Winners and Losers from Cleveland Browns' Draft

The 2015 NFL draft didn't just affect the players selected by the Cleveland Browns—it also affected the players already on the team's roster, as well as the coaching and front-office staffs.

Certain players and position groups were aided by this draft, while others stand to have a lot to lose based on the players and positions the Browns addressed during the three-day event.

Here are the Browns' winners and losers as dictated by what the team did during this year's draft.

Winner: The Run Defense

The Browns selected the best nose tackle prospect in the draft at No. 12 overall by taking Washington's Danny Shelton. Shelton will immediately provide a significant upgrade to Cleveland's run defense, which ranked last in the league in 2014 and has struggled for the past 10 seasons.

Shelton is a pure 3-4 nose tackle—massive, with an ability to take on multiple offensive linemen, stuff running backs in their tracks and open lanes for pass-rushers.

The goal is for Shelton to eventually be a three-down player, with head coach Mike Pettine saying in his Day 1 post-draft press conference (via Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal) that, "I think he can play on third down.

"He did have nine sacks. When you can push the pocket and eliminate the step-up option for the quarterback, you will find your edges suddenly become more productive. If he is not getting production, he is causing production."

But Shelton's immediate impact will be felt as part of the Browns' efforts to improve their run-stopping capability. That area of the defense has been given a huge boost by Shelton even before he's ever taken the field.

Losers: The Veteran Defensive Tackles

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When Ahtyba Rubin left in free agency, Browns head coach Mike Pettine had Phil Taylor penciled in as the team's starting nose tackle for 2015, with Ishmaa'ily Kitchen backing him up. Taylor had played at defensive end in 2014, before suffering a knee injury in Week 5 that landed him on injured reserve. And to boost the position, the Browns also picked up free agent Randy Starks in the offseason.

Now, after drafting Danny Shelton in Round 1 and Xavier Cooper in Round 3, it looks like both Taylor's and Kitchen's snaps could go down significantly this year. Granted, it will take some time before Shelton becomes a force in pass-rushing situations, much as it did Vince Wilfork in his tenure with the New England Patriots, but until Shelton becomes an every-down player, Cooper can certainly play a role as a pass-rusher.

Taylor, Kitchen and Starks may lose not just playing time—at least one may lose their jobs in Cleveland. It likely won't be Taylor—for now.

In a year's time, though, Taylor may be looking for a new team to play for. Taylor, a 2011 first-round pick, is playing 2015 on his fifth-year option, worth $5.477 million. Given he has had two of his four seasons cut short by injuries and the drafting of both Shelton and Cooper, it looks as though the Browns are on the verge of moving on from Taylor.

Kitchen could be the more immediate roster casualty, as his development has plateaued over his past three years with the team. His roster spot was in question with the addition of Starks, and now with Shelton and Cooper in the fold, he appears to be the odd man out.

Winner: The Offensive Line

The Browns' offensive line, a position group already flush with talent, got even better in Round 1 of the 2015 NFL draft when the team selected Cameron Erving with the 19th overall pick. While it seems like a luxury pick at first, it's really not. Erving can—and has—played all five positions on the line, including center.

It's expected that Erving will compete for starting reps on the right side of the line, whether at right tackle where Mitchell Schwartz played last season, or right guard, which was John Greco's home. But eventually, Erving should find a home at center.

Current starter Alex Mack has a contract structured such that he can opt out at the end of the 2015 season and resume his career elsewhere if he so chooses. Should he exercise that option—which left tackle Joe Thomas believes is a very real possibility, according to a discussion he had with ESPNCleveland.com's Tony Grossi last month—Erving will be able to step in and do that job next year.

Browns general manager Ray Farmer explained the logic in taking Erving in Round 1 thusly: "From my perspective, I think our competitive advantage right now for the offense is the offensive line. To bolster that group, we took the guy that we thought had the most additional versatility and the skill set for who we wanted to be."

Farmer added: "Whether you took him and wanted to run downhill at people or whether you wanted to run laterally, the guy has a skill set that allows him to play in any of those schemes and at a variety of positions. He is a valuable guy in that way." 

Farmer is right to see the Browns' offensive line as their biggest strength on that side of the ball. Drafting Erving ensures it stays that way for years to come.

Losers: Mitchell Schwartz or John Greco

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The bad news about the Browns taking offensive lineman Cameron Erving in Round 1 is that it will likely spell the end of either Mitchell Schwartz starting at right tackle or Greco starting at right guard.

The Browns will want Erving as part of their line as quickly as possible, and with the left side set, given Joe Thomas and Joel Bitonio are two of the Browns' best linemen, the only place for him during his rookie year will be on the right.

If Erving is inserted at right tackle, Schwartz and Greco will have to battle for the the right guard spot. If Erving is their right guard, then that likely sends Greco to the bench, while Schwartz reprises his role at tackle.

According to Pro Football Focus, Schwartz was the better pass protector between himself and Greco last year, while Greco was vastly superior as a run-blocker. Still, Schwartz's pass protecting left much to be desired, having allowed the most sacks of any Browns lineman last year, with seven, while also giving up six quarterback hits and 22 hurries. Greco allowed two sacks, six hits and 14 hurries.

It's quite possible either Schwartz or Greco will be riding the pine this year now that Erving is in the fold.

Winner: The Quarterback

The Cleveland Browns selected their first wide receiver since Travis Benjamin in 2012 when they took Washington State's Vince Mayle with their second of Round 4 picks this year. But that's not why whoever suits up at quarterback this year should be happy.

No, the quarterback wins because of the selection of Miami running back Duke Johnson in Round 3. 

Johnson is one of the draft's most dynamic running backs, but the Browns—and by extension, their quarterback—will benefit from more than just his running ability. He's an adept pass-catcher, with 65 career catches at Miami for 642 yards and four scores. In 2014, he caught 38 passes for 421 yards and three scores.

In contrast, the Browns' two main running backs, Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West combined for 20 catches on 27 targets in 2014, for just 151 yards and one score. Johnson's prowess as a receiver is like adding another wideout to the Browns' roster, even though he is billed as a running back and will also be used in that capacity in Cleveland.

Having such a talented receiving option at running back will be useful for any quarterback who starts for the Browns this year. He's a checkdown outlet who can make plays via yards after the catch. And putting him on the field means defenses must be prepared for Johnson to either run, catch or block, giving the Browns a pre-snap advantage.

The Browns may have missed out on some of the draft's better receivers this year—and for good reason, given the high-quality players they were able to get in Rounds 1 and 2 at other positions. But Johnson in Round 3 fills that void and gives Cleveland's eventual quarterback a true weapon to work with.

Loser: Travis Benjamin

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Incumbent Browns receiver and returner Travis Benjamin might be friends with fellow Miami alum and new Browns running back Duke Johnson. But Johnson's arrival on the roster might be the tipping point for Benjamin's job security in Cleveland.

Benjamin has been with the Browns since 2012. He has caught 41 passes for 717 yards and five scores in his last three seasons. But the problem is that he has been targeted 96 times in that span. In 2014, his hands didn't get any better, with only 18 catches on 46 targets, for 314 yards and three scores.

Johnson's hands are more reliable. His speed and ability to create after the catch certainly rivals Benjamin's. And, like Benjamin, Johnson can work in the return game, with Johnson returning 27 kickoffs in 2012 for 892 yards and two scores. Last year, Benjamin returned 12 kicks for 246 yards and 15 punts for 127 yards.

If Benjamin's roster spot was in jeopardy before the draft, he's certainly on the hot seat now. He'll need to spend the coming months proving that he remains valuable to the team.

Johnson seems poised to take at least half of Benjamin's receiving targets away, if not more, as well as possibly his return job. With the addition of Vince Mayle in Round 4, the signings of free agents Dwayne Bowe and Brian Hartline in the offseason and Andrew Hawkins remaining a major part of the Browns' passing plans, Benjamin is going to have to make a strong case in order to keep his job.