When you Google search a Cleveland Browns mock draft this time of year (a month out from the actual NFL Draft) you’ll get a thousand different articles (maybe I’m exaggerating) but there are a lot. So why not throw out another one for good measure!
Rarely do these mock drafts play out exactly as they are predicted but occasionally things do work out as they thought. Last year, everyone thought that Travis Hunter, the wide receiver from Colorado was going to be drafted by the Browns at the No. 2 pick up until the actual draft. Instead, Cleveland traded that pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars who took Hunter and the Browns later drafted defensive end Mason Graham at pick No. 5.
As the draft gets closer, which starts April 23rd in Pittsburgh, the Browns have picks No. 6 and 24 in the first round to consider. There are plenty of opinions on who the Browns should draft in the early stages of the event. With this mock draft, I take all that into account. Some football analysts suggest the team might trade picks like last year. For this mock I don’t have any trades.
Here’s my first mock draft for the Browns for all seven rounds.
1st Round
No. 6 pick: Caleb Downs, safety, Ohio State
Caleb Downs is the best football player in this draft. I know he’s penciled in as a safety, but he will be able to play all over the defensive field for his future NFL team. If Downs is there, Cleveland would be smart to take him. I realize the team has needs on offense including finding a new wide receiver and if Carnell Take, also from Ohio State is there too at pick No. 6 it’ll be a tough decision to make by the Browns. In the end, if Cleveland wants to strengthen their team the most, they take the best player in the entire draft which is Downs.
No. 24 pick: Caleb Lomu, offensive lineman, Utah
This draft is filled with good talent on the offensive line and Caleb Lomu is one of the best. Lomu will help as the Browns offensive line is in dire need of improvement. If you don’t have a good offensive line to protect the quarterback and create holes for your running back you won’t succeed in the NFL Cleveland has gone out and gotten a few veterans to help shore up the line including Zion Johnson, Elgton Jenkins and Tytus Howard so adding this solid rookie lineman would be a bonus for the team and its future.
Lomu is 6’6 and 315 pounds. He has a good frame for an offensive tackle with room to build his muscle mass. He’s a good and quick athlete. He ran a recent 4.99 40-yard dash. He’s got good hand and arm technique as well when protecting his quarterback. He only allowed eight QB pressures last season.
2nd Round
No. 39 pick: Brandon Cisse, cornerback, South Carolina
The Browns need to strengthen their defense especially with their secondary players. Outside of All-Pro Denzel Ward and recent addition of Tyson Campbell the team needs more talent in this area of the team. Brandon Cisse, who played for South Carolina last season, could be that answer. He played his first two college years at North Carolina State. Combined between the two schools he collected 65 tackles, had two interceptions, and also had 10 pass deflections.
He’s the type of corner that plays well in man-to-man coverage and causes issues for his opponent. His instincts and speed are impressive.
3rd Round
No. 70 pick: Chris Bell, wide receiver, Louisville
The Browns pass on drafting a new wide receiver until here where they take Chris Bell from Louisville. He played all four seasons for the Cardinals catching 151 passes for 2,166 yards and had 12 touchdowns. This past season, he caught 72 passes for 917 yards with six touchdowns. Bell stands 6’2 and has excellent speed. He’s a big target and was hard to tackle after the catch. He did suffer an ACL tear toward the end of last season so he could slide in the draft. However, his talent is obvious though and Cleveland would be getting a certain WR 2 or WR 3 with this pick.
4th Round
No. 107 pick: Davison Igbinosun, cornerback, Ohio State
Cleveland goes back down 1-71 and selects another cornerback, this time Davison Igbinosun from Ohio State. He’s a tall 6’2 corner with great technique in press coverage. He has long and quick hands to create problems all game long to his opponent. He’s also strong in shutting down the run game. He ran a 4.45 at the recent NFL Combine and had a 34” vertical jump along with a 10-foot broad jump.
He started his college career at Ole Miss before playing the last three seasons with the Buckeyes. He had 194 tackles, collected four interceptions, and had 27 pass deflections in his college years. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s not drafted sooner, but if he’s there, Cleveland needs to take him.
5th Round
No. 141 pick: Justin Joly, TE, NC. State
The Browns need to get some depth with their tight end room and selecting Justin Joly from North Carolina State would be a good idea. Joly spent his first two seasons at Connecticut. In his four years between the schools, he caught 166 passes for 1,978 yards and 15 touchdowns. He’s a tall and sturdy player, standing at 6’3 and weighing 241 pounds. He’s been good at catching passes in traffic.
5th Round
No. 146 pick: Billy Schrauth, offensive lineman, Notre Dame
This offensive lineman prospect from Notre Dame stands at 6’5 and weighs 310 pounds. He was the Notre Dame team captain and a two-year starter. He has is work in progress coming into the NFL but has the skills to add additional help to a Browns offensive line that needs major support.
6th round
No. 149 pick: Zane Durant, defensive lineman, Penn State
The Browns are always looking to strengthen their defense and Zane Durant from Penn State could certainly help them with their depth. He’s 6’1 who ran a 4.75 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. He’s got explosiveness along the line and has great lateral movement to disrupt most opponent offenses. He collected 89 tackles and had 10 sacks in his four years at Penn State.
7th Round
No. 206 pick: Jeff Caldwell, wide receiver, Cincinnati
Cleveland can always use another wide receiver as they have struggled to find consistently good ones over the years. Jeff Caldwell, from Cincinnati, could be a wide receiver that might have a shot and bring some help to the wide receiver room. To start with he stands at 6’5 and would be target that your quarterback couldn’t miss. He recently ran a nice 4.31 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. That speed and his long running stride has helped him separate from his opponents on the field.
7th Round
No. 248 pick: Trey Moore, defensive edge, Texas
The Browns have the best defensive edge rusher in the game with Myles Garrett, and they have a few more like Alex Wright and newly added free agent Alex Epinosa to help with this part of the defense. It’s a strong group but one always needs to get stronger and add depth to the position. In this case the Browns take Trey Moore from Texas with this last pick. He stands at 6’3 and is considered by some football analysts as a “tweener” who could play edge but also at the linebacker spot.
Moore ran a nice 4.54 in the recent 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. He might be the biggest edge rusher, but his football techniques and instincts show up every time you watch film on this kid. For his college career he finished with 175 tackles and had 30.5 sacks. He also had 50 tackles for losses, had 13 pass deflections, and caused five forced fumbles.
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