Finally had a day off so I whipped up this mock draft (which assumes the Browns don't want a QB/or the one they want isn't available). Feel free to shred.
1 – Myles Garrett, TAMU. No explanation needed here.
19 - Malik McDowell, Michigan State. Adams and Hooker don’t fall to 12 and the Browns aren’t sold on any QBs here being their franchise player. Tampa Bay is in love with Cook and two teams right after the Browns in the Eagles and Colts are prime suspects to snatch him up. The Bucs trade next year’s third to make sure this doesn’t happen and the Browns get yet another asset to make a run at The Darnold in 2018. Bryant is a good player, but is aging and seems to get injured very year. McDowell is a top 5 talent but has some effort questions. It will be hard for him not to succeed with Shelton, Ogbah, and Garrett on the D-line with him.
33 - Kevin King, Washington. Long and talented corner who often went under appreciated during his career as he was across the field from Sidney Jones. Probably a little high for him, but the Browns justify it with his #1 SPARQ score among this year’s CBs.
52 – Marcus Williams, Utah. The best free safety in this class outside of Hooker. 10 interceptions at the position in the last 2 seasons. Marcus is an instant upgrade over Ed Reynolds and his play should help old man Joe. He’s also a sure tackler which is good to have in the last line of defense. Oh yeah, and he is another highly rated SPARQ guy. Williams isn’t as sexy as some of the options earlier in the draft, but I go deep safety here as the top prospects were gone at 12 and I’m banking on one of Kindred, Campbell, or even Powell to emerge and at least be formidable at SS.
65 – Joe Mixon, Oklahoma. The best all-around back in a class of pretty damn good running backs, IMO. Only question mark is his off the field history. Crow has been inconsistent at times and could be gone after next season. I can see Mixon as one of the top backs in the NFL if he keeps his head on straight as he has since the incident his freshman year. I wouldn’t be shocked if he wasn’t available here , but I can’t justify taking him earlier with RB not being a current need.
108 – Sidney Jones, Washington. Jones may be the most talented CB in the class, but the unfortunate Achilles rupture during his pro day raises question marks about his pro potential. I think it will be unlikely he falls to the top of the 4th, but I am hoping that teams will pass on him due to the depth of the CB class. Luxury pick the Browns can afford to make by this point with all the picks they’ve accumulated.
145 – Jake Butt, Michigan. Like Jones above, another draft and stash for the Browns. Butt is probably a second round talent that will fall due to a torn ACL in Michigan’s Bowl Game. I think the Browns can squeeze one more year out Barnidge and liked DeValve’s improvement as the season went on, making an essential red-shirt year for Butt okay. This allows the Browns to take a chance with this pick that could pay off big dividends down the road.
175 – Shaquil Griffin, UCF. If it isn’t evident by now, Sashi and Co. are going to attempt to “platoon” the defensive backfield much like they did with the WR Corps this past season. Give Gregg Williams all that he can so that he can let that talented front 6/7 eat. Grffin was productive in college, had a good combine, and is yet another SPARQ star. I think he would be a good value pick here for the Browns.
181 – Alex Anzalone, Florida. – The talented, yet oft-injured Anzalone get taken here. Davis will need replaced sooner rather than later and it’s about time to give a career special teams player in Tank Carder the boot.
185 – Jerome Lane Jr., Akron. Still raw at the position after only beginning to play it 2 seasons ago. Probably undervalued from attending a smaller school. I think Jerome has pretty high upside. At the very least he can come in and challenge Payton and Higgins for reps and beat out some of the other no name WRs for a special teams role. Jerome had a defensive background (and was pretty darn good I might add) before the position switch giving him a leg up on others.
188 - Ryan Glasgow, Michigan. Not much insight from me here on this one. Another body to bring in to compete with Cooper and Meder.