2016 NFL “What I Would Do” Mock Draft

1. Tennessee Titans: OT Laremy Tunsil, Mississippi
2. Cleveland Browns: OTC

What a disaster the first round has been for Cleveland over the past five years, despite a ridiculous eight picks during the draft’s opening act. Here’s a list of those hapless selections and their current statuses around the league:

2011: DT Phil Taylor – Not rostered in 2015, recently signed with Denver as a FA

2012: RB Trent Richardson, QB Brandon Weeden – Richardson remains out of the league, Weeden is battling for QB3 spot in Houston

2013: EDGE Barkevious Mingo – Still in Cleveland, seven career sacks in 46 games, none in 2015.

2014: CB Justin Gilbert, QB Johnny Manziel – Manziel cut, Gilbert benched and a healthy scratch at times last season.

2015: NT Danny Shelton, C Cameron Erving – Shelton was average as a rookie, while Erving struggled mightily at left guard.

It’s too early to make any definite judgments about the weak early returns of the 2015 class, but the rest of this group is an unmitigated disaster. The Hue Jackson era needs to kick off with a top-notch first round pick, and if the Titans take Mississippi offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil as we’ve mocked here, the Browns should be sitting pretty at no. 2.

Cleveland’s dismal early round drafting has left them in a tough spot with plenty of needs to address in 2016. Their void at quarterback was eased somewhat by the addition of Robert Griffin in free agency, but there is no way the oft-injured, inconsistent signal caller can be counted on as the Browns only valid option this season. Quarterback remains a very real possibility at no. 2, and barring a trade, Cleveland should have their choice of California’s Jared Goff or North Dakota State’s Carson Wentz.

Right tackle Mitchell Schwartz has departed for Kansas City via free agency, while Tashaun Gipson’s move to Jacksonville has left a void at safety next to Donte Whitner. The Browns have an endless supply of young promise in their defensive backfield, but very little proven talent. Inside linebacker and depth along the offensive line should also be priorities.

The way I see it, Cleveland’s options at no. 2 should be narrowed down to Goff, Wentz, defensive back Jalen Ramsey, or linebacker Myles Jack. Joey Bosa will be considered, but unless a deviation from a 3-4 front is in order, I don’t see the Buckeye as an ideal fit in Cleveland. With Tunsil off the board, the Browns will likely wait to address the offensive line, leaving them in search of a franchise passer or a defensive difference maker.

Goff is the most NFL-ready prospect, and I believe he could do well in Hue Jackson’s offense. The former Bengals offensive coordinator employs a meaty playbook with a vast array of formations and gimmicks, and Goff has the mental acumen and cerebral processing to pick up the offense quickly. He’s got great pocket presence, an adequate arm, and the short-intermediate accuracy to step into the starting job as a rookie if Griffin struggles. It’s not preferable, but Goff is capable in that regard.

Wentz has more long-term promise due to his physical toolset, but the North Dakota State signal caller is still growing as a mental processor of the game. I’d sit him for a year or two while his vision, timing, and accuracy develop, but if the Browns are confident in Griffin, Wentz could be a risk worth taking.

This is where things gets sticky however, as I’ve always been of the belief that teams and individual analysts should address the draft differently in terms of how they value prospects. Personally, I’ve got Goff at no. 35 and Wentz at no. 49 on my big board, nowhere close to the value of the second overall selection. But in today’s NFL, having a high-caliber quarterback is paramount to long term success, so if Cleveland believes they can develop one of these passers, it’s tough to blame them for valuing that prospect higher than his current skill set would suggest.

Personally I’d prefer Paxton Lynch and perhaps even Cardale Jones to Wentz, and while I do think Goff is the best passer in the draft right now, the top 4-5 quarterbacks are close enough for me to pass on the position at no. 2 and take the best available option at the top of the second round. That’s definitely a risk considering the 49ers, Eagles, Rams, Jets, and Broncos current quarterback situations, but one I think Cleveland is in position to take.

That leaves Ramsey and Jack as the team’s top two options, and while I love the UCLA defender and think he can be impactful at any linebacker position, he’s more suited for a 4-3 scheme than inside in a 3-4. Ramsey can fill needs at safety or corner right away, giving the Browns a future stud in their secondary.

Joe Haden could be trade bait, Tramon Williams is aging, Pierre Desir has struggled, and Justin Gilbert’s time with the organization could be coming to a close. Ramsey’s presence will give Cleveland a reliable option on the outside opposite Haden for the time being, or a young star to pair with Donte Whitner on the back end. For a team that ranked 22nd against the pass this past season, few additions would be more welcome than the ultra-athletic defensive back. The decision won’t be an easy one, but in the end, Ramsey should be too tantalizing to pass up.

The Pick: DB Jalen Ramsey, Florida State

The San Diego Chargers are now on the clock…