Cleveland Browns: 7-Round 2019 NFL mock draft, Vol. 7
By Peter Smith
Round 5 (Via JAX): Miles Boykin, WR, Notre Dame – 6-3.75, 220 pounds
- 59 receptions for 872 yards (26 percent), 8 touchdowns in 2018.
Age: 22 (Born Oct. 12, 1996)
40-Yard Dash: 4.42s
Broad Jump: 140″
Vertical Jump: 43.5″
3-cone: 6.77s
Shuttle: 4.07s
Bench: 12 reps
John Dorsey has run five NFL Drafts as a general manager. He’s picked six receivers, averaging more than one per draft. He didn’t draft one in his first year, but did take Travis Kelce. In both 2015 and 2016, he doubled up on the position. It’s just a position he seems to really like taking at least a flyer on every year and should he last this long due to a glut of talented options, Miles Boykin is a fantastic project.
Boykin is a physical phenom at almost 6-4, 220 pounds with unbelievable agility and explosive ability. He also shows the ability to catch passes in traffic with remarkable body control. His route running is abysmal and predictable, which really limits what he’s been able to do at the college level.
What’s unclear is if that was simply how they had him do it at Notre Dame or if he just did it himself. Either way, it was bad and needs to be addressed. And outside of a few particular roles, the Browns don’t need him to contribute now. They need receiver help for the future when the Browns are likely to lose multiple players to cost cutting as well as free agency.
Jarvis Landry has to deliver in a big way to justify his hefty price tag and Rashard Higgins is making next to nothing and should he have a good year, will want to get paid. Either way, the Browns need to keep looking for weapons for Baker Mayfield.
They need a player like Boykin to be ready to step in when other players leave or get injured to keep the offense rolling. If he’s coachable and can improve his route running, he’s got a ton of ability and upside that could give the Browns another receiver with size, strength and speed both and after the catch.