As the 2015 NFL Draft nears, ClevelandBrowns.com is ramping up its coverage to ensure fans know everything about the team's potential picks.
The Browns have two of them in the first round, of course, so there's plenty of turf to cover.
On the radar will give you a glimpse at the nearly two dozen names being mentioned in the same breath as the Cleveland Browns. Our Day 2 installments sticks in the SEC with offensive lineman La'el Collins.
Vitals: 6-4, 305 pounds
Who's linking him to Cleveland?
Why the Browns would be interested: Right tackle isn't necessarily a major need with Mitchell Schwartz and former Seattle Seahawks starter Michael Bowie in the fold. But with the way Cleveland's roster is currently structured, the offensive line is its strongest suit: Why not make it even stronger? Coach Mike Pettine has been clear that, even though the passing offense will look different in 2015, the Browns are going to be a football team that looks to control the tempo, dictate the line of scrimmage and pound the rock. If Cleveland sees Collins as a future Pro Bowler, a la Joel Bitonio, it could elevate the Browns' offensive line to one of the best units in the entire NFL.
Why he could be around at 12 or 19: In recent drafts, offensive linemen flew off the racks like hotcakes. But the only consistent name in every mock draft that's been slated to go in the top 10 is Iowa offensive lineman Brandon Scherff. The minor knocks on Collins are that he had trouble with pure speed rushers at LSU and he's more of a power blocker than a finesse one, meaning he won't fit into certain schemes.
Why he won't be around at 12 or 19: Collins returned to LSU for his senior season, and it was clearly the right choice. Even though he started several games as a freshman, the lineman used the extra year to prove his thick frame and long arms were regularly dominant enough to manhandle the brute strength the SEC brings week-in and week-out. A few teams in front of the Browns will take a hard look at Collins, a group that likely includes the Giants at No. 9 and the Rams at No. 10.
Stat to know: According to LSUsports.com, Collins saw action on a total of 2,533 offensive snaps with 222.5 knockdowns
Quote to note: "When I started playing football, I started playing defense and made the transition to playing offense in high school. I've always had a mentality of a defensive lineman, and I was able to bring that over to the offense, but also bring intelligence over to play offensive line. For me to go out there with that mentality and just get after it is something I bring to the table." - Collins
The last time: ... LSU had an offensive lineman drafted in the first round was 1998. The Pittsburgh Steelers took guard Alan Faneca, who blossomed into a nine-time Pro Bowler.
