DawgTalkers.net Forums The Archives 2015 NFL Season The NFL Draft 2015 MrKelso Mock 2.0 -- Thoughts please?

How do we win in 2015? Simple.

-Run the football effectively.
-Pass block effectively.
-Stop the run.

You win in the trenches. End of story.

Our quarterback is Josh McCown or Johnny Manziel. Do either of those names excite you? Me neither. Our best chance at success in 2015 is a strong running game, and a strong defense.

This is my mock draft 2.0

1st Round - Danny Shelton NT/Washington - Not exactly a sexy pick here, and people will argue that Phil Taylor moving to nose tackle will address the position. That COULD be true, but Taylor is entering the final year of his contract and has had NOTHING but injury problems. You need quality depth along in the defensive line and Shelton helps us immediately. Plus, our run defense was an absolute joke last season, the more help the better.

1st Round - La'el Collins OT/LSU - Again, another non-sexy pick right here. I know people are going to scream for a wide receiver at this pick and argue that Schwartz doesn't need replaced. I disagree though, Schwartz is below average at everything he does and he really struggled down the stretch last year when the running game stopped working. We HAVE to be able to run the football and pass protect at a high level next season to win. Games are won and lost in the trenches and this class is deeper at receiver than it is with quality tackles.

2nd Round - Clive Walford - Tightend/Miami - Maybe a slight reach this high in the 2nd round but he's easily the most athletic tightend in this draft with a huge ceiling. With the addition of Dwayne Bowe and Brian Hartline, the wide receiver position in my opinion takes a back seat to the tightend position. Walford is big and athletic and with some experience and seasoning could replace Jordan Cameron for the better. Getting help on the offensive line, defensive line and now at tightend has successfully address three major areas of need for this team.

3rd Round - Bryce Petty - Quarterback/Baylor - Petty may not be on the board at this pick in the 3rd round, but if he is I think Farmer pulls the trigger without hesitation. The Browns met with Petty at the senior bowl and were impressed with his interview. I've watched Petty play a handful of times and I love his size, mobility, arm strength and quick release. He isn't ready to start right now, but with some development he has the physical tools to be really good.

If Bryce Petty is not on the board....

3rd Round - Trey Flowers - Pass Rusher/Arkansas - This is my alternate pick if Bryce Petty is off the board. I know we've added defensive line help already, but we need an edge rusher to add to the rotation. Armonty Bryant is coming off an ACL tear and Barkevious Ming has been nothing short of disappointing when it comes to rushing the passer. I do like Scott Solomon and think he'll turn heads, but pass rusher is a need, and it's a need we can address right here.

4th Round - Stefan Diggs - Return Specialist/Maryland - Diggs fills two needs. He has the burner speed a lot of Browns fans want to see added to the receiver position and he's also a threat every time he touches the ball on special teams. It's no secret we were TERRIBLE last year at returning punts and kickoffs so adding Diggs in the 4th round is huge for this team.

4th Round - Reese Dismukes - Center/Auburn - Strictly a depth pick right here, but a very important one as we all saw what happened last year when Alex Mack went down. It's also very possible that Mack opts out of his contract and leaves after this season is over. We need to spend a middle round pick on a pure center and this is that pick.

5th Round - Jaleston Fowler - Fullback/Alabama - Pass him the football, hand him the football, leave him in to pass protect or get him in space to run block. This kid is a beast and the best pure fullback in this draft. We could see a lot of production out of Fowler in our run game early and often. To me, this is a no brainer, if Fowler can be drafted in the 5th round, pull the trigger and take him. Fullback isn't a glaring need, but it's certainly one we could see upgraded.

6th Round - Cody Prewitt - Safety/Ole Miss - This is a value pick here. Prewitt was a big time play maker for that Ole Miss defense, and to the best of my knowledge some poor off field issues caused him to slide down the boards. In the 6th round though, that's when you can take a chance on a player. With Jim Leohnard hanging up the cleats we could stand to add quality depth and if Prewitt stays out of trouble he'll be a steal with this pick.

Last two picks?

Kicker and BPA/Project.

I don't know enough of the bottom picks to keep going.

To me though, this is a draft upgrades a majority of our current needs.

Thoughts?

My only issue is no WR. I still think we need and could benefit a great deal getting a legit #1 WR threat because IMO, Bowe or Hartline won't provide that.

I'd swap out your 2nd round spent on the TE for that. Think our offense would flourish more with a WR than a TE but, JMO.

Not bad at all.

Petty is an interesting prospect. If he was on my radar, I'd grab him in the 2nd and hope Walford is there in the 3rd. I wouldn't want to get greedy with our QB situation.

I'm with Dawg LB... With the sheer number of WR prospects, you HAVE to pick one up....even if its not first round.

I suppose you do have Diggs there but I don't know much about him.

I, like many others, want a WR in first round if possible but that being said, I'd be ok with this draft.

Curious where you have Agholor going. Because I'd be more than willing to switch out Collins and Watford for Agholor and Clemmings.

Agholor to Baltimore late in the 1st in the full draft I had.

Stefon Diggs isn't a play-right-away type of wide receiver but he's more of a slot/hybrid type of guy. With some experience and seasoning he DOES have that kind of speed where he can take a 5-yard slant 60 yards for a TD at any given time.

I see the need for wide-receiver. To me, upgrading in the trenches on both sides is my #1 priority entering the draft. If we can run the football and stop the run, I think our offense could get by with Bowe, Hartline, Gabriel and Hawkins at WR, and Housler & Walford provide an extremely athletic and tough to defend 1, 2 punch at tightend.

Is it Watford or Walford? I could be mixed up with the names.

The only way I would personally go WR in the 1st round, is if Amari Cooper is on the board at #12, or if there isn't any quality beef left on the board at #19 (by beef, I mean top OL/DL prospects).

I guess it just depends on which positions you feel are most important.

If our QB position was solidified, I would say go with a big play receiver early, but right now it's a complete enigma, so to me the safer option is making sure we can run block, pass block and stop the run.

**Looks for the Giant Fullback from Alabama**

**Sees he is there**

I love this draft!

I agree with your philosophy on how the Browns will win, if they win in 2015.

Your reasoning about not taking a WR is also sound as we have to have someone to throw to the WR otherwise we have another Justin Gilbert, Johnny Football first rounder season (a lost rookie season) with a WR.

I like the NT pick at #12. He has fallen recently and the draft is deep with DT's. I would consider a pass rusher such as the fellow from UK, Dupree (Can hear Chuck Booms hollering already) at #12. I would take a DT at #19 or dare I say it, I will say it take the kid with the drug test issues from the combine as another pass rusher at #19 if he is there. Draft a DT at #43, a offensive lineman or LB in the 3rd round.

I did like your pick of Petty only because I am not sold on who we have now but I am hoping for a trade with Tampa Bay for their tall QB. The rumors show the Bills, Browns and Jets interested in the QB. We have the Bills 1st and 4th round pick. I do not see the Bills giving either their 2nd or 3rd round pick for him so we have the advantage there. The Jets may have a shot at Mariota. If that materializes, they will not trade for him, thus we may be able to get the QB for a song such as a 5th round pick.

The 4th round picks, I look defense or offensive line if I did not take a OL in the 3rd round. I am already thinking of Robertson's replacement, Whitner will need his replacement on roster in a year or so, and Dansby is needing to have an understudy. Nothing would please me more than to beat the teams in the AFC north by scores of 13-3. 20-7 by dominating them defensively and forcing them to gamble late to try to make up ground. I have visions of Big Ben on his back a lot with a Browns pass rusher on top of him. I would love to see Andy Dalton have to prove himself twice a year against us. Flacco will need the $100M contract. Preexisting conditions caused by Browns defenders sacking you over and over may not be covered under the ACA. Those out of pocket expenses are killers.

The rest of the rounds I look for best player that fits our goals, scheme, needs, and talents. Go Browns.