Months after draft analysts around the country started releasing their mock drafts, ClevelandBrowns.com is poised to release its first of a handful leading up to the big weekend at the end of April. [
](http://brow.nz/2jA5sHx)
Cleveland Browns Daily host Nathan Zegura, senior writer Andrew Gribble and staff writer Patrick Maks spent a week in Indianapolis gathering information on what appears to be one of the deepest draft classes in recent memory. They won't be making the picks when the first round gets underway April 27, here's what they're projecting the Browns to do with the first overall pick, the No. 12 pick and the first pick on Day 2.
Nathan Zegura
- BROWNS - DL Myles Garrett (Texas A&M): The most dominant player in the draft solidified the top spot with an unbelievable showing at the combine in Indy. As CBS Draft Analyst Dane Brugler says, "the draft starts at No. 2."
- 49ers – DL Solomon Thomas (Stanford)
- Bears - DL Jonathan Allen (Alabama)
- Jaguars – S Jamal Adams (LSU)
- Titans (from Rams) - WR Corey Davis (Western Michigan)
- Jets – CB Marshon Lattimore (Ohio State)
- Chargers – T Ryan Ramczyk (Wisconsin)
- Panthers - RB Leonard Fournette (LSU)
- Bengals - LB Reuben Foster (Alabama)
- Bills – QB DeShaun Watson (Clemson)
- Saints - DL Derek Barnett (Tennessee)
- BROWNS – S Malik Hooker (Ohio State) In this scenario, I assume the Browns addressed the quarterback position via trade or free agency. With quarterback no longer a need, they get their Ed Reed to play center field on the back end of this defense. The Browns have added a stud defender at two levels of the defense with Garrett and Hooker in addition to their franchise quarterback and the draft is off to a dream start. If no trade, I think Mitchell Trubisky and DeShone Kizer are very much in play here.
- Cardinals – QB DeShone Kizer (Notre Dame)
- Eagles – WR Mike Williams (Clemson)
- Colts – RB Christian McCaffrey (Stanford)
- Ravens – RB Dalvin Cook (Florida State)
- Redskins – QB Mitchell Trubisky (North Carolina)
- Titans - DB Marlon Humphrey (Alabama)
- Buccaneers – WR John Ross (Washington)
- Broncos – TE O.J. Howard (Alabama)
- Lions - DL Taco Charlton (Michigan)
- Dolphins - DL Takkarist McKinley (UCLA)
- Giants - OL Forrest Lamp (Western Kentucky)
- Raiders – LB Haason Reddick (Temple)
- Texans – QB Patrick Mahomes (Texas Tech)
- Seahawks - OL Cam Robinson (Alabama)
- Chiefs – LB Zach Cunningham (Vanderbilt)
- Cowboys – TE David Njoku (Miami)
- Packers - RB Alvin Kamara (Tennessee)
- Steelers - LB T.J. Watt (Wisconsin)
- Falcons – DL Charles Harris (Missouri)
- Patriots – S/LB Jabrill Peppers (Michigan)
- BROWNS – TE Evan Engram (Ole Miss) – Engram is a 6-foot-3, 235-pound move tight end in the mold of Jordan Reed who ran a blazing 4.42-second 40-yard dash at the combine. Engram could be the missing piece in Hue Jackson's offense and an explosive seam splitter for the team's quarterback.
Take a look at the top 25 impending free agents of 2017 according to NFL.com.
Andrew Gribble
- BROWNS - DL Myles Garrett (Texas A&M): Looking for something dramatic? Look somewhere else. Garrett is not only the best overall player in this year's class, but he also would fill a major need on what the Browns hope is a much-improved defense in 2017.
- 49ers - S Jamal Adams (LSU)
- Bears - DL Jonathan Allen (Alabama)
- Jaguars - DB Marshon Lattimore (Ohio State)
- Titans (from Rams) - WR Corey Davis (Western Michigan)
- Jets - QB Deshaun Watson (Clemson)
- Chargers - S Malik Hooker (Ohio State)
- Panthers - RB Leonard Fournette (LSU)
- Bengals - LB Reuben Foster (Alabama)
- Bills - DB Teez Tabor (Florida)
- Saints - DL Solomon Thomas (Stanford)
- BROWNS - QB Mitchell Trubisky (UNC): It could be risky to wait until this spot in the draft to nab a quarterback, but I'm not as concerned. The amount of elite defensive talent could be enough to dissuade the QB-needy teams ahead of the Browns to wait until later rounds to address it.
- Cardinals - WR Mike Williams (Clemson)
- Eagles - DB Sidney Jones (Washington)
- Colts - DL Derek Barnett (Tennessee)
- Ravens - TE O.J. Howard (Alabama)
- Redskins - WR John Ross (Washington)
- Titans - DB Marlon Humphrey (Alabama)
- Buccaneers - RB Christian McCaffrey (Stanford)
- Broncos - OL Forrest Lamp (Western Kentucky)
- Lions - DL Taco Charlton (Michigan)
- Dolphins - DL Takkarist McKinley (UCLA)
- Giants - OL Ryan Ramczyk (Wisconsin)
- Raiders - S Jabrill Peppers (Michigan)
- Texans - OL Cam Robinson (Alabama)
- Seahawks - OL Dan Feeney (Indiana)
- Chiefs - LB Haason Reddick (Temple)
- Cowboys - DL Charles Harris (Missouri)
- Packers - RB Dalvin Cook (Florida State)
- Steelers - LB Ryan Anderson (Alabama)
- Falcons - LB T.J. Watt (Wisconsin)
- Patriots - DL Carl Lawson (Auburn)
- BROWNS - S Obi Melifonwu (Connecticut) - The biggest story on the final day of the Combine has been ascending ever since his strong performance at the Senior Bowl. He'd help fill a big need on the back end of Cleveland's defense.
Take a look at the players who impressed at this year's NFL Scouting Combine.
Patrick Maks
- BROWNS - QB Mitchell Trubisky (UNC) - The quarterback is the most important position in footballl, and I think Trubisky is the surest thing in this year's class of QBs. If the Browns believe one these guys can be "the guy," in Cleveland, then I think you have to take him at No. 1, considering other QB-needy teams (49ers, Bears, Jets) in the draft order. Don't get me wrong: Myles Garrett is an unbelievable talent and I've gone back and forth on this, but the Browns could have an opportunity to address a longstanding need.
- 49ers - DL Myles Garrett (Texas A&M)
- Bears - QB DeShone Kizer (Notre Dame)
- Jaguars - S Jamal Adams (LSU)
- Titans - DB Marshon Lattimore (Ohio State)
- Jets - QB Deshaun Watson (Clemson)
- Chargers - S Malik Hooker (Ohio State)
- Panthers - RB Leonard Fournette (LSU)
- Bengals - LB Reuben Foster (Alabama)
- Bills - TE O.J. Howard (Alabama)
- Saints - DL Jonathan Allen (Alabama)
- BROWNS - DL Solomon Thomas (Stanford): The really good thing about this year's draft is the depth of the defensive line/front seven. If the Browns pass on Garrett, they'll have a handful of elite prospects to choose from. Thomas is a guy who impressed me at the combine. NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein's draft profile says the Cardinal captain "has (a) ravenous approach to the game. Gets out of the blocks quickly and attacks with early, skilled hands. Stays hungry and wants to feast."
- Cardinals - WR Mike Williams (Clemson)
- Eagles - WR John Ross (Washington)
- Colts - OL Ryan Ramczyk (Wisconsin)
- Ravens - RB Dalvin Cook (Florida State)
- Redskins - DL Derek Barnett (Tennessee)
- Titans - DB Teez Tabor (Florida)
- Buccaneers - WR Corey Davis (Western Michigan)
- Broncos - OL Garrett Bolles (Utah)
- Lions - DB Marlon Humphrey (Alabama)
- Dolphins - LB Haason Reddick (Temple)
- Giants - TE David Njoku (Miami)
- Raiders - DL Taco Charlton (Michigan)
- Texans - QB Patrick Mahomes (Texas Tech)
- Seahawks - OL Cam Robinson (Alabama)
- Chiefs - RB Christian McCaffrey (Stanford)
- Cowboys - LB Takkarist McKinley (UCLA)
- Packers - DB Jabrill Peppers (Michigan)
- Steelers - DL Charles Harris (Missouri)
- Falcons - LB Tim Williams (Alabama)
- Patriots - TE Evan Engram (Ole Miss)
- BROWNS - S Budda Baker (Washington): The Browns need some help at safety, and Baker could fit the mold both on and off the field. The All Pac-12 selection led the Huskies with 71 tackles, 10 TFLs, two INTs and six pass breakups.