This past draft the Browns focused on the defensive side of the ball, taking four defensive players and only one offensive player in the seventh round. Barkevious Mingo was the Browns first round pick and is a player who they hope can make life difficult for opposing quarterbacks for a long time in the AFC North. The Browns didn’t have a second round pick because they spent it in the Supplemental Draft the previous year on Josh Gordon. In the third the Browns took cornerback Leon McFadden. The only player from the draft that has really made an impact so far this year is their first round pick Mingo. McFadden has only been active two games and the others either haven’t played or have rotated in sparingly.
This year the Browns have to improve their anemic offense. The quarterback, running back and wide receiver positions all need to be upgraded even if the Browns think Brian Hoyer is their quarterback of the future. The Browns have plenty of picks in this draft to do it too. They have an extra first, third and fourth this year, giving them seven picks in the first four rounds. If the Browns can take some playmakers early and then get some depth on defense later, look for the Browns to be battling as one of the top teams in the AFC North and the whole AFC sooner rather than later. Here is eDraft’s initial 2014 mock draft for a team with a great defense, who just needs a few pieces on offense to become a contender, the Cleveland Browns.
1st Round: Mike Evans, Wide Receiver, Texas A&M
Josh Gordon is a true number one receiver, but after him the Browns don’t really have anything as far as the wide receiver position goes. Gordon is also one failed test away from being suspended for an entire year. Mike Evans has the ability to be a No. 1 receiver and would be a great compliment to Gordon. He would give whoever the quarterback is in Cleveland next year another big target to throw the ball too and has Vincent Jackson like ability. He has made plenty of plays for Texas A&M already this year. The Browns could take a quarterback here, but this draft is deep on talented quarterbacks and if Gordon were to get suspended, whoever the quarterback in Cleveland is next year won’t have any receivers to throw the ball too. Taking Evans early and then getting a quarterback with their second first rounder will give the quarterback the best chance to succeed.
1st Round: Zach Mettenberger, Quarterback, LSU
The Browns thought they might have had their quarterback of the future with Brian Hoyer until he went down with a season ending knee injury after two games played. That leaves them with Brandon Weeden and Jason Campbell, neither of which are the answer at quarterback. Mettenberger has played much better for LSU this year than he did last. He has shown that he will stand strong in the pocket and take a hit to make the throw needed. Metterberger has also shown that he has a big enough arm to make every throw needed in the NFL. He would be a good fit for Norv Turners down field throwing offense. He has good downfield accuracy and the arm to make every throw. Whether or not the Browns think Hoyer is possibly their quarterback of the future, they need to take a quarterback early to push him and to be ready if he fails.
2nd Round: Lache Seastrunk, Running Back, Baylor
The Browns offense also bogs down because they have no running game. Willis McGahee is getting older and isn’t the running back that he used to be.
Chris Ogbonnaya is a good third down back, but isn’t what you would want as your every down back. Seastrunk took the college football world by storm when he took over as the starter in the middle of last season and he has continued to play well so far this season.
Seastrunk has shown some power and has the size to be a workhorse in the NFL, but he also has the quickness and speed to take any run all the way to the house. A solid running game would help open up the passing game a lot for Cleveland and Seastrunk can add that.
He doesn’t have a ton of experience catching the ball out of the backfield, but I have seen nothing that makes me think he can’t be a contributor there as well.
3rd Round: C.J. Fiedorowicz, Tight End, Iowa
The Browns have one of the breakout players of the year in Jordan Cameron and he has become one of the best tight ends in football. As good as Cameron is, the NFL is becoming a league where teams are using two tight end sets more and more and adding another tight end to the offense would only make it more dangerous and give Hoyer or Mettenberger another weapon. Fiedorowicz is one of the most well rounded tight ends in this draft. He was used exclusively as a blocker as a freshman at Iowa, but has become a very good receiving threat over his time there. He isn’t going to be the big play threat that Eric Ebron will be, but he is no slouch in the passing game. Fiedorwicz reminds me of a Heath Miller type of player and would be a great weapon for the Browns and a great compliment to Cameron.
3rd Round: Denzel Perryman, Inside Linebacker, Miami
One of the few weaknesses on the Cleveland defense is at the second inside linebacker spot beside D’Qwell Jackson. The Browns defense is one of the best in the league and has plenty of youth on it that can grow and only get better. Perryman has been a great linebacker for the Hurricanes this season and leads the team in tackles. Perryman is strong against the run, though in a recent interview he talked about the things he needs to improve on, which included staying in his lane in the run game. He is a versatile linebacker who is also quick enough to drop back into coverage and be a true three-down linebacker for the Browns, making that good defense even better.
4th Round: Josh Huff, Wide Receiver, Oregon
The Browns took Evans earlier, but they don’t have a lot of weapons on offense. Greg Little can’t be relied upon to catch the ball and the sure handed Davone Bess hasn’t played up to what he did in Miami. You can never have too many weapons on a struggling offense and Huff add another one from the slot position. Huff doesn’t have great size, but he is extremely quick and very tough. He uses his body well to shield defenders and has good run after catch ability. He can make people miss as well as run through arm tackles. He has good not great speed and will never be a No. 1 receiver, but can contribute extremely well from the slot.
4th Round: Antone Exum, Cornerback/Safety, Virginia Tech
The Browns corners have played very well this season. Everyone knows that Joe Haden is one of the best in the game, but Buster Skrine has also played very well as the No. 2 corner this season. Skrines contract is up after the 2014 season and the Browns may not elect to bring him back. Chris Owens the Browns No. 3 corner hasn’t played very well this season and his contract is up after this season. The Browns also drafted Leon McFadden in the third round of this past draft, but he has only been active for two games so far this year. Exum would be a much higher draft pick had he not had a bad knee injury while playing basketball this past January. He has played both corner and safety and played well at both. He has good size and isn’t afraid to play press. He has good ball skills, having five interceptions as a junior. He gives the Browns a lot of versatility with him being able to play either corner or safety if needed.
5th Round: Chris Watt, Offensive Guard, Notre Dame
The Browns offensive line was a great strength last year, but it hasn’t quite been as good this year. Right tackle Mitchell Schwartz hasn’t played as well and the play of the guards hasn’t been great. The Browns are going to have to protect their quarterback and give him time to make plays as well as open up holes in the run game. Watt is a strong offensive guard who shows talent as a run blocker. Even if he never becomes a starter he provides good depth along the line and that is never a bad thing.
6th Round: Colt Lyerla, Tight End, Formerly of Oregon
The Browns need to add weapons to their offense and Lyerla is one of the biggest in the draft. If it wasn’t for the off the field stuff, Lyerla is a first round pick. However, because of the off-field stuff there is a decent chance he doesn’t get drafted at all. That being said, the reward Lyerla could net you as a sixth round pick if he can keep his nose clean is undeniable. This may be a stretch because the new management doesn’t seem keen of Josh Gordon so they may not want another player who doesn’t have high character. However, if Lyerla works out, a trio of Cameron, Fiedorowicz and Lyerla is a very dangerous trio.
7th Round: Beau Allen, Defensive Tackle, Wisconsin
The Browns have a very formidable defensive line, but more depth for rotation is never a bad thing. Allen provides depth at the nose tackle position. Allen is a very physical player who plays with a mean streak. His motor never stops and he can hold the point of attack well. Allen isn’t a flashy player and never will be, but he goes about his job and gets it done.