The Cleveland Browns are going in a different direction in the latest mock draft from USA Today, trading up for Clemson’s Isaiah Simmons.
This might not be the most popular selection for some, but the reality is the Cleveland Browns have a giant hole at the linebacker position. Trading up for Isaiah Simmons needs to be considered and that is just what Nate Davis of USA Today has the Browns doing in his latest mock draft.
Davis has Cleveland trading all the way up to 5th overall and taking the talented Clemson linebacker. Speculating that the 10 and 41 picks would be able to make the trade up possible. This trade is the result of a different trade that happened before it. The Chargers moving up to 3rd overall to take Tua Tagovailoa resulting in Miami looking to trade down for the right package.
Most mock drafts right now have Cleveland taking tackle prospect Andrew Thomas out of Georgia. While taking Isaiah Simmons does not address the vacancy at left tackle, taking a difference maker on defense can go a long way . The team has too many holes to limit their draft plans to just one position with their first pick. Right now Cleveland needs quality over quantity. High quality talents instead of a lot of average to good talents. If that means bypassing tackle at 10 and trading up in order to get what many view as a blue chip player in Simmons so be it.
There are other avenues to improve the offensive lines besides the 10th overall pick.
Cleveland does have other picks in the draft and maybe they could find a way to trade a player in order to move up with one of their 3rd rounders to get back into Round 2. Free agency and the trade market are also options for Cleveland, but they may not be all that realistic at this point in time. Cleveland already spent heavy in free agency and the potential lineman available via trade seem to have a steep asking price.
If the Browns somehow comes away with a player like Isaiah Simmons that would be a huge win. Cleveland needs help on the defensive side of the ball in the worst way and this would certainly address that. Some longterm stability on defense besides Myles Garrett is desperately needed and Isaiah Simmons could certainly provide it.
