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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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COLLEGE PARK, MD – OCTOBER 14: Wide receiver D.J. Moore #1 of the Maryland Terrapins rushes for a first half touchdown while being tackled by defensive back JR Pace #4 of the Northwestern Wildcats at Capital One Field on October 14, 2017 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MD – OCTOBER 14: Wide receiver D.J. Moore #1 of the Maryland Terrapins rushes for a first half touchdown while being tackled by defensive back JR Pace #4 of the Northwestern Wildcats at Capital One Field on October 14, 2017 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Round 2 (via HOU): D.J. Moore, WR, Maryland – 5-11, 215 lbs. (Listed)

  • 146 receptions for 2,027 yards (31.9 percent) and 17 touchdowns (37.7 percent) and 17 carries for 125 yards and another touchdown.

D.J. Moore is just a stud and the hope is the NFL doesn’t catch on. He’s not a true, prototypical #1 receiver, but he has the type of playmaking ability to end up being a top contributor and changing the look of an offense. For the Browns, who have Josh Gordon, Corey Coleman, David Njoku, Duke Johnson and Seth DeValve, Moore represents a true wild card.

Line Moore up anywhere. Outside, in the slot, in motion or in the backfield and get him the ball. He’s a really talented wide receiver with great hands and the body of a feature tailback. Moore’s likely to measure somewhere in the 5-10 neighborhood, but the weight is legit. Especially against college opponents, he was physically bigger and stronger than corners. He was too quick and too fast for safeties and linebackers, so wherever he was lined up, he was a problem.

The added benefit for the Browns is that all of their weapons can basically line up anywhere on a given play. And if players like Gordon or Njoku in particular demand a lot of attention, it should create some openings in the defense that a player like Moore can exploit. He’s extremely dangerous after the catch with his speed and power. Defensive backs don’t like to tackle receivers like Moore.

In the three years Moore played for the Terps, they had nine different quarterback take snaps and he was the constant. No matter who was throwing him the ball, he made plays. And in that sense, Moore has something in common with the mercurial Josh Gordon. They’ve both had some mediocre quarterbacks throw them the ball and were still great. Hopefully, the Browns get their guy this year that can elevate players like Gordon and Moore, but they’ve proven they can succeed regardless.

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