2017 Browns Mock Draft Thread

[Randolphkeys]

Aside from the Erving failure, this offensive line is average today but could rise to the top ten. Think about all the injuries to this squad last year: Bitonio only played five games, Coleman only played six, Greco missed four games in there as well. In their place, the Browns got some solid play from 24 year old Spencer Drango and 25 year old Alvin Bailey. The guard spots and of course Joe are rock solid.

Pasztor started the year average to below average, but got better as the year progressed. Coleman might be ready to take over at right tackle, but the Browns will need a tackle to push him/back up both tackles.

So the line is in need of two players, but there are much more dire areas for this team.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

If we don't get Tretter, then I think we really need to get either Pocic or Elflein. I don't even pretend to be an expert on OL play, but the one thing that concerns me about Pocic is that he's 6'7", which is really tall for a center. I don't know if that's because guys that tall generally play at tackle, and centers are shorter by default, or if there are legitimate reasons why it is difficult for a 6'7" guy to succeed at C in the NFL. I'll trust the Browns on that since I'm really raising a question -- not pretending to have an answer.

I suppose one alternative is to acquire a guard instead, keep Greco at C, and find some other C deeper in the draft if we miss out on either of the top two guys.

 

[CommD]

That is true, but I am also not really afraid to take a chance on a young player with upside in free agency either. Getting Tretter and drafting Pocic (who is projected at C or G) and then moving Erving to guard, would help upgrade this OLine at the end of the day. I think we need that veteran and the rookie. We should bring in a veteran at RT as well whether it is a starter or backup

I know it's not a popular opinion, but I think the Browns have already successfully invested on the OL over the past few years. If Pasztor is resigned, I think he is your RG and Coleman/Erving will have RT covered (not ready to throw out Erving--if he keeps working on his body, he has talent and his versatility is valuable). These two will likely get work as emergency LT as well.

Bitonio has proven Pro Bowl caliber when healthy and should be back as the LG starter. Drango showed he is at a minimum a solid backup at LG. Erving, Greco, and Bitoniio can all move to C in a pinch.

Unfortunately I don't think Greco can be counted on at the beginning of the season but can work his way to backup at all three interior positions. The missing piece is the starting center and several good draft options have been mentioned in this thread. CLE needs to secure one of these in the draft, re-sign Pasztor and OL should be good to go. If FA is brought in, I don't think Pasztor will be brought back.

 

[ajz20]

I know it's not a popular opinion, but I think the Browns have already successfully invested on the OL over the past few years. If Pasztor is resigned, I think he is your RG and Coleman/Erving will have RT covered (not ready to throw out Erving--if he keeps working on his body, he has talent and his versatility is valuable). These two will likely get work as emergency LT as well.

Bitonio has proven Pro Bowl caliber when healthy and should be back as the LG starter. Drango showed he is at a minimum a solid backup at LG. Erving, Greco, and Bitoniio can all move to C in a pinch.

Unfortunately I don't think Greco can be counted on at the beginning of the season but can work his way to backup at all three interior positions. The missing piece is the starting center and several good draft options have been mentioned in this thread. CLE needs to secure one of these in the draft, re-sign Pasztor and OL should be good to go. If FA is brought in, I don't think Pasztor will be brought back.

Anyone that thinks Erving can play as an NFL starter needs to listen to LeCharles Bentley on the A to Z podcast last week. Bentley does not hold back. Time to stop pretending Cam is a good option going forward.

 

[CommD]

Anyone that thinks Erving can play as an NFL starter needs to listen to LeCharles Bentley on the A to Z podcast last week. Bentley does not hold back. Time to stop pretending Cam is a good option going forward.

Erving = versatile backup. Ironically, just like Petin's group employed him.

 

[ajz20]

Erving = versatile backup. Ironically, just like Petin's group employed him.

He could also easily be out of the NFL in 2 to three years based on his play so far. He needs to earn a roster spot with a solid camp and pre season. We need to cut down on the amount of below average players on the 53 if we want to seriously start winning games.

 

[Randolphkeys]

I didn't watch every Browns game last season, often I'd check in for a quarter here or there... but so much of the offense is hard to assess due to the truly horrible quarterback play. High tide raises all boats.

At the minimum, a change at center and QB will give the offense a chance to build something sustainable and an identity. The Browns moved Erving to the right side when healthy at the end of the year to send a message about his future as a starting center. He doesn't get to learn on the job and make mistakes anymore. When every play starts with an inept center snapping to an inept quarterback, it takes a lot for the supporting players to shine.

While we are talking about the brutal offense, it's time to bring in a running back who bumps Duke Johnson to third string/passing game duty. The Titans might have pissed off fantasy football players with that Murray/Henry one two punch, but Crow needs his other half. Farmer is gone, most of the scouts from those 2014 and 2015 drafts are gone. That underperforming group either shows growth or gets shown the door. A pair of later round backs I'm interested in are Joe Mixon out of Oklahoma and James Connor out of Pitt.

 

[sportscoach]

I know it's not a popular opinion, but I think the Browns have already successfully invested on the OL over the past few years. If Pasztor is resigned, I think he is your RG and Coleman/Erving will have RT covered (not ready to throw out Erving--if he keeps working on his body, he has talent and his versatility is valuable). These two will likely get work as emergency LT as well.

Bitonio has proven Pro Bowl caliber when healthy and should be back as the LG starter. Drango showed he is at a minimum a solid backup at LG. Erving, Greco, and Bitoniio can all move to C in a pinch.

Unfortunately I don't think Greco can be counted on at the beginning of the season but can work his way to backup at all three interior positions. The missing piece is the starting center and several good draft options have been mentioned in this thread. CLE needs to secure one of these in the draft, re-sign Pasztor and OL should be good to go. If FA is brought in, I don't think Pasztor will be brought back.

I cannot agree with it since I don't think they have done enough to get it to the level we really need it at. A team needs a very good OLine to make it to the playoffs and to the top. We are going to have a young QB under center no matter who it is. I'd rather have a top 10 if not top 5 OLine. True I build a football team from the lines first. Upgrading the OLine this season I feel is a need/something we must do. Now RB and WR (as long as we get Pryor) are my lowest needs this season. RBs are the position on offense that can come in early and make a difference. I think we upgrade the OLine, DLine, and Secondary this offseason and this team will be close to being a wild card team.

 

[Pick6]

While we are talking about the brutal offense, it's time to bring in a running back who bumps Duke Johnson to third string/passing game duty. The Titans might have pissed off fantasy football players with that Murray/Henry one two punch, but Crow needs his other half. Farmer is gone, most of the scouts from those 2014 and 2015 drafts are gone. That underperforming group either shows growth or gets shown the door. A pair of later round backs I'm interested in are Joe Mixon out of Oklahoma and James Connor out of Pitt.

Not sure why you're going out of your way to bash Johnson. He averaged 4.9 YPC (compared to 4.8 for Crow) last season and is clearly a much bigger threat in the passing game. He's also younger and doesn't call for killing cops.

With that said I'm totally open to adding a RB in the draft. Connor is not a passing threat at all. He was a stud his first two years. I cannot comment on how he was this year after the cancer (obviously was still good though). Seems like a potential Crow replacement to me rather than a compliment back.

Mixon could end up being the steal of the draft. Great all around back in college and I'd expect the same in the pros. Only has 2 years of wear and tear on his body..really even less because he split carries very evenly with Perine. 3rd best RB outside of Cook and Fournette IMO. Will obviously slide because of the baggage and the Browns or whoever need to decide if the baggage is worth it. The Chiefs took a gamble on Tyreek Hill (who's offense was less known, but is a worse offender, IMO) and it worked out great for them. I'd guess the Browns would need to take Mixon before the 5th though, unlike Hill.

 

[bob2the2nd]

I would imagine mixon is going before the 3rd. As much as the personal stuff is scary its been 3 years and he has the talent of a first round back.

 

[Randolphkeys]

Not sure why you're going out of your way to bash Johnson. He averaged 4.9 YPC (compared to 4.8 for Crow) last season and is clearly a much bigger threat in the passing game. He's also younger and doesn't call for killing cops.

I'll separate this out because I wasn't very clear. Duke can be useful in a limited type of play packages. Call him a James White type of passing back. Let him be that third running back who catches screens, flanks out wide, and runs when it's third down or an injury hits the starters. I don't see him as a player you can establish the run with on the first two downs. When I see him on the game, it seems like he runs for no gain twice then pops a longer run eventually to raise the average. That's fine on third down as a weapon , but all those short gain or no gain plays kill drives. I'd like to see Crow as the co-starter or second stringer with a back built to carry a bigger load. Crow was signed to be that type of second back, but West didn't pan out. If the Browns want to fix other important positions first, fine by me... But don't think the Browns running back committee is a complete one.

With that said I'm totally open to adding a RB in the draft. Connor is not a passing threat at all. He was a stud his first two years. I cannot comment on how he was this year after the cancer (obviously was still good though). Seems like a potential Crow replacement to me rather than a compliment back.

Mixon could end up being the steal of the draft. Great all around back in college and I'd expect the same in the pros. Only has 2 years of wear and tear on his body..really even less because he split carries very evenly with Perine. 3rd best RB outside of Cook and Fournette IMO. Will obviously slide because of the baggage and the Browns or whoever need to decide if the baggage is worth it. The Chiefs took a gamble on Tyreek Hill (who's offense was less known, but is a worse offender, IMO) and it worked out great for them. I'd guess the Browns would need to take Mixon before the 5th though, unlike Hill.

I picked a pair of stronger Lagerrette Blount types who mocks have going anywhere from the 3rd to 5th rounds. They have questions about them (cancer recovery, a mistake a few years ago) but they could both start over Crow on the second or third day of the draft. Keep in mind, Dalvin Cook has some question marks about his lifestyle. Nobody is a sure thing outside of Fournette.

A couple other sleepers who can help after the third round are Wyoming's Brian Hill, Samaje Perine from Oklahoma, and De'Veon Smith of Michigan. I love the Texas back ajz20 had us taking in the fourth, I just doubt he will be there in the fourth. All are good first and second down backs who could help the Browns in the red zone, but teams just don't prioritize drafting backs in the first two days anymore.

 

[sportscoach]

The issue is also the fact we need to upgrade the OLine this season, so that takes a priority over a RB this season. Now in 2018 we are likely gonna go for QB and RB early depending on the moves we make this season. RBs can come in as rookies and do fairly well. Let's address the OLine and Defense this offseason and then go for RB later. If the RB is the best available player on day 3 then I say let's draft him, but otherwise this is a deep Defensive draft

 

[Seiklis]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2692179-2017-nfl-mock-draft-pre-combine-update

1. Garrett
12. Lattimore

Been a popular pairing lately

 

[Randolphkeys]

The issue is also the fact we need to upgrade the OLine this season, so that takes a priority over a RB this season. Now in 2018 we are likely gonna go for QB and RB early depending on the moves we make this season. RBs can come in as rookies and do fairly well. Let's address the OLine and Defense this offseason and then go for RB later. If the RB is the best available player on day 3 then I say let's draft him, but otherwise this is a deep Defensive draft

I think the Browns are a starting center and one depth tackle away from a very good line. Erving's future appears to be battling Shon Coleman for right tackle time. PFF rated him fairly well in that last game of the season after a hasty position change. The guards are a deep and young position as well. Get a decent center in here and I see talent, youth and depth all along the line.

 

[sportscoach]

I think the Browns are a starting center and one depth tackle away from a very good line. Erving's future appears to be battling Shon Coleman for right tackle time. Off rated him fairly well in that last game of the season after a hasty position change. The guards are a deep and young position as well. Get a decent center in here and I see talent, youth and depth all along the line.

It's possible Erving translates better outside of C, but that being said we will know by the season starts if he's in our future plans or not since if he's not starting somewhere on the line then he will be off the team by the end of the season even if it's for a conditional pick. This is his make or break season in Cleveland