Cleveland Browns: 50 Player big board for 2018 NFL Draft

The Cleveland Browns currently have five picks in the top 64, so here’s a big board of the top 50 players they should target in the 2018 NFL Draft.

As the draft process wraps up in the next couple weeks and most of the pro day data making its way public, the time has come to stack the draft board. It remains to be seen if it stays this way, but the Browns have a ton of draft capital and here is an attempt to illustrate how they can best utilize it.

This is looking through the lens of the Cleveland Browns and when it comes to the quarterback position, they better be picking one with the top pick. And since I wouldn’t wish Hue Jackson on Lamar Jackson, only the top three viable quarterbacks were included. This is working under the idea that if the Browns were only able to add one player from this draft class, deciding which player that would be 50 times.

This was the result and the Browns could very well end up five of my top 50 players in the 2018 NFL Draft class.

1. Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma – He’s the most efficient quarterback in college football history and has cleared every arbitrary hurdle critics have put in front of him. No player is better this year. All of the question marks with him such as limited upside are contrived and theoretical.

2. Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA – A phenomenal pure passer that processes information at a remarkable speed. On field criticism focuses on decision making and the idea that somehow the NFL has evolved away from wanting someone who is just a great passer.

3. Sam Darnold, QB, USC – Darnold has more potential than Rosen and obvious ability as he moves to the NFL, but he is also the riskiest quarterback of the group and history is not on his side in a number of categories.

4. Bradley Chubb, DE, N.C. State – An outstanding player that can dominate the line of scrimmage against the run and rushing the passer. Chubb also offers versatility to play on both ends as well as on the interior of the defensive line.

5. Harold Landry, DE, Boston College – The best pure pass rusher in this class that is an underrated run defender. The only thing that gives Chubb the nod is the fact that Chubb was always healthy and Landry missed some time.

6. D.J. Moore, WR, Maryland – An elite athlete with elite production, Moore is a dominant player that still has room to grow as a player. One of a handful of players with virtually unlimited potential in this class.

7. Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia – On a defense full of talent, it was impossible to miss Smith who had elite production and has tremendous athletic ability. He looks like a future star and a good shot at defensive rookie of the year.

8. Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech – A true phenom at age 19, Edmunds produced at an elite level and showed outstanding speed for his size. He’s not quite as polished as Smith, but he’s also two years younger.

9. Mike Gesicki, TE, Penn State – One of the best athletes to come out at the tight end position, he’s an oversized wide receiver in a similar mold as Jimmy Graham or Mike Evans that is a walking mismatch.

10. Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame – Nelson is a physically dominant offensive lineman that opponents hate to face because he doesn’t just beat them, but imposes his will and makes them consider a different line of work.

11. Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville – A chesty corner with the athleticism and production to back it up. His best football may still be ahead of him after dealing with injuries this past season.

12. Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State – Barkley is a genuine freak of an athlete and a tremendous receiving threat, but has to be a more physical, decisive runner between the tackles to truly reach his potential.

13. Derwin James, SS, Florida State – A rare strong safety prospect with notable man coverage ability. Could maybe even play corner.

14. Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia – Assuming his knee checks out, Chubb is the most nuanced, polished ball carrier in the class with truly special physical ability.

15. Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State – His light weight is a concern, but he plays bigger than his size and is the best pure man cover corner in the draft class.

16. Royce Freeman, RB, Oregon – Outstanding production for four years and the athleticism to go with it for a team that wants to run a zone heavy scheme.

17. Derrius Guice, RB, LSU – His tape is as good as anybody’s in the class, but his athletic testing (or lackthereof) makes it more difficult to prove the case compared to some of the other backs in this class.

18. Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU – What teams look for in an ‘X’ receiver that has the production and athleticism to be great at the next level, but must get smoother with how he catches the ball.

19. Taven Bryan, DT, Florida – His athleticism both in testing and on the field is obvious, but his production is a concern and it stems from some poor technique that must be corrected.

20. Connor Williams, OT, Texas – An athletic profile to be a Pro Bowl caliber offensive tackle and is only 21 years old, but could play anywhere on the line.

21. Marcus Davenport, DE, UTSA – Pro Bowl level athlete with production, albeit against smaller competition and needs significant refinement.

22. Will Hernandez, OG, UTEP – A mauling guard prospect that’s also light on his feet.

23. Dante Pettis, WR, Washington – Shifty, athletic receiver with production that’s also a dangerous punt returner.

24. James Washington, WR, Oklahoma State – Thought of largely as a deep threat, Washington has the athleticism and build to be a full service receiver.

25. Allen Lazard, WR, Iowa State – Enormous receiver with great athleticism and great hands.

26. Michael Gallup, WR, Colorado State – Unassuming, even ordinary looking receiver that has the athleticism and production to be great in the NFL.

27. Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA – A genuine freak show of an athlete that has the potential to be an All-Pro, but needs a ton of work.

28. Harrison Phillips, DT, Stanford – Incredibly productive nose guard that can rush the passer, offers some positional versatility.

29. James Daniels, C, Iowa – Great athlete with terrific pad level and shows remarkable polish at only 21 years old.

30. Frank Ragnow, C, Arkansas – Not quite as polished as Daniels, but with remarkable physical gifts and overall strength.

31. James Looney, DL, Cal – A tremendous athlete for the defensive line with versatility and underrated production.

32. Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan – His production is outstanding, though his athletic testing does raise some questions.

33. D.J. Chark, WR, LSU – Outstanding raw speed and explosion to stretch the field that produced despite a poor quarterback play.

34. Chukwuma Okorafor, OT, Western Michigan – His athletic testing is underwhelming but not fatal and he’s got a massive body to play left tackle at only 21 years old.

35. Equanimeous St. Brown, WR, Notre Dame – A dominant player after the catch at almost 6-5, 215 pounds that produced with multiple mediocre quarterbacks.

36. Ronald Jones II, RB, USC – A less than ideal draft process and athletic testing didn’t prove fatal to his draft stock and doesn’t change the product on the field that was explosive and a refined runner between the tackles.

37. M.J. Stewart, CB, North Carolina – Extremely physical corner with four years of consistent production and experience at press, off man and zone coverage.

38. Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa – Tremendous production out of a one year starter that specializes in being a zone corner and still has upside in his technical development.

39. Justin Reid, SS, Stanford – Ideal strong safety and overhang defender in terms of age, physical tools and production.

40. Braden Smith, OG, Auburn – Prototypical size and and athleticism a right guard.

41. Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State – Extraordinary size for linebacker with elite physical traits and a year of top notch production.

42. Ogbonnia Okoronwko, EDGE, Oklahoma – Productive stand up edge rusher that has great explosion for his size but has to improve his pad level.

43. Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M – Productive receiver that’s built like a running back, does most of his damage from the slot.

44. Quenton Meeks, DB, Stanford – Young, extremely athletic zone corner that might have additional viability at free safety.

45. Josh Sweat, DE, Florida State – Incredibly athletic pass rusher that produced, but battled through injuries and is still extremely raw.

46. Anthony Miller, WR, Memphis – Dominant receiver for three years with NFL athleticism.

47. Genard Avery, EDGE, Memphis – Versatile player with tremendous production and athleticism as a pass rusher.

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48. Tre’Quan Smith, WR, UCF – Thick, explosive receiver that needs further development, but has potential to be even better in the NFL.

49. P.J. Hall, DL, Sam Houston State – Absolutely dominant against school competition and tested with remarkable speed and explosion to be an interior pass rusher.

50. Wyatt Teller, G Virginia Tech – Sound guard with good athletic traits to be a high level player at the next level.