2012 NFL Draft: Cleveland Browns Positional Mock Draft

"Men and nations behave wisely once they've exhausted all the other alternatives."- Abba Eban

The Cleveland Browns entered the 2012 offseason with needs at nearly every position but left tackle and center. GM Tom Heckert and President Mike Holmgren accomplished assignment numero uno when they locked down middle linebacker D'Qwell Jackson to a five year, $42 million contract.

Jayme Mitchell disappointed at defensive end in 2011 with an anemic 1.5 sacks in 14 starts, while ranking consistently near the bottom among DE's against the run to boot. The Browns addressed that issue with a two-pronged approach, acquiring run-stopping extraordinaire Frostee Rucker and third-down pass-rusher Juqua Parker.

The Browns then filled out their reserves on defensive and offensive line by rewarding performance in-house, but primary needs remain at right tackle, running back, wide receiver, outside linebacker, guard and quarterback.

This mock draft considers the Browns' options by a positional, as opposed to pick-by pick basis. 

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Right Tackle

We've outlined in detail the importance of the Browns locking down a quality long-term starter at right tackle. In a division where rushing futility precludes any realistic shot at competitiveness, the Browns must focus on the point of attack in order to assert themselves as a force with which to be reckoned.

Potential Selections
1st Round, 4th Overall: 
Matt Kalil, USC
Riley Reiff, Iowa

1st Round, 22nd Overall (from Atlanta):
Jonathan Martin, Stanford
Cordy Glenn, Georgia

2nd Round, 37th Overall:
Bobby Massie, Ole Miss
Mike Adams, Ohio State

3rd Round, 68th Overall:
Zebrie Sanders, Florida State
Kelechi Osemele, Iowa State

4th Round, 101st Overall: 
Brandon Mosley, Auburn
Tony Bergstrom, Utah
Mitchell Schwartz, California

4th Round, 119th Overall (from Atlanta):

5th Round, 132nd Overall:
Tom Compton, South Dakota
Lamar Holmes, Southern Miss

6th Round, 165th Overall:
Matt Reynolds, BYU
Andrew Datko, Florida State

7th Round, 196th Overall:
Jeff Allen, Illinois
Landon Walker, Clemson


 

Wide Receiver

Missing on Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi in the second round of the 2009 draft has haunted the Browns' passing game since the departure of Braylon Edwards later that fall. Cleveland's roster has lacked a reliable possession receiver in the last three seasons, let alone playmakers.

The 2012 class runs deep at receiver, and the Browns won't necessarily need to commit to Justin Blackmon with the fourth overall pick to find a potential Pro Bowler.

Potential Selections
1st Round, 4th Overall: 
Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State

1st Round, 22nd Overall (from Atlanta):
Stephen Hill, Georgia Tech
Kendall Wright, Baylor
Michael Floyd, Notre Dame

2nd Round, 37th Overall:
Juron Criner, Arizona
Mohamed Sanu, Rutgers
Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina

3rd Round, 68th Overall:
Marvin Jones, California

4th Round, 101st Overall: 
Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma

4th Round, 119th Overall (from Atlanta):
Reuben Randle, LSU

5th Round, 132nd Overall:
DeVier Posey, Ohio State
Marvin McNutt, Iowa

6th Round, 165th Overall:
Tommy Streeter, Miami
Lance Lewis, ECU

7th Round, 196th Overall:
Junior Hemingway, Michigan

Running Back

The Browns began the season in 2011 with three competitors for the starting running back job: newly-christened Madden cover boy Peyton Hillis, freshly-rehabbed Montario Hardesty and the just-acquired-from-the-Super-Bowl-Champion-Packers Brandon Jackson. Journeyman backup Chris Ogbonnaya emerged as a capable, competent option as the three favored candidates fell victim to injury and contract disputes.

The Browns enter the 2012 season with no bona-fide candidates to rush for 1,000 yards, for this reason many pundits project Cleveland to select the intoxicatingly quick Trent Richardson at fourth overall.

Potential Selections
1st Round, 4th Overall: 
Trent Richardson, Alabama

1st Round, 22nd Overall (from Atlanta):
David Wilson, Virginia Tech
Lamar Miller, Miami

2nd Round, 37th Overall:
Doug Martin, Boise State
Chris Polk, Washington

3rd Round, 68th Overall:
Robert Turbin, Utah State
Isaiah Pead, Cincinnati

4th Round, 101st Overall: 
Bernard Pierce, Temple

4th Round, 119th Overall (from Atlanta):
Cyrus Gray, Texas A&M

5th Round, 132nd Overall:
Terrance Ganaway, Baylor

6th Round, 165th Overall:
Tauren Poole, Tennessee
Dan Herron, Ohio State

7th Round, 196th Overall:

 

Outside Linebacker

While Scott Fujita may still face suspensions for his implication in the "Bounty-gate" incident during his time with the Saints, Fujita also turns 33 in 2012. Additionally, Fujita's contract expires after the 2012 season, at which time the linebacker enters unrestricted free agency. The Browns will very likely find themselves in need of a new outside linebacker sooner or later.

Potential Selections
1st Round, 4th Overall: 

1st Round, 22nd Overall (from Atlanta):
Zach Brown, UNC
Lavonte David, Nebraska

2nd Round, 37th Overall:
Bobby Wagner, Utah State

3rd Round, 68th Overall:

4th Round, 101st Overall: 
Sean Spence, Miami
Josh Kaddu, Oregon

4th Round, 119th Overall (from Atlanta):
Demario Davis, Arkansas State
Travis Lewis, Oklahoma
Terrell Manning, NC State

5th Round, 132nd Overall:
Ronnell Lewis, Oklahoma
Audie Cole, NC State

6th Round, 165th Overall:
Nigel Bradham, Florida State
Keenan Robinson, Texas

7th Round, 196th Overall:
Emmanuel Acho, Texas 

Guard

While Jason Pinkston and Shawn Lauvao have enjoyed their moments during their brief careers as Cleveland Browns, recent NFL history demonstrates the understated importance of guard play. While the consensus top-guard David DeCastro will likely find a home somewhere between the Browns' fourth and 22nd overall picks, intriguing choices like G/T combo Kelechi Osemele could fall as far as the third round.

Potential Selections
1st Round, 4th Overall: 
David DeCastro, Stanford

1st Round, 22nd Overall (from Atlanta):
Cordy Glenn, Georgia

2nd Round, 37th Overall:
Kevin Zeitler, Wisconsin
James Brown, Troy  

3rd Round, 68th Overall:
Brandon Washington, Miami
Jeff Allen, Illinois
Kelechi Osemele, Iowa State

4th Round, 101st Overall: 
Tony Bergstrom, Utah
Peter Konz, Wisconsin

4th Round, 119th Overall (from Atlanta):
Senio Kelemete, Washington

5th Round, 132nd Overall:
Brandon Brooks, Miami (OH)
Ben Jones, Georgia
Phillip Blake, Baylor

6th Round, 165th Overall:
Josh LeRebius, SMU
Ryan Miller, Colorado

7th Round, 196th Overall:
Jaymes Brooks, Virginia Tech
Antoine McClain, Clemson 

Quarterback

Given the infamous instability of the Cleveland Browns' quarterback position in recent years, the organization may wish to consider holding off on investing in a quarterback in 2012. The coaching staff should invest its entire quarterback-developing apparatus in Colt McCoy, and mentoring another rookie could take valuable attention away from the Browns' starter in his make–or–break season.

Additionally, with the top two players at the position coming off the board 1-2, the reality sinks in that finding a potential starter will prove difficult.

Potential Selections
1st Round, 4th Overall: 
Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M

1st Round, 22nd Overall (from Atlanta):

2nd Round, 37th Overall:
Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State

3rd Round, 68th Overall:

4th Round, 101st Overall: 

4th Round, 119th Overall (from Atlanta):
Kirk Cousins, Michigan State
Brock Osweiler, Arizona State

5th Round, 132nd Overall:

6th Round, 165th Overall:
Russell Wilson, Wisconsin
Case Keenum, Houston

7th Round, 196th Overall:
Jacory Harris, Miami