Cleveland Browns: Full 2016 Draft Guide and Preview

A new era of Cleveland Browns football is on the horizon as the 2016 NFL draft approaches. 

That's because no team in the NFL is undergoing as many changes as the Browns have gone through and will continue to embrace this offseason. "Embrace" is the key word because that's what Cleveland absolutely must do after a 3-13 season last year that marked the eighth straight losing season.

But the Browns aren't hiding from that. Instead, they've used that as the driving force behind an offseason overhaul from the front office down to the coaching staff and scouting department.

That will continue this week when the draft kicks off, as Cleveland can and will look to upgrade every position on the roster. The Browns will be able to do so with an NFL-high 12 picks in the draft, including six in the top 100.

Here is everything you will need to know about the Browns heading into the upcoming draft. 

Draft Picks

David Dermer/Associated Press

As mentioned earlier, the Browns are sitting pretty in the draft thanks to a variety of factors.

The most obvious was being tied for the NFL's worst record in 2015, which allowed them to secure the No. 2 overall pick in this year's draft. That tie will also see the Browns and Tennessee Titans swapping spots as the draft goes on.

For example, Cleveland picks first in the second round, which is the No. 32 pick this year thanks to the Patriots forfeiting their first-round selection. The Browns will then pick second when Round 3 begins and so on.

Another reason the Browns have so many high picks this year is due to the big trade with the Eagles that took place last week. Philadelphia sent five picks to Cleveland, including the No. 8 selection in this year's draft, in exchange for the No. 2 pick.

The Browns also landed the Eagles' third- and fourth-round picks this year, a first-rounder in 2017 and a second-round pick in 2018. Here is a recap of all the picks Cleveland has in this year's draft.

• Round 1, Pick No. 8 overall (from Philadelphia)
• Round 2, Pick No. 32 overall
• Round 3, Pick No. 65 overall
• Round 3, Pick No. 77 (from Philadelphia)
• Round 4, Pick No. 99 overall
• Round 4, Pick No. 100 (from Philadelphia)
• Round 4, Pick No. 138 (compensatory)
• Round 5, Pick No. 141 overall
• Round 5, Pick No. 172 overall (compensatory)
• Round 5, Pick No. 173 overall (compensatory)
• Round 6, Pick No. 176 overall
• Round 7, Pick No. 223 overall 

Top Needs

David Dermer/Associated Press

Heading into the 2016 draft, here is a look at the Browns' top four needs.

1. Quarterback 

I'll preface this by saying head coach Hue Jackson has done wonders for all sorts of quarterbacks across the NFL. I won't be surprised if he's able to turn Robert Griffin III or Josh McCown into solid starters for one to two years.

That, in turn, could mean Cleveland does not have to reach for a quarterback in this draft the same way that the Los Angeles Rams and Eagles may end up doing with the top two picks. But there's no question the Browns must draft a quarterback this year, preferably within the first three rounds.

It's easily the biggest need for a team that hasn't had a franchise quarterback since the days of Bernie Kosar.

2. Wide Receiver

The Browns will look to draft one to two receivers in this draft, given how thin and short on explosion their roster is. With Travis Benjamin gone, there's no home run hitter at this position, and that's something every offense needs in today's NFL. 

There's also the fact that two of the top Browns receivers can't even stay on the field. Last year, Brian Hartline missed four games due to a broken collarbone. He turns 30 this year and doesn't have much left in the tank.

As for Andrew Hawkins, he's now 30 years old and has missed 17 games over the past three seasons because of various injuries. He was limited to just eight games in 2015 due to a lingering concussion that caused him to miss six of the final seven games. 

Together, Hartline and Hawkins combined for just 799 yards and two scores on 73 catches during the 2015 season. That's why adding multiple wide receivers in this year's draft is something the Browns must do. 

3. Pass-Rusher

The Browns defense is putrid when it comes to rushing the passer. That unit finished with the fifth-fewest sacks (29) for the 2015 season, per ESPN.com.

But for this need, I say pass-rusher because it doesn't have to be an outside linebacker, even though that's who tends to get most of the sacks in a 3-4 defense. Several 3-4 defensive linemen in this draft can get good pressure, not to mention a few inside linebackers.

So I'm not limiting this need to one position, but the Browns have to find a way to upgrade their pass rush in this draft. It's been consistently one of the NFL's worst units for far too long. 

4. Offensive Tackle

You could go back and forth on whether this is a position of need for the 2016 season, but there's no question it is beyond this year. That's because stalwart left tackle Joe Thomas continues to come up in trade discussions and turns 32 in December.

Age is likely going to start wearing him down over the next few seasons, so having his replacement lined up would be ideal. There's also a massive void on the right side after Mitchell Schwartz left this offseason to sign with the Kansas City Chiefs. 

Schwartz's replacement is unclear at this point, so drafting a tackle early to take over the right side is very much in play for Cleveland. 

Top Targets

Now, it's time for a look at the top two targets at each of the Browns' top four areas of need.

Quarterback

1. Paxton Lynch, Memphis: The Browns must add a quarterback early in this draft, ideally in Round 1. Cleveland would have a fifth-year option to exercise on a first-round QB.

While Paxton Lynch has the potential to become a franchise quarterback, he probably needs a few years to develop and adjust to the NFL. Having that fifth year would help ensure he gets as much time as possible before the Browns have to decide if he's worth a franchise QB-type contract. 

2. Connor Cook, Michigan State: If the Browns are unable to get Paxton Lynch, Connor Cook is the next best quarterback in this draft. Though he is a solid prospect with a lot of potential, he's also someone likely to fall into Round 2. 

The Browns hold the No. 32 pick, and that's where they likely would have to take Cook if they miss on Lynch and still want to end up with a nice quarterback prospect from this draft. 

Wide Receiver

1. Laquon Treadwell, Ole Miss: The bad news for Cleveland is that this draft class lacks elite talent. None of this year's receiver prospects is worth the No. 8 pick, so taking anyone here would be a massive reach.

The good news is the Browns have plenty of draft picks and room to work in another trade to move down and take a receiver. Ole Miss' Laquon Treadwell is viewed by many as the best receiver in this draft and an instant-impact rookie. 

That's exactly what Cleveland needs for its offense. It's also worth noting that Sports Illustrated's Chris Burke actually has Treadwell at No. 8 on his big board, so someone thinks he'd be worth the No. 8 pick. 

2. Tyler Boyd, Pitt: While there are better receiver prospects than Pitt's Tyler Boyd, there's a decent chance he'll be the best wide receiver still on the board when Cleveland goes back on the clock with the No. 32 pick. That's why I'm putting him on this list, as the Browns may look to wait and address wide receiver after Round 1. 

Boyd has been one of college football's best and most consistent receivers over his three-year career. He has arguably the best hands in this draft and would be an immediate impact player in the offense. 

Pass-Rusher

1. Joey Bosa, Ohio State: The Browns are in prime position to upgrade their pass rush with the No. 8 pick. A big reason why is because it's possible Ohio State's Joey Bosa will still be on the board.

In terms of just rushing the passer, no one is better in this draft than Bosa, who frequently dealt with double- and triple-teams during his junior season. He still finished his career with 26 sacks and 51 tackles for loss in 38 games.

2. Shaq Lawson, Clemson: If Bosa is off the board, Clemson's Shaq Lawson is worthy of the No. 8 pick. He has been a pass-rushing force over his three years in college. 

Lawson racked up 20 sacks and 45.5 tackles for loss over 30 collegiate games. He'd be an immediate upgrade at outside linebacker and likely a day-one starter in Cleveland's defense. 

Offensive Tackle

1. Ronnie Stanley, Notre Dame: By the time the No. 8 pick rolls around, the top tackle in this draft will almost certainly be off the board. Ole Miss' Laremy Tunsil is easily one of the four best prospects in this draft and shouldn't make it to the Browns.

So, if Cleveland wants to address offensive tackle, it will have a debate between Ronnie Stanley and Jack Conklin. The Notre Dame product is viewed as the superior prospect by most and would be a solid pick here.

2. Jack Conklin, Michigan State: If Stanley is off the board or Cleveland likes Conklin more, don't be surprised to see the Michigan State product as the pick at No. 8. Conklin can start off his career as the starting right tackle for Cleveland after Mitchell Schwartz left this offseason. 

Then whenever Joe Thomas leaves or retires, Conklin can take over the left side and become the future blindside protector in Cleveland's offense.

The Latest Rumors

When it comes to the Browns, there's still a lot of debate and uncertainty as to what the team will do with the No. 8 selection. 

With so many needs and several elite prospects likely on the board, it's hard to pick out which player will have the greatest impact in Cleveland over the course of his career. 

Bleacher Report's Matt Miller hears the Browns may look at Michigan State offensive tackle Jack Conklin but could be looking to move out of this pick:

"

League sources expect the Browns to consider Jack Conklin from Michigan State at pick No. 8 as they try to replace Mitchell Schwartz. The Browns were "in love" with Myles Jack, according to a scout employed with the team this past season, but that may have changed with new information regarding his knee. A scout still employed with the team believes the Browns will be active in moving up and down the board, but the scout says the priority will be on defense.

"

Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net had the following to say on Cleveland's interest in Conklin, via Walter Football: "Back to Jack Conklin, I'm told he's being considered as an option for the Browns with the eighth pick. The team desperately needs a right tackle, and they met with Conklin extensively during Michigan State's pro day."

Conklin would be a good pick here, but some great prospects could fall to No. 8 whom Cleveland would consider. I'd put Conklin somewhere around the 10th to 15th-best prospect in this draft. 

TheMMQB.com’s Peter King put out another mock draft ahead of the real thing beginning on Thursday. He projected the Browns will take Notre Dame's Ronnie Stanley and land their new starting right tackle. 

But the real story is that King reports the Browns still want to trade back because head coach Hue Jackson is a big advocate of Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch, who they may be willing to take as high as No. 8:

"

Browns would love to trade for even more value for this pick. Lots of buzz that coach Hue Jackson likes Paxton Lynch and is advocating for the Memphis quarterback, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see a trade down (maybe for a team to move up for Myles Jack or Eli Apple), with Cleveland ending up with an extra second-round pick in a draft packed with second-round and third-round value. But Stanley looks like very good value here as the eventual heir to Joe Thomas. 

"

Based on these latest rumors, it's safe to think that offensive tackle is the slight favorite to be the Browns' first pick, but even that is a slim one as Cleveland could go in so many different directions. 

7-Round Mock Draft

Here is how the 2016 NFL draft might end up looking like for the Browns.

Round 1, Pick No. 8: Joey Bosa, OLB, Ohio State: The best pass-rusher in the draft lands in Cleveland as Joey Bosa becomes the first pick of the Hue Jackson era. This is the best-case scenario for the Browns at No. 8, as Bosa is considered one of the best prospects in this draft. 

Round 2, Pick No. 32: Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State: After landing the draft's premier pass-rusher, Cleveland follows that up with a potential franchise quarterback as Round 2 begins. Connor Cook isn't someone you probably want starting as a rookie, but give Jackson two to three years to work with him, and we could see a similar development as what the coach did with Andy Dalton in Cincinnati. 

Round 3, Pick No. 65: Braxton Miller, WR, Ohio State: At this point, the Browns are almost forced to take a wide receiver given how big of a need it is. Braxton Miller may have not played the position much in college, but he has the potential to be a star if he has time to develop. 

Round 3, Pick No. 77: Charone Peake, WR, Clemson: While Miller may take a few years to grow into an NFL receiver, Charone Peake is ready to make a big impact now. His game is eerily similar to Martavis Bryant's when he came out of Clemson in 2014. 

Round 4, Pick No. 99: Maliek Collins, DT, Nebraska: The Browns finally address their defensive line with one of the draft's better interior linemen. According to Pro Football Focus, Collins ranks 11th overall in this class with a plus-45.0 grade, including 10th against the run at plus-28.4 and 11th as a pass-rusher at plus-21.1.

Round 4, Pick No. 100: D.J. Reader, DT, Clemson: While Collins is likely a defensive tackle or end in Cleveland's 2-4 scheme, D.J. Reader can play nose tackle in addition to tackle. Having that kind of depth is what Cleveland needs to do focus on at various points in this draft. 

Round 4, Pick No. 138: Brandon Shell, OT, South Carolina: The Browns have to land an offensive tackle in this draft, and Brandon Shell ends up being the guy in this scenario. He has the potential to become a starter on the right side while also possessing the measurables that may see him play guard as well. 

Round 5, Pick No. 141: Max Tuerk, C, USC: One of the top center prospects in this draft would have been USC's Max Tuerk. However, an ACL injury suffered in the middle of last season causes him to fall to Day 3, but if he can get back to 100 percent, he's a starting-caliber center. 

Round 5, Pick No. 172: Kenyan Drake, RB, Alabama: The Browns need to add some explosion to their offense and return game. Alabama's Kenyan Drake gave Alabama both in helping lead the Crimson Tide to a national title last season. 

Round 5, Pick No. 173: Stephen Weatherly, LB, Vanderbilt: Cleveland is going to draft two to three linebackers in this draft, and Vandy's Stephen Weatherly is a nice value pick here. He racked up 12.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in college. He was constantly in opponent's backfields. 

Round 6, Pick No. 176: Tyler Higbee, TE, Western Kentucky: One of the best tight ends in this draft when he's healthy is WKU's Tyler Higbee. However, injury concerns and off-field issues make him one of the riskier prospects. 

Round 7, Pick No. 223: Will Parks, S, Arizona: With Donte Whitner gone, the Browns need to find an enforcer to roam in their secondary. Arizona's Will Parks was a big hitter who should be at worst a solid backup and impact player on special teams.