2012 NFL Mock Draft: Options Available for the Cleveland Browns in First Round

Zach KruseJun 5, 2018

Thanks to some nifty draft day dealing a year ago, the Cleveland Browns now have one of the more unique positions in the 2012 NFL draft.

Not only does Cleveland pick No. 4 overall thanks to a disappointing 4-12 season, but they also hold the No. 22 spot via their robbery of a deal with the Falcons last season that allowed Atlanta to move up and get Julio Jones.

But with early-round draft capital comes some big decisions, and those decisions will shape the franchise in both the short-term and long-term. The Browns have a good number of holes to fill, so let's run down some logical options for the Browns in the first round:

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1. Hold pat at No. 4 and take best player available

Common sense says this is the way to go for the Browns. If you trust the personnel department, then Cleveland should get a good player at No. 4 regardless. This way will also ensure they keep their 22nd pick. The best player available at No. 4 could very well be Alabama running back Trent Richardson, but drafting a back that high might be too rich. Several names could be in play at No. 4.

2. Package picks and move up

The only way the Browns go this route is if they fall in love with Robert Griffin III. But there's likely to be a bevy of teams that attempt to package picks and move up to the No. 2 slot to take Griffin, and we're not ruling out Cleveland from that group. The Browns avoided committing to Colt McCoy at quarterback in 2012 for a reason. Griffin could have a Cam Newton like impact in Year 1.

3. Move down

This option applies more to the No. 22 pick. So many good drafting teams avoid taking a player they don't absolutely love near the end of the first round by trading out of the slot and stockpiling picks in later rounds and future seasons. See the New England Patriots for evidence of this if you need convincing.

In this case, the Browns would do well to move a handful of slots back in order to get more picks later on in the 2012 draft. There are holes to be filled, and the more chances you get, the better the probability is that you hit.

1. Indianapolis Colts—Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

2. St. Louis Rams—Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

3. Minnesota Vikings—Matt Kalil, OT, USC

4. Cleveland Browns—Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

The only reason we have Griffin III going here is for the simple fact that we're not factoring in trades. Everyone and their mother expects Griffin to go No. 2 to the highest bidder.

But I think the Browns might be the early favorite to move up to get Griffin. Mike Holmgren won't commit to McCoy, and he knows that he needs a game-changer at that position. Holmgren also has the draft capital to move up the two slots and take the draft's most exciting player.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers—Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

6. Washington Redskins—Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

7. Jacksonville Jaguars—Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

8. Carolina Panthers—Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

9. Miami Dolphins—Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

10. Buffalo Bills—Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

11. Kansas City Chiefs—Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

12. Seattle Seahawks—Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

13. Arizona Cardinals—Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

14. Dallas Cowboys—Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

15. Philadelphia Eagles—Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

16. New York Jets—Nick Perry, LB, USC