Cleveland Browns: 2019 7-Round mock draft, Vol. 4
By Peter Smith
Summary
17. T.J. Hockenson, TE Iowa
49. Zach Allen, DE Boston College
80. Joejuan Williams, CB Vanderbilt
95. T.J. Edwards, LB Wisconsin
119. Michael Dogbe, DT, Temple
145. Olisaemeka Udoh, OT Elon
156. Stanley Morgan Jr, WR Nebraska
171. Maxx Crosby, DE Eastern Michigan
191. Penny Hart, WR Georgia State
223. Greg Gaines, DT Washington
245. Jordan Kunaszyk, LB Cal
The goal here for the Cleveland Browns is controlling the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. In this case, it also happens to come with weaponry and a concerted effort to make sure the defense takes a step forward as opposed to risking a step back or even staying the same.
T.J. Hockenson gives Baker Mayfield, Nick Chubb and Freddie Kitchens help. He represents another pass receiving threat, blocker and the ability for Kitchens to continue with and expand on the creativity he showed in eight games as an offensive coordinator. Controlling the middle of field, having weapons to move around and create mismatches gives him a ton of freedom with how he wants to employ weaponry around Mayfield.
Zach Allen is a very good base end, but he’s got the size and skill to play up and down the line, upgrading their ability to play the run and attack the quarterback. Tough, long and skilled, Allen looks like someone can contribute immediately and it’s largely a question of how the Browns view him.
Joejuan Williams gives the Browns depth to avoid a let down at corner, but he also appears to have the potential to be the long term answer opposite Denzel Ward. He also represents the ability to change up how they want to match up with opponents, having one corner with more raw speed and quickness while Williams has more size and power.
T.J. Edwards is a terrific linebacker and change is coming on that front. Joe Schobert is a terrific player but for the future, 2020 and beyond, there’s no one else that appears to be in the long term plans, save Genard Avery who’s a linebacker largely in name only to this point. Edwards is a stout linebacker who plays smart, finds the ball and makes plays and might be able to be Schobert’s running mate with the Browns after being teammates at Wisconsin.
Michael Dogbe seems like exactly the type of defensive tackle the Browns need in terms of depth. Relentless effort player, athletic and can get after the quarterback. He’s undersized but not underpowered so he might be able to offer more in run defense than some might expect and he looks like a great energy player to keep up pressure against opposing quarterbacks.
Oli Udoh looks like a prototypical lineman and while he’s not a plug and play prospect, he looks like he’s someone that can be that. His size and strength are notable and he looks to have the quickness necessary to succeed in the NFL. The Browns have the ability to take their time with a player like Udoh and he could be someone that could be a starter down the road.
Stanley Morgan seems like an ideal fit for Mayfield. He’s a player that just goes and gets the football, has the ability to win at multiple levels and makes plays after the catch. Morgan also looks like there’s more there if he can improve his route running to create more separation. He’s also someone with versatility in terms of where lines up in a formation.
Maxx Crosby gives the Browns talented edge depth with speed and agility. He has great length for the position but needs to work to fill out his frame. Crosby is someone that looks capable of adding to the pass rush immediately, but if he can get stronger, he has potential to do far more, upgrading the ability generate pressure and sacks.
Penny Hart, like Morgan, is someone that has ability to go deep and make plays after the catch. He plays bigger than his size would suggest and he’s got speed to burn. Hart could be someone teams view as a slot receiver, but Hart’s ability to win over the top suggests he can do more, looking like a spark player that can make an explosive play while teams are focused on bigger perceived threats.
It was reckless how much the Browns asked Larry Ogunjobi to do last season and his play suffered for it, resulting in an injury that he played through. If he wasn’t willing to gut it out, the Browns had no one else to play the position. Greg Gaines is a massive run stopper who flashed ability to not only hold his ground but reestablish the line of scrimmage in the backfield.
Jordan Kanyszyk represents another talented player to give the Browns additional depth at linebacker with the potential to become more. For minimal investment, the Browns hopefully get themselves more special teams help and someone that might have the talent to be a starting linebacker at some point.
Next. 2019 NFL Mock Draft: 2 Full rounds post-Super Bowl 53. dark
This draft will really help shape the identity of the Browns under John Dorsey and now Kitchens as head coach. If they follow this path, it makes them stronger, more capable of being a downhill run game while varying up their offensive looks. Defensively, it’s all about taking a talented core of young players and making them into what is hopefully a top of the line defense for several years.