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Browns Mailbag: Does defensive scheme matter when evaluating Joey Bosa?

Day 3 of offseason workouts is Day 1 for media interviews with a number of Browns players, some old, some new, slated to meet with reporters after a busy morning.

That will provide us at ClevelandBrowns.com with plenty of ammunition to divert from draft talk for a day or two.

For now, though, it's another draft-heavy mailbag as we await for Day 3 to come to a close.

With the Browns clearly in need of a serious pass rusher, why isn't Joey Bosa not the clear choice at 2? He has experience in a 3-4 -- Zach S., Huron

We've got to clean something up before diving into this question. Bosa doesn't have much 3-4 experience. He was a defensive end in Ohio State's 4-3 defense and wreaked havoc on opposing quarterbacks almost exclusively from that position.

That said, Bosa's been fielding a lot of questions about this ever since he announced his intentions to go pro. It's been amplified a bit because the Titans and Browns both plan to run a 3-4 base in 2016. So do the Ravens, who hold the sixth pick and have served as a popular landing spot for Bosa depending on whose mock drafts you're monitoring. The Cowboys, who hold the fourth pick and run a 4-3, are another popular projection for the Ohio State pass rusher.

Bosa had all the right answers on this topic at the NFL Combine, where he worked to show he could be a potential fit for teams as a 3-4 outside linebacker.

"I can see myself playing anywhere on the defensive line," Bosa said. "I've been working standing up and working on my linebacker drops, so I definitely feel I'm ready to play in a 3-4 or a 4-3."

How Bosa is used in the NFL will depend on how he's evaluated by the team that drafts him. At 6-foot-5 and 269 pounds, Bosa would be on the heavy end for a prototypical 3-4, pass-rushing outside linebacker and the light end for a five-technique up front. That's nothing a little work with a team's strength and conditioning staff can fix, and ESPN's Mark Dominik recently told The Tennessean he could see Bosa bulking up to play up front.

"I think he'd be a fine five-technique in a 3-4," Dominik told the newspaper. "I think he's more athletic than people realize. If you go back and watch the tape, he can drop into coverage."

Ultimately, the Browns' projection of Bosa will be based on how well they believe he'll transition to wherever they believe he'd be best in a 3-4. A similar projection was made in 2013, when the Browns picked Barkevious Mingo, a 4-3 end at LSU, and converted him to outside linebacker. They did the same last year with Nate Orchard, a second-round pick.

Take a look at the Cleveland Browns roster as of September 1, 2017.

Shock the nation, take Laquon Treadwell. When was last time we got a chance to take a big stud WR? We take a QB every year. Then Get 12-Gauge out of Ohio State. You can't go wrong with him. And plus you got a big stud for him to throw to for the future. -- Dale R., Bucyrus

Treadwell's an interesting prospect because he's considered by most to be the top wide receiver in the draft, but most draft analysts do not project him to be selected as high as previous top-ranked receivers. NFL.com's mock drafters have Treadwell going anywhere from 12th to 23rd in their latest projections. Ultimately, if the Browns want Treadwell, he's a guy that can be obtained by either trading down from No. 2 or trading up from 32. It'd mark the first time Cleveland used a first-round selection on a wide receiver since 2005 (Braylon Edwards).

As far as Jones goes, he's one of the more interesting quarterback prospects because he's coming off a season in which he didn't play all that much. He has a big arm and a national championship ring, but questions will be raised about why and how he lost his starting job in 2015. The Cleveland native is pegged as a middle-round prospect who could be an option if the Browns are looking to add quarterback depth on Day 3.

Where do we stand with the offensive line? Are we fast enough to get out in front of RGIII? -- Joseph R., Bowling Green

The Browns lost two big players on their offensive line during free agency in Alex Mack and Mitchell Schwartz. That's been well-documented. Waiting in the wings to potentially replace them are the likes of second-year player Cameron Erving, a potential center replacement, Austin Pasztor, who is capable of playing tackle and guard, recently signed free agent Alvin Bailey, who is similarly versatile, and Darrian Miller, a promising second-year player who saw some playing time throughout the second half of last season.

Athleticism shouldn't be a concern for this offensive line. What will come into focus in the coming months is the group's ability to adapt to a scheme that will have a heavier emphasis on power running.

Why aren't the Browns or national media high on taking Buckner or Nkemdiche, being that the Browns' biggest problem along with quarterback is stopping the run and applying pressure. Our front seven has been just as bad as our quarterback situation. Plugging one of them guys next to Shelton would be smart move. -- Dionte H., Cleveland

We certainly haven’t ignored Buckner, a potential top-five player out of Oregon who would seem to be a nice fit up front on a 3-4 defense. Though the Browns have some nice pieces along their defensive line, there's always room for more.

Nkemdiche is a wild card. He's bursting with talent but carries on-field motor and off-the-field concerns. Once projected as a top-five pick, many see him being available by the time Cleveland makes the first pick of the second round.

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