Cleveland Browns: 2019 7-Round mock draft, Vol. 1
By Peter Smith
Summary
6. Ed Oliver, DT Houston
38. Mitch Hyatt, OT Clemson
69. Kelvin Harmon, WR N.C. State
92. Oshane Ximines, DE Old Dominion
108. Max Scharping, OT Northern Illinois
146. Youhanna Ghaifan, DT Wyoming
153. Khalil Hodge, LB Buffalo
169. Isaiah Johnson, CB Houston
180. Tommy Sweeney, TE Boston College
229. Olamide Zaccheaus, RB Virginia
247. Ulysees Gilbert III, LB Akron
As one might expect, it’s all about Baker Mayfield — adding protection and playmakers around him while working to add onto an already star studded defensive line. Ed Oliver will get the focus and deservedly. He’s been outstanding since he arrived at the University of Houston campus and would fit incredibly well with the group the Browns already have. Myles Garrett and Larry Ogunjobi with Oliver not being doubled and someone like Genard Avery coming off of the edge is nasty.
The Browns add a pair of talented offensive lineman to a group that has some options. The team needs to find a way to address both tackle spots. Desmond Harrison looks best suited to be a developmental swing tackle while Chris Hubbard looks like he may be gone after this year. Joel Bitonio could stay at left guard or move out to left tackle.
In Mitch Hyatt, they get someone who looks more than capable of manning a tackle spot but could be moved to guard not unlike Bitonio was when he came out of Nevada. Likewise, Max Scharping could conceivably be a tackle but seems more suited to guard, providing depth and may be the heir apparent for Kevin Zeitler at right guard.
The Browns receiver problems appear a little overstated with Rashard Higgins missing time to injury and having so many young players being counted on, but they do need help at least one receiver that could be an X and hopefully a playmaker. Kelvin Harmon is incredibly impressive and looks the part giving Mayfield a big target that can make plays at all levels of the field.
Tommy Sweeney is a productive tight end, but his real benefit is likely as an inline blocker. He may have a difficult time impressive enough to make the final roster, but he could be a nice player that hits the practice squad and could ultimately take over for Darren Fells, who is having a nice year, whenever his time in Cleveland ends.
That’s along similar lines with Olamide Zaccheaus, who looks like a slot receiver, but in a lot of ways, is a Duke Johnson type of player. Line him up anywhere and get him the ball. He could give them a good option to return kicks, but looks like a nice developmental player that can occasionally provide a spark on offense.
The rest of the draft is dedicated to developmental depth. Oshane Ximines and Youhanna Ghaifan are impressive physical specimens that have a lot of promise but need more polish as they transition from smaller school programs. If nothing else, they need to at least make it so the front line players can get some rest and aren’t run to the ground as they have been this year, but the goal is to have a defensive line that can just keep bringing pressure without needing to blitz from September into January without wearing down due to being overworked.
Khalil Hodge is a player in a similar mold as Joe Schobert in terms of a stud linebacker that might get overlooked for whatever reason. In Hodge’s case, it may be the conference he plays in, but he’s been a stud in the MAC for the last few years. Hodge should great depth and help on special teams, but he looks like he has the potential to be a starter.
The third player from the MAC, Ulysees Gilbert III is likely a special teams player first that might be able to find a way on defense as someone who specializes in coverage when teams want to spread out a defense.
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Last but not least, Isiaiah Johnson represents taking a shot at corner without making another huge splash in there. He’s got the length and speed NFL teams covet but his agility is a question mark and he’s still quite raw.
The Browns have less holes to address than in years past players taken as early as the fifth round may be players that need to make a quick impact or find a role quickly. Otherwise they may end up on a practice squad. Overall, they address the biggest areas they have to address and it becomes a matter of them being able to play at a level where the Browns can win next year and grow from there.