We’re under an hour away from the start of night two of the NFL Draft. The Browns already filled the biggest need on the roster and now it is time to fill a few others.
The NFL Draft is not only meant to fill needs but in other cases, to make your strengths stronger. For example, the Packers have one of the best quarterbacks of all time in Aaron Rodgers. They traded up to draft Jordan Love. The Dolphins made Byron Jones the highest paid cornerback of all-time and are paying Xavien Howard nearly as much, and they selected Auburn defensive back Noah Igbinoghene with their final first round pick.
Going into the night the Browns have three picks in rounds two and three and addressing linebacker, safety, and depth at other positions will be on the forefront. However, great teams draft the best player available rather than reach for needs.
Here are seven outside-the-box options for the Browns at No. 41.
Notre Dame Tight End Cole Kmet
The Browns just handed Austin Hooper the highest paid contract for a tight end in NFL history and drafted David Njoku in the first round just three years ago. Njoku could be a great trade chip with a weak tight ends class and the Browns could easily replace him with Kmet.
Kmet is the best tight end in this year’s class and would only add to the talent pool that the Browns have on offense. Kevin Stefanski loves to use two-tight end sets and a young Kmet has lots of upside coming out of the tight end factory in South Bend.
Ohio State Running Back J.K. Dobbins
Outside of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, the Browns are incredibly thin at running back. Hunt is slated to be a free agent next year and Chubb’s contract is set to expire the following year. Extending Chubb would be a great move for the club but history shows handing big time money to running backs does not workout.
Dobbins will eventually help take the load off Chubb and add an entire other dimension to the run game. As an added bonus, Hunt becomes an intriguing trade chip for a win-now team looking to add a veteran back.
LSU OL Lloyd Cushenberry III
At LSU, Cushenberry excelled at center and the Browns just extended J.C. Tretter. However, a question mark remains at right guard and Cleveland lacks a solid backup center.
Cushenerry could not only provide tremendous depth but could also step in at right guard if Wyatt Teller lacks success at the position. Additionally, Cushenberry would make a great plug-and-play center if Tretter retires or goes elsewhere after his contract is up.
Colorado Wide Receiver Laviska Shenault Jr.
Heading into the 2019 college football season, Shenault was regarded as a top ten pick. He spent last season plagued by injuries and catching footballs from weak quarterback play at Colorado.
Behind Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry, the Browns don’t have great options at receiver. Shenault could not only step in as the third receiver but does not need to be rushed into play, also learning behind OBJ and Landry. Let’s be honest, the chances the Browns can keep both OBJ and Landry down the road is slim and Shenault offers a great insurance policy if the Browns move on from either of them.
Alabama Cornerback Trevon Diggs
The Browns have two really good young cornerbacks in Denzel Ward and Greedy Williams. But as last year showed us, both have issues staying on the field. Not to mention, Terrance Mitchell and newly signed free agent Kevin Johnson are both slated to be free agents come next season.
You can never have enough cornerbacks and Diggs is regarded as one the best cornerbacks in this year’s draft. A young secondary of Ward, Williams, and Diggs could slow down young quarterbacks in Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow in the AFC North.
Iowa Edge A.J. Epenesa
Remember when the Browns drafted Myles Garrett in 2017 and still needed pass rushers? Just imagine if they added T.J. Watt instead of Njoku in that year’s draft.
Before last season, Epenesa was talked about as a top 10 pick but slow testing times had him falling down draft boards. Epenesa reminds me of a familiar case from two years ago with Harold Landry. Over the last two years, Landy has amassed 13.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss. That is certainly some production the Browns could use on the defensive line.
TCU Defensive Tackle Ross Blacklock
Sticking with the theme of defensive linemen, the Browns are pretty set. Larry Ogunjobi is going to be a free agent next year, Sheldon Richardson could very well end up being a cap casualty, and recently signed Andrew Billings is on a one year deal.
Blacklock gives the Browns a tremendous defensive tackle rotation and as a result will keep all four guys fresh instead of them leaving them on the field. It is not a sexy pick but could be one of the steals of the draft.
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