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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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MOBILE, AL – JANUARY 24: A view of the Under Armour Senior Bowl on January 24, 2009 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images for Under Armour)
MOBILE, AL – JANUARY 24: A view of the Under Armour Senior Bowl on January 24, 2009 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images for Under Armour) /

Round 4 (via CAR): Brandon Parker, OT, N.C. A&T –- 6-7.25, 303 lbs.

Arm: 35 3/8″
Wingspan: 85 1/4″
Hand: 9 5/8″

The 2018 NFL Draft class features a ton of unfinished tackle prospects and many from smaller schools. None of them is bigger than Brandon Parker who is simply enormous and physically imposing. He has tremendous length for the position and carries the weight extremely well. Parker looks like hooper and just kept gaining muscle.

And Parker can move. He’s got the necessary movement skills to get out and protect the edge or move down the field and help in the running game. Parker flashes a really nice first step out of his stance, where he can explode and block down on opponents.

Two issues stand out with Parker — competition and flexibility. HBCUs always pump out some talented players, but week to week, it’s not easy to find guys that can consistently provide a challenge. Parker didn’t really see many guys likely to play on Sundays until the Senior Bowl, where he was able to hold his own but showed he’s still learning.

Parker is stuff from the waist down. Really stiff. He has a difficult time getting the most of his leg strength as a blocker and maximizing his balance. Parker plays tall and in the running game, the result is falling off of blocks and ending up on the ground from overextending.

In the passing game, Parker ends up with a narrow base, limiting his power and ability to anchor. It also limits his reach and gives opposing players more surface area to hit with his body. It opens up opportunities to get bull rushed and beaten around the edge.

Parker is a fantastic player to grab and let develop for a year. He has to adjust to the speed of the NFL, get more flexible and continue to refine his technique. Athletic testing will say a lot, but it’s difficult to foresee a situation where Parker doesn’t have the potential to be a franchise left tackle in the NFL and he can be the heir to Joe Thomas.

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