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Welcome to the padded cell, everybody! This article marks my first of a series of mock drafts for this offseason; and with the Super Bowl finally come and gone, this mock will include the entire fist round plus the remainder of the Browns picks in rounds two through seven. At this time I want to give a shout out to the founder and managing editor of brownsfootballtalk.com – Jason Ice for giving me the opportunity to write for this website. With that said, on with the show . . .
ROUND ONE
Jameis Winston – QB – Florida StateWhile no quarterback in this year’s crop is truly NFL ready, Winston has the prototypical size and physical tools that NFL teams are looking for in a quarterback. Yes, there will inevitably be questions about his character (or lack thereof) concerning crab legs and a botched police investigation of a sexual assault case, but this kid doesn’t seem to let any of that phase him. If the Bucs don’t take Winston first overall, then someone will blow them away with a package to trade up and take him.
Marcus Mariota – QB – OregonIn spite of not winning a National Title, Mariota’s ability to change the game with his arm or his feet makes him a desirable commodity. The big rap on Maroita is that scouts don’t think he’s equipped to beat NFL teams from the pocket. Other than that, he’s a legitimate top ten pick. Besides, does anyone in Tennessee honestly think that Jake Locker is the answer at the quarterback position? Child, please.
Leonard Williams – DE – USCThe three most valuable positions on the football field are (1) a franchise quarterback, (2) a franchise LT and (3) a dominating pass rusher. They drafted their franchise quarterback last year in Blake Bortles and their franchise LT in Luke Joeckel two years ago. Now, it’s time to complete the trifecta
Randy Gregory – OLB – NebraskaSometimes you just need to take the best player available regardless of position. Gregory will have an immediate impact rushing the passer for whatever team drafts him. At 6’-6” and 245 lbs., Gregory has the size to pose a lot of problems to opposing offenses, and he would be a nice bookend with Khalil Mack. However, if owner Mark Davis is anything like his late father (Al Davis), he’ll take the player with the fastest 40 time at the combine.
Brandon Scherff – OT – IowaI wish all picks were this easy. O-line is the Skins top need and Scherff is arguably the best player left on the board. What more needs to be said?
Amari Cooper – WR – AlabamaYet another BPA selection, this one will immediately help the Jets starting QB – whoever he ends up being. New head coach Todd Bowles will be tempted to take a cornerstone defensive player; but if he’s smart, he’ll address the offensive side of the football early and often.
Shane Ray – OLB – MissouriPass rushers are always a valuable commodity and ‘Da-Bears two biggest needs are at linebacker and defensive end. Ray is the BPA still on the board. Sometimes it’s just as simple as that.
Andrus Peat – OT – StanfordIt all begins with controlling the line of scrimmage to strengthen the running game and protect Matty Ice.
Landon Collins – S – AlabamaHow much longer can the best defensive back in the entire draft stay on the board? Depending on how things pan out with the picks in front of them, the Falcons could possibly draft a pass rusher. Any way you slice it, Collins is a talent worthy of a top ten selection.
Dante Fowler – OLB – FloridaThe Rams actually use their first round pick for a change. If one of the offensive tackles slides to them, it wouldn’t surprise me to see them take one – especially considering Jake Long’s well documented health concerns.
Kevin White – WR – West VirginiaThe Vikings are going to give Teddy Bridgewater another weapon somewhere in this draft, so why not here?
Danny Shelton – DT – WashingtonQuite frankly, I have zero confidence in Jimmy Haslam – errrrrr Ray Farmer getting either first round selection right. The offense desperately needs a franchise QB, a legitimate number one WR, a starting RT and maybe a starting TE (see Jordan Cameron’s pending free agency). Barring a trade, Cleveland won’t get one of the top two QB’s. So, what will Ray Farmer do? How about getting a defensive tackle for his defensive minded head coach – whose defense was among the league’s worst at stopping the run. Farmer won’t pick a WR this high. Just look at what the Browns did last year with their first round picks and the results they produced and you’ll understand completely.
Vic Beasley – OLB – ClemsonThe Saints defense needs help at pretty much every position. When in doubt, take the BPA in a position of need. Other names in the discussion are Michigan State CB Trae Waynes and Kentucky DE Alvin Dupree.
TJ Clemmings – OT – PittsburghThe Fins already have the Brinks truck backing up to Mike Wallace’s house, so I don’t think they’ll take a WR in the first. That leaves the defensive front seven or an O-lineman. I think they’ll bolster the O-line.
Trae Waynes – CB – Michigan StateThey could go WR here, but I think they’ll address the defensive secondary.
DeVante Parker – WR – LouisvilleAndre Johnson is already 33 years old, so why not draft his heir apparent before he’s ready to retire? Injuries limited Parker’s playing time in 2014, but this kid is a game changer.
Eddie Goldman – DT – Florida StateGoldman may be able to play any of the positions along the front of the Chargers 3-4 defensive alignment.
Alvin Dupree – DE – KentuckyThe Chiefs pass rush gets a shot in the arm with this pick.
Dorial Green-Beckham – WR – Missouri/OklahomaWith Josh Gordon certain to miss at least one full season, the Browns are in serious need of a playmaker at receiver – possibly two. Green-Beckham presents a huge target at 6’-5” and 225 lbs. and would be particularly effective in the red zone.
La’el Collins – OT – Louisiana StateBest player available in a position of need.
Shaq Thompson – OLB – WashingtonOutside of a quarterback that can actually win a playoff game, the Bengals top three needs are on defense.
Nate Orchard – OLB – UtahThe Steelers top three needs are on the defensive side of the football.
Ereck Flowers – OT – Miami (FL)I’d give them a CB here (and they’ve needed at least one for ages), but I can’t do it without reaching.
Malcolm Brown – DT – TexasGive the D-line a shot in the arm.
Jaelen Strong – WR – Arizona StateWhy not give Cam another target?
Melvin Gordon – RB – WisconsinBPA selection and it bolsters the running game.
Jordan Phillips – DT – OklahomaTheir three biggest needs are along the defensive front seven.
Cameron Erving – OT – Florida StateRegardless of whether Peyton Manning returns, the Broncos need to do a better job of protecting their starting quarterback.
Marcus Peters – CB – WashingtonThe Colts won’t get to the big dance until they solidify their defense.
Maxx Williams – TE – MinnesotaHere’s another pick that’s the BPA in a position of need.
Benardrick McKinney – ILB – Mississippi StateSeahawks take the best defensive player left on the board.
Owamagbe Odighzuwa – DE – UCLAThe three biggest needs for the Pats are along the offensive and defensive lines. However, the Hoodie will probably trade down to get an additional pick next year.
OTHER CLEVELAND BROWNS PROJECTED PICKS
44: Clive Walford– TE – Miami (FL): Insurance for Jordan Cameron bolting during free agency. Discussion about UCLA QB Brent Hundley may be very much alive here as well.
76: Bryce Petty – QB – Baylor: The Browns will take a flyer at a QB somewhere in this draft. If Cameron re-signs with the Browns, it could be as early as the second round. And that’s the case, then Alabama RB TJ Yeldon could be coming to Cleveland.
112: Daryl Williams – OT – Oklahoma: Mitchell Schwartz needs to be lower on the depth chart.
119: Lorenzo Mauldin – OLB – Louisville : He’ll fit in well with Coach Pettine’s defensive scheme . . . and may play multiple LB positions.
152: Jalston Fowler – FB – Alabama: The Browns haven’t had a legitimate fullback since Lawrence Vickers.
188: Dezmin Lewis – WR – Central Arkansas: Here’s another big target that the coaching staff can develop.
227: Justin Manton – K – Louisiana Monroe: The special teams just haven’t been the same since Phil Dawson left Cleveland for San Francisco.
UNDRAFTED ROOKIE FREE AGENTS TO WATCH
Brandon Bridge – QB – South Alabama: They’ll need some warm bodies to throw the football during mini-camp.
Kyle Loomis – P – Portland State: Special teams players need some competition.
Michael Dyer – RB – Louisville: Former Auburn transfer, this pick would follow a pattern of Browns management behavior.
Ryan Russell – DE – Purdue: Another warm body for rookie mini-camp. Good size for a DE.
Devin Gardner – WR – TSUN: Another receiver with a definite size advantage in the red zone.
Trenton Brown – OT – Florida: At 6′-9″ and 376 lbs., this might be an interesting acquisition for his size alone.
Curtis Riley – CB – Fresno State: I don’t have them drafting a DB, so I’d better see if I can find them one here.
Am I going mad, or did the word THINK escape your lips? You were not hired for your brains, you hippopotamic landmass!
Far be it for me to criticize you Wunkle, but I’m seeing a common theme with your mock as well as a ton of others that I disagree with; that’s any QB being drafted in the top 5 this season. I just don’t see it happening. Mariotta and Winston are both very good college QB’s, but I don’t see either as having enough NFL potential to go in the top 5. Personally (and I say this as an FSU fan) I wouldn’t draft Winston until the 3rd round. He’s not intelligent, and that’s a big problem for an NFL QB. He’s also going to be a ton of trouble for whatever team he goes to. He has more red flags than Manziel and will have even greater difficulty transitioning to the NFL. Honestly this might be one of those very rare years when no QB is drafted in the 1st round. These guys just don’t ‘wow’ me at all.
The quarterback is the single most important position on the field. The teams drafting at the top of the draft are there for a reason – they’re not good football teams, and part of that is because they don’t have a franchise caliber quarterback. Until you get a franchise quarterback, your team will consistently struggle. That’s why you see so many quarterbacks drafted high and (subsequently) why so many draft busts at the position. Remember the 2011 draft where it was basically Cam Newton and the rest of the crop? Jake Locker, Blaine Gabbert and Christian Ponder all went within the top twelve – which was way early for all three of them – while the likes of Andy Dalton, Colin Kaepernick and Ryan Mallett went in the second and third rounds. NFL teams are so desperate for that missing link that they’re willing to throw millions of dollars at an if-come.
Of the free agents from that 2011 class, I’m guessing that only Mallett and possibly TJ Yates are the only ones I’d be interested in pursuing for Cleveland. Blaine Gabbert got shell shocked while in Jacksonville because he wasn’t ready to be thrown into live action – much the same way that David Klingler was with Cincinnati several years ago. These teams take quarterbacks so early and pay them so much money that the front office thinks they have to get an immediate return on their investment – whether the player is ready or not.
Back in 2003 the Bengals drafted Carson Palmer first overall and then did something really amazing – they made him learn from the bench during his rookie season. In 2005 the Packers drafted Aaron Rodgers as the eventual heir apparent to Brett Favre. Rodgers sat two seasons behind Favre and was ready to take over the offense in year three.
As to your thoughts on this year’s crop of quarterbacks . . . It would be better off for both Winston and Mariota to not be drafted in the first round at all. That way there wouldn’t be so much pressure from a fiscal standpoint to rush them out onto the field in real game situations. However, we both know that’s not going to happen. Both of these quarterbacks will be taken early in the draft. The only question that remains is “Which teams will take them and where?”
Am I going mad, or did the word THINK escape your lips? You were not hired for your brains, you hippopotamic landmass!
I’d say that this year’s first rd strategy for the Browns is completely up in the air. No one really knows how they feel about their QB depth chart nor how they feel about bringing back Hoyer. They will draft another QB, that is almost a given.
If they don’t address the WR position in a big way this offseason, there should be a mutiny amongst the fan base. When I say “in a big way” I don’t mean that we have to make a big splash in free agency, or trade, or draft. I mean that they have to give it some priority. They can’t keep looking for the diamonds in the rough via late rd picks, undrafted free agents, or older/injured players.
Defensive line was surprisingly disappointing this year. At the beginning of the season it was widely considered to be a strength.
What happens to Buster Skrine will probably alter the off-season plan because I’m not sure who the bigger bust could be…Manziel or Gilbert. (Hopefully neither.) Regardless, there’s no way that they will be happy with the idea of Gilbert starting opposite Haden.
The quarterback is the single most important position on the field. The teams drafting at the top of the draft are there for a reason – they’re not good football teams, and part of that is because they don’t have a franchise caliber quarterback. Until you get a franchise quarterback, your team will consistently struggle. That’s why you see so many quarterbacks drafted high and (subsequently) why so many draft busts at the position.
I don’t disagree with this at all. However it doesn’t matter how important the position is, if there’s no talent there you can’t just reach and grab someone. This QB class looks as bad as last year’s if not worse. If you remember a lot of the first mocks that came out last season had JFF going #1 and Teddy Bridgewater going #2 solely because they play QB. 5 years ago that’s how NFL teams would have drafted, but we’ve seen that teams have learned the important lesson; drafting the WRONG QB highly is more likely to get you fired than drafting a stud at another position.
Ice wrote:
I don’t disagree with this at all. However it doesn’t matter how important the position is, if there’s no talent there you can’t just reach and grab someone. This QB class looks as bad as last year’s if not worse. If you remember a lot of the first mocks that came out last season had JFF going #1 and Teddy Bridgewater going #2 solely because they play QB. 5 years ago that’s how NFL teams would have drafted, but we’ve seen that teams have learned the important lesson; drafting the WRONG QB highly is more likely to get you fired than drafting a stud at another position.
And almost a year later it appears that either David Carr or Teddy Bridgewater should’ve been the first QB taken off the board and Johnny shouldn’t have gone until at least the third round. Quarterback is by far the toughest position to correctly evaluate and project to the next level. As far as this year’s crop is concerned, it appears that it’s Winston and Mariota at the top of the QB class and then there’s a severe drop off from there. I totally agree with you that you shouldn’t take a QB if he’s not worthy of the selection because it can set your franchise back as much as five years with the guaranteed money and salary cap hit. The only problem is that you’ve got football people being pressured by ownership to get “the guy” – even if “the guy” is nowhere to be found in the draft. The Browns are in the unenviable position of having to stick with a quarterback that got caught up in his own hype machine because the owner stepped in and told Farmer and Pettine to move up and get him. Jimmy Haslam needs to let the people that he hired do their collective jobs without any outside interference.
Am I going mad, or did the word THINK escape your lips? You were not hired for your brains, you hippopotamic landmass!
I would be extremely happy if that turned out to be our draft. Due to lack of QB talent in this draft, I believe our biggest need is DL. Games are won and lost in the trenches.
Freedom!!!
Some help at WR wouldn’t be a bad thing (which this draft does address).
I remember before last season thinking our D-line was overcrowded and that we should trade someone. Then at the end of the season half the defense was on injured reserve. Lesson learned; there’s no such thing as too much depth.
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