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Cleveland Browns: 7-Round 2018 mock draft, Vol. 5

By Peter Smith

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 29: Sammie Coates of the Cleveland Browns looks on during the NFL International Series match between Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns at Twickenham Stadium on October 29, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 29: Sammie Coates of the Cleveland Browns looks on during the NFL International Series match between Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns at Twickenham Stadium on October 29, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 03: Minkah Fitzpatrick #29 of the Alabama Crimson Tide returns an interception for a touchdown against the Florida Gators in the first quarter during the SEC Championship game at the Georgia Dome on December 3, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 03: Minkah Fitzpatrick #29 of the Alabama Crimson Tide returns an interception for a touchdown against the Florida Gators in the first quarter during the SEC Championship game at the Georgia Dome on December 3, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Round 1 (via HOU): Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama –- 6-1, 202 lbs. (Listed)

  • 119 solo tackles (7.5 percent), 16 tackles for loss (5.5 percent), 9 interceptions (16.6 percent), 26 pass deflections (12.9 percent), 4.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 2 blocked kicks, 5 total touchdowns in three seasons.

Minkah Fitzpatrick can play six different positions in Alabama’s scheme. Free safety is his best position according to his college head coach, Nick Saban, but it doesn’t really matter. If he’s on a team’s defense, they are better.

Fitzpatrick is eerily similar to Malcolm Jenkins of the Philadelphia Eagles, who was a major reason they won the Super Bowl. Jenkins plays all over the place in the Eagles defense: both safety spots, corner and some nickel linebacker. In the Super Bowl specifically, Jenkins was locked up on Dion Lewis, taking away a major playmaker in their offense.

That’s the type of thing that Fitzpatrick could do in Cleveland. Because they have Derrick Kindred and Jabrill Peppers, they have the flexibility to move Fitzpatrick around, be it a specific coverage matchup against a playmaker or a linebacker.

Fitzpatrick is extremely smart on the football field, sees the game in front of him very well and plays with instincts and great technique. His technical mistakes are few and far between. In addition to doing things the right way, he makes plays. Fitzpatrick is an excellent tackler, he locates the ball and he has great hands. And as athletic testing should confirm, he’s got more than enough NFL speed and quickness.

Fitzpatrick also brings leadership. He was a coach on the field for Alabama, knowing everyone else’s assignment as well as his own, setting an incredibly high standard for work ethic and preparation. Along with guys like Myles Garrett and Chris Kirksey, it’s imperative the Browns have a player in the secondary that can take ownership on defense and act as the coach on the field, especially at free safety, lining teammates up and seeing the whole field. Fitzpatrick is a special person as well as a special player and the Browns cannot get enough of those on their roster.

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