Hello again, everyone. This is Bill Wunkle coming to you from The Padded Cell for the final time before the 2017 NFL draft. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover, but first, let’s go over the ground rules.
1 – There are no trades in this mock. I know . . . I included a trade in last year’s mock between Cleveland and Tennessee where the Titans moved up for an OT and the Browns took a receiver, but that was an anomaly. I have no reason to believe that the Browns will trade up or down in round one, particularly with the first overall pick. Don’t believe all the hype you’re hearing about the Browns packaging picks to move up from 12th overall. This regime values its draft picks, particularly the ones in the first two rounds.
2 – This mock will include one round with all 32 picks, then subsequent rounds (2-6) including only players I think the Browns will/should pick.
With that out of the way, let’s get on with the show.
ROUND ONE
Myles Garrett – DE – Texas A&M
Until I see it on the big screen, I’m not believing all the hoopla about the front office being torn between Garrett and UNC quarterback Mitch Trubisky. Garrett is heads and shoulders above any other player in this draft. And while quarterback is a position of need, the worst thing this organization can do is waste a high pick reaching for a player just because it’s a position of need. The Browns may draft a quarterback this year, but I don’t think they’re willing to make the selection a stretch.
Solomon Thomas – DE – Stanford
While some mocks have the 49ers taking a QB here, there’s just not one worth taking this early. Thomas is a relentless pass rusher with an incredible motor. He is exactly the player they need for the new defensive scheme they’ll be playing. As for the QB position, they brought on Brian Hoyer to man the ship until next year, where they’ll make a play for Kirk Cousins, so they’re not drafting one early.
Jonathan Allen – DE – Alabama
Da’Bears may go a number of directions with this pick, and almost all of them on the defensive side of the football. Allen is the highest rated player on the board, and sometimes you just have to do the right thing.
Leonard Fournette – RB – LSU
The Jags were able to bolster their O-line this offseason, so the next thing they need to do to help their young QB is add a franchise running back. Fournette is the best in this year’s class.
Marshon Lattimore – CB – Ohio State
(from Rams) The Titans finished 2016 11th on offense and 20th on defense. Seems to me they’ll take a top notch cornerback with some size and ball skills. Lattimore is the cream of this year’s crop at the position.
Malik Hooker – S – Ohio State
Josh McCown was brought in to hold the position down until last year’s 2nd round pick Christian Hackenberg is ready. The Jets must fight off the temptation to reach for a quarterback – any quarterback – that they’ll ruin by rushing him in to play before he’s ready. Hooker is a turnover machine in the back end of any defense, and turnovers are something that this team needs a lot of.
Jamal Adams– S – LSU
Still feeling the loss of Eric Weddle to Baltimore, the Los Angeles Chargers (that sounds so strange) see an opportunity to fill the void. Fortunately, Adams is still on the board.
Davin Cook – RB – Florida State
A healthy running game could be just one way to help out a defense that had its share of struggles in 2016. This is only the second pick that was unchanged from version 1.0
Reuben Foster – LB – Alabama
The Bengals could just as easily address a couple other positions with this pick. However, after losing two starting linebackers off last year’s roster, I think the message is clear. I know about the diluted sample, but Marvin Lewis has a way of bringing potential problem players into the fold and keeping them on the strait and narrow.
Mike Williams – WR – Clemson
Tyrod Taylor has a newly restructured contract, and he could certainly use another weapon to go with the current arsenal of receivers.
OJ Howard – TE – Alabama
I understand that the defense is desperately lacking, but Howard is a talent that is genuinely hard to come by.
Mitch Trubisky – QB – North Carolina
(from Eagles) It still remains to be seen whether or not owner Jimmy Haslam has the patience to let the people whom he hired do their job without his meddling, but this might be the consensus pick here anyway. Far from being a finished NFL ready quarterback; Trubisky has the size, athleticism, arm strength and leadership capabilities for the position. How soon it’ll take for him to adjust to the speed of the NFL game is anyone’s guess. Temple LB Hassan Reddick will also be heavily considered here, particularly if the Browns opt to pass on a quarterback with this pick.
Taco Charlton – DE – TSUN
While keeping Carson Palmer upright has got to be a top priority, there isn’t an OT worthy of the pick. Charlton will bolster the Arizona pass rush.
Corey Davis – WR – Western Michigan
(from Vikings) Give Carson Wentz a big play receiver and his maturation process will quicken by leaps and bounds.
Caleb Brantley – DT – Florida
While Andrew Luck needs some serious help up front, the Colts defense is one of the worst in the league. Brantley will bolster the run defense along the front four.
David Njoku – TE – Miami (FL)
I found an offensive play maker for Joe Flacco. This kid’s catching radius is insanely good.
Hassan Reddick – LB – Temple
With the 3rd ranked offense and the 28th ranked defense, it’s pretty easy to see where the Skins are going to focus on early in the draft. Reddick is the BPA at this stage of the draft.
John Ross – WR – Washington
The Titans use their own pick to give their young quarterback a vertical threat.
Derek Barnett – DE – Tennessee
Unless a play maker on offense slides, I see the Bucs going defense early and often.
Ryan Ramczyk – OT – Wisconsin
I want to give the Broncos an OT here, and Ramczyk is the best available.
Malik McDowell – DE- Michigan State
If he recovers well from his ankle injury, then this pick is almost a no-brainer.
Takkarist McKinley – OLB – UCLA
With a defense ranked 29th overall, the Dolphins need to do something here.
Garrett Bolles – OT – Utah
This is a reach pick, but the G-men have got to protect Eli Manning better than they did in 2016.
Marlon Humphrey – CB – Alabama
The offense wasn’t the issue with the Raiders last season.
Patrick Mahomes II – QB – Texas Tech
After trading away a second round pick and Brock Osweiler and then not being able to make a deal for Tony Romo, the Texans need to get a quarterback somewhere. This kid is the definition of raw talent and his mechanics are all over the place. He’ll need at least two full seasons of work until he’s ready to contribute.
Forest Lamp – OG – Western Kentucky
The Seahawks make the right move in taking this interior O-linemen.
DeShaun Watson – QB – Clemson
The “slide” for Watson ends in Kansas City where he can learn from one of the best.
Tre’Davious White – CB – LSU
Everyone in “Big D” knows that the offense is good enough to win a Super Bowl, but the defense isn’t.
Cam Robinson – OT – Alabama
You cannot deny that the Packers O-line needs help. Aaron Rodgers needs to stay upright.
Gareon Conley – CB – Ohio State
Another Buckeye that I’ve rooted for on Saturdays and I’ll end up rooting against on Sundays.
Tim Williams – DE – Alabama
Throw another pass rusher into the mix.
Jabrill Peppers – S – TSUN
Plug him in and let him play center field.
SUBSEQUENT BROWNS PICKS . . .
33: Teez Tabor – CB – Florida
52: Marcus Maye – S – Florida
65: D’Onta Foreman – RB – Texas
108: Kendell Beckwith – LB – LSU
142: Stevie Tu’Ikolovatu – DT – USC
145: Kenny Galladay – WR – Northern Illinois
177: Eddie Jackson – S – Alabama
183: Eric Saubert – TE -Drake
187: Jalen Reeves-Maybin – LB – Tennessee
OVERALL ANALYSIS:
According to my mock draft, the Browns will take . . .
1 DE, 1 QB, 1 CB, 2 Safeties (because we have none) , 1 RB, 1 DT, 2 LB’s, 1WR and 1 TE.
Also . . . If indeed the Browns pass at a quarterback 12th overall, I’m looking for them to take Hassan Reddick because of his ability to go from sideline to sideline and wrap up the ball carrier. They would then follow up with DeShone Kizer at 33rd. I don’t have them taking an offensive tackle this year because I fully expect them to give second year tackle Shon Coleman every opportunity to win the starting right tackle position.
That’s all I’ve got for now. Thanks for tuning in. This is Bill Wunkle signing off from The Padded Cell. Happy Draft Week, Everybody!