With the 2018 NFL Draft right around the corner, everyone will be keeping a close eye on the Cleveland Browns. Who should Cleveland select?
The Cleveland Browns will have 12 picks in the 2018 NFL Draft. Four of those picks are in the top 40 and six will come on the first two days. Their glaring need is at quarterback, but they’re just as devoid of playmakers.
During the 2017 NFL Draft, previous Browns general manager Sashi Brown used the analytics approach to pick players. Players were picked loosely on the film score and heavily on numbers.
The Browns’ approach has some good uses, but it failed to bring the most important piece of the Browns puzzle: The quarterback.
This season, the Browns have brought in long time personnel man John Dorsey to finally fix this broken team. With the combine looming, here’s an early three-round mock draft to get you ready for what he might do.
It all starts with a quarterback.
Throughout this process, teams have slotted two names at the top: Sam Darnold and Josh Rosen. Darnold and Rosen have continued to be in the conversation as potential No. 1 overall draft picks.
Mayfield, on the other hand, has landed in the mid-to-late first round in most mocks. So picking him here may leave Browns fans scratching their heads.
This draft isn’t about what the media or analyst think is best for the franchise, though. This draft is about what John Dorsey likes in his quarterback.
Mayfield fits that mold. He has pinpoint accuracy, completing over 70 percent of his passes last season. He has deep ball accuracy, which is a trait that Dorsey himself says he covets.
Mayfield has a lot better arm strength than people realize. Watching him on film, I saw him complete a pass of around 73 yards.
Finally, he has great feet/arm mechanics. That’s a trait that coaches think they can fix when flawed with other prospects, but history has shown it’s not as easy as you may think.
What makes Mayfield really special is the stuff you don’t see. His ability to retain data is amazing. He also has extremely high processing speed, and the ability to quickly get through read progressions. Mayfield is a leader on and off the field.
On the downside, he is a little short. Thankfully, his Senior Bowl measurements give some room for relief. His hand size came in at 9.5″, which is right where you want them to be. His height came in at over 6’0″, which is not great, but not terrible either.
All in all, when draft day gets here, I think most of the questions will be answered about Mayfield. I think John Dorsey will turn in the card.
Before Cleveland Browns fans freak out on this pick, let me explain my logic. With the highest paid huard tandem in the league, Nelson probably doesn’t make a lot of sense. However, for me, this pick is not just about selecting the best player available—even though he is.
Nelson is the best player in the 2018 NFL Draft. He’s big, he’s strong, and he’s absolutely devastating to interior defensive lineman. Nelson also is athletic enough to do a lot of cleanup work inside the line.
He has the awareness to feel pass rushers left in space and give his quarterback more room to work. Nelson also has the ability to move multiple players downhill, fixing mistakes made by other linemen.
Cleveland hasn’t been given any indication that Joe Thomas is coming back next season. If the Browns take Nelson, that could in theory move Joe Bitonio back out to tackle to make room for Nelson.
Bitonio played the position in college, and many analysts in the league think he can go back. I’m not sure if Dorsey will be willing to use the No. 4 overall pick on a guard, but this would be an opportunity to get the best player in the draft and a can’t-miss prospect.
Christian Kirk is the perfect complement to the current Cleveland Browns receiving corps. He has good body size (thick) and good feet. Kirk is a true vertical threat who could potentially help Corey Coleman, a player who has so far been a bit of a disappointment.
Kirk showed great top-end speed last season. He was able to many times take the top off of SEC defenses, which can be one of the more challenging things to do in college football. He also plays with a really large catch radius.
That’s one of the things that Cleveland’s receivers and tight ends not named Josh Gordon has struggled with.
Kirk excelled in the return game at Texas A&M, with over 20 yards per return and a touchdown. that’s also a position that the Browns could use an upgrade in.
Kirk doesn’t have great size, but he’s big enough. He would give general manager John Dorsey the kind of player who can open up an offense and help his quarterback get to the next level.
Mike Hughes is a player that may rise through this process. He’s an athletic outside corner who can also move inside if needed. He’s just tall enough to play press, but still fluid enough to play zone.
Hughes does have character issues that might hinder him in breaking into the first round, but if history serves us right, Dorsey won’t be afraid to take him here. If the off the field issues weren’t there Hughes would probably be at the least a top 20 pick.
Hughes will have to get used to playing against high-end talent at the next level. However, long-term, he could be the Browns’ solution to their glaring need in the secondary.
There is a reasonable chance Ronald Jones might not be here at this pick, but this is where I think Cleveland will get their running back of the future. Jones has been projected anywhere from early second round to the late third. It’s safe to say he could very well land here.
Jones gives Cleveland a Bell Cow Back. He’s a strong back with the ability to push lines, despite his size. Jones has great vision, a quality that Browns backs have lacked over the last few seasons.
Jones will have to develop as a pass-catcher if he wants to become a three-down back in the NFL. However, since the Browns already have Duke Johnson for third down situations, Jones won’t be asked to do much more than run north and south.
On a team that is struggling for pass catchers to work with a young quarterback, a stud tight end might be the answer. Last season, the Browns drafted David Njoku to be the guy, and he developed nicely.
The season before that, they took Seth DeValve. DeValve has been a nice player, but he hasn’t really given the team that one-two punch they envisioned with a two tight end set up.
Picking Hurst here, if available, completes the room. Hurst is a big and athletic tight end. He has a huge frame and a long body. He has strong hands and the ability to go up and get 50/50 balls with ease.
His ceiling is the roof, to quote Michael Jordan, and his character is excellent.
Last season, he excelled in both the passing game and his blocking ability. He kept South Carolina in many games in what most felt would be a building year. He was able to get them to a bowl with mediocre quarterback play.
Hurst is a little older, which will caution scouts in giving him a high second-round grade. However, for Browns fans just getting players to a second contract, this is a huge upgrade. John Dorsey will be looking for a player with similar qualities to the those he saw in Travis Kelce in Kansas City.
All in all, with six picks in the top 65, and four of them in the top 40, this will be a fun draft for fans. I fully expect a lot of trades and a lot of action from the Cleveland Browns in the first two days.
Must Read: Josh Allen showing great character
With a little help from upwards of $100 million in cap room and these picks, John Dorsey has an opportunity to finally get the Cleveland Browns into championship form.