My two months of mock drafts continue with the second of my 32 (yes, all 32) part series on team-based perfect NFL Mock Drafts. It’s the Cleveland Browns‘ turn and I know they must be excited. Why, it’s time to draft another first round quarterback just two seasons after they picked their last first-round quarterback. That, and I hope you are sitting down, that was just two seasons after they picked another first-round quarterback. The Cleveland Browns, everybody!
Check out the other Perfect Drafts by clicking here.
Round 1, pick 2 – Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State
2015: 62.5 completion percentage, 1,651 yards, 17 touchdowns, four interceptions, 294 rushing yards, six touchdowns, 6-foot-5, 237 pounds
I’ve already gone on record that Wentz isn’t ready to start in the NFL and might be a long-term project. Playing at North Dakota State didn’t help him. He probably never once threw against an NFL caliber defensive back, and if he did it was rare. Still, this pick is based solely on what I think the Browns will do and I, as of today, think they’re picking Wentz.
Why Wentz over Goff? Head coach Hue Jackson has seen the limitations of Andy Dalton first hand and Goff is a lot like Dalton, except taller. That might seem like a good thing, but I have to believe Jackson wants a guy with a cannon that can fire it down field. Because of that the Browns should pick Paxton Lynch. They won’t.
Round 2, pick 1 (32) – Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame
2015: 62 catches, 1,258 yards, 14 touchdowns, 6-foot-0, 186 pounds
Fuller is a first-round talent that should be there at the top of the second round. He had the fastest 40-yard dash of the wide receivers at the NFL combine, laying down a 4.32 with a 10-foot-6 vertical jump and a 10-foot-6 broad jump. Fuller is a pro style wideout and he could very well be the second-coming of Tory Holt. The Browns need help at wideout, especially if they let Travis Benjamin leave town in free agency and Fuller is a steal at the top of the second round.
Round 3, pick 2 (65) – Nick Martin, C, Notre Dame
2015: Started all 14 games in 2015, 6-foot-4, 299 pounds
With Alex Mack likely headed to greener pastures the Browns need plenty of offensive line help in this draft. What better way to start than picking up your starting center in the third round? Martin is the younger brother of Dallas Cowboys guard Zack Martin.
Round 4, pick 1 (99) – Kyle Murphy, OT, Stanford
2015: Played in 54 consecutive games, 6-foot-6, 305 pounds
We’re staying on the offensive line in the fourth round, grabbing Kyle Murphy. Coming out of Stanford you already know he’s a smart kid who has flourished in a pro-style system. He has the size and strength to play tackle, but could also move inside to guard depending on need. In fact, that might end up his more natural position in the NFL. He needs a year at tackle. He can start at guard on opening day 2016.
UPDATE – Round 4, Pick 138 – Scooby Wright III, ILB, Arizona
2015: 23 tackles, 3.5 for a loss, two sacks, 6-foot-0, 239 pounds
Round 5, Pick 141 – Matt Judon, DE, Grand Valley State
2015: 81 tackles, 23.5 for a loss, 20 sacks, three passes defended, two fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles, 6-foot-3, 275 pounds
I know you’re looking at Judon and thinking “How in the hell does a guy like that end up at Grand Valley State?” The big time NCAA Division II programs specialize in finding guys like Judon, D-I players that fall through the cracks, and use them to win championships. It’s why Grand Valley always makes a deep playoff run. If Judon had gone to big school and put up 80 percent of those stats he’d be a first rounder. As it is, picking him the fifth round is downright larceny.
Round 5, pick 172 – Kelvin Taylor, RB, Florida
2015: 259 carries, 1,035 yards, 4.0 yards per carry, 13 touchdowns, 17 catches, 150 yards receiving, 5-foot-10, 207 pounds
Kelvin Taylor is the son of former NFL running back Fred Taylor and has the same college pedigree. In a different era an SEC running back that averaged 4.0 yards per carry and scored 13 touchdowns would go a lot higher than the sixth round. For instance, Fred Taylor who had nearly identical numbers as his son his junior year and was drafted ninth overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1998. Kelvin isn’t nearly as fast as his dad (who ran a 4.29), but his 4.60 is plenty fast enough to play running back in the NFL. If the Browns draft Taylor he’ll instantly be the best running back on their roster.
UPDATE – Round 5, Pick 173 – Ben Braunecker, TE, Harvard
2015: 48 catches, 850 yards, eight touchdowns, 6-foot-3, 250 pounds
UPDATE – Round 6, Pick 176 – Isaac Seumato, OG, Oregon State
2015: Four star recruit out of high school, started every game in 2014, 6-foot-4, 303 pounds
Round 7, pick 226 – Jared Norris, ILB, Utah
2015: 87 tackles, 6.5 for a loss, one sack, five passes defended, one fumble recovery, two forced fumbles, 6-foot-1, 241 pounds
The Browns need some help at the inside linebacker position and Norris should be there for the taking at the top of the seventh round. These stats, as impressive as they are, weren’t even from Norris’ best season. He had 116 tackles and 13 for a loss in 2014.
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