2019 NFL Mock Draft: Defensive line rules at start of training camp
By Randy Gurzi
3. Cleveland Browns: Ed Oliver, Houston, DT
For the past two drafts, the Cleveland Browns have kicked things off with the starting selection. They took Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett at No. 1 overall in 2017 and then went for Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield this past draft.
They also happened to own the No. 4 pick in 2018 as well as a total of three picks in the first round back in 2017. With those moves they landed cornerback Denzel Ward, safety Jabrill Peppers, and tight end David Njoku.
Those selections have given them a strong foundation of talent to build on. This only becomes stronger when you consider the talent they’ve added via free agency and trades. Hopes are high in Cleveland now because of all this, but our power rankings still have them low until they prove otherwise, which leads to them drafting third.
Fans won’t be mad for long if that leads to them landing Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver. The 6-3, 290-pound Oliver is a freak of an athlete that would instantly enhance the interior of any defensive line. He’s racked up 138 tackles and 10.5 sacks in two seasons for the Cougars.
Adding that kind of firepower to a line that already includes Garrett, Emmanuel Ogbah and Larry Ogunjobi feels almost unfair.