Post Combine Browns Mock Draft

Bored today, and with the combine ending I figured I'd throw out a Browns mock draft.

This is how I think the top 3 will shake out

1.  Houston  - Blake Bortles QB UCF.  Dane Brugler from CBSSports, whose opinion I respect and who had Eric Fisher going number 1 to the Chiefs before anyone else last year, has had this penciled in for a while.  There are multiple dots that connect the two, starting with Bill O'Brien's preference for a big strong pocket passer, the fact that O'Brien came up under George O'Leary, Bortles' college coach, and O'Brien's recent hiring of Bortles' college quarterback coach George Godsey.  Bortles could be walking into an ideal situation, as he's going to need coached up and BOB is a good one.


2. St Louis - Jake Matthews OT Texas A&M.  The Rams, for all the picks they added in the RG3 trade, are not exactly brimming with offensive talent.  They have failed to give Sam Bradford anything to work with, (although I'm a Tavon Austin fan, and if they had a coach that knew how to use him he would be dangerous).  That said, they also have the 13th pick in a wide receiver rich draft, and that's why I can see them passing on Watkins.  I think they'll try and move the pick, and may get a bite from a team that likes to make a splash like Atlanta.  If they stay I think they chose the more refined Matthews over Greg Robinson, Fisher had Bruce Matthews (Jake's dad) with the Oilers and knows what he's getting.  Matthews is good, maybe better than his former teammate Joeckel who went 2nd last year.


3.  Jacksonville - Jadaveon Clowney DE South Carolina.  Yes, Jacksonville needs a quarterback.  They can use a wide receiver also.  They are another team that is not overflowing with talent.  What they do have is a great young coach in Gus Bradley, who just watched his former defense in Seattle dominate the Super Bowl with a devastating pass rush.  They also coached at the Senior Bowl, where quarterbacks that may be around in the 2nd round like Derek Carr or Jimmy Garoppolo may have impressed them.  They may just realize that Clowney is the type of talent that you don't pass on, and personally I think a coach like Bradley may be just what Clowney needs.  People can knock Clowney for his "motor" but some guys just want to get paid to play football.  Clowney would have been a top 5 pick after his freshman year, a top 5 pick after his sophomore year, but he had to go back to school for a third season.  He also saw teammate and potential first rounder Marcus Lattimore have his leg turned into a sock full of parts after a nasty hit, and fall into the fourth round.  Clowney is awesome, just remember that over the next couple months as people take shots at him.  He possesses rare Hall of Fame talent.  Plus he'll be good and pissed at Houston, who Jacksonville plays twice a year. 



And now for the Browns (Browns only for now....)

4.  Cleveland - Johnny Manziel QB Texas A&M.  Going into the season, I liked Johnny Football.  I never expected him to be a top 5 pick in the draft, and I never thought I'd want the Browns to take him over Teddy Bridgewater should they have the choice.  I now think he's exactly what the Browns need.  He's much better in the pocket than people give him credit for, he has intermediate and deep accuracy, and he has the "it" factor that this team so desperately needs.  I'm not taking Manziel just for that, but I like that he has it.  I'm not concerned about his height, I think that is overblown a little bit.  He makes plays, he gives his receivers chances to make plays, he understands the game.  He's also only 21 years old, and may still be growing (Size 15 shoes).  Some of his improvisation looks panicked, but to me there is something instinctive about the way he recognizes what is happening around him.  He'll have to learn to avoid getting hit in the NFL but they all do.  I see a franchise changing player when I watch him, and hopefully that franchise is the Browns.  I like Teddy Bridgewater, I really do.  But right now I just like Manziel more.  I could link a hundred different articles that would have probably a hundred different opinions.  But I won't.  Here are a couple that I think are fair.

Here's a thorough evaluation by Brendan Leister at Draft Browns

Here's another by Sigmund Bloom

And here's his page over at Draft Breakdown



26.  Marqise Lee WR USC - Full disclosure I really really want Odell Beckham from LSU but I just don't see him dropping to 26.  If Beckham is there I pounce if I'm the Browns.  That said Lee is a pretty nice consolation prize.  He has decent size at 6'0 and 190 lbs.  He was an absolute stud his freshman and sophomore seasons before falling off a little this past year possibly because of injuries, quarterback questions, and all the turmoil around the coaching changes.  He showed the ability to make plays and get into the endzone in college, and would make a great complement to Josh Gordon.  He's a crisp route runner with above average hands, he'd probably come in and push for a starting spot early.  I'm a fan.  There is good depth at receiver if they wanted to wait, but Lee is pretty damn good and worthy of the 26th pick.  He gives Johnny a legit weapon to pair with Gordon and Cameron.

Draft Breakdown page here



35.  Troy Niklas TE Notre Dame - This is a bit off the radar but I'm a big fan of having multiple good tight ends and value the versatility they can provide for NFL offenses.  With the emphasis on matchups in today's NFL, having good tight ends limits what a defense can do against certain formations.  An offense can line up in a power formation and then in a spread look without substituting if they have good enough tight ends.  They can control tempo and create matchup nightmares.  See the Pats with Gronk and Hernandez.  That's why I liked Eifert so much last year, and like Niklas here this year.  Niklas is a huge, old school inline tight end and a great complement to Jordon Cameron.  He's 6'6 270 lbs with good hands and good athleticism.  He can play flexed out or inline, and would also give the Browns another huge redzone target.  He may be a work in progress but should have the time to develop with Cameron here.  He had big games on the big stages, against Michigan and USC, and then again in the bowl game.  I'm a big fan, I think if he would have gone back to school he'd be a top 15 pick next year.  I'm taking him now, and giving JFF a full toychest to play with.

Draft Breakdown page here

71.  Joel Bitonio OG Nevada - Guard will be addressed, either in free agency or the draft.  Shaun Lauvao simply is not good enough to start, and there exists the potential that Alex Mack will walk and John Greco will have to slide over and play center.  Bitonio was a tackle in college but will play guard, he can fit into a zone blocking scheme if Kyle Shannahan brings that along.  I've read more about him than seen him, but he seems like a logical fit at that spot.  I should add that I love Jared Abbrederis and really really want him to end up on the Browns.  I just cannot in this scenario (as fantastical is it may already be) go QB WR TE WR in this draft.  But honestly if there is a player outside of the first round that I really really want on the Browns its him.

Draft Breakdown page here


83.  Jordan Zumwalt LB UCLA - Craig Robertson had a rough second half of the season, either due to an inability to adjust by Ray Horton or by deficiencies in his game. Regardless, linebacker is a position that should be addressed.  Enter Zumwalt, a versatile tackling machine with the temperament you want in a linebacker.  He has experience in a multi front defense and has played both inside and outside.  At worst he should step in and contribute immediately on special team.  I love the guy I'm a big fan,  He nearly knocked Logan Thomas off of planet Earth in the bowl game.  He's the kind of guy that will give everything he's got. 

Draft Breakdown page here

102.  James Hurst OT UNC - Was pretty highly regarded going into his senior season.  He broke his leg (badly) in the bowl game and may be a good value here, but may be looking at a redshirt rookie season.  At worst, he provides depth at both tackle spots, and at best he possible kicks Mitchell Schwartz inside or moves inside himself and turns into a starter. 

Draft breakdown page here







123.  Tyler Gaffney RB Stanford - I expect the running back position to be addressed in free agency, and Dion Lewis and Edwin Baker showed promise last season, so I don't believe running back will be a high priority.  Gaffney is just a solid back who doesn't really stand out in any one thing but does everything pretty well.  He ran faster than expected at the combine which may move him up a little.  Taking him here with the expectation that it will be a backfield by committee with him, Lewis, a free agent, and possibly Baker.

Draft Breakdown page here








133.  Ricardo Allen CB Purdue - At this point I'm deferring to players I've seen play rather than some of the small school guys that will surely get looked at by team.  Allen is a smaller corner but every time I've seen him he plays bigger than he is.  I'm a big fan, I think he can make this team as a backup corner and special teams player.  I'm not as down on Leon McFadden as everyone else is also, and that's why I'm okay waiting this long to take a DB.

Draft Breakdown page here

164.  Connor Shaw QB South Carolina - Someone else had the Browns taking Shaw late, and I actually like the strategy of taking two quarterbacks in one draft.  I like Shaw, I think he can play.  He's also limited by his size, but he has pretty good speed and a decent arm.  He's a developmental quarterback behind Manziel and Hoyer.  The only quarterbacks in this draft I really like are Manziel, Bridgewater, Brett Smith from Wyoming, and Shaw.  I'm coming around on Aaron Murray, but still...

Draft Breakdown page here






195.  Colt Lyerla TE Ex-Oregon - He may be long gone, or he may be undraftable.  He's a knucklehead with an unbelievable amount of talent.  He was kicked off the team at Oregon (or left) and apparently loves cocaine and booze.  HOWEVER, here I'd take him and see if I can get him sorted out.  Read the article below and you'll understand why someone as talented as him may still be on the board.  But I think in this mock I've taken enough good character good football guys that I'm okay with the risk.

A Troubled Talent

Draft Breakdown





There you go - first Browns mock of the season.  I never commented on the Banner Lombardi thing, all I'll say is that I'm more confident in the direction of this team and front office than I have been in a long time.