Cleveland Browns: Two-round 2018 NFL Mock Draft after blockbuster trades

The Cleveland Browns executed a pair of blockbuster trades for Pro Bowlers Jarvis Landry and Tyrod Taylor. What should Cleveland now do at the 2018 NFL Draft?

The 2018 NFL Draft has the potential to be the event that immediately returns the Cleveland Browns to glory. Cleveland went 0-16 in 2017, but has more than $100 million in cap space and four of the first 35 picks in the annual selection process.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Browns kicked off this momentous offseason by sending a third and a seventh-round draft pick to the Miami Dolphins for Pro Bowl wide receiver Jarvis Landry.

Ian Rapaport of NFL.com was the first to report the trade.

Shortly thereafter, Rapoport reported that the Browns have acquired the player who may be the franchise quarterback in Tyrod Taylor.

While it may be appealing to select a franchise quarterback at No. 1 overall, I’m not of the belief that one unequivocally exists in this draft class. Thus, the acquisition of Taylor should be viewed as the addition of a quarterback who can lead the organization into the near future.

That doesn’t necessarily mean the Browns won’t take a project quarterback at No. 4, but the No. 1 overall draft pick will be reserved for an immediate impact player.

Cleveland didn’t trade for Landry and Thomas just to be content with being more competitive than it was in 2017. The goal is to make the playoffs, and with a solid offensive line and both Landry and Josh Gordon at wide receiver, the offense is all but ready.

The question is: What does a mock draft now look like for the Cleveland Browns after the Jarvis Landry and Tyrod Taylor trades shook the NFL at its core?

The question here is simple: Do the Cleveland Browns go all-in on offense or defense during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft? The group of Tyrod Taylor, Duke Johnson Jr., Jarvis Landry, and Josh Gordon would certainly be solid, but adding a star running back will be a vital step.

Thankfully for the Browns, the No. 1 overall player on the board is also the best running back prospect in quite some time: Saquon Barkley.

Barkley is the best runner and receiver amongst the running backs in this draft class. He can find and hit gaps along the interior of the offensive line, bounce outside the tackles, and create something from nothing with his rare combination of size, speed, and strength.

Barkley is also a tremendous receiver, as evidenced by the fact he led all running backs in this draft class with 54 receptions—for 632 yards and three touchdowns, no less.

With Barkley and Johnson in the backfield, and a trio of Gordon, Landry, and Corey Coleman at wide receiver, the Browns would have an explosive offense. Whether or not you believe in Taylor, his job would become significantly easier with this personnel.

Cleveland needs nothing more than talent, and Barkley is the single best player in the 2018 NFL Draft—positions be damned.

Tyrod Taylor is a quality quarterback who can help the Cleveland Browns play at a high enough level to win games. The general consensus about this trade, however, is that giving up a third-round draft pick for Taylor means turning him into a bridge between the present and future.

If that proves to be the case, then it would behoove the Browns to select Josh Allen with the No. 4 overall selection in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Taylor has the tools to lead the Browns to team success in 2018, which he’s signed through at a reasonable $16 million. He’ll be a free agent in 2019, however, and is far from guaranteed to even want to re-sign in Cleveland.

Thus, the Browns select the franchise quarterback and give Allen the year on the sidelines that most agree he’ll need in the NFL.

Regardless of how you feel about his NFL readiness, Allen has the highest ceiling of any quarterback in this draft class. He’s the prototype from a physical perspective, with the size, athleticism, and generational arm strength to be a genuine superstar.

With a year behind Taylor in an offense that will have time to jell with a more established quarterback, Allen could have the cushion he needs to develop into the star he can be.

Derrick Kindred is an starting-caliber strong safety, but that isn’t necessarily a good thing for the Cleveland Browns. Jabril Peppers played out of position at free safety in 2017 and would benefit greatly from a change of position that would enable him to be closer to the line of scrimmage.

Minkah Fitzpatrick was an option at No. 4 overall, but with Cleveland instead selecting a franchise quarterback, Justin Reid becomes the perfect player to help Peppers move to strong safety.

Reid doesn’t necessarily have an elite skill, but he’s one of the most well-rounded prospects in this draft class. He lined up at virtually every safety spot imaginable for Stanford, and should provide that same versatility to a Cleveland team that needs to help Peppers thrive.

With tremendous athleticism and the versatility to play the run, line up in coverage, and make plays on the ball, Reid is as close as they come to the prototype.

With Reid and Peppers at the safety spots, the Browns would have two versatile talents who could enable each other to play to their strengths. Reid has the ball-hawking skills to make plays at free safety, as well as the ability to bring help against the run.

If you’re looking for statistics to support Reid’s appeal, try 6.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, five interceptions, and six passes defended in 2017. He can do it all.

The Cleveland Browns recently traded defensive tackle Danny Shelton to the New England Patriots. It was a significant decision that created a void along a defensive line that has the potential for greatness with Myles Garrett rushing the passer from the edge.

If the Browns plan to fill that void via the 2018 NFL Draft, then former Virginia Tech Hokies defensive tackle Tim Settle could be the answer.

There are understandable concerns about the weight that Settle carries around his waist. He was challenged by the Virginia Tech coaching staff to lose weight before and during the 2017 campaign, however, and answered the call by doing exactly that.

On the field, Settle has garnered Vince Wilfork comparisons for his ability to consume multiple blockers, blow up the run, and even get after the quarterback.

Settle finished the 2017 season with 12.5 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks. That’s evidence of what makes him such an interesting prospect, as he overcomes the weight concerns by being explosive off the line and disruptive in the backfield.

Cleveland could go a different route here, but with Shelton out of the picture and Settle one of the best players available, this pick would make sense.

Whether it’s Tyrod Taylor or Josh Allen under center, the Cleveland Browns need an offensive line that knows how to block for a mobile quarterback. With Saquon Barkley at running back, the Browns need an offensive line that can create running lanes.

The foundation has already been laid, which makes Ohio State Buckeyes offensive tackle Jamarco Jones the perfect pick at No. 64 overall.

Jones has experience blocking in a run-heavy offense that featured a number of running quarterbacks. He projects to be a right tackle at the next level, but that’s what Cleveland needs to complete the formation of a high-level offensive line.

With Joe Thomas and Jones at tackle, and Joel Bitonio and Kevin Zeitler at guard, the Browns would have four players who can be trusted.

Jones doesn’t do anything spectacularly well, but he has long arms and a motor that simply doesn’t quit. He’ll need to bulk up from his current weight of 299 pounds, but if anyone can help him prepare for the NFL, it’s surefire Hall of Famer Joe Thomas.

There may be flashier picks to make than this, but the Browns have a chance to find a high-character player who can help change the culture in Jones.

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The acquisition of Jarvis Landry and Tyrod Taylor is just the beginning for the Cleveland Browns.