Cleveland Browns: Pre-Combine 7-round 2019 mock draft
Round 1, Pick 17: Devin White, LB, LSU
In round one of the draft, the Browns should be trying to get better, and deeper, on the defensive side of the ball. Wide receiver is a need for Cleveland, yes, but there are so many blue chip defenders in this draft class that not drafting one would be a huge mistake by the Browns. Enter Louisiana State linebacker, Devin White.
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White has been described by Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller on his Stick to Football podcast as, “a healthy Myles Jack,” and the comparisons are certainly there. Both measure in at about 6-1, and White has 15 pounds on Jack, weighing in at 240 pounds. Both are extremely explosive, lightning fast, playmaking linebackers. Devin White could be one of the best linebackers in the NFL and get there very quickly, which makes him a perfect fit for Cleveland.
White’s play history as a high school running back has given him terrific instincts for hitting the hole as a linebacker. White lived in the backfield in 2018, collecting 123 tackles and three sacks in his final year at LSU. With six passes defensed and four forced fumbles, White’s skillset would lend itself perfectly to Steve Wilks’s aggressive defensive scheme.
The only problem with this pick is that there is no guarantee White will fall to No. 17. In fact, it’s a bit unlikely that he makes it past the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 11 overall. However, if White does make his way to the second half of the first round, this pick becomes a no-brainer for the Browns.