Cleveland Browns Mock Draft: A Complete 7-Round Wish List

Andy McNamaraDec 23, 2012

The holiday season is upon us and there is no better time to break out a draft wish list for the Cleveland Browns.

With a 5-10 record, northeast Ohio's favourite team has plenty of offseason needs to take care of.

This article will provide a round-by-round mock draft based on Cleveland's current seventh-place seeding.

Players and positions selected are going to depend on the Browns' urgency to upgrade at a particular area and team roster depth as well as the quality of available targets.

Probable coaching changes and free-agent scenarios shall not be considered.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell approaches the podium and...

Round 7: Ryan Allen, Punter

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Current punter Reggie Hodges has been inconsistent at best since returning from an Achilles injury that kept him sidelined for the entire 2011 season.

The six-year veteran is ranked 32nd in the NFL with his average of 42 yards per punt.

Hodges contract is up at year's end. A change needs to be made.

Enter Louisiana Tech leg man Ryan Allen.

This senior averaged an impressive 49.23 yards per punt and demonstrated steady improvement throughout his collegiate career.

Allen couples his distance kicking with lofty hang times, and that makes him the total package.

He can step into the starter role for Cleveland and be an immediate improvement.

Round 6: Etienne Sabino, Outside Linebacker

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Bringing on a tough Ohio State defender always goes over well with fans in the Lake Erie area.

Etienne Sabino is definitely a work in progress, but provides the raw upside that is well worth a sixth-round selection.

The Buckeye earned All-Big Ten honorable mention in 2012.

Despite being inactive for several games because of surgery on a broken fibula, Sabino was top 10 in team tackles with 45 through eight matches.

At 6'3", 238 pounds, he is an athletic blitzer with a downhill style and impressive range. Sabino's speed allows for catching opponents from behind and he is a technically sound tackler.

A slam on the Florida native is the time it can take him to break down a play and make adjustments on the fly.

Most likely a special teams player to begin his NFL career, the Browns will work on molding him into their next surprise impact linebacker like Craig Robertson was this year.

Round 5: Daimion Stafford, Free Safety

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Daimion Stafford is arguably the best free safety in the league and was selected this year to the second-team All-Big 10.

The Nebraska Cornhusker collected a club-high four interceptions and was runner-up in tackles with 83 in 2012.

Stafford plays an aggressive style while also being able to make accurate reads before and after the snap.

At 6'1", 205 pounds, he can still add on some muscle weight without sacrificing his flexibility and excellent acceleration.

The senior is equally effective against the pass or run and could very well be the NCAA's most underrated defender.

If Sheldon Brown is retained and becomes the starting FS for Cleveland, then Stafford would be able to develop behind the well-respected seasoned veteran.

Otherwise, he could legitimately challenge for the No. 1 job against Usama Young and Eric Hagg.

Round 4: Alvin Bailey, Offensive Guard

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Alvin Bailey is a physical specimen on the line at a mighty 6'5" and 315 pounds.

Hailing from Broken Arrow, Okla., the offensive guard demonstrated excellent quickness off the snap while starting every game of his career in Arkansas.

The Browns will like his versatility because although Bailey primarily plays on the right side, he also has success when asked to switch to the left.

Effectively knocking attackers off the ball as well as pulling and blocking on the move would all benefit Cleveland's star running back Trent Richardson.

Bailey still needs to refine his pass protection skills as he frequently attempts to control defenders with strength and size alone.

The junior is an instant upgrade at guard and ranks fifth for his position by CBS Sports.

Round 3: Cornellius "Tank" Carradine, Defensive End

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If not for a torn ACL during the November 24 loss to interstate rival Florida, Cornellius "Tank" Carradine could have very well been a first-round selection.

Despite missing the final two games, he was named to first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference.

The defensive end was stellar in this 2012 campaign.

He led Florida State with 80 tackles and was second in both tackles for loss (13) and sacks (11).

At a solid 6'4" and 265 pounds, Carradine is often overshadowed by his highly touted DE partner, Bjoern Werner.

However, Tank was an integral part of the Seminoles' pass rush and the stuffing of run attempts around the edge.

The senior is a high-risk, high-reward choice. CBS Sports reported that he should be healthy by next summer or fall.

If Carradine recovers fully from the knee injury, then the Browns get a No. 1 talent at a third-pick price. Plus he is already comfortable playing in their 4-3 scheme.

The Cincinnati, Ohio, native will learn behind veteran ends Jabaal Sheard, Frostee Rucker and Juqqa Parker (if he returns).

Adding his depth, size and blitzing power to the rotation is something this Cleveland team cannot let slip by.

Round 1: Dee Milliner, Cornerback

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Cleveland forfeited their 2013 second-round choice by selecting wide receiver Josh Gordon in this offseason's supplemental draft.

The first pick will be cornerback Dee Milliner.

A stellar campaign landed the junior a unanimous vote to first-team All-SEC, and he will also get to showcase his talents in the upcoming BCS National Championship.

The Crimson Tide corner's statistics speak for themselves.

Tied at third in the country for passes defended with two interceptions and 16 breakups as well as four tackles for a loss make up an all-star year.

ESPN.com's Todd McShay commented, "(Milliner is) good enough to hold up in man coverage, and he is very good in zone...also strong in run support, and simply a good all-around player."

The pride of Millbrook, Ala., provides tight bump-and-run while not being afraid to be a ball hawk or come off his assignment to get involved in the action.

At 6'1", Milliner possesses the height, athleticism and ability to shed blocks that can match up against the NFL's best receivers.

Making smart decisions on the fly and looking comfortable in space are other appealing traits.

Milliner does show overaggressive tendencies, which result in some missed tackles. Good pro coaching and peer feedback should resolve this quickly.

The more opponents continuously try to carve up the field where standout CB Joe Haden is not, the more urgent of a need it is for Cleveland to improve that other outside spot.

The Browns secondary imploded during the five games this season in which Haden didn't dress. All ended in losses.

Sheldon Brown is still an asset, but clearly a step behind speedy WR threats. Buster Skrine draws penalties by the boatload in his opportunities to be a shut-down difference-maker.

All the more reason why Milliner's services are required as a day one starter.

The addition of Alabama's No. 27 would allow Brown to slide into a more comfortable free safety role and still contribute in a meaningful way.

Holding off on addressing the dire cornerback issue is not an option. The decision must be either to draft Milliner or attract a young, yet proven, free agent.