvis Jones in the first round. It would make sense to get your hands on a solid pass catching TE. He is the second best TE in this draft according to many people and would be great at this spot. The Browns need a TE that can actually catch the ball, this guy would be great! may not slide all the way to 42, but could be a great pick. If Tyler Effert, ND were to slide into day two I could see Cleveland jumping up to get him, unlikely, but would be a steal.
2. DJ Hayden, CB, Houston
In this scenario the Browns selected offensive guard with the first round pick, so the CB position needs to be addressed here. While he is generally in rated in the top 5 CBs by experts, he would fill a need and would be a good value at this point. Also, how radical would Haden and Hayden CB tandem be? If the Browns wait until the 3rd round to select a CB the market will be quite thin and the talent drop off could be extreme. A few other CBs that could be possible in this spot including Johnathon Banks, CB, Miss State, or Blidhi Wreh-Wilson, CB, Connecticut.
3. Matt Elam, Safety, Florida
In this scenario the Browns took Desmond Trufant, CB from Washington. While I do find it unlikley they would draft two players for the secondary, it could give good value and provide security in the secondary, which would be a welcome change. This would be great for the Browns, but is probably not likely.
If the Browns would pull of a trade the draft strategy may take a bend in the road. The Browns would be in a position to fill many holes with the picks but also see who is taking a slide on draft day into the second round. Great value could be had at this pick, as this is a spot in most drafts where a prospect who slides for a variety of reasons can find a home. There are countless possibilities for the second round pick.
Options at pick 142
Projecting 142 picks into the NFL draft is a lot like picking powerball numbers, good luck. However, at this point some very viable options of quality players who fill needs would still be available. I think this would be a great place to look at three options of need, FB, TE, or best available player.
1. Tommy Bohanon, FB, Wake Forrest
I think there has been something really missing in the Browns offense since Lawrence Vickers left, well many things have been missing in the Browns offense since Webster Slaughter left, but whole nother story there. This guy is a bowling ball. He loves to block, is powerful, and is 6 foot 2, 245 pounds. Would be an excellent option, good target round and an area of need. This could be an excellent pick. Dude has a pretty rad name too. Other FB Options are Zach Boren, OSU and Zach Line, SMU. Both are solid options, but I think ignoring FB would be a huge mistake, I think Richardson would agree!
2. Tyrann Matthieu, CB, LSU
Yes, the Honey Badger could be a wise pick in the late rounds. The dude liked to smoke weed in college, so did Gordon, so did 75% of my college. If the Browns see the possibility of picking him in a later, and he slides to a point of value, he would be great. I think that in the right environment he could flourish. I would love to see him a late round. Can't argue the talent and skills, he was in the Heisman discussions a season before. Provides a very unique element to special teams as well.
3. Jasper Collins, WR, Mount Union
This is a total homer pick, as my father is a Mount Union Alum. The last two Mount receivers, Pierre Garcon, WASH and Cecil Shorts, Jax are doing quite well in the league. I would love to see the Browns land a Mount WR. This would be a fun pick and is still an area of need that has possibly been slightly neglected in the draft until this point.
Summary:
I think that a trade scenario for the Browns is a very realistic option. It give the Browns more draft picks to fill the many holes. Even a fifth round pick could fill a glaring hole in this Browns team as this is a spot to grab a TE or FB, both of which are still major areas of need. While I would love to say the Browns are a CB away from being a contender, or just a pass-rusher away and could really argue to select Milliner or Jordan. However, at this point I am not sold on sticking at the 6 spot. I think that a trade down to 12 or so would be the best option. The teams drafting in that area will pluck up some talented OL players, and a few pass rushers, but great value could be had with those additional picks. A solid draft bringing in three starters would be the best case scenario, if those would be a CB, TE, and FB, this is more likely with a trade. The trade does not have to be with Miami, I could see even Buffalo and Arizona doing some jockeying with one another which would help the Browns. Let's see how this new crew does. I am not as hard on the past couple Browns drafts as others.
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