The Cleveland Browns have just guaranteed themselves a top two pick in next year’s NFL draft. To go along with that top two pick, they are also in possession of the Eagles first and the Titans second round picks to give them a total of five picks in the first three rounds. Let’s look at some of the best upcoming bowl games for Browns fans to watch that could include players in a Cleveland uniform next season.
1.) Texas Bowl Dec 28 9 PM
Kansas State vs. Texas A&M
Texas A&M
Edge Myles Garrett Jr 1st Round
S Justin Evans Sr 2nd Round
This game is all about one player, Myles Garrett. Garrett is the consensus top player in the draft as an edge rusher and offers the chance to be the next Von Miller who also happened to come from Texas A&M before the Broncos took him with the second pick. While the Browns have added pass rushers early in the last few drafts, they have the chance to get the best of the best. The Browns also have a need in the secondary and Justin Evans could be a possible day two pick in the Browns radar to watch behind Garrett.
2.) Sun Bowl Dec 30 2 PM
North Carolina vs. Stanford
North Carolina
QB Mitch Trubisky rJr 1st Round
Stanford
RB Christian McCaffrey Jr 1-2 Round
DE Solomon Thomas rSo 1-2 Round
Like the Texas Bowl the Sun Bowl comes down to just a few players to watch. Mitch Trubisky, a Mentor native will be the big one for Browns fans. Trubisky has started to explode up draft boards this year and is mostly regarded as the top QB available this year. He doesn’t excel in any certain category but he checks a lot of the boxes you would expect for a QB coming out. Seventeen years later and no steady QB, Cleveland fans will pay attention to him to be a loacal savior.
For Stanford, Christian McCaffrey would give the Browns an offensive weapon. He can run, catch, and return kicks and fell just short of winning a Heisman in college. He would draw fans into some excitement and with Isaiah Crowell being a restricted free agent, he could offer long term security as an early day two pick. Thomas could play 3-4 DE who excels in run support and has done well in pass rushing situations who is shooting up draft boards. As only a sophomore he may wait another year before entering however.
3.) Orange Bowl Dec 30 8 PM
Florida State vs. Michigan
Florida State
RB Dalvin Cook Jr 1st Round
OT Roderick Johnson Jr 2nd Round
DE Demarcus Walker Sr 2nd Round
WR Travis Rudolph Jr 2-3 Round
DT Derrick Nnadi Jr 3rd Round
Michigan
S/LB Jabrill Peppers rSo 1st Round
CB Jourdan Lewis Sr 1-2 Round
Edge Taco Charlton Sr 1-2 Round
TE Jake Butt Sr 2nd Round
DE Ryan Glasgow rSr 2nd Round
DE Chris Wormley rSr 2nd Round
WR Amara Darboh rSr 2-3 Round
WR Jehu Chesson rSr 3-4 Round
OT Erik Magnuson rSr 3-4 Round
C Mason Cole Jr 3-4 Round
This game is loaded with draft prospects. Dalvin Cook is the crown jewel for Florida State and some people like him as the top RB over Leonard Fournette. The Browns will be looking for playmakers so anybody regarded as the highest one can be in play. After that there are a variety of other players that will be in that day two to three range.
Michigan on the other hand might have the best draft class of any school, including Alabama. Jim Harbaugh has turned that team around and elevated the level of play of his players turning them into ones that could be starters at the next level. Michigan’s defense against Dalvin Cook is the matchup to watch. The defensive line has three guys that could go on the first two days and another two that could be drafted. Behind them, the secondary of Peppers and Lewis are two more strong options for the Browns. Lewis might be a little undersized but he is a good corner in one of the stronger positions for this draft. Jabrill Peppers in a Browns uniform would be amazing. He can play safety, linebacker, corner, return kicks, wildcat QB, WR, RB, pretty much name it and he’s played it. The Browns have so many needs all over the place and he can rotate between positions to help fill them. He’s a jack of all traits player. On offense the offensive line has some midround depth players the Browns could look at and a couple of other WRs with their own rookie class not doing much. Jake Butt is one to keep an eye on. He was awarded the best TE in college football this year and the Browns have gotten no production from the position outside Barnidge. He can line up inside or outside and give whoever Cleveland has at QB another option.
4.) Citrus Bowl Dec 31 11 AM
Louisville vs. LSU
Louisville
OLB Devonte Fields rSr 3rd Round
S Josh Harvey-Clemons rSr 3rd Round
LSU
RB Leonard Fournette Jr 1st Round
S Jamal Adams Jr 1st Round
CB Tre’Davious White Sr 1-2 Round
G/C Ethan Pocic Sr 2nd Round
WR Malachi Dupre Jr 2-3 Round
ILB Kendell Beckwith Sr 2-3 Round
Lamar Jackson is fun to watch but he isn’t draft eligible for another year but that won’t stop Browns fans from trying to get a look at the next possible guy at the helm. As far as this year’s talent the Cardinals have a pass rusher and safety that are fringe day two picks.
LSU is the reason to watch this one for Browns fans. Leonard Fournette could be the guy the Browns fans wished Trent Richardson would be. He is a powerful beast that fits the look of an AFC North RB. While not Jarvis Landry or Odell Beckham, LSU has produced some good NFL WRs recently and Malachi Dupre has some great size and could be an option for the Browns with Terrelle Pryor being a free agent. Ethan Pocic is in the running for the top guard/center where fans would love to see Cam Erving replaced. The secondary for the Tigers is the star. Jamal Adams is a game changing do it all safety and the Tigers continue to produce highly regarded corners including Tre’Davious White. Watching the defense go up against the hardest dual-threat QB to stop should be fun to watch and could elevate some draft stocks for individual players with a good showing.
5.) Peach Bowl Dec 31 3 PM
Alabama vs. Washington
Alabama
DT Jonathan Allen Sr 1st Round
CB Marlon Humphrey rSo 1st Round
Edge Tim Williams Sr 1st Round
ILB Reuben Foster Sr 1st Round
OT Cam Robinson Jr 1st Round
TE OJ Howard Sr 1-2 Round
Edge Ryan Anderson rSr 2nd Round
S Eddie Jackson Sr 3rd Round
Washington
CB Sidney Jones Jr 1st Round
WR John Ross rJr 1st Round
S Buda Baker Jr 2nd Round
DT Vita Vea rSo 2nd Round
Alabama has become a powerhouse for NFL prospects and there isn’t much doubt about it. It is all about their defense this year but there are two names to watch on offense, OT Cam Robinson and TE OJ Howard. Both could be considered the top player at their position and are two positions the Browns could use. On defense, Alabama should have four guaranteed first round picks. While Marlon Humphrey and Eddie Jackson may miss the game, watch the front seven of the Tide. Jonathan Allen is among the top three players in this draft and is an athletic freak for his size. Reuben Foster is a tackling machine on the inside and they have a couple of other edge rushers that may stand out while watching.
Washington doesn’t have a lot of standout players to be in the playoffs but they do have a handful of really good ones. John Ross is in the running for the top WR and a big time deep threat that could go opposite Corey Coleman for a dynamic duo. Sidney Jones is another of probably 15+ corners that could go in the first two days and should be a first round pick. Buda Baker is a true free safety that can cut the field in half if his size allows him to stay there. Danny Shelton had a monster season as a run stopping NT for Cleveland this year and a fellow Washington NT could go on day two this year. While he likely won’t go to Cleveland seeing another run stopper would be something Browns fans could appreciate.
6.) Fiesta Bowl Dec 31 7 PM
Clemson vs. Ohio State
Clemson
WR Mike Williams rJr 1st Round
QB Deshaun Watson Jr 1-2 Round
CB Cordrea Tankersley Sr 1-2 Round
DT Carlos Watkins rSr 2nd Round
TE Jordan Leggett Sr 2-3 Round
WR Artavis Scott Jr 2-4 Round
Ohio State
S Malik Hooker rSo 1st Round
ILB Raekwon McMillan Jr 1-2 Round
WR Curtis Samuel Jr 2nd Round
C Pat Elflein rSr 2nd Round
G Billy Price rJr 2nd Round
CB Gareon Conley rJr 2nd Round
CB Marshon Lattimore rSo 2nd Round
DE Tyquan Lewis rJr 2-3 Round
Finally the game all the Ohio fans want to talk about. Let’s start with Clemson and the offensive weapons that would really help the Browns offense. Mike Williams is the top guy and my idea of the best WR in the draft. He’s got enormous size, great hands and is a giant playmaker. Artavis Scott will lineup opposite him and Jordan Leggett inside. That’s two WRs and a TE that could go in the first three rounds from a university that has consistently sent great receivers to the NFL recently. Deshaun Watson has some varied opinion but he could be one of the more pro ready QBs in the draft that could go late first to second round and be in the Browns radar if the top guys are gone before their second pick if they go Garrett. Defensively Tankersley is intriguing as a big corner that could go day two.
Ohio State doesn’t have the elite group of talent this year after last years mass exodus but they have a bunch of good players. Among the talent the Buckeyes do have almost all are underclassmen and would have to declare. Malik Hooker at safety is looking like an elite NFL safety but he is only a sophomore and sounds like he won’t declare. There are also two other great corners but once again I don’t see Lattimore declaring leaving Conley as the one from the secondary to watch now. Curtis Samuel is the playmaker on offense if he can get going but what I really like about the Buckeyes this year is the interior offensive line. Pat Elflein and Billy Price could be that guard/center combo the Browns desperately need and they will go up against Carlos Watkins, who should be a second round draft pick to make it a good matchup to watch.
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