CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Senior Bowl and Super Bowl are behind us, and the NFL combine is about 10 days away, which means it’s time to start looking ahead to free agency and the draft to figure out how the 8-9 Browns can get back on track to the playoffs and a Super Bowl.
With that in mind, some on our Browns coverage team are rolling out weekly mock draft drafts to see how our thinking changes between now and the NFL Draft in April.
Here are the first mocks for Doug Lesmerises, Dan Labbe and Ashley Bastock. Mine will run every Friday, beginning today.
Our drafts will change depending on what happens at the combine the first week of March, what transpires in the trade market and free agency — beginning March 16 — reports of rising and falling players, and our own evaluation of prospects based on film study, player interviews and reporting.
The Browns pick at No. 13 in the first round, plus they have their own picks in the second and third rounds. They also received a compensatory third-round pick for the Minnesota Vikings hiring Kwesi Adofo-Mensah as their new general manager out of the Browns’ front office.
We’ll deal with those four picks in the first three rounds here. To refresh, last year in the first three rounds the Browns took CB Greg Newsome, LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koromoah and WR Anthony Schwartz. The year before they took OT Jedrick Wills Jr., S Grant Delpit, DT Jordan Elliott and LB Jacob Phillips.
The other three writers all penciled in a receiver at No. 13, and the Browns are very likely to do just that. But I went in another direction with my opening mock because I couldn’t shake the thought. I’m wondering how this will evolve over the next two months:
1. Round 1, Pick 13: QB Malik Willis, Liberty
I understand that I’m taking a big risk here, especially because the Browns have said they fully expect Baker Mayfield to be their starter in 2022 and to rebound from his poor 2021 season. But Willis is an intriguing developmental prospect, and one worth taking a chance on if he’s still around.
He had a great Senior Bowl week, so chances are someone might snatch him up sooner. If he falls to 13, I’d jump out to turn in the card. He needs a year to develop, but with his cannon arm strength, dual-threat ability and uncanny knack for zipping it from different arm angles much like Patrick Mahomes, he caught my attention in a big way at the Senior Bowl.
He’s fast, agile, shifty and has good vision. He’s also aggressive and has the mindset for today’s high-flying, gunslinging passing game. Again, he needs a year of great coaching, but the Browns can provide that with Kevin Stefanski and Alex Van Pelt.
One thing I liked when I talked to Willis: he wants to be a cerebral quarterback and not just take off running. He’s studying the game like a pro, and has taken up chess to think more strategically. I also watched him interact with his teammates and his parents, and I liked what I saw on both counts. The other QBs loved him, and his parents surprised him by showing up to the first practice. He was overjoyed, and showed them much kindness and respect.
The pick of Willis here of course precludes the Browns from taking Ohio State receiver Garrett Wilson, which I was very tempted to do. But once you find your franchise QB, the rest is a walk in the cake (Butch Davis-ism). If the Browns find themselves with two good QBs, they can always trade one at some point.
2. Round 1, Pick 19: Trade with Philadelphia: WR Jameson Williams, Alabama
Another big risk here, but I’m in the mood to swing for the fences, with the Browns climbing up from No. 44 to make this pick. Williams is coming off a torn ACL from the CFB title game and underwent surgery about 10 days later, but should be ready to play close to the start of the season. Players are coming back quicker from ACLs these days, and he’s young and healthy.
A former Buckeye, Williams transferred to Alabama to escape the shadow of Wilson and Chris Olave, and turned himself into a mid-first round player with 79 receptions for 1,572 yards and 15 TDs in 2021. A speedy deep threat with good size (6-2, 189), Williams averaged 19.9 yards per catch and caught 11 TD pass of 30-plus yards in 2021. He’s expected to make a full recovery and return to his 4.3 speed.
He could be the Browns version of Ja’Marr Chase, even if he needs the first half of 2022 to fully recover. Before the injury, he might’ve been the first receiver off the board, so the Browns would be getting a bargain here. He won’t come cheap though.
The Browns would have to give up at least their second-round pick in 2022 (No. 44) and their initial third-round pick (No. 78), but they still have the third-round comp pick. They’d also have to throw in next year’s third-rounder. But this is Philadelphia’s third pick in the first round, and they might be open to dealing it. Browns GM Andrew Berry has a great relationship with Eagles GM Howie Roseman from having worked for him in 2019.
Writes Charlie Campbell of Walter Football: “Williams is a home run hitter who has a second gear to run by defenders and get open deep down the field. Off the snap, Williams is seriously explosive and blows through the defense. While Williams is extremely fast, he has quality height and length that should [see] him more effective as a downfield receiver in the NFL.
“Here is what one director of player personnel said about Williams, “He’s more like Henry Ruggs than Jaylen Waddle. Williams is more linear than Waddle. He’s more similar to Will Fuller, but not as good of a route runner as Fuller. Williams has serious speed, like Ruggs, but Williams has more feel and football sense than Ruggs. Jameson could be a longer Hollywood Brown.”
Round 3 comp pick: DE/OLB, DeAngelo Malone, Western Kentucky
The Browns are hoping to re-sign No. 2 edge-rusher Jadeveon Clowney, but will also need to replace Takk McKinley, who suffered a ruptured Achilles while in the loss to the Raiders while on a one-year deal. Malone brings some of that McKinley first-step blast off the ball that the Browns loved this year. McKinley was the perfect complement to Myles Garrett and Clowney, and Malone (6-4, 250) can fill that role. In 2021, he notched 88 tackles, 16.5 tackles for a loss, and eight sacks.
“He is explosive off the snap as a pass rusher and threatens the edges in an instant,’’ writes The Draft Network. “A very loose and agile athlete, Malone shows an ability to corner and flatten to the quarterback with very little difficulty. He flashes the ankle flexion to turn tight angles and can reduce his surface area around the edge to bend the arc. A high-motor player, Malone plays hard and hustles to the football with impressive closing speed. Malone is a long and lean football player with a very narrow frame.’’
If you didn’t know any better, you’d think they were describing McKinley. Malone can be disruptive right away as the No. 3, but can also possibly develop into a solid No. 2.
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