Come inside my mind and see what it’s like when an NFL draft junkie eats the big one. This is the version where I get real crazy with trade scenarios, unexpected picks and the like. So hang onto your hats, folks, because it’s going to be a bumpy ride. Let’s call this my “What if” mock for 2015.

ROUND ONE

Marcus Mariota – QB – Oregon

(From Tampa Bay) What if Lovie Smith’s talk about former Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston is all a giant smokescreen? After all, this is “silly season”. What if New Orleans is willing to give up Drew Brees and the 13th overall pick this year and future considerations in order to get Mariota?

 Jameis Winston – QB – Florida State

(From Tennessee) What if the Titans really are content having Zach Mettenberger as their starting quarterback? What should keep them from capitalizing on the situation? What if the J-E-T-S make a proactive move and give up their first and third round picks this year plus their first in 2016 for the rights to Mr. Crab Legs?

Leonard Williams – DT – USC

(From Jacksonville) What if the ‘Da-Bears see an opportunity to move up and land the highest rated player overall in the draft? What if Jacksonville gets Chicago’s first and third round picks this year plus their first round pick next year for moving down?

Kevin White – WR – West Virginia

What if the Raiders are the first team in this year’s draft to take the player everyone expects them to? How many of us would be shocked by that?

Dante Fowler Jr. – OLB – Florida

What if nobody wants to trade up to Washington’s spot? I think they take an edge rusher.

 Vic Beasley – OLB – Clemson

(From New York Jets) What if, after trading down, the Titans actually stay true to their draft board and take the best player available? To me it would sound like the way you’re supposed to run your draft.

 Randy Gregory – DE – Nebraska

(From Chicago) What if the Jaguars are an organization that finally gets it and starts functioning like a legitimate NFL franchise? What if they follow suit and take the best DE available, filling a need in the process?

Shane Ray – DE – Missouri

What if the Falcons continue the run on edge rushers to fill a need of their own?

Brandon Scherff – OT – Iowa

What if the G-men decide they want to keep Eli Manning upright as much as possible?

Amari Cooper – WR – Alabama

What if the Rams decide to give their new starting QB Nick Foles a weapon early in the draft?

DeVante Parker – WR – Louisville

What if the Vikings decide to re-unite Teddy Bridgewater with his favorite college receiver?

Danny Shelton – DT – Washington

What if the Browns are thwarted in every attempt to land one of the top three receivers in this draft? What if nobody wants to trade up to where the Browns are slotted to pick?

Andrus Peat – OT – Stanford

(From New Orleans) What if, after trading for Drew Brees, the Bucs added the most athletic tackle in this draft to their O-line?

Trae Waynes – CB – Michigan State

What if the Fins followed up the signing of Ndamukong Suh by drafting a shut down corner?

La’el Collins – OT – LSU

What if the 49ers are able to solidify the O-line after losing so many veteran players?

Landon Collins – S – Alabama

What if the Texans solidify their defensive secondary by taking the best safety off the board?

TJ Clemmings – OT – Pittsburgh

What if the Chargers re-dedicate themselves to protecting Phillip Rivers and utilizing a power run game?

Jalen Strong – WR – Arizona State

What if the Chiefs thwart the Browns final attempt at landing a receiver in the first round by taking Dwayne Bowe’s replacement?

Alvin “Bud” Dupree – OLB – Kentucky

What if the Browns are unable to do anything more to upgrade the quarterback and wide receiver positions or are unwilling to take an O-lineman in the first round? Will there be a mutiny in the Dawg Pound? Will Browns Nation realize how critical the need for an impact pass rusher is on this team?

Brett Hundley – QB – UCLA

What if the Eagles shock the world by drafting a QB in the first round after trading for Sam Bradford?

Malcolm Brown – DT – Texas

What if the Bungles want to fortify the interior of their D-line?

Arik Armstead – DE – Oregon

What if the Steelers want a big DE?

Ereck Flowers – OT – Miami (FL)

What if the Lions decide they want to solidify the O-line in front of Matthew Stafford?

Todd Gurley – RB – Georgia

What if Gurley’s injured knee checks out okay by draft day?

Owamagbe Odighizuwa – DE – UCLA

What if UCLA has two of their former players go off the board in the first round?

Dorial Green-Beckham – WR – Missouri

What if the Ravens decide to get Joe Flacco a BIG pass catching target? What if Ozzie Newsome decides that Green Beckham’s off the field issues can be kept in check by their veteran locker room?

Eddie Goldman – DT – Florida State

What if the Cowboys decide to rebuild their defense from the inside out?

Cameron Erving – OL – Florida State

What if John Elway decides to protect Peyton Manning by selecting the most versatile O-lineman in the draft?

Kevin Johnson – CB – Wake Forest

What if the Colts take the best defensive player left on the board?

Marcus Peters – CB – Washington

What if the Packers follow the Colts lead?

Maxx Williams – TE – Minnesota

What if the Saints decide to give their new franchise quarterback a pass catching TE?

Jordan Phillips – DT – Oklahoma

What if the Hoodie decides to find Vince Wilfork’s replacement early and not trade out of the first round?

OTHER BROWNS PICKS:

43: Benardrick McKinney – ILB – Mississippi State: Coach Mike Pettine will lobby for grooming an eventual replacement for Karlos Dansby. This kid would fit the bill. The only problem is that he may not last this long.

77: Tre’ Jackson – OG – Florida State: The Browns should take an O-lineman somewhere in this draft, and it wouldn’t surprise me if – depending on where the rushes on positions are – they do it earlier than the third round.

108: David Johnson – RB – Northern Iowa: Two of the cardinal rules of drafting are (1) you don’t take a running back in the first round because there’s talent at that position that can excel at the NFL level later on in the draft and (2) never trade up for a running back. See Trent Richardson.

112: Jeff Heuerman – TE – Ohio State: The Browns are going to take a TE somewhere in this draft. This kid is raw, but has the ability to get open as well as block in-line. And to answer you question . . . No, this is NOT a Buckeye honk selection.

139: Ty Montgomery – WR – Stanford: Somewhere in this draft the Brownies are going to take a receiver. However, with the additions of Brian Hartline and Dwayne Bowe, it probably won’t be in the early rounds.

173: Nick Marshall – CB – Auburn: It’s time to start taking developmental projects. Here’s one for you.

186: Sean Mannion – QB – Oregon State: He fits the prototypical build for an NFL quarterback from a physical standpoint. Mannion will need to speed up his game exponentially if he has any aspirations of developing into a legitimate starting quarterback in this league.

204: Justin Manton – K – Louisiana Monroe: Phil Dawson isn’t walking into 76 Lou Groza Boulevard anytime soon . . . unless it’s to sign a one-day contract and end his NFL career as a Cleveland Brown.

OBSERVATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS:

As mentioned earlier, I believe that the free agent signings of veteran receivers Brian Hartline and Dwayne Bowe signify to me that the Browns are a lot less likely to draft a receiver high this year, much less trade up from number twelve to take one. The top rated TE isn’t expected to go off the board until somewhere late in round one or early in round two. If per chance Minnesota’s Maxx Williams is still on the board when the Browns are on the clock in the second round, then Ray Farmer would be a fool to not at least consider taking him.

In spite of owner Jimmy Haslam’s edict to “fix the QB position”, I suspect that Farmer will find the price of trading up to take either Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota a far too bitter pill to swallow. Although I’ve been wrong before and I’m certain I’ll be wrong again – probably later on today. Subsequently, if Josh McCown doesn’t adequately hold down the fort and Johnny Manziel doesn’t get his act together; then the Cleveland Browns will be in a position to bring on Bernie Kosar as the franchise’s new GM in order to avert a total fan base rebellion. The recent name dropping of players such as Drew Brees and Phillip Rivers by certain members of the media is intriguing at the very least. However, this is Cleveland; the place where veteran players on their last leg go to get one last pay day and then fade away into the sunset.

And one final note . . . The signings of Tramon Williams and Randy Starks help fill roster needs, they’re only short term fixes. Thus, the Browns will draft another corner and a defensive lineman – most likely a big run stuffing nose tackle. Having the Browns draft at number twelve certainly makes things a bit more difficult to predict, but drafting has been and will always be talent acquisition based on team needs; so it’s not that difficult to connect the dots.