Browns Draft Scenarios

Let's take a look just for fun at some of the scenarios for the Browns with their first 4 picks.  I don't know enough to say that any of these three are possible, but just for fun let's go at it.

My ideal scenario

4 - Trent Richardson RB

22 or trade up - Kendall Wright WR

37 or trade up - Bobby Massie RT

67 - Bruce Irvin DE

This gives the Browns a gamebreaker at RB and WR, taking some pressure off of Colt McCoy.  With Massie the Browns get the best RT in the draft and an instant starter, although he'll have to live up to the expectations of the turnstyles thrown out there for the last few seasons.  Bruce Irvin is a one trick pony right now but his get off and ability to get to the quarterback are extremely impressive.  Even if he's only a 3rd down pass rusher he'd give the Browns a dynamic threat off the edge.  The Browns could load up on defense with their remaining picks, although they'd probably add another WR somewhere.

Alternate scenario 1 - Claiborne at 4

4 - Morris Claiborne CB
22 - Mike Adams or Jonathan Martin, T
37 - Reuban Randle or Stephen Hill, WR
67 - Isaiah Pead RB

I believe Claiborne at 4 is a very real possiblity.  He's got size, speed, and ball skills and would pair with Haden to give the Browns 2 solid cornerbacks.  They could shore up the offensive line with Adams or Martin, both of whom should start at RT from day 1.  Both have ability but may have rough rookie seasons until they get stronger.  Randle or Hill both fit the west coast offense and are big and fast, but again they may need more time to develop.  Pead is a very good running back, he's shifty and can catch the ball.  He's not going to be a 20-25 carry a game guy but could develop into a starter.  I wouldn't be surprised if the Steelers nabbed him in the 2nd.

Alternate scenario 2 - QB in the 2nd

4 or trade back to 6 - Justin Blackmon WR
22 - Stephon Gilmore CB
37 - Brandon Weeden or Kirk Cousins QB
67 - Mitchell Schwartz RT

In this scenario the Browns would likely trade back with the Rams, Rams taking Claiborne or Richardson and the Bucs taking whomever the Rams don't.  Blackmon would likely be left and would be a Brown, giving McCoy a legitimate weapon.  Gilmore is a great fit for the Browns D if he's there at 22, he has size and speed, and he can play the press man that the Browns like to play.  In the 2nd they take a QB, either Weeden or Cousins.  Either guy would give McCoy competition for the starting job.  Schwartz should be able to come in and start, and with the move back they'd likely pick up an additional 3rd that they can use on Pead or another RB.

Alternate scenario 3 - Defensive focused

4 - Morris Claiborne CB
22 - Nick Perry DE
37 - Lavonte David or Zach Brown OLB
67 - Juron Criner WR

In this look they load up on D, taking the top CB in Claiborne and a possible future stud at DE in Nick Perry, who would be brought along slowly behind Rucker but drips with upside.  In the 2nd they take their WLB for the future.  Both David and Brown are run and chase guys but have speed to burn and would bring some athleticism to the defense.  Criner could be a 3rd round guy who develops into a starter, he's got size and fits the offense.  Not a burner though and will need to learn the finer points of the position in order to create separation.

Alternative scenario 4 - the fallers

4 - Trent Richardson RB
22 - Courtney Upshaw DE
37 - Janoris Jenkins CB
67 - Schwartz or Criner

In this scenario the Browns take Richardson at 4.  They snag Upshaw at 22, he's supposedly been falling as teams aren't sure where he'll fit in the pros.  He'd be a good pick at 22 and he and Sheard could develop into a really good bookend tandem.  Janoris Jenkins comes with a lot of risk, he has 4 kids (he's only 23) and really likes smoking weed.  He recently changed agents which raised some red-flags.  Apparently he's been moving down draft boards, but his talent is undeniable.  Talent-wise he's the second best corner in the draft and worth the risk at 37.  They take either the best RT or WR in the 3rd and round and fill out the team with their remaining picks.

Alternative scenario 5 - end of the world

4 - Ryan Tannehill QB
22 - Adams or Martin T
37 - Doug Martin RB
67 - Chase Minnifield CB or Criner WR

This is the one.  The one (most) Browns fans are the most afraid of.  Ryan Tannehill, project QB, at 4.  Even if they moved back to 7 it would still be too high.  To pass on Claiborne, Blackmon and Richardson for Tannehill would be a mistake of epic proportions in my mind.  They take the tackle at 22.  They save some face if they take Martin in the 2nd, though they may have to move up.  He's the second best back in the draft.  Minnifield on name alone would be a great player to add to the Browns, and although he's not had a great pre-draft process he showed he could play in his junior year and could be a good pick in the 3rd.  A lot of people say he's only a cover 2 corner though and doesn't have the speed or strength to play press man, so this may be a pipe dream.


What's it all mean?  Nothing at all, it's purely speculation.  The Browns are going to draft whomever they think will be the best players.  The obvious need for playmakers is really obvious though, and hopefully they'll come out of this draft with a few.  They also must find a right tackle.  So there's work to do and we'll have 13 more days to speculate until it all goes down. But prepare for the worst and hope for the best Browns fans, and maybe, just maybe, we'll finally get what we've been waiting for.