The roulette wheel is ready to roll; and with baited breath and an eye towards the future, brownsfootballtalk.com’s favorite NFL draft analyst looks to one up last year’s mock where he correctly named the Browns first two picks. It’s becoming apparent to many in the media that the Browns, because they feel there are just too many holes on the roster to draft a QB high in the draft, are most likely to trade down from second overall in order to fill more holes than what their current lot of ten picks can acquire. Thus, this mock will have at least one trade down for Cleveland in order to help out our beloved Brownies. Keep in mind that any resemblance to what actually happens on April 28th is completely incidental.  With that said, on with the show.

1: Rams Jared Goff – QB – California

The only reason you give up two firsts, two seconds and two thirds is to get a quarterback. After much deliberation, they opt for the golden haired Cali guy to blend in with the S0-Cal marketing structure. Many Browns fans – including yours truly – are ecstatic because Carson Wentz is still on the board.

2: Cowboys  Joey Bosa – DE – Ohio State

Trade with Cleveland – in exchange for the second overall pick, the Browns receive the Cowboys first (#4), second (#34) and fourth (#102) round picks this year and a fifth in 2017. Bosa is a prototypical 4-3 DE and Dallas needs a pass rusher to come off the edge.

3: 49ers  Carson Wentz – QB – North Dakota State

Trade with San Diego – The only way to make sure that no other team gets their prized quarterback is to bite the bullet and go get him. In exchange for moving down, the Chargers receive the Niners first (#7), second (#37) and fifth (#143 – which originally belonged to the Chargers – how ironic).

4: Titans  Jalen Ramsey – DB – Florida State

Trade with Cleveland – The Titans wanted Ramsey all along, but didn’t want to pay a defensive back first overall money. The trade will pay off for both teams as the Titans will get a player that can be either a shut down cornerback or ball hawking safety. In exchange for moving down (again) Cleveland receives the Titans first (#15), two seconds (#33 and #43)and a fourth (#113).

5: Jaguars Myles Jack – OLB – UCLA

In spite of the knee injury, the Jags think that Jack is a player that can transform their defense.

6: Ravens  Laremy Tunsil – OT – Mississippi

One way or another, the Ozzie Newsome was going to take a trench worker here. It just so happens that they get the best OT in the draft. Another option here would be Oregon DE DeForest Buckner.

7: Chargers  DeForect Buckner – DE – Oregon

Trade with 49ers – Speak of the Devil, here he is to bolster the Chargers front line.

8: Eagles Ezekiel Elliott – RB – Ohio State

DeMarco Murray’s replacement just came into town. The Eagles will also likely make a play for Cleveland’s pick if the Browns really are looking to trade down. However, I think there are other teams that can serve up a nicer package.

9: Bucs Vernon Hargreaves – CB – Florida

Well, he doesn’t need to travel far from where he played his college ball. Hargreaves instantly secures one side of the field.

10: Giants:  A’Shawn Robinson – DT – Alabama

It seems as if the G-men are always taking linemen early. I don’t know how true that really is, but that seems to be the perception.

11: Bears Ronnie Stanley – OT – Notre Dame

Whether or not Jay Cutler is a franchise quarterback can be debated until doom’s day; but what cannot be debated is Da-Bears’ need to protect their quarterback’s blind side.

12: Saints Leonard Floyd – OLB – Georgia

Everyone in football knows that the problem was not on the offensive side of the football. Floyd will provide an immediate edge rush to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

13: Dolphins Reggie Ragland – ILB – Alabama

The Fins need a linebacker to sure up the middle of the defense. Ragland fits the need and he’s the best player available on the board.

14: Raiders  Andrew Billings – NT – Baylor

The Raiders need help stopping the run, and that starts up front.

15: Browns  Laquon Treadwell – WR – Mississippi

Trade with Titans – No other quarterbacks carry a first round grade, so Sashi and the Harvard committee get their current quarterbacks a legitimate weapon outside.

16: Lions  Kevin Dodd – DE – Clemson

With the Browns screwing up their plans on taking a replacement for the retired Calvin Johnson, the Lions prepare to bolster a defense which ranked 24th overall last season.

17: Falcons Shaq Lawson – DE – Clemson

The Falcons are still looking for a pass rusher, and the think they’ve found one in Lawson. Tiger bookends go off the board back-to-back.

18: Colts Jack Conklin – OT – Michigan State

The Colts really need to protect Andrew Luck and keep him upright if they have any plans on getting back to the playoffs this season.

19: Bills Robert Nkemdiche – DT – Mississippi

This is just the kind of move that Rex Ryan would want to make. It’s brilliant if it works, but woefully bad if it fails.

20: Jets Hunter Henry – TE – Arkansas

I don’t know if the Jets need a TE, but he’s the BPA regardless of position.

21: Redskins Chris Jones – DT – Mississippi State

Sometimes you get lucky and the BPA is in a position of need.

22: Texans  Mackensie Alexander – CB – Clemson

Another Tiger goes off the board in round one. That’s three so far.

23: Vikings  Jarran Reed – DT – Alabama

I want to give then an OT or a WR, but it’s a bit of a stretch here.

24: Bengals Sheldon Rankins – DT – Louisville

Still a bit of a stretch to take a receiver here.

25: Steelers Vernon Butler – NT – Louisiana Tech

A stretch? Maybe, but he fills a need in a HUGE way.

26: Seahawks Emanuel Ogbah – DE – Oklahoma State

He’s a 4-3 DE and he fits their scheme perfectly.

27: Packers Hassan Ridgeway – DT – Texas

Their top three needs are all on defense.

28: Chiefs Josh Doctson – WR – TCU

They need a complimentary receiver for lining up opposite Jeremy Macklin. This kid is a nice receiver.

29: Cardinals Jonathan Bullard – DT – Florida

Two of the Cards’ top three needs are defensively.

30: Panthers Noah Spence – DE- Eastern Kentucky

The former Ohio State player got his act together and is now a first round draft pick.

31: Broncos Cody Whitehair – OG – Kansas State

Granted, it’s not the OT or QB that many were hoping for, but this pick still fills a need.

OTHER BROWNS PICKS:

32: Paxton Lynch – QB – Memphis

33: Will Fuller – WR – Notre Dame

34: Jordan Jenkins – LB – Georgia

43: Joshua Garnett – OG – Stanford

65: Ryan Kelly – C – Alabama

99: Shawn Oakman – DE – Baylor

101: DJ White – CB – Georgia Tech

113: Darius Latham – DT – Indiana

138: Sean Davis – S – Maryland

141: Cyrus Jones – CB – Alabama

172: Kyle Murphy – OT – Stanford

173: Victor Ochi – DE/OLB – Stony Brook

176: Josh Ferguson – RB – Illinois

223: David Morgan – TE – Texas San Antonio

Well, that wraps it up for this edition. I’ll have my final mock draft posted sometime next week before the Draft.  I don’t know how many rounds I’ll go, but it’ll be at least three. This is Bill Wunkle signing off from the padded cell. Have a good night, everybody!