In previous entries, I already suggested Braxton Miller, should he make it to the second round. I'll skip Spence, because he won't. Reggie Ragland has a chance too, although Scott Solomon, a similar player, is already here.
Generally, there will also be some excellent safeties available atop the second round. Rodney Campbellfield, who excelled in last year's Senior Bowl, is already here and with a year under his belt. Poyer, filling in for Gipson, did a good job at that position. Gipson himself, I need to inform Memorex Morons, isn't angry with this front office, and has lost the leverage to extort his outlandish demands, and may be re-signing after all. Old Man Whitner isn't the same as he once was, but Ray Horton and his scheme could keep him around as a box guy.
So myopic hallucinations aside, safety is not a position of need for this team.
Still, one Senior Bowl participant leaps out here: OLB Deion Jones, who is 6'1", 219 lbs. Mayock and others weren't sure what position he would play in the NFL-safety is one possibility. Others think he has the frame to gain weight, and should remain where he is (in a 4-3, of course).
He could go in the second round, which would be too bad, since I doubt that the Browns would consider him there. But if he makes it to the third round, or conceivably even the fourth, he could really help.
Jones has no place in Ray Horton's base scheme, except possibly as a box safety. But as I've mentioned countless times before, in today's NFL, base defenses are on the field around 30% of the time. For all intents and purposes, nickel defenses might as well be called "base" defenses instead.
Here, Jones is a perfect nickel linebacker. The nickel linebacker blitzes, takes on tight ends and running backs in coverage, sometimes mirrors guys like Cam Newton, and of course runs around to tackle sneaky running backs.
Jones has great speed and is fluid in coverage, which is why some teams would make him a box safety. But he also has great instincts and anticipation, and is surprisingly adept at shedding blocks.
Here, he wouldn't be asked to gain a lot of weight. He should just naturally build up to 225 or 230 over time, but Ray Horton would prioritize speed with him.
Deion Jones is a special teams demon (two return tackles in Senior Bowl), so in the third round or lower, two assistant coaches may be lobbying for him.
Most importantly, speed and instincts are the top two things you want on the field, and that's Jones. That's a third round pick who would be on the field more often than not, right away.
OLB Kyler Fackrell is 6'4", 244 lbs. He was Pro Football Focus's top rated outside linebacker (first passrusher, first vs run, sixth in coverage). He is 25 years old, which doesn't help his draft stock.
CBS Sports describes him as lanky, and question his recognition and instincts. Per Brugler, he misreads things, and will overpursue or hesitate.
That's okay, though. He's projected in the third or fourth round.
Instincts can't be taught, but recognition can be enhanced through taught keys. He won't still weigh 244 lbs for long, and might even show up at his first training camp at 250.
Fackrell isn't a good 4-3 or inside linebacker prospect, and isn't ready for the NFL now. He piled up lots of quarterback hurries and tackles for losses (just four sacks).
He is a guy you grab later on and put in your incubator for year two. Conceivably, he could be a situational player as a rookie. He has great upside...if he lasts to the fourth round.
The Browns, here on planet Earth, don't have a big need at linebacker (passrusher maybe--linebacker no). Fackrell would be a "restocking the shelf" pick.
ILB Tyler Matakevich (6', 233) is a run-and-hit guy. He's average as an athlete, but reads and reacts extremely fast and with decisive authority. He had five interceptions (led all college linebackers), fourteen tackles for losses, and 4.5 sacks. He excells in every phase of the game, including the blitze. He plays with his hair on fire, and is very physical.
He's unlikely to impress anybody at the combine, but he could easily be a day one starter. He is projected to go in the third or fourth round...amazing.
His physical dimensions are hurting him. 6' seems short, and there's not a lot of room for him to get bigger.
Many people think the analytics people will filter him out, but that's because people have a misguided view of analytics.
True in-depth analysis includes results vs various levels of competition, consistency, and leverage. It also considers history: There are a TON of "short" linebackers who have excelled in the NFL. It's the traditionalists who cling to long since discredited metrics, and analytics which ignore them.
From Fansided, I found wide receiver Geronimo Allison. I couldn't even find this guy listed on the CBS Big Board. He's a 6'4" 200 lb. beanpole who played with weak quarterbacks.
As I've repeatedly demonstrated here, the "need" for wide receivers on this roster is non-existent, but this guy might not even be drafted. Hopefully, his agent is a Memorex Moron too, and will think his guy has a better chance here.
Thanks to Fansided, I found some more: Bronson Kaufusi (BYU). Bronson is 6'7", 270-plus and played defensive end. His father was his defensive line coach. The writer compared him to Ziggy Ansah, which really got my attention.
Naturally in a Horton defense, Bronson would be an outside linebacker, and probably play lighter than he did at DE. At 6'7", however, he probably can't/shouldn't lose too much weight.
He has dropped into coverage enough to show that he can do it in short zones, but (per CBS) he doesn't have the hips to stick with people. CBS also says he's not very flexible in general, but seemed to think that was a minor issue as a passrusher and run stopper.
They said he tends to play too high sometimes, but can stack and shed quite well.
Last season he had eleven sacks, three quarterback hits, two forced fumbles, and an interception, plus 64 tackles as a defensive END.
This guy is projected to go in the third or fourth round, partly because he's another older guy (did a missionary stint overseas).
He makes full use of his length and reach to keep blockers off him and knock them off balance, and actually taught his predecessor, Ziggy Ansah himself, footwork and technique.
In reality Kaufusi is bigger (actually listed at 280), and Ansah maybe faster and probably more flexible, but the comparison could be valid since both are big monsters who can run.
Kaufusi is projected in the third or fourth round. Those extra fourth round picks Ray Farmer piled up keep looking better. Maurizio could contribute immediately.
Another projected fourth round pick is OT Le'Raven Clark. He started at left tackle for Texas Tech for two seasons. That's an odd offense which makes it hard for scouts to get a bead on him.
He lined up in a two point stance, and retreated at the snap. He's 6'6", 312 lbs and has quick feet. Brugler cites several mechanical flaws, including a tendency to allow defenders into his body rather than controlling them with his extended hands. He played guard in his first season, and might play it again in the NFL, but actually has the physical tools to be a left tackle.
This is a dice-roll high risk/reward practice squad project guy who fits a zone-blocking scheme. He might not pan out, but it's rare to dig up a left tackle this low in any draft, and Clark might be that guy.
The Browns need a left tackle like they need a hole in the head, but Joe Thomas can't last forever.
If the scheme here is indeed mainly zone, come 2017 or 2018, Clark could provide depth at other positions, or conceivably start.
It takes awhile to develop raw offensive linemen. About as long as some people think it takes to develop wide receivers (note: they are wrong).
It's the fourth round. Restock the shelves.
Note that all the defensive players listed can get after the quarterback. Ray Horton sends players inside and outside to get pressure, and everybody gets their chances.
Of course, he hasn't had a dominating guy like Von Miller to work with. Every team is always fishing for that guy, and doesn't waste them doing much else when they get them. Maybe he'll get lucky. Probably not.
Nevertheless, Horton teams tend to rank in or near the top third in sacks and pressures, so a bunch of "pretty good" passrushers can work as well.
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