My Browns Mock Draft

1: Trade down.  (Or Garrett.  Or Trubisky.)

1a: Depends on what they did with 1.

Ok but a few corrections here:

The Browns did fail to generate pressure on the quarterback last season, but this doesn't mean the Browns need edge rushers.

It's true that the top NFL sackers tend to be 3-4 outside linebackers and 4-3 defensive ends, and the most consistent way to generate pressure is from the edge.  It is reasonable to look at defensive end first in what looks a lot like a 4-3 under Gregg Williams.

What is not reasonable is the spasticly premature interments of 2016 rookies Nassib and Holmes, injured second year player Orchard, and surprising veteran Cam Johnson.

Gregg Williams, like every other defensive coordinator, would love to have an all-pro quality edge-rusher, because it's the easiest and simplest way to the quarterback, and doesn't require him to make a ton of chess-moves to get heat on the passer, or take people out of coverage as often.

But historicly, Williams has not often had this stud edge-rusher, and yet his defenses have always ranked high in sacks and pressures.

Part of this is his primary scheme, which is a 4-3 including the 3-technique penetrating defensive tackle.  This particular player is MORE important for Williams than the edge guys.

This is a fairly common front, only it doesn't always work as intended, because it does require a Warren Sapp type of havoc-wreaker at that position, and these don't grow on trees.

Last season, Ray Horton had his version of this front all set up and ready to go, when Des Bryant went down, and Xavier Cooper failed to adequately replace him in that role.  Ray had to go back to the drawing board.  This injury was possibly the most significant of many.  It changed everything.

This 3-technique player is too quick and explosive for most left guards.  It forces offenses to compensate in predictable ways.  Sometimes, that means a double team, which prevents the center from helping outside, or keeps a potential receiver in to block.  Sometimes, it's deeper drops, which gives the edge rushers better angles and more time.  Or roll-outs, which limit a quarterback's options and undermine accuracy.

When combined with a bigger, stronger Danny Shelton-like left DT, it usually drives the guards and centers back, which eliminates the pocket.  Quarterbacks can't "hide" there from the edge-rushers, or step into deep throws, or intermediate timing throws.

Aaron Rodgers can compensate for this, but most quarterbacks have more problems, because it's harder for them to set up or throw properly.

Returning to the edge-rushers on the current roster, Gregg Williams is not unhappy with what he has.  What he wants most for Xmas is a Warren Sapp.  If he can get that exceptional inside passrusher, the edge will take care of itself.

I must mention here that Haason Reddick is actually the guy in this draft who most resembles Von Miller, and depending on how everything else goes, he could be a best available Browns pick.

Reddick can play any linebacker position in any scheme, and be a situational passrushing defensive end (he played defensive end) in a 4-3.  Gregg Williams would have him on the field on every down, and send him after the quarterback more than half the time...from wherever he sets up (which could be anywhere).

And in the long run, this guy could be better than Myles Garrett overall.  Remember I said this.  Garrett is like Clowney.  Reddick is like Miller.  He could conceivably make it to day two.

After hearing from smart people about Warren Sapp and his critique of Myles Garrett, I feel a little better about Garrett.

Garrett had already nailed down a great draft position, but he played with a high ankle sprain.  His coaches and teammates admired his guts and loyalty.  This injury most certainly did inhibit his 2016 performance.

Sapp's comments should not be dismissed, but then he's not held in high regard by anyone he's worked with, and I get the impression he's pretty negative in general.  Nor did he play against spead and air-raid offenses in college in which the ball is often in the air less than two seconds after the snap.

Not that the Browns shouldn't trade down if they get a good enough offer.

Of note here: Brady Quinn says that Davis Webb can become a franchise quarterback.  He goes against the grain somewhat on this, as he lists accuracy and placement as among his best assets.

I had all but dismissed this guy due to all the negatives listed in almost every other scouting report I'd read, but I take Quinn's analysis seriously.

He certainly did kick butt for Hue Jackson in the Senior Bowl.  Webb and Josh Dobbs are two guys Hue Jackson knows all about, and this matters.  Hue knows how he can work with these guys already, and if he agrees with Quinn about his physical tools, the Browns could get their project quarterback cheap.  It could even be Josh Dobbs!

For all we know, Hue could have a list of four or five quarterbacks he thinks have the "right stuff", and thinks we're all making up fake stories about nothing.

Think about this: Nobody questions Andrew Luck's talent.  But he keeps getting pounded to mush, and the Colts keep struggling.

Nobody (including Pete Carroll, if he could admit it) thought Russell Wilson could be nearly as good as he is, but he stepped in with a great supporting cast including Beast Mode and the Legion of Boom.

How many potential franchise quarterbacks were destroyed playing for crappy teams?  Or inflexible, desperate Head Coaches?  There could be a whole lot more of them than we realize.  

For all we know, Hue was all set with Cody Kessler, but the injury and concussions are making him nervous.  Cody's hesitation and reluctance to go deep are common rookie issues.  Hue isn't worried about this.  Aside from his durability, these were Kessler's only issues as a ROOKIE playing from behind under intense pressure with Terrelle Pryor and guys named Joe.

For all we know, Hue thinks he can find a quarterback cheap in every draft, as long as he's willing to be patient with the kid, and provides him with protection and weapons.

The things that can't be taught, or significantly enhanced, are throwing flaws, accuracy, and processing-speed.  EVERYTHING else (except height) is correctable.

With that being said, Patrick Mahomes might be very much in this thing, since, well...wow.

Ok enough screwing around here's my real moc...no I can't.  Too many variables.  But trading up to two from twelve? Oh puh-leez!  Drafting Trubisky first overall?  Huge longshot.  Trading down from first overall?

BINGO!  There are tons of Branch Garrettians out there contaminating their undergarments over this guy.  

NOW drafting Trubisky with their highest draft pick?  Very possible!  And if Von Mil--I mean Haason Reddick is there at twelve...well here we go with the variables again.  I mean Reddick or Howard?  Howard or Allen?  Whatever I predict somebody, for sure!

How far do they move down?  I don't know.  What do they get?  A LOT.  Like at least two more immediate starting caliber players than they would have had!  

The old guard would universally call this a dumb move, and shake their heads sadly over poor dumb Sashi Brown, the greedy kid.

But it wouldn't be half as bad as if he were to draft Trubisky instead of Garrett first overall.  He wouldn't need to drive around in an armored car or wear body armor, or move his family out of town, anyway.

A growing number of people are beginning to comprehend what the Browns are doing here, and starting to buy into it.  The turning point was when the article about Jimmy Johnson doing something very similar in building his own dynasty came out, and Johnson's own comments on the Browns.

The majority would weep, moan, and gnash their teeth.  They will predict Garrett getting more sacks than the Browns defense, start proclaiming every subsequent draft pick a bust, and throw temper-tantrums.  

Too bad.

And it's not all about just draft picks, either.  It's about HIGH draft picks, whether they're current or in 2018 or even 2019.

High draft picks, with higher probabilities of success, and higher floors too.  Bill Belichick dumped Jamie Collins and won a Superbowl.  Who was his Myles Garrett?  Oh yeah Tom Brady.  What position does he play?  Hmmm...

Who was Atlanta's Myles Garrett?  

Trade down.  Plug ALL the holes, right now, all at once, in one draft.  People keep predicting it will take another draft after this one.  What are they looking at?  As it stands they should get 4-5 new starters out of this draft without a trade-down.

There are only 22 starters.  These knuckleheads can't find enough current starters to kick to the curb!  Why do they think the Browns need 22 new starters?  What tf are they talking about?

Who needs to be replaced on the offensive line, at running back...want to get rid of Kenny Britt and Corey Coleman already?  Collins, Shelton, Haden, Ogbah, Kirksey what--replace all six of the other guys already?

No, the Browns can trade down one more time, maybe get Trubisky, and have the core of an eventual contender all nailed down in one draft, and they SHOULD.

But if not ok Garrett.