WFNY NFL Mock Draft Roundup: While We’re Waiting
April 24, 20192019 Browns NFL Draft blueprint in a hue of orange
April 24, 2019The 2019 NFL Draft is Thursday! The NFL Draft is the biggest event of the offseason. The Cleveland Browns have eight picks throughout the seven-round draft. Though, the team does not have a first round pick this year after they traded it to the New York Giants for Odell Beckham Jr. Nevertheless, the Browns still have opportunities to improve the roster with their eight picks. Before we get to the draft on Thursday, I have a few thoughts on the Browns and the 2019 NFL Draft.
- I think the Browns will remain outside of the first round, but that does not mean the team will not look to trade up from No. 49 in the second round. With the new three day format, teams have now had a short reset after Day 1, which causes a lot of movement at the top of Day 2. Teams look and see a player who fell out of the first round and they want to be aggressive and nab the player early on Day 2. I think the Browns will do that when they see one of the interior defensive linemen falls to the second round. Names like Jeffery Simmons or Jerry Tillery could be there at the beginning of Day 2.
- Duke Johnson will be the player to keep an eye on this weekend. I personally would not trade Johnson, but I can see the Browns trying to use Johnson as a way to save picks in a trade up during the draft. I think he ultimately gets traded during the draft.
- Even though I think the Browns will trade up in Round 2, I think the Browns still make two selections on Day 2. As I stated above, I think interior defensive linemen is the target in the second round, while I think offensive tackle and safety could be the pick with the second selection on Day 2. Both of those positions have good depth and can give the Browns a player who can contribute next season.
- At the end of the day, I think the Browns draft just six rookies.
- Following the draft, I believe the Browns will be aggressive in free agency to nab some of the remaining free agents on the market or a player who is released following the draft like Gerald McCoy.
- The Browns are in that great position where they do not have a huge pressing need on the roster like years in the past where the hole at quarterback was obvious. The team needs to improve the depth on their roster, but there is no immediate crisis for any position. This truly gives John Dorsey the chance to draft the best player available.
- Oh, and by the way, the Browns have won the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft already. They have nabbed a future Hall of Famer who will be the centerpiece of the offense this coming year. No other team can say that with certainty. The Browns can do that with Odell Beckham Jr.
- The interior defensive line class will define the 2019 NFL Draft. I think it may be one of the best in the history of the draft, especially in recent memory. There will be linemen who are drafted on Day 2 and early Day 3 who will be major contributors for their team next season. I would love to grab two for the Browns this year.
- I think there are few players the Browns may look to make the big move up for into the first round. If Ed Oliver or Jonah Williams falls down to middle to the late first round, I would try really hard to make the trade to go and get them. I think these two would be elite additions to the team and I think they have the possibility of falling lower than expected because of some (unfounded) fears of those two not being a perfect fit for their position because of measurable. It would be a home run to get one of these two.
- The safety class could be a treasure trove for the Browns on Day 2. Juan Thornhill and Darnell Savage are two safeties who could fit really nice in the Browns defense and be available on Day 2.
- I think Arizona would be crazy to draft Kyler Murray at No. 1 and then dumping Josh Rosen. Rosen is a better player in my opinion. I do not think Murray and Dwayne Haskins are as good as my top three quarterbacks last year: Rosen, Baker Mayfield, and Sam Darnold. The Cardinals need to draft one of the top defenders and add pieces around Rosen rather than selecting Murray.
- There is no way I would take a quarterback other than Murray and Haskins before the fourth round. But, I think the 2019 NFL Draft will see three quarterbacks go in the first round.
- The first round will see a run on interior defensive lineman, edge rushers and offensive tackles. Those three positions are the three best classes in the draft.
- It would be nuts for Cincinnati to pass on Dwayne Haskins if he is there when the Bengals are on the clock. But, it is hard to trust Mike Brown, so anything can happen with the Bengals.
- The defense will be the talk of the first round with the majority of the selections coming on that side of the ball on Day 1.
- Every year, I have a handful of players who I feel stronger about than other prospects. I believe that they will be a good NFL player. They may not be the top guys at the position, but just players who I think will succeed in the NFL. They are my guys. Here are my guys for the 2019 NFL Draft: RB Devin Singletary (Florida Atlantic), WR Emanuel Hall (Missouri), Riley Ridley (Georgia), TE Dawson Knox (Ole Miss), OT Jonah Williams (Alabama), IDL Ed Oliver (Houston), EDGE Clelin Ferrell (Clemson), EDGE Oshane Ximines (Old Dominion), CB Amani Oruwariye (Penn State) and Juan Thornhill (Virginia).