2019 NFL Draft: Cleveland Browns can finally draft like a normal team

Finally, the Cleveland Browns don’t have to rely on the NFL Draft to build a winner — they can use the draft to supplement one.

State Of The Team

After finally moving on from Hue Jackson and his 3-36-1 record, the Cleveland Browns began to win some games. They finished the season on a 5-3 run which gave them a 7-8-1 mark to close 2018. They remained in the postseason hunt through Week 16 and fell just shy of their first winning season since 2007 as they dropped their final game to Baltimore by a score of 26-24.

The future shines even brighter than the second half of 2018 thanks to the plethora of young talent on the roster. Cleveland was led by a fantastic rookie class that saw Baker Mayfield, Denzel Ward and Nick Chubb combine for 11 NFL Rookie of the Week honors, with Mayfield accounting for seven of those. The young quarterback also broke the record for touchdown passes by a rookie, surpassing Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson.

In addition to his abilities on the field, Mayfield has become a star off it as well. He’s appearing on late night talk shows and YouTube comedy specials. The Browns look to be on their way out of the cellar and they have one of the brightest stars in the NFL to thank for this.

Total Draft Picks

The Cleveland Browns have no first-round picks and have eight overall draft picks for 2019.

• Round 2, pick 17 (No. 49 overall)
• Round 3, pick 17 (No. 80 overall)
• Round 4, pick 17 (No. 119 overall)
• Round 5 pick 6 (No. 144 overall)
• Round 5, pick 17 (No. 155 overall)
• Round 5, pick, 32 (No. 170 overall)
• Round 6, pick 17 (No. 189 overall)
• Round 7, pick 20 (No. 221 overall)

Top 3 Draft Needs

Safety: Wide receiver was a pretty big need for the Browns, but that’s no longer the case following their trade for Odell Beckham, Jr. However, that trade did open up another need as safety Jabrill Peppers was dealt to the Giants in the move. Derrick Kindred is a decent option to replace him, but the Browns need to create some competition and build depth. They may not feel it’s necessary to go after someone with their first pick here, but safety is atop their needs list.

Offensive Tackle: Cleveland did well in the final eight games with Greg Robinson and Chris Hubbard as their bookends on the offensive line. They should be the starters again in 2019 after Robinson re-signed for one more season. While that’s not a terrible idea, the Browns need a better long-term answer — especially at left tackle. They need to find someone who can grow alongside Baker Mayfield and keep their franchise player comfortable in the pocket.

Cornerback: The Browns took Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward at No. 4 last season and he became their starter right away. He did a great job and landed in the Pro Bowl, but there’s still a need for another starter opposite him. Terrance Mitchell played well for the most part but they didn’t get the return on investment they were seeking in T.J. Carrie. Landing another cornerback who can start would solidify their defense.

Top 3 Draft Targets

Decision Maker (Or Who To Blame If Things Go Wrong)

It’s clear now that this is John Dorsey’s show. The general manager took charge last season and overhauled the entire roster. He made the somewhat controversial decision to draft Baker Mayfield, but so far that has worked out great for the club.

He also showed he will take risks, going after Antonio Callaway despite some red flags and even signing Kareem Hunt this offseason.

Expect Dorsey to once again go hard after their needs, while being willing to roll the dice on players who may have some concerns.

Best/Worst Pick In Current Draft Slot

Historically, who was the best pick and/or the worst pick based on where the team is currently picking. 

Best Pick: Michael Dean Perry, defensive line, No. 50, 2002 NFL Draft

It’s not ideal for the Browns to be making their first pick at No. 49, but this doesn’t mean they can’t find some good value. They have done so in the past around this selection, with the best example coming in 2002 when they took defensive lineman Michael Dean Perry at No. 50.

The Clemson product ended up playing seven years for Cleveland and started 90 of 109 games played in that time. He finished his career with the Browns by recording 480 tackles and 51.5 sacks while appearing in five Pro Bowls for them.

Worst Pick: DeShone Kizer, quarterback, No. 52, 2017 NFL Draft

While the Perry pick was great, there is a big chance for failure with a selection in this vicinity. For the worst, we look back to 2017 when the Browns took Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer at No. 52. To be fair to Kizer, he was set up for failure by the team. They took a player who was incredibly raw and needed time to develop, but thrust him into the starting position anyway.

The result was an 0-16 season in which Kizer was the starter for 15 of those losses. He ended up with an unimpressive 11-touchdown-to-22-interception ratio and was shipped off by Dorsey after just one season.

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