Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn
Brown sure looks like he’s going to be a very effective NFL defensive tackle. He’s strong, quick, sturdy and plays hard on every snap. At 326 pounds, Brown is a load for interior offensive linemen — almost always plural — to handle.
So why would Brown be a bad pick for the Browns at No. 10?
Positional value plus depth at the position are the uneasy answers. It’s difficult for an interior defensive lineman to impact the game more than a good left tackle, a legit No. 1 cornerback, a top-end wide receiver or a pass-rushing EDGE can do. And all those more valuable spots are significantly more difficult to find later in the draft. The difference between what Brown offers at No. 10 and what Cleveland could get from Justin Madubuike or Ross Blacklock in the second round is nowhere close to as big as the dropoff at the other positions if the Browns’ pick hits.
At least with Brown the Browns would be getting a high-floor player who could, at worst, offer what Danny Shelton did for the team as a first-round interior defensive lineman. That’s not bad, but they can do better.