Breaking Down the Browns First Round Options in the 2016 NFL Draft

Offensive Tackle
An offensive tackle is almost always taken towards the top of every draft. Even in recent years, we have seen teams take a guy and start them at RT with the possibility of switching them over to LT. Other teams draft them to start at LT where their one goal is to protect their franchise QBs blindside. Where the Browns are, OT Laremy Tunsil of Ole Miss is the top OT. The Titans will be heavily interested in Tunsil since the team allowed a season high 54 sacks. He missed the beginning of the year amid NCAA investigations, but he wore the rust off coming in midseason and performed at a high level against SEC opponents. Ronnie Stanley of Notre Dame will be the consolation prize for another team looking to draft a tackle towards the top of the draft.

Browns Analysis:

This pick makes a lot more sense than most people might think for Cleveland. While the fans want a flashy option to improve the team fast, an OT makes a ton of sense for where the team is now. Remember the best Browns pick since coming back was OT Joe Thomas who went third overall. Offensive line is the position the Browns have seemed to have had the most success drafting at with guys like Alex Mack and Joel Bitonio to join Thomas. The Browns this season allowed 53 sacks, tied for second most in the NFL. For the fourth straight year, the Browns will start a third string QB or worse in week 17. That’s likely due to the fact of the beating these guys have had to take behind these lines. Most of the line has been great but there’s some weaknesses. The biggest one being RT Mitchell Schwartz. Schwartz is in a contract year and has to be among the top three in the NFL in sacks allowed this season. He should not be coming back. Tunsil can fill in at RT from day one and shore up the line, especially if Mack leaves too and move over to LT after Thomas leaves. Joe Thomas has endured the Browns crap for way too long, and there were talks of him being traded mid-season. If his time is ending soon, the Browns need a LT to protect whoever the future QB will be. Tunsil can be that guy.

Wide Receiver
In a passing day and age, having big threat wide receivers is important. Look at the impact guys like Antonio Brown, Odell Beckham Jr., and Julio Jones have had. There have been some great receivers in recent drafts coming out towards the top of the draft and these guys have the physical imbalance to overpower the corners. This year happens to be a weak year at the top for WR. Laquon Treadwell of Ole Miss is the top guy. He improved his stock with a great bowl performance but I’m not sure if he will be a top ten pick.

Browns Analysis:

The Browns need a WR bad. It’s been a need ignored by GM Ray Farmer for years. He gave Dwayne Bowe 8 million guaranteed to be a healthy scratch almost all season reeling in only five catches all season. The Browns were led by the mini-squad of Travis Benjamin, Taylor Gabriel, Andrew Hawkins, and Darius Jennings. These guys are all about the size of me except much faster. Getting Josh Gordon back will be a huge help but he has to earn the trust of everyone back and play like he wants it. The Browns only had eight touchdowns all season from receivers. Twelve WR’s in the NFL have more TD’s themselves than the Browns got from all of theirs combined. At two, this position makes no sense for the Browns. There are a lot of talented receivers that will be in the late first to early second round range. The Browns can get their impact player at the top and a compliment receiver in the second if they are smart.

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