2020 Draft Prospects Thread

[KIisKing]

What is the absolute worst case scenario for the Browns at 10?

All four OTs - Wirfs, Thomas, Wills and Becton - are all gone, plus Simmons is gone too?

If that were to happen, I guess the Browns' best options would be...

Kinlaw at 10
Josh Jones at 10
Trade back targeting Jones or Cleveland in the 15-25 range

I alluded to it above, but I think worst case scenario is top-3 tackles, Simmons, and Okudah gone. I think that happens if Washington goes QB.

CIN - Burrow
WAS - Tua
DET - Young
NYG - Wirfs
Miami - Herbert
LAC - Thomas
CAR - Simmons
ARZ - Wills
JAX - Okudah
Browns - I think they most likely trade back here. I'd have my eye on Tampa to jump the Jets for Becton, but they don't have a whole lot of appealing draft assets. Without doing some research, I'm not sure who other trade partners would be...

 

[Randolphkeys]

I don't believe Tua goes #2 in any circumstances. We are talking about a guy who had a serious hip injury and now cannot get checked by team physicians. If three tackles are off the board when the Browns are on the clock, it's because Tua sinks.

 

[Jordan]

What is the absolute worst case scenario for the Browns at 10?

All four OTs - Wirfs, Thomas, Wills and Becton - are all gone, plus Simmons is gone too?

If that were to happen, I guess the Browns' best options would be...

Kinlaw at 10
Josh Jones at 10
Trade back targeting Jones or Cleveland in the 15-25 range

I fully acknowledge that Kinlaw is an athletic freak who is a great pass rusher, and honestly, probably will be a pro-bowler at the next level. I think he is the best interior defensive lineman in this draft and I am not sure it is that close.

But I will be incredibly disappointed if the Browns draft an defensive tackle at 10. It is just not a position that - if you lack an Aaron Donald or Fletcher Cox - is not that impactful in the modern NFL. The most dangerous running schemes are using outside zone or gap schemes that tend to target ends and linebackers. So while I do believe interior pass rush is increasingly valuable - especially with an increasing number of shorter quarterbacks - I just think you are gambling on having to draft a generational or near-generational to recoup value from that pick.

 

[Jordan]

I don't believe Tua goes #2 in any circumstances. We are talking about a guy who had a serious hip injury and now cannot get checked by team physicians. If three tackles are off the board when the Browns are on the clock, it's because Tua sinks.

So you're saying the Browns embraced #tankforTua?

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

There are 9 selections before ours.

Burrow, Young, Simmons, Okudah should all be gone, 100%, before the Browns pick. If all the tackles are gone and one of them is still there, I think you just make the pick (or get a king's ransom to trade back).

We can hope that QB's push talent down the board. Tua, Love, Herbert all have a chance to go before our pick. I'd be shocked if at least one didn't. The last time we didn't see at least two QB's drafted in the top 10 was 2014, with Bortles going #3, then Manziel being next off the board at 22.

I think the likely scenario is that the elite four, 1 additional QB (Tua), 1 WR (Jeudy), 1 DL (Brown or Kinlaw) and two tackles are off the board when we pick. My preference of tackles is Thomas/Wills/Wirfs, and if we get one of Thomas or Wills, I'm going to be happy.

Worst case would be elite four, top 3 tackles, and two QB's gone before we pick (or if you're a Becton believer, he's gone instead of a QB like Love). At that point, I don't know who you take--and with the top QB's off the board, there might not be a ton of value to be found in trading down. I guess gun to my head, if I can't trade down and have to pick there, I'm taking Becton. In the scenario where he's gone, I really try and find that team that wants to trade up for Love.

 

[DJTJ]

The whole a tackle is a tackle thing; I think they like Wills. That was a nice tip.

 

[Vee-Rex]

I want Becton the most out of any of the tackles.

He ultimately has a high chance to be the best of the bunch and the best fit for our team moving forward given scheme.

Saying he’s a “project” simply isn’t accurate. He would still be a massive upgrade at our LT position and can plug and play next year.

I actually came here to post about this.

It's easy for us to basically trash Becton but I think he'd easily be the 2nd best tackle we have. Heavy play-action schemes tend to protect the O-line since defenders have to choose between locking onto offensive linemen (to defend the run) and trying to rush gaps (for the pass rush). Rushing gaps against a wide zone run play can be disastrous and locking onto offensive linemen can give the QB a ton of extra time during a pass play. The scheme here is the important cog and would be able to mitigate some of Becton's deficiencies while highlighting his strengths. Hell, if G-Rob was in Stefanski's offense he might not be TOO bad. We saw what he did in Freddie's 2018 offense. Someone like Becton could do wonders in this offense when the defense is so heavily focused on discerning between pass and run and trying to be ultra careful with all the weapons we have on this team.

If the scheme is sound, he could flourish with the weapons we have. He could be monstrous in the run game (and we know Conklin is on the other side) and above-average in the pass game since he's actually skilled at it. We'd be golden. Joe Thomas has been pretty solid while evaluating linemen and even he thinks we should take Becton, basically citing how this scheme and Bill Callahan would be great for him. Obviously it's pretty wild to compare him to Jonathan Ogden but the dude has potential. And next to Bitonio? Wow, we could really see some good things.

I guess my point is: there's a reason why Becton will be a top 15'ish player in the draft. In the event that Simmons, Thomas, Wirfs, and Wills are all gone I don't want people to overreact with disappointment if we do end up taking Becton at #10.

 

[Jack Brickman]

I keep seeing all these potential top tens, but they all seem off because I am willing to bet at least one team will draft a receiver in the top ten.

 

[CBBI]

I fully acknowledge that Kinlaw is an athletic freak who is a great pass rusher, and honestly, probably will be a pro-bowler at the next level. I think he is the best interior defensive lineman in this draft and I am not sure it is that close.

But I will be incredibly disappointed if the Browns draft an defensive tackle at 10. It is just not a position that - if you lack an Aaron Donald or Fletcher Cox - is not that impactful in the modern NFL. The most dangerous running schemes are using outside zone or gap schemes that tend to target ends and linebackers. So while I do believe interior pass rush is increasingly valuable - especially with an increasing number of shorter quarterbacks - I just think you are gambling on having to draft a generational or near-generational to recoup value from that pick.

Fair point, but hypothetically if it shakes out...

Burrow, Young, Okudah, Wirfs, Becton, Tua, Simmons, Wills, Thomas as the top 9.

What do you do?

 

[Jordan]

If you want to talk about day-three receivers, Tyler Johnson out of Minnesota should be high on your list, because this guy is awesome. He has gained over 1,000 receiving yards both of the last few years, averaged 15 yards per reception or higher each of the last three years, and has played mainly in the slot but also out wide. He is also 6'2.

He is not a YAC guy, but I think Stefanski can use him on running plays and play-action from day-one, because he is a great run blocker and route runner. Ultimately, though, you draft him to replace Jarvis next year or the following; but, he probably can play the 2018 Higgins role right now.


The big problems for him are drops (24 drops on 238 catchable passes over his college career) and less-than-ideal straight-line speed.

 

[LeShevkov]

Fair point, but hypothetically if it shakes out...

Burrow, Young, Okudah, Wirfs, Becton, Tua, Simmons, Wills, Thomas as the top 9.

What do you do?

Jerry Jeudy

 

[Jordan]

Fair point, but hypothetically if it shakes out...

Burrow, Young, Okudah, Wirfs, Becton, Tua, Simmons, Wills, Thomas as the top 9.

What do you do?

If trading down is not an option, gun to my head, Josh Jones or Ceedee Lamb.

I actually think Jones can be a starter in a wide-zone scheme from day-one. I would be fine with that pick.

It is hard to argue with Lamb's upside and ability to fit into the offense right away, though. Stefanski would have to move towards more 11-personnel, similar to McVay his first two seasons in LA. I also imagine the team probably looks to offload Njoku for a late-day-two or early-day-three pick. Lamb is just so good that, if drafting for a need is going to take a massive reach, I'll take the receiver that I am pretty confident will become an all-pro.

I also could see the Browns taking Xavier McKinney, C.J. Henderson, Ezra Cleveland, or Kinlaw (to your point) in this situation. Personally, I would just prefer trading down, Jones, or Lamb.

 

[Jack Brickman]

If you want to talk about day-three receivers, Tyler Johnson out of Minnesota should be high on your list, because this guy is awesome. He has gained over 1,000 receiving yards both of the last few years, averaged 15 yards per reception or higher each of the last three years, and has played mainly in the slot but also out wide. He is also 6'2.

He is not a YAC guy, but I think Stefanski can use him on running plays and play-action from day-one, because he is a great run blocker and route runner. Ultimately, though, you draft him to replace Jarvis next year or the following; but, he probably can play the 2018 Higgins role right now.


The big problems for him are drops (24 drops on 238 catchable passes over his college career) and less-than-ideal straight-line speed.

He's a guy who seems like he should be a day two guy but for some reason NFL teams just don't like him. Didn't even get a Senior Bowl invite. That 57% college dominator is pretty crazy, though.

 

[KIisKing]

I don't believe Tua goes #2 in any circumstances. We are talking about a guy who had a serious hip injury and now cannot get checked by team physicians. If three tackles are off the board when the Browns are on the clock, it's because Tua sinks.

Tua's injury history is concerning, I just don't know if I buy how far he will slip. He is an unbelievable QB talent - some team is going to look past the injuries.

An arm's race for a QB could benefit the Browns though, whether it be opportunities to deal the 10th pick, or one of our guys falling. In the last few years, teams have traded up to grab Wentz, Goff, Watson, Mahomes, Trubisky, Darnold, Allen, Rosen, Jackson, and Bridgewater. Not all of those guys have been drafted in the top-10, but the likelihood of movement in the teams drafting before the Browns is high.

 

[Jordan]

He's a guy who seems like he should be a day two guy but for some reason NFL teams just don't like him. Didn't even get a Senior Bowl invite. That 57% college dominator is pretty crazy, though.

I think his drops, limited YAC ability, and reliance on deep balls and slot routes scares teams. He seems like a guy that probably needs a limited role in his first year and that you hope can become more than a good blocking receiver that also excels at short slot routes.

His biggest flaw is the lack of that top-end speed means he will never be able to rely on the same deep slot passes over the middle of the field as he did in college. He almost is one of those receivers who can double as a tight-end on certain downs.

The best case for Johnson, to me, is Chris Godwin. Godwin had a fast 40, but his speed rarely showed on tape, he had a 5% drop rate, similar poor YAC, but was an elite route runner and run blocker. Given the skillset, though, I also think it is likelier Johnson reaches his ceiling compared to other receivers with various elite traits.