2016 NFL Mock Draft: Cleveland Browns Steal DeForest Buckner
One day after trading down to number eight from the second overall pick, Todd McShay of ESPN has the Cleveland Browns landing DE DeForest Buckner in his 2016 NFL Mock Draft. An ideal scenario for the team, the Browns would be major day one winners if this were to happen.
Seemingly not in love with the quarterbacks available in this draft class, the Cleveland Browns traded down from the second overall pick on Wednesday. With Jared Goff and Carson Wentz now out of the picture for Cleveland at number eight, I think they will be turning their attention to the defensive side of the ball with their first-round selection.
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Obviously, nothing is set in stone yet, but if the Browns stay put at number eight, I now fully expect the choice to be made on the defensive side of the ball. Oregon defensive lineman DeForest Buckner would be the ideal choice, but his availability all the way down at eight is tough to predict.
That being said, one of the best in the business did just that. In his most recent 2016 NFL Mock Draft for ESPN.com (subscription required), NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay had Buckner falling to the Browns with the eighth overall selection. Let’s see what McShay had to say about the pick.
"This would be a perfect fit for the Browns. Buckner has some versatility, but he’s best suited to play 3-4 DE, which just so happens to be one of Cleveland’s biggest needs. Buckner is disruptive against the run and plays with a great motor."
McShay hits this one on the head. Buckner’s ability at as a 3-4 defensive end at the next level could be special. With a fantastic combination of size, power, length and athleticism, DeForest Buckner was put on this earth to be a five-technique 3-4 defensive end in the NFL. Filling arguably the most obvious position of need on the Browns’ roster, Buckner’s addition to the mix would be quite welcomed in Cleveland.
In order for this dream scenario to happen at eight, some unexpected selections had to happen in the top five. With Goff to the Los Angeles Rams and Wentz to the Philadelphia Eagles, the top two went as expected. The San Diego Chargers are the first natural fit for Buckner, but they instead chose DB Jalen Ramsey.
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After the Dallas Cowboys took RB Ezekiel Elliott, the Jacksonville Jaguars took the first defensive end with Joey Bosa. Left tackles Ronnie Stanley and Laremy Tunsil went off of the board to the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers to line up the selection of Buckner to Cleveland.
The slide of Tunsil was probably the biggest reason for Buckner’s availability to Cleveland. Tunsil is an extremely talented player who can come in and be an immediate impact left tackle. If he is not on the board for San Francisco at number seven, Buckner seems likely to be the pick. The Chargers, Cowboys, Jaguars and Ravens are all seemingly possible landing spots for Buckner as well.
With a mix of skills that not only fits their defense well, but are at a high All-Pro level, Buckner is an ideal selection for the Browns at number eight. He is an extremely talented player whose impact would be immediately felt up front.
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The Browns are in the business of collection assets for their rebuild right now. Trading down and still landing arguably their top player on the board would be a massive win for the Browns’ new front office.