Cleveland Browns Mock Draft: 7-Round Predictions, Post-Combine
The NFL Scouting Combine wraps its final day in Indianapolis on Monday, which means the league is on a crash course to April's draft.
Though the combine does not change or establish a team's position on any player, it does serve to confirm or highlight things that have been shown on tape. It helps to cement a team's draft board.
The Cleveland Browns have 10 picks in the 2015 draft and numerous needs on offense and defense. Now that the combine is (nearly) over, here is a full, seven-round mock draft for the Browns that acknowledges what these prospects accomplished in Indianapolis.
Round 1, Pick No. 12: NT Danny Shelton, Washington
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The Cleveland Browns have two very evident needs on defense this year: Replacing free-agent nose tackle Ahtyba Rubin and (finally) finding a way to stop the run—something they haven't been able to accomplish in over a decade.
There are a number of candidates for the Browns' nose tackle position in this year's draft class, but few are as massive and impressive as Washington's Danny Shelton.
Shelton totaled 208 tackles, including 24 for a loss, in his collegiate career, along with 11.5 sacks. He had nine sacks, 93 tackles and 16.5 tackles for a loss in 2014. He's certainly capable of taking on two offensive linemen, at 6'2" and 339 pounds and has shown, based on his sack total, an ability to collapse pockets and get to quarterbacks.
But most importantly for the Browns is Shelton's "strength and athleticism to dominate in the running game," as NFL.com's Lance Zierlein points out. His 5.64-second 40-yard dash proves that he can move, and his 32-inch arms can certainly help him get his hands on running backs.
NFL Network draft expert Mike Mayock (via NFL.com's Bryan Fischer) likens Shelton to the New England Patriots' Vince Wilfork, in that he can eat up players on running downs but will need to prove himself as a pass-rushing nose tackle to play all three downs right away. But given the Browns' immediate and glaring need in run defense, Shelton should fit right in.
Round 1, Pick No. 19 (from Buffalo): WR/TE Devin Funchess, Michigan
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The Browns need both a tight end, depending on the status of free agent Jordan Cameron, and a wide receiver, thanks to Josh Gordon's ban for the 2015 season. They might be able to get a bit of both out of wide receiver/tight end Devin Funchess of Michigan.
Funchess didn't have the fastest 40-yard dash time of his position group at the scouting combine, running it in 4.70 seconds. However, as a tight end, that was one of the fastest dash times at the event. Most importantly, though, Funchess has the size to be a major mismatch in all areas of the field, making him an excellent hybrid offensive player for a team that needs one.
In three years at Michigan, Funchess caught 126 passes for 1,715 yards and 15 touchdowns, while averaging 13.6 yards per reception. He had over 700 receiving yards in each of his last two seasons. He does have 20 dropped passes over those three years, though, and is something he will need to work on to be a consistent threat in the NFL.
NFL.com's Lance Zierlein is concerned that Funchess "[i]sn't a lock to high-point a throw and doesn't attack throws" and "[w]on't win enough 50/50 throws." But he does add that Funchess "was used outside and inside at Michigan and had success from the slot. He has the feel of a hybrid player who can be a big guy at wide receiver or a mismatch nightmare as a move tight end with more weight on his rangy frame."
Given the Browns' lack of depth—and size—at both tight end and receiver, Funchess makes sense with their second first-round pick.
Round 2, Pick No. 11: OL La'el Collins, LSU
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Though the Browns do currently have a right tackle in Mitchell Schwartz and depth or competition for him in Michael Bowie, whom the Browns picked up when the Seattle Seahawks put him on injured reserve, they may not be able to pass on LSU's La'el Collins if he's still on the board in the second round.
Collins, who played guard before two years at left tackle, projects to be a right tackle in the NFL, met with the Browns at the scouting combine, reports the Akron Beacon-Journal's Nate Ulrich. Collins said that Browns offensive line coach Andy Moeller would want him to play right tackle and that he's Moeller's "favorite guy" in the draft.
Collins impressed at the combine, running the 40-yard dash in 5.12 seconds, despite clocking in at 6'4" and 305 pounds. NFL.com's Bucky Brooks said his performance in the drills "checks all the boxes," citing his "exceptional agility, athleticism and explosiveness."
With an ability to play both tackle and guard and a good showing in Indianapolis, it's possible that Collins could be gone when the Browns make their second-round pick. But for now, it appears he'll be there for the Browns to select in Round 2 to provide the upgrade on the offensive line they need.
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Round 3, Pick No. 13: QB Bryce Petty, Baylor
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The Browns have vowed at multiple times this offseason to examine every possibility at the quarterback position in order to get it solved and stabilized for 2015 and beyond. With that in mind, it's highly possible that the Browns use one of their 10 draft picks this year on a quarterback, even if it's one who may not start right away.
A good candidate would be Baylor's Bryce Petty. Petty, who completed 62.7 percent of his collegiate passes, for 8,195 yards, 62 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in college, posted top-five numbers at the scouting combine in vertical and broad jumps, the three-cone drill and the 20-yard shuttle. But he also looked good while throwing.
The Dallas Morning News' Shehan Jeyarajah noted ESPN's John Clayton described Petty's throws at the combine as "effortless," and NFL Network's Mike Mayock called him a "natural, beautiful thrower." NFL.com's Lance Zierlein says that Petty "[d]oesn't have a cannon, but arm strength is NFL-starter quality. Deep-ball accuracy improved from 2013 to 2014. Understands when to throw the fastball and when to use touch."
Still, Petty comes from a one-read system in Baylor and played through a back injury in 2014. As Zierlein notes, Petty "[m]ust learn to read defenses and get through his progressions when he joins the NFL," which would likely preclude him from starting in Cleveland in 2015.
But that doesn't mean he lacks value—it's worth having a young quarterback waiting in the wings if the Browns' quarterback plans don't pan out during his rookie year.
Round 4, Pick No. 12: DE Trey Flowers, Arkansas
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In order to further improve their run defense, the Browns could certainly go after Arkansas defensive end Trey Flowers.
Though NFL.com's Lance Zierlein says that Flowers is "[n]ot yet advanced enough as a pass-rusher to be able to consistently pressure the passer," his run-stopping ability could make him an attractive prospect to be used rotationally.
Flowers had a combined 190 tackles, 47.5 tackles for a loss, four forced fumbles and 18 sacks in his collegiate career. While he needs some development to be an every-down end for the Browns, using a fourth-round pick on a player who can assist the run defense is a sensible move. The Browns met with Flowers on Friday, according to NFL.com's Chase Goodbread.
Round 4, Pick No. 16 (from Buffalo): DE/OLB Nate Orchard, Utah
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There is some question about where exactly Utah edge-rusher Nate Orchard could be drafted this year. He has just a two-year sample size of collegiate production and could be a one-trick pony as a situational pass-rusher, something which concerns NFL.com's Lance Zierlein. He'll be drafted dependent upon how much growth potential he has.
Because of this, though, the Browns could manage to select Orchard with one of their two fourth-round picks. And by selecting Trey Flowers alongside him, together they could combine into a pair of rotational defenders who meet specific needs in Cleveland.
Rushing the passer wasn't a hallmark of the Browns' defense in 2014, which totaled 31 sacks. Further, outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo is coming off shoulder surgery and has yet to break out as the first-round talent the Browns expected him to be.
So, the Browns would be wise to add another part to their roster of pass-rushers. Orchard totaled 134 tackles at Utah, including 30 for a loss—21 of which came in 2014. He also has 22 sacks, 18.5 in 2014 alone. If he can translate his athleticism into the world of special teams, as well, he'll have added value to the Browns as a rookie.
Round 5, Pick No. 11: OL Adam Shead, Oklahoma
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The Browns need to build upon their offensive line depth this year, and the fifth round is a good place to find guards at a value. One who could fit in Cleveland is Oklahoma's Adam Shead, who excels in blocking in power-run schemes.
Shead looks like a later-round pick, thanks to the many injuries he suffered in college, including ones to his back and his knee. In fact, NFL.com's Lance Zierlein says that there are "[c]oncerns in scouting community that [his] injury history has robbed him of functional mobility." Combine that with weight concerns—"heavy middle with bad weight" is how CBS Sports' Dane Brugler describes him—and it's clear that Shead isn't going to be one of the draft's big names.
Still, Shead comes off as very nasty, a great trait for an offensive lineman. Brugler says his "[g]ame is all power. When he latches on, it's usually game over" and is "[a]ll attitude and wants to win." Shead, prior to his many injuries, seemed highly athletic. If he can recapture that athleticism, he could be a solid component of the Browns' offensive line in the future.
Round 6, Pick No. 13: WR Vince Mayle, Washington State
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The sixth round is a solid place for the Browns to grab themselves a tall project of a wide receiver like Washington State's Vince Mayle. A basketball player before turning to football in 2013, it's fair to say that he's raw, but his size, at 6'3" and 219 pounds, will draw attention at the draft.
Mayle had 148 career catches at Washington State, for 2,022 yards and 16 touchdowns, with 106 catches for 1,483 yards and nine touchdowns in 2014. NFL.com's Lance Zierlein says that Mayle "[c]an win in space and has tremendous ability to track the ball over his shoulder on deep throws" but has "[u]nsound fundamentals as a hands-catcher. ... Will trap ball against body and struggle with focus drops" and is a [b]asic route-runner at this stage."
All of that is to be expected by a football novice like Mayle. He won't make much of an impact in his first year, but he could be ready to be a significant red-zone target by 2016. Most importantly, the Browns need to work on adding size to the receiver position, and Mayle certainly supplies that.
Round 6, Pick No. 26 (from Baltimore): C B.J. Finney, Kansas State
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Given the hit the Browns' rushing offense took after center Alex Mack went down with a broken leg halfway through the season, the team may want to add some depth at the position to act as insurance should anything else befall the NFL's highest-paid center. Kansas State walk-on B.J. Finney could be a good fit in Round 6, granted he is still on the board.
Finney started 52 straight games in college, proving that he's durable. His high school wrestling career provides him with a "clear understanding of leverage at the point of attack. ... [and] [i]s able to use defender's momentum against him to help create blocking lanes," as NFL.com's Lance Zierlein points out. Still, he has problems changing direction and he has short arms, which drops his draft grade considerably.
Still, Finney gave up only 2.5 sacks in his four years at Kansas State. And his intangibles are glowing. CBS Sports' Dane Brugler notes that Finney is a "[h]igh-character individual with strong leadership skills and a resilient attitude. Likeable teammate with a positive presence in the locker room and huddle (voted a three-year captain by his teammates)."
With no injury history and a good locker-room attitude, Finney brings more to the Browns than just what can be measured at the scouting combine or on film. In Round 6, he could be a steal.
Round 7, Pick No. 12: K Justin Manton, Louisiana-Monroe
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The Browns haven't found a consistent performer at the kicker position since losing Phil Dawson to free agency. They first tried to turn to Billy Cundiff but released him in December, replacing him with Garrett Hartley.
Because of this turmoil at kicker, it would not be a surprise if the Browns opted to draft one in Round 7 this year. Among the choices, Louisiana-Monroe's Justin Manton should be their best option.
Manton has made 148 of 152 extra points and 36 of 56 field goals in his collegiate career, though he didn't start kicking in earnest until 2014, when he made 20 of 24 of his attempted field goals. He's also a punter, averaging 43.1 yards per punt, which means he could be competition for both Hartley and punter Spencer Lanning.
All NFL Scouting Combine results courtesy of NFL.com unless otherwise noted.
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