The Cleveland Browns have changed dramatically in the past few weeks, so with everything they’ve done, it’s an opportunity to see how it impacts their draft strategy.
It’s difficult to envision a scenario where the Cleveland Browns could have changed their team more between mock drafts. General manager John Dorsey added Odell Beckham Jr., Olivier Vernon and Sheldon Richardson at the cost of Jabrill Peppers, Kevin Zeitler, the 17th and 95th overall pick. The complexion of the team is significantly altered as well as what the Browns now need to address in the 2019 NFL Draft.
What makes the additions fascinating is that they not only make the Browns a potential contender right now, deciding which addition is the most important is more difficult than it might seem. Beckham seems like the obvious answer and he might well be, but Sheldon Richardson addresses what was the team’s biggest hole at the three technique defensive tackle and Olivier Vernon gives them another high end pass rusher opposite Myles Garrett.
Meanwhile, the Browns have to replace Jabrill Peppers, which is easier said than done and they only have eight picks with their first not occurring until 49th pick in the second round. Short of catastrophe, the Browns are undoubtedly better than they were before these moves, so this draft isn’t necessarily about needing to find plug and play starters as much as it is filling out the roster, finding prospects that can play specific roles and evolve into bigger contributors.
For this one, I used Fanspeak and the Aggregate CBS board.