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Cleveland Browns: 2019 4-Round mock draft, projecting needs

By Peter Smith

ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: A video board displays the text "ON THE CLOCK" for the Cleveland Browns during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: A video board displays the text "ON THE CLOCK" for the Cleveland Browns during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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STATE COLLEGE, PA – OCTOBER 21: Rashan Gary #3 of the Michigan Wolverines reacts after stopping the Penn State Nittany Lions on October 21, 2017 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA – OCTOBER 21: Rashan Gary #3 of the Michigan Wolverines reacts after stopping the Penn State Nittany Lions on October 21, 2017 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

Round 1: Rashan Gary Jr., DL – Michigan – 6-5, 281 lbs. (Listed)

  • 23 solo tackles (5.8 percent), 12 tackles for loss (10.5 percent), 6 sacks (14.2 percent) this past season.

Rashan Gary is enormous and is only going to be a true junior. In a lot of ways, he looks like Chris Wormley from a body standpoint where he is huge and carries his weight really well, but Gary has been more productive and just been more impressive in what he’s been able to do.

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In fact, in Gary’s final two games of 2017, he had a big game against Ohio State with two sacks and then got another one in the team’s bowl game against South Carolina. So he may have just really found his stride heading into the offseason.

Gary played defensive end for Michigan, but that often ends up being more of a 4-tech that’s lined heads up on the opposing tackle rather than on the edge. And with players like Maurice Hurst inside, it’s difficult to blame them. However, Gary looks like he’s only going to get bigger and he may still play end for the Wolverines, but he might be more interesting as a 3-tech for the NFL.

Enter the Browns, who obviously have a terrific set of ends in Emmanuel Ogbah and Myles Garrett, a really talented nose in Larry Ogunjobi and nothing to write home about at the 3. Part of the attraction for the Browns to perhaps pick Bradley Chubb was that he could play inside, giving them three dynamic defensive linemen on the field consistently.

Gary is built to be a true 3-tech more than Chubb was, so it will be interesting to see how Michigan chooses to use him this year. He’s extremely powerful, shows good athleticism, balance and even on a Michigan defense with a lot of standouts, he was an impact guy. Gary should be in for a monster junior season and if that happens and the athleticism is there, it will be easy to see him in the early first round conversation and stand out as a fit for the Browns.

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