2017 Browns Mock Drafts: WZIP Edition

Like most football fans, we here at WZIP absolutely love when mock drafts roll around. So this year, we figured why not create our own? Below are a few different mock drafts for this upcoming NFL draft as each draft explores different routes the Browns can take to finally get their franchise turned around. Will this draft for Cleveland be one for the ages? Or (like so many drafts prior) will the Browns end up with a bunch of busts (and not the kind in Canton)? Some drafts keep it simple with selections, others include trades. Check all of the drafts out below!

*Drafts were created BEFORE compensatory picks were announced on Friday, February 24th. The Browns received 4 additional picks that are not included in these drafts.

Colin Valencic

First round

1.      DE – Myles Garrett – Texas A&M

After years of missing out on the first overall pick by just a few wins, the Browns didn’t pick an awful year to be the worst team in the league record wise. That’s because the “trophy” in this year’s draft is defensive end Myles Garrett. The 6’5’’ 270 lbs junior’s name has talked about as the number one overall pick since last year’s draft ended, and for good reason. The combination of Garretts strength and athletes makes him a prototypical pass rusher, a position the Browns desperately need to address. If everything goes as planned, Garrett will be sacking quarterbacks in the brown and orange for the next decade.

12.  S – Malik Hooker – Ohio State

Ryan Shazier, Eli Apple, Ezekiel Elliott, Joey Bosa, and many more Ohio State Buckeyes have been passed up by the Browns in drafts in recent memory, leaving many Ohioans frustrated as they see these players go on to have successful NFL careers. Due to roster need, Malik Hooker is the perfect fit for the Browns at 12. Not to take away from Hooker’s ability, the 6’2’’ safety is a ball hawk and attacks the football in passing lanes better than anyone in the country in the 2016-17 college football season. Hooker only started one year while in Columbus, so naturally his experience will be questioned, but if Hooker can stay disciplined to his role in the NFL he could make a big impact with his raw talent in year one.

Second round

33. OT – Cam Robinson – Alabama

This is a bit wishful thinking, but I do believe the Browns are beginning to worry about life after Joe Thomas. Due to trouble with the law, Cam Robinson’s stock has fallen drastically since the beginning of the college football season so I think this may be a perfect opportunity for the Browns to pounce on a highly touted Alabama prospect. After the combine I’m sure he’ll move up the draft board, but for now I have him at 33.

52. TE – Evan Engram – Ole Miss

Gary Barnidge second year as the feature TE in Cleveland didn’t go quite as well as his first, and in a Hue Jackson offense a good Tight-end is vital in success. Engram is extremely athletic and his ceiling is higher than some may think. His route running seems to be a bit more polished then other college tight-ends and I think Hue Jackson will jump at the opportunity to draft this man.

Third round

65. QB Brad Kaya – Miami (FLA.)

It was coming sooner or later, I do believe the Browns will end up a number of their picks, as well as some future picks, for a quarterback before the draft. As of today, they have not yet, so Brad Kaya is the next contestant up on the longest running series in the league, “The Next Browns Quarterback,” Est. 1999. It’s like the bachelor, but much less eventful. Good luck Brad!

Fifth round

128. WR – Trent Taylor – La. Tech

The Browns fall flat on the face with their WR selections in the second half of the draft last semester as Ricardo Louis, Seth DeValve, Jordan Payton and Rashard Higgins all should flashes, but couldn’t find consistence. The Browns will try to make good with Taylor early in the fifth round.

158. LB – Paul Magloire – Arizona

Magloire lead the Wildcat’s defense in tackling last season in his second season starting at linebacker, and he is an athletic freak. If he is available this late, this would be a good value pick for the Browns.

Sixth round

159 – QB Josh Dobbs – Tennessee

With the Browns last pick in the 2017 draft, they’re going to just keep trying to get it right….

 

Rocco Nuosci

First Round:

1. (1st Pick)Myles Garrett, DL, Texas A&M: The consensus “best player” of this upcoming draft class, Garrett would provide immediate help to a defense that certainly needs it… and a lot of it. If there’s one thing the New York Giants have taught us, it’s that you can win a Super Bowl with lots of depth on the D-line, and Garrett gets the Browns started in the right direction on that front. With 47 tackles for loss and 31 sacks over his collegiate career at Texas A&M, Garrett would find a nice little niche as the Browns premier pass rusher from day 1.
2. (12th pick) Mike Williams, WR, Clemson: The Browns have infuriated fans with not drafting receivers over the years which changed last year with the Corey Coleman pick (which has looked like a good one thus far), so why not give that offense another weapon? With a 6-3, 200 pound frame, Williams instantly becomes a big time threat for the Browns. Last season, Williams hauled in 98 catches for just over 1300 yards and 50 touchdowns. A receiving core of Pryor, Williams, and Coleman would be nice for whatever poor soul is stuck playing quarterback for the ol’ Brownies next year.

Second Round

1. (33rd pick) Tre’Davious White, CB, LSU: It’s no secret that the Browns secondary has been a bit suspect in recent years. With Joe Haden’s performance as the premier cover guy continues to dwindle week by week it seems, the Browns should look to shore up that secondary. White was First Team All-America and First Team All-SEC last year and provided the Tigers with 34 broken up passes and 4 interceptions (including one pick six) during his collegiate career.
2. (52nd pick) Justin Evans, S, Texas A&M: Why not take two Aggies in the first 2 rounds? Evans enters the draft with a 6-1, 195 pound frame that he is not afraid to use. The big hitter racked up 87 tackles last year (including 52 solo stops) along with 4 interceptions. Evans provides instant relief to a safety core that just flat is not good. Evans has also proven the ability to handle kick returns (although so could Justin Gilbert and…. Just nevermind).

Third Round

1. (65th pick) Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech: Scratch everything you have heard about the Browns not drafting a quarterback this year. Mahomes (assuming he is still on the board) could be a great fit in Cleveland… the key word being could. Mahomes put up great numbers last year (65.7 completion percentage, 5052 passing yards, and 41 touchdowns) however his mechanics are still a bit raw and he definitely needs some polishing if he ever hopes to make an impact in the league. Having Coleman, Pryor, and possibly Mike Williams on the roster could help Mahomes out.

Fifth Round

1. (128th pick) Kareem Are, G, Florida State: Are missed the first two games of last season via concussion. However, Dalvin Cook’s numbers increased rapidly after his return. Coincidence? Take it as you want, but any 6-6, 334 pound guard with as much strength as Are can shore up any offensive line, especially a Browns offensive line touting Alvin Bailey as its best guard. With a very weak offensive line class with no depth to it, I keep this as my only O-Line pick of the draft.
2. (158th pick) Kevin Davis, LB, Colorado State: Cleveland’s linebacker core got much stronger with the addition of Jamie Collins, however, an upgrade over Demario Davis on the inside is needed. Davis, who is one of three players in FCS play last year to record over 100 tackles, multiple sacks, multiple forced fumbles, and at least one interception. The multi-talent linebacker would be a nice addition to the Browns’ worrisome defense.

Sixth Round

1. (159th pick) Corey Clement, RB, Wisconsin: Clement would be a nice late-round addition to a team that has gotten pretty inconsistent play from its tailbacks in Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson. A hard runner, Clement had a great year with the Badgers in 2016, rushing for over 1300 yards (including a 164 yard performance against the Buckeyes) and 15 touchdowns.

Clay Wyers

Round 1, Pick 1: Myles Garrett  DE, Texas A&M

After seeing what the Eagles did with Carson Wentz last year using a pick Cleveland traded to them, I don’t think there’s any way that Cleveland trades their first pick this year. With Myles Garrett being the projected number 1 overall pick, I think its a no brainer for Cleveland to take him. Sure, we really need a QB, but we also need pretty much everything else, and finding a good pass rusher can be difficult in the NFL.

Round 1, Pick 12:   Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama

I think Cleveland has a few decent options for QB, and none involve drafting a QB in the first round. Cody Kessler showed some promise, and Tyrod Taylor could be available, and I think that if the Browns take a QB, they should do it in the later rounds, firstly focus on the difficult skill positions, like CB. Humphrey’s a solid choice, coming from Alabama, and I think its a safe bet.

Round 2: Pick 1:  Antonio Garcia, OT, Troy

A big priority for the Browns should be the offensive line. We had 3 QBs start the first 3 weeks of the season, because of injuries, and whoever is the quarterback for the Browns just needs to be better protected. I think the Browns will take an OT early second round to help shore up the offensive line.

Round 2: Pick 18:  C Pat Elflein, Ohio State

Again, the Browns need a better Offensive Line. They need to stop trying to make Irving at center happen, because its not going to happen. Elflein from Ohio state could be a good pick, as he has experience as a center, is from our backyard, and knows what its like to win, atleast at the college level.

Round 3: Pick 1: Sidney Jones, CB, Washington

Another CB, the Browns need pretty much everything, and Sidney Jones could be a part of their new secondary that can finish games

5th Round:

Jordan Willis, DE Kansas State

Damontae Kazee, CB San Diego State

6th Round:

Xavier Woods, S  Lousiana Tech

Ben Thomas

Ben went with a slightly different approach to things, giving us two mock drafts. One he feels is more realistic, the other, well…. One can dream, right?

Probable Draft:

1 (1)– Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M

1 (12)– Marlon Humphry, CB, Alabama

2 (33)– Garrett Bolles, OT, Utah

2 (52)– Malachi Dupre, WR, LSU

3 (65)– Desmond King, S, Iowa

5 (128)– Tyler Orlosky, C, West Virginia

5 (158)– James Connor, RB, Pittsburgh

6 (159)- Ryan Switzer, WR, North Carolina

Dream Draft:

1 (1)– Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M

1 (12)– Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State

2(33)– Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama

2 (52)- TRADE (Send to New England for Jimmy Garoppolo)

3 (65)– Juju Smith-Schuster, WR, USC

5 (128)– TRADE (Send to New England for Jimmy Garoppolo)

5 (158)– Tyler Orlosky, C, West Virginia

6 (159)– James Connor, RB, Pittsburgh

Mario Beverley

Pick 1 Myles Garrett DE, Texas A&M

Pick 12 Quincy Wilson CB, Florida

Pick 33 Deshaun Watson QB, Clemson

Pick 52 Ethan Pocic OL, LSU

Pick 65  Adoree’ Jackson, CB, USC

Pick 128 Avery Gennesy OT, Texas A&M

Pick 158 Marquel Lee LB, Wake Forest

Pick 159 Jerome Lane WR, Akron

Nick Jordan

Pick 1: Myles Garrett

Pick 12: Jabrill Peppers

Pick 33: DeShone Kizer

Pick 52: T.J. Watt

Pick 65: O-Lineman

Pick 128: O-Lineman

Pick 158: O-Lineman

Pick 159: O-Lineman

Analysis: Once again the Browns have a prime opportunity to add some supreme talent to the roster in the early rounds. Garrett seems to be the consensus first pick and has even said he would like to play in Cleveland if drafted (bruh, you lyin’). Hopefully the fact that Jabrill Peppers doesn’t have a set position causes him to fall to the Browns at the 12th pick; I think Peppers ends up being a safety in the NFL and that is definitely an area the team will address in the draft. If Kizer falls all the way to the second round and the Browns don’t trade for Jimmy “no guap” Garrapolo I will lose my mind with joy. T.J. Watt has the pedigree to be a star in the league and might not make it to the second round, but there is some optimism that the Browns will have a chance to snag him with their second, second round pick. In my personal opinion, if the Browns don’t draft at least three offensive linemen, the draft will be a failure.