2017 NFL Mock Draft: Cleveland Browns Get Their Men

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Nov 28, 2015; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators defensive lineman Caleb Brantley (57) pressures Florida State Seminoles quarterback Sean Maguire (10) during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Florida State Seminoles defeated the Florida Gators 27-2. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Florida. Caleb Brantley. 25. player. 50. QB Matthew Stafford is playing the best football of his career with mercurial WR Calvin Johnson retired. He doesn’t miss Johnson at all as he now throws to Golden Tate and Marvin Jones. He’s getting much better protection with 2016 first-round pick Taylor Decker at left OT too. On defense, they’re okay as they’re average against the run and have solid CBs in Nevin Lawson and Darius Slay. The Lions’ problem on defense is that they don’t have much of a pass-rush. Part of it are the injuries DE Ezekiel Ansah has had to go through this year. The other part of it is they don’t have much of an interior pass-rush with Ndamukong Suh gone. Suh is the one guy no longer with the Lions that is badly missed to this day. So here at No. 27 overall, the Lions select Caleb Brantley to be that disruptive presence inside. He is very disruptive with serious quickness and strength to shed blocks at the point of attack. Brantley also has a burst to close in a hurry once he beats his man. He is just the guy to come as a three-technique, gap-shooting defensive tackle in a 4-3 defense.. DT

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